Christmas

[YogaRebel]

Hi all I'm having a financial review - what do your families budget for Christmas presents & food ? I ve got 2 teenagers and a husband who seem to think everyone else routinely buys expensive tech etc - I grew up where Christmas was maybe a new jumper and a few treats ! I go along with their version but I feel like I'm spending a fortune every year ... is it just me ?

We budget about £100 for each child but this year have spent quite a lot less as they're only little (5 and 2). We have a big family so they do get quite a lot from relatives too.

£50 each for me and DH and about £50 on top of our usual food spend for food, decorations, Wrapping paper etc.

Budget for other family presents is about £250 but we've underspend on this because I've got lots of bargains through mumsnet early this year so more like 200.

Charity spending £50
Christmas trips, work dinners out etc £250

That comes to £900 so probably call it £1000 in total for things I've forgotten.

I've just counted up how many people I buy for and it's 25. I dont think that's unusual really if you and DP both have average sized families and you have a few friends you exchange gifts with. Obviously I won't get 25 presents back as quite a few are for children or from people I wouldn't expect presents back from (drama teacher for example). I've no interest whatsoever in secret santa. I love buying and receiving gifts and it's rare that I receive something I don't want. Like pp I think this year will cost me £1500 which includes presents, food, and a few Xmas activities.
I think as kids get older you naturally spend more and present pile is less as they want more tech and branded clothes. I'll get my dd a new contract IPhone this Xmas. She needs one anyway, her old one is on its last legs so it actually makes more sense to give as a Xmas gift seeing I'd have to get it at some point in the year anyway!

Would cost more in the long run probably as it wouldn't last as long not true at all!

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Would cost more in the long run probably as it wouldn't last as long not true at all!

Well its redundant anyway seeing as most of the kids want the new xbox or a ps5. Which people are struggling to buy new.

Each to their own but I'd never have got my son a second hand ps4 instead of a new ps5.

Well I’d bet my house there is someone else looking at the 22 small gifts and thinking - I haven’t got enough room for this AGAIN… no one wants to break rank.

The kids love it so that's all anyone really cares about. We all gather at nana's house in the evening and that's when they open all their gifts from the aunts and uncles, it's actually lovely.

Each to their own but I'd never have got my son a second hand ps4 instead of a new ps5 what an entitled spoilt attitude to pass on to your child! The sneering at a second hand iPhone, more fool you for purchasing a £1000 phone for a child that puts him at greater risk of being robbed. But hey each to their own.

Teenagers want the new stuff

Only if you bring them up to be entitled, spoilt brats.

My son is only 9 and I wouldn't get him a second hand console

Quite nouveau riche and vulgar to have that attitude towards second hand goods nowadays, especially considering the state of the planet.

We save 200 pm = 2400

15, 9, 3, 1 year olds
Me and dh
Parents

Days out, presents purchased through year and off bits of food not included. I do include like meat out of it though.

Everyone is different.
Ds likes for example nike tracksuits. They're around 110 each as he's in mens 2 of them And that's pricey alone

The year my DS wanted a (second hand) X box he fully understood that he would pay half and we paid half .... wouldn't we all love brand new tech but most of us appreciate that it's just not possible, even if you can afford it, it might not be good value for money.

Spending £800 on a DC seems utterly ridiculous....

@Ragwort

The year my DS wanted a (second hand) X box he fully understood that he would pay half and we paid half .... wouldn't we all love brand new tech but most of us appreciate that it's just not possible, even if you can afford it, it might not be good value for money.

Spending £800 on a DC seems utterly ridiculous....

Not if you want them to be entitled twats and run up credit card debt the moment they can’t just buy what the fuck they want

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Each to their own but I'd never have got my son a second hand ps4 instead of a new ps5 what an entitled spoilt attitude to pass on to your child! The sneering at a second hand iPhone, more fool you for purchasing a £1000 phone for a child that puts him at greater risk of being robbed. But hey each to their own.

He doesn't have a phone?

How does anyone have the headspace to buy presents for over 20 people?! 🤯🤯
This year we will spend around €1,000 including food, drinks and presents and I’d consider that quite lavish. That being said, my kids are still quite young. They might need more as time goes on

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Each to their own but I'd never have got my son a second hand ps4 instead of a new ps5 what an entitled spoilt attitude to pass on to your child! The sneering at a second hand iPhone, more fool you for purchasing a £1000 phone for a child that puts him at greater risk of being robbed. But hey each to their own.

Also not an entitled or spoiled attitude at all, why do you think it is?

He asked for a ps5. I somehow managed to get one when they were selling out in minutes. I could afford it. What's wrong with that?

Its all relative to what people can afford or feel comfortable with
One family may spend £1000 on presents another £20 its personal to your circumstances and varies hugely

He asked for a ps5. I somehow managed to get one when they were selling out in minutes. I could afford it. What's wrong with that? it’s the sneering attitude that “I would never buy second hand tech” - for a 9yr old, I think it is ridiculous. My nephew had a refurbished xbox and he didn’t know any difference because he isn’t brought up to be snobby over a name, if it plays the same game and its hundreds of pounds cheaper, it’s a no brainier. It’s also attitudes that second hand is beneath you as to why some parents do get into debt to have their children keep up with friends who have such an attitude instilled in them from their parents.

@worriedatthemoment

Its all relative to what people can afford or feel comfortable with One family may spend £1000 on presents another £20 its personal to your circumstances and varies hugely

Ironically what people can afford and what they spend doesn’t always correlate- some of the most well off people I know would never spend a huge amount on, young kids at least. Their kids may not have the latest ps5 but they have a bumper savings account/ uni fund.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

He asked for a ps5. I somehow managed to get one when they were selling out in minutes. I could afford it. What's wrong with that? it’s the sneering attitude that “I would never buy second hand tech” - for a 9yr old, I think it is ridiculous. My nephew had a refurbished xbox and he didn’t know any difference because he isn’t brought up to be snobby over a name, if it plays the same game and its hundreds of pounds cheaper, it’s a no brainier. It’s also attitudes that second hand is beneath you as to why some parents do get into debt to have their children keep up with friends who have such an attitude instilled in them from their parents.

I really think you are making alot of assumptions about me here which really aren't true.

Consoles and gaming are really important to my family and we are all gamers. A ps5 is an investment to us. My son is a competitive gamer and streamer. Hence I'd never have bought him a second hand console. My younger son has a second hand switch though. His cousin passed that down to him. Both my kids also wear alot of second hand clothes. I actually just bought my eldest a pair of second hand boots off ebay.

I certainly don't think second hand is beneath me. We just wanted a ps5 so we got one.

I am happy to buy second hand except for tech stuff but it’s affordable for me whereas for some it just isn’t so I don’t see a problem if they buy from GAME or CEX and get a guarantee.

What others spend is irrelevant really it’s people getting in to debt that’s the issues and some of those won’t exactly be splurging.

There has been serious research on attitudes to spending and poorer families do tend to spend far more, it’s the one time of the year they do. It’s an attempt to make up for lack of things for the rest of the year.

In our family it’s always the same post 18, no gifts. I have around 20 nieces and nephews. All over 18 now.

I will be buying for DH, DS and his GF plus a friends baby. Will spend around £300. But bargain had so far are matching Fossil wallet and purse for DS and his GF £55 for both instead of £150.

We have 20 for Christmas lunch.

This year bought new linen as white ones beyond saving! Bon bons, candles, 2 massive roast lambs, ingredients for dessert - $200

2 teens presents and rest of family, kids, adults, teachers $1000

I only buy for my DC, DH and DM. I buy my DC what they want and do them a little stocking (approximately £10) buy don’t buy any extra presents that often cost about £20 to £30 each to make their pile of presents bigger (this is a Martin Lewis tip).
My DC are young adults now, when they were teenagers Christmas was a lot more expensive because of the consoles. I bought my youngest a PS5 for his 21st but that’s the last one I’m buying.
I put money away each month except for December and January for presents and things like panto tickets. I don’t really notice a difference in the food bill as we spend really a lot on food each week anyway.
My plan makes Christmas financially stress free.