What are you not going to buy this year for Christmas that doesn't really matter anyway?

[Travelfairy]

I am going to forego the beauty advent calendar. As much as I like the novelty of it, I only end up using about half of it.
Not going to do an elaborate Santa visit. DS no longer believes, DD does but will be just ss happy to see Santa at my husbands work family party.
Not going OTT for teacher & SNA, I usually do, got DD teacher a 50 euro soa voucher in June and never even got a thank you 🙈
Things i will continue are gifts to bin men/pist man/Dr's secretary etc as i think its good to show gratitude to people who make our lives easier all year round. What will you stop buying? And what will you continue to buy?

We’ve decided as a family to go away over Christmas as our main holiday this year. I’ve realised just how much we therefore won’t be buying or doing and it feels like we’ll make some of our holiday money back. No expensive food snacks to have in the house just because it’s Christmas, no crackers, no last minute twitch about needing every possible thing for The Day with associated spend, fewer presents, fewer activities beforehand as we only have two December weekends - we’ll be away on our usual panto weekend and no Santa stuff as the hotel we’ll be in does a Santa visit. We’ll celebrate Fakemas with family when we get back and plan to get the food in the sales.

I heard good things but it’s sold out at both locations already

We are pretty minimal in terms of Xmas spending as it is - but I will reduce the mince pies further. I’ve booked to go to a Xmas display at a local castle (free with my annual pass anyway) and I’ll be doing Xmas lights at a different one. And I’ll enjoy those experiences more than the rest of the tree up/tree down palaver. But I have young children, so the palaver must still occur.

Xmas products are already in the shops - in August FFS - and I find that the earlier the selling starts, the more I am put off the whole idea.

Well if that's one of his little traditions and he actually reads it, I don't see the problem with spending a few quid on that.

Unlike the people who spend hundreds on gifts and stocking fillers no-one really wants, or has new decorations every year or buys loads of food to make a massively elaborate multi course dinner and then complains about the work, cost or waste but is seemingly oblivious to the fact that they are choosing to go over the top and they could scale back hugely and have the Christmas they want, can afford and have the time and energy for, with no waste.

I’m cutting down on shop bought sweets and treats. I’ll bake mince pies, cherry cake etc - much nicer if not necessarily cheaper. I’m also not doing a traditional Christmas dinner - I’ll make a lovely venison casserole that can be frozen weeks ahead instead of faffing about with two different meats etc. and veggies that go bad before they can be used up. There’s just so much packaging and waste for one day.

I’m also going to try and enjoy advent and the 12 days of Christmas in little ways instead of putting so much pressure on the day itself. Getting out to see Christmas lights, hot chocolate in the garden with the fire pit, crafting and making using the huge supply of craft stuff.

I’m so fed up with stocking up with endless food that we’re still eating our way through mid-January, we still had Christmas chocolate at Easter this year as the kids just aren’t that bothered. I’ll buy a really nice box of something to have watching a movie and have some nice cheese etc. but cut back on the roses, quality street etc.

My children are grown up, but if there was one suggestion I would make it is to buy just one present for each of them - something they really want. And not waste £££ on fripperies and add-ons.

These days the only thing I buy is good food and tickets for the Nutcracker. And maybe a couple of poinsettias to brighten up the Christmas decorations we already have from years gone by.

There's very little we can do to cut down at Christmas (except not celebrate it). So things we have stopped doing.
Tipping the binmen (technically they are my colleagues)
Tipping the post man (we never seem to have the same one twice).
Not going to works do (me or DH). So no new frock, drinks, food or taxi costs.
Not sending Christmas cards. No postage costs .
We Re-use decorations, so don't buy unless broken
The Christmas meal is more like an additional Sunday roast than a banquet.
No Christmas crackers. They're not even funny and I hate the paper hats.
Get back to normal on Boxing Day (DH will be working).

About the only thing I spend out on at Christmas is a real tree. I must admit, every year I feel it is a complete waste of money. Decorating it is slightly fun - I love seeing my tree decorations after they have been hidden away for a year - but no-one looks at the tree whilst it is up, we don't have children anymore, no-one visits, no-one is excited about presents under the tree, it serves no purpose at all really. But I feel, if I don't do the tree, I will have given up on Chrietmas completely and that saddens me more than the sadness of spending ££ on a useless tree each year. So I'll probably keep buying one.

I also buy a few Christmas foods: mince pies, chocolates, those cheesy biscuits in the shape of Christmas trees. I'll continue with that.

Pretty much everything else mentioned here, I either gave up years ago or have never spent on.

We won’t buy a present for my SIL and her adult DC (our niece). We have showered them with presents for years for birthdays and Xmas and get nothing in return. We have a DC and they clearly don’t feel the same festive spirit we felt for them. I will spend the money on my DC instead.

I'm going to stop buying things that come in fancy packaging and therefore cost £££ more. That means big business are out and small, independent, sellers are in - Etsy, Folksy, Craft fairs etc. It's the exact same, for less.

No more fancy Turkey either. None of us like it anyway. Chicken all the way. No more fancy deserts. We'll be going to our local farm shop and picking up one of their homemade cakes, which serves about 12 people, for £10 instead.

Im doubling down on Christmas cards, it makes me feel Christmassy and I'd be sad if the tradition died out. Ive been bluetacking them to the cupboard door in the living room as decorations instead of heaving my mass of decorations down from the loft.
But I've cut back on everything else already over the last few years especially food and drink that ends up going to waste. I'm definitely cutting back on Santa visits and other things like that, my son really can't cope with them so who are they really for? I'll stick with seeing his playgroup Father Christmas.

It’s the extra novelty tat from cheap stores we won’t be buying.

Nobody needs a new Christmas mug every single year as much as B&M or Home Bargains makes you think you do.

No tubs of fattening chocolates or boxes of biscuits.

No crackers or cards.

I absolutely won’t give up my Beauty Advent Calendar though. It’s the only thing that gets me out of bed in the dark mornings.

Keep doing your tree! ❤

Hooray! Me too!
I’m sick of getting absolutely nothing for Christmas, nor my birthday, so I no longer bother.
It’s hugely uplifting and I avoid all the pseudo-jollity as well.
No more cooking turkey, Christmas pudding or pulling crackers 👏
If DH feels deprived he can go to his sisters, he contributes zilch anyway to the day other than to complain that I have forgotten x, y or z.

Completely agree. A tub of Quality Street is such poor value now, it comes half empty and is just full of drab horrible wrappers plus they’ve got rid of some of the best flavours. Roses are slightly better but not much and I find Celebrations and Miniature Heroes really boring given they are just mini versions of normal bars.

I have very little left to cut out. It would be easier for me to tell you what I do. I only buy presents for my adult children, no nephews or nieces, no parents left. My friends and I decided years ago there was little point in us each buying one another hand cream, candles etc so we gave up swapping presents. I enjoy cooking so am happy to cook anything that is asked of me. I’m toying with giving up on a Christmas tree this year. The year before last we threw out our 20 year old fake tree and had a real one last year having completely forgotten that our son has an allergy to them! I don’t think I can spend £200 on a replacement fake this year.

The only real splurge I have left is my door wreath which I order from the fab local florist each year.

@user1497787065 if you do want a tree, keep an eye out for a new fake one on the various ‘give it away’ apps. I find there are always loads in the run up as some people feel a need to buy a new one due to colour schemes etc!

Gave up stockings when my kids were around 10. I also don’t give presents to anyone outside the family; if I’m visiting near the day I’ll just bring a bunch of flowers or decent wine. I no longer give my stepsons (mid 30s) gifts but do give something to their kids.

When my kids gave teacher gifts (primary only) it was something homemade like fudge.
My (20) DD doesn’t want presents - she says that every year! Last year I crochet a throw for her and bought her jammies but she gets mad if I spend on stuff she doesn’t need.
My son however is always happy to get anything and cash is king!
If I have the money I get myself something otherwise don’t bother (I’m a widow no partner).

I have been reducing every year for the last 5 years. My dc are young adults Typically one gift each. Also my nephew who receives nothing if not gifted by me and my dad(his grandfather) so we go in on a gift. Last year AirPods for the males and bracelet for my daughter. Three little presents under the tree but $$$ none the less.
I decorate and I still love it but it’s more thoughtful and concentrated. My tree/my tabletops / several other areas thru out the house. I decorate differently every year but with the same items so it’s creative for me without additional expense. I use a lot of fresh greens all free for the cutting.
some candy one dessert one fantastic meal of meat salad two sides and dessert. Only one dessert. I have help in the kitchen but it’s still mainly me planning shopping and cleaning up.

last year DH and I for the very first time did not gift each other.

we all drink less now. My dc are not drinkers One glass of wine last my dd all day. DS does drink but not typically over the holidays more like when out with friends. One bottle of anything is plenty.

I work and will have to work either the eve or the day after Christmas (healthcare) so I’m very happy to go strong for the holiday but not long . I want extra guests gone or independent the day after. My dc can stay as long as they want but they go and see their dad and friends. In order to get the others to leave I found I have to stop feeding them or they seem to think it’s a three day celebration.

I try to get out of crackers every year but for some reason DH insists on them. Last year we had some eco-friendlier ones with a Xmas decoration inside though (not expensive).

I've also given up on Quality St. Just rubbish now. Heroes are ok.

I don't buy new decorations because I have plenty from previous years and the tree is an artificial one that we bring out each year.

So all we really spend is food for Christmas dinner and maybe a couple of extra bottles of wine.

Our families are small, we only have one parent left between us, so we don't spend loads on presents.

Well it’s all a load of toot really isn’t it!?Life goes on if you don’t spend silly amounts on land fill

Chocolate is so expensive now, last year I didn’t get the obligatory tub of chocs and didn’t miss them. I like to go to Lidl and get lovely, cheap German Christmas treats. I’ll be cutting back on excess food and treats. Some good cheese, pâté, chutney and crackers for evening snacks and not much else. I do like a baileys at Christmas but I tend to use my supermarket points to buy a bottle. DD wants a new bike so there will be a stocking but only a few gifts under the tree which will not be expensive. I’ve already told her if she gets a bike then the pile under the tree will be significantly reduced and she was fine with this. I’ll probably do one Christmas type event such as tea with Santa but no light trails this year .

I try not to go overboard on present for DC at Xmas and i big early to spread the cost. I’ve already managed to get a few bargain xmas LEGO sets off vinted which I’ve never done before. Im going to see what else u may be able to find on there.

We are eating out again this year as it’s so much more enjoyable and leaves more time to just enjoy the day and watch the kids play with their toys.

We’ve agreed to no gifts for adults in the family which is so much better than having to find small stocking filler gifts for everyone. Don’t think me and DH will be buying for one another and will have a day out or weekend away instead.

Not going mad on food, we shamefully had to throw food away last year despite advertising it on FB and Olio. Im planning to make some dump bags for the freezer and a big lasange for the the days after Christmas day until normal shopping day arrives.
Less cards, perhaps postcards instead.
Will still send my mum and nan advent calenders for December and always include a Terry's chocolate orange for mum with her gift.