How much do you spend on Christmas, all in?

[walkwalk]

Just wondering as growing up we didn't have much, so didn't spend much. Now I am a bit more financially comfortable and we have a budget of £750 this year - that's for absolutely everything (tree, food, booze, gifts, treats, activities...). It feels like a LOT but then I read on here about some peoples traditions (Christmas Eve hampers with new games, treats and pj's for whole family), and very impressive gift lists for the kids etc.. sounds lovely but it's kind of blowing my mind, doing the mental math, they must be spending thousands??

Just curious, obviously look away if you prefer not to talk money! :)

About £800, tbh we could easily spend way more but we try to budget and buy some toys second hand.

@CherryPavlova interesting points. I can see the point about the environment and plastic tat. However, I suppose I’m one of those posters that spends huge amounts at Xmas but a huge majority is on experiences, a trip abroad etc. DH and I spend around £1k each on one another and I usually get a lovely piece of jewellery or something. I have got him a PlayStation, games and clothes. These are things that aren’t plastic tat and we love and appreciate. It doesn’t dilute joy or anything. And surely it’s proportionate to your income. One person’s £10 is another’s £100.

@willsantabecomingtotown

Soup
Beef Wellington from a kit for 15 pounds
Carrots and roast potatoes as a side
2 bottles of wine
Festive ice creams

Breakfast will be some croissants/breads with nice cheese and orange juice. Plus stollen.

Plus there will be a cheese board in the evening.

That should be more than doable for 15 pounds. I don't like turkey. Only 2 adults and a 3 year old.

*70 pounds not 15!!

500 for everything!

Maybe it makes sense to think about percentage of disposable income? I probably end up spending quite a lot, but it's affordable (and I'm very grateful for this)

I suppose it depends what you count. Christmas presents for kids aged 12, 10 and 7. Last year was £200 but I did get some good second hand bargains. If I could get the new Xbox this year it'd be well over as that item would be almost £500 alone. My kids have plenty of toys and stuff and don't need lots at Christmas. They have bikes (not Christmas, just replaced when needed) and clothes (maybe when they're older and want certain brands they'll get clothes as a present.)

Christmas dos, party dress and drinks and taxi. £100? One is heavily subsidised and I usually drive the other one.

Christmas food and drink. Big spread but just us 5 so not much more than normal (we like nice grub all year round!)

Panto £60. Decorations maybe £20 worth of new ones.

I could do it a lot cheaper if I had to.

About 2k
Put away £200 a month

Around 3.5k ish time we have finished

I didnt realise I had spent so much u til I tried to work it out.

There are alot of people to buy for also. The usual list is dp (and pd buying for me), 2xdx, 2xdsc, 2 set of parents, grandparents, 7 niecies and nephew's. 2 family secret santa gifts, 2 work secret Santa's and not forgetting the dog.

This year we have splurged more than usual, as we were very fortunate to have extra income this year. I know we are somenof the lucky ones

@HarrietPotterska a more sensible yard stick probably

£1000-1500 depending on whether we're hosting the Christmas Day meal or not that year, plus how much DH and I agree to spend on presents for each other.

Will be about £500-£550 in total. The kids are still quite young though (6 and 4) and not yet asking for huge gifts, so I'm trying to stick to about £150 each for them, and then just focusing on buying small-ish gifts for DH, and close friends and family. Then just budgeting about £50 for 'extra' food and drink (we're not big drinkers).

I suspect when the kids are older that budget will end up closer to £700-800.

Not very much this year: family presents and Christmas food for 4 plus cards and trees.

The main expense is usually hosting Christmas and visitors.
Pre Christmas drinks party
Christmas music concert
Opera or ballet between Xmas and NY

We can have lots of walks

@HarrietPotterska

Maybe it makes sense to think about percentage of disposable income? I probably end up spending quite a lot, but it's affordable (and I'm very grateful for this)

I guess for me then the % over the two week holiday period is around 10% I can afford more. I choose not to 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m saving instead. Pension. Car. USA trip.

About £1000 all in, parents are bringing dinner.

Presents around 1000 - 1200. Have lots of decorations from previous years so probably £30 on a few extra bits. We are never home christmas day but I would say the festive foods etc £50.

Around £600, 4 kids (about 100 each), £100 on other people and us, and £100 on food and drinks.

Honestly? No idea.

If I had to take a guess I'd say maybe 200-300.

However taking a look around me and mentally totting it up...

Tree £75
Lights £50
Outside decorations £450
New electric switches £200

We don't tend to buy much for the kids but again probably £300 min

Feeling slightly sick now...

Anywhere between £1500-2k. That's all gifts and food etc.

About €2k probably. There are no piles of plastic tat here though as someone suggested. We have a teen and a pre teen. The teen is getting 2 gifts, a guitar and an electronics item he has wanted for ages. The preteen is getting about 4 things. I'm getting a laptop which is needed and dh a smart watch. As kids get older the things they want tend to be more expensive.

I downloaded an app and added up all I have spent so far 3k and dh will spend that again. I hope I am finished shopping now as even though it's within my means I think I am getting some kind of buzz by clicking on things and ordering online.

Around £3500 but we have 8 children , that’s everything though food, two bottle of £10 wine, presents , tree, pantomime, grotto, Christmas Eve pjs etc.

About £1.5k, but this normally includes a big present for dd that she needs - a laptop/phone/camera/bike

I don't know for sure but would guess at least £1000, probably a couple of hundred more if I'm honest.

Gosh, about £1200 then will probably spend another £200 in food and drink.

We do save up all year for Xmas and never spend more than we could afford.