do you put aside money for Christmas?

[meettheparents]

and if so how much and how many DC do you have?

I started putting away £100 per month from July so will have £600 by December, I spend this gradually month by month. I have 2 DCs and have another 24 pressies or so to buy for family and close friends (we only buy for children, no adults apart from parents get pressies). I'm spending £120 each on the DCs this year, £40 set aside for DH and I (some years there's nothing in the budget to buy each other something but this year there is) and about £10-15 on everyone else. I try to get that down as much as poss by doing 3for2 offers and buying sale stuff etc.

I'm trying to this year as we've offered to buy DSD a laptop. However, the savings may have to be raided if we have any other big bills.

3DC's to buy for - 2 teens and a tot.
£200 a month savings - but not just for Christmas. Starting this month, did start last month but had to use it for something!

i always try to save but due to cash flow reasons we usually end up eating into the savings and are short come christmas

i started paying into park for shopping vouchers and i have £300 which will be paid off on 17th nov and i am hoefully starting next week to put £300-400 a week away as DH has been offered a very well paying job and there should be money spare (crosses fingers)

i havent got anything saved in the account just yet though

oh and we have 1 DD who is 4 and have 3 siblings each we buy for and their respective partners, grandparents and mum and dad on both sides too.

Panda - didn't Park go bust last year and lots of people lost their savings - check very carefully where you decide to save - might be better off with a Building Society or Post Office account?

Yes, I put away a few pounds each week so I have £3-4 hundred by Christmas. I only buy for DD and my Dad. (250-300 is spent on DD)
I have very little money, and I like to make a big deal of Christmas for DD. My treat to myself is really nice food, and I also have the heating on as much as I want!

ragwort it was farepak that went bust last year my GMIL has been a park agent for years so i decided to give them a go on the reommendation of MIL who gets about £1500 per year from them too late now to worry about wasting money as they have already had about £230 of my hard earned wage

Thank you for the replies...

I put away £100 per month Feb to Nov, spend it in Dec and have a break in Jan. 3 Dcs in teens or nearly teen, and numerous nieces and nephews. Have done this for years, because Xmas is impossible otherwise.