Christmas 🎄

[dollypops15]

I'm one of them mums who like to be prepared. I have 3 children aged 15, 6 and 2. I'm just wondering do people have a budget for Christmas? Total or per child? I'm finances have significantly reduced now due to Covid. So wondering how people budget for this

In total for me, but mine are 2.5 and newborn. Neither understand the concept really. Then for the neices and nephews, I've set a limit per child.
I budget by saving a bit per month, but as I'm maternity leave, I'm just picking up bits here and there which should also save some work later down the line and spread the cost.

I probably not much help as i only have one 18month old, but last year we were really cautious to not buy him much. We bought him a toy piano (£50ish) and that was it. We tried to get family to buy along the lines of 'something he wants, something he needs, something to wear and something to read'. Given that he has both sets of grandparents and numerous great grandparents, along with other family we knew that he wouldn't go without.

Maybe you could let each of them choose a family day out, and do them through the year then i.e Sundown, alton towers, the zoo etc. that way you can spread your spending.

We have a rough budget for the main present and stockings. This was a lower amount when they were smaller. Stockings were mostly made up of practical stuff (still are to some extent but can't get away with novelty stationery now!). They would get underwear, socks, new toothbrush, toiletries, an audio book, annual/book set (from The Book People historically), pencils, highlighters, pens, rubbers, etc.
I'd trawl website clearance sections, check out the reduced places in supermarkets, BOGOF type offers and post Christmas sales.
I would not ever go into debt over Christmas. If we've needed to pull back then that's what happens.

I only have one ds 7, we don't really have a budget as such but I tend to pick things up when I see offers so I've got a few bits I know he'll like stashed away. And usually try to get what he's asked Santa for as he only asks for a couple of bits from Santa. In/fortunately my oh who used to think I was nuts has caught the buying early bug, last year on Christmas Eve he produced a load of presents for me to wrap that he'd picked up over the year... unfortunately we disagree on what is a little present vs a main present so he's already bought a few games for ds's games console this year 🤦‍♀️

Me and oh have a boy each both who are 6 and 7, we are spending £130 on each of them, £50 (with our money combined) on OHs nephew, and putting some of the gifts we get for baby aside for xmas as she will be 3months by then. I've already been stocking up on stuff in sales etc