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[AnnMumsnet]

We've been asked by Experian CreditExpert to find out what budgeting plans you have in place for Christmas this year (2 months to go, folks! ).

They'd like to know what plans you have to get finances in order - or is it something you manage well, try to avoid thinking about or leave 'til the new year to sort?
Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you?
Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not? Has this changed since the recession started?
Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online?
What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?
How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year?

Any other thoughts on the cost of Christmas all welcome.

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thanks and good luck
MNHQ

They'd like to know what plans you have to get finances in order - or is it something you manage well, try to avoid thinking about or leave 'til the new year to sort?

We always have a plan to save for Christmas but then 'life happens' and the savings go on important things like food! We then use credit cards to pay for Christmas and pay them back over the following year. Nightmare!

Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you?

Try and buy some bargains - e.g. the Boots '3 for 2' deals. But usually the gifts people really want are not in the discounts and sales are too distant from Christmas to help

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not? Has this changed since the recession started?

We have a budget per person and then try not to spend too much on the food and drink.

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online?

Depends what it is. This year I have bought all the boys main presents already online. Nice and early so I know we have got what they want and can sort out any problems.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?

Not really money saving but I start buying a few treats for Christmas (chocolate, biscuits, dates, etc) as early as I can so that we don't have a big Christmas shop.

How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year?

Have no idea (must start budgeting!!!)

Any other thoughts on the cost of Christmas all welcome.

This year Christmas is going to be even more difficult than usual with less income and more expenditure on a general basis.

They'd like to know what plans you have to get finances in order - or is it something you manage well, try to avoid thinking about or leave 'til the new year to sort? I try to spend as little as possible on "duty" presents, leaving plenty of money for the children and my husband. I am afraid I "regift" when I can.

Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you? Yes, I start planning and buying early so that sales are still on and there are plenty of offers.

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not? Has this changed since the recession started? Not really a budget, but just try to get away with as little as possible. I save up vouchers for Amazon (I get them with credit card spending). Food, we just buy one main meal and don't bother with all the expensive extras that just make me fat.

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online? I do both as we live a long way from shops. However, stocking fillers or little bits are best in person so I usually do those in real shops, usually going to a big city and blitzing over a day. I feel very safe shopping online but postage costs really piss me off.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?
Some gifts can be very cheap and will do for a number of people. I sometimes buy things I know will do for someone and keep them in a drawer. I don't make anything, although the children have always made something for their Dad.

How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year? About £500 including a big party we hold every year. Unfortunately, it is followed by two big birthdays and there are two lesser ones just before. An expensive time but I come from a big family, so it does cost.

I often buy Dh's very boring and predicatble gifts in the summer sales. And for ds I will look out for offers, but am more likely to splurge on him.
We don't set budgets, but equally don't have a minimum spend per person. I'm not a budgeting kind of person I suppose.
I shop online for books and technology but prefer real shops for clothes. I usually only buy from Amazon,a nd feel safe shopping there. I'd be a bit more cautious about smaller sites.
Charity shops for children's stocking fillers are great. I've also made up a list of what ds would like and will pass this on to relatives if they ask for ideas so that we avoid too much crap.
This year we are definitely buying fewer gifts - only for the children, especially because we have to travel a long way to spend Christmas with family, which eats up money.

We decided a few years ago that present buying between the adults in our family was getting to be difficult. We now do a secret santa and have a family get together in november and each pull a name out a hat. Each person buys one present for the person they pick to value of £25.
Any children get 1 pressie from each of us. Each child has a gift list so there are no unwanted presents.
Food wise we all pay a set amount to the family hosting that covers all food, table decorations, nibbles etc.
The food shopping is done online and only to the value we all chipped in.
On the day we all take drinks that we want plus a little extra for unexpected visitors etc.
This works perfectly for us. And with only one adult present to buy we can concentrate on that person and get something they'll really appreciate rather than anything grabbed off the shelves in a moment of panic and wrapped the night before.
Stockings are done by parents but only small things 'like the good old days'
We love it this way...

We manage christmas budgeting fairly well. Buying a few gifts here and there throughout the year and then trying not to splash out too much.

Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you?
Yes - i look out for special offers and discounts and free P&P etc and keep my eye on offers for something i need to buy.

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not? Has this changed since the recession started?

limit spending on gifts for kids otherwise it is tempting to go over. Less so for food. we just need to meal plan enough to not over-buy food.
THis hasn't really changed since recession started as i've nver wanted to spoil the kids at christmas.

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online?

Online shopping for lots of things now. I have shopped online a lot and if secure website i feel its ok.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts?
own gift ideas - flower arrangements can be handmade, kids can do crafts as gifts.

Do you buy fewer gifts? tend to buy for kids not adults.

How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year?

not sure exactly how much - probably £150 or so for food shopping over the christmas period, perhaps a meal or two out, not sure on gifts yet as might get one family gift for the kids rather than lots of little things.

Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year?

have bought a few little bits. but saving for main presents.

Any other thoughts on the cost of Christmas all welcome.
Definitely too much expectation from others to spend spend spend. I would rather hide away and avoid it all. Not enough treasuring the specialness of christmas and valuing the importance of time with family and friends.

I am on a very tight budget, being a single part time working parent.

My kids come first. Then other people.

They have stockings - all items from the poundshops or reduced racks. Already done this year (thank you discount shop for zhu zhu pets and accessories for a quid each!) I start in September or October, a few quid here and there.

Main present is twenty to thirty. Big things mainly second hand. Last year was second hand ds consoles. This year second hand bike for six year old, four year old haven't decided.

Family and friends are children only. Then max of £5 each. Again, I frequent poundshops as much as possible - you can get labelled stuff so cheap. It takes weekly visits for stock rotation but is worth it.

Only adults are my parents and sister without kids. They again have a £5 limit, but I have been known to get items reduced from four times that amount.

Hunt. Bargain hunt again. And if in doubt, hunt again.

Thankfully I don't have kids much bothered by labels thus far....

Food wise, I use various shops. Nectar and clubcard points through the year which add up. Morrisons for November to get the thirty pounds vouchers in December. Drink, keep an eye on 50% reductions. Spread the cost of non perishables as early as possible, buying and storing a little extra each week.

I used to really mess up my finances at Christmas but now use my Credit Union Christmas account. It has really changed how I feel as I can actually enjoy buying presents knowing I can afford them. This year I'll be putting my Christmas savings on a prepaid debit card to keep them separate from my other money. Will be spending less than before this year though.

We are generally frugal throughout the year - I've always been a save for a rainy day type, so we don't budget exactly, but I do like nice things, and I love Christmas.

We don't do presents for other adults, pretty much feel how Martin Lewis describes here: blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2009/11/10/is-it-time-to-ban-christmas-presents/.

We only have a young DS at the moment, we stick to the four-gift rule for gifts from Santa (Something he wants, something he needs, something to wear, something to read) so things he'd be getting anyway! :) And a couple of gifts from us. We don't set a budget. I do shop around a lot though, to find the best prices. I mostly shop online.

For each other, DH and I decide together on an item or two that we need or could really do with, so nothing wasteful or a gift just for the sake of it.
I buy wrapping paper in the January sales.

Food and drink, no budget. We are vegan, so things are inexpensive.

Money-saving tips: go vegan. Do as Martin Lewis says! :)

No idea how much we will spend on Christmas, but we aren't wasteful.

Merry Christmas! :)

I shop through the year for christmas presents so that things aren't so tight over the weeks building up, especially considering this is when gas / electric bills are at their highest too.

I do some shopping online, looking for specific items. I also buy arts stuff for DS to make gifts for people; this year all the playschool teachers and neighbours are getting mugs he's decorated himself. The mugs cost me £1 each, and the ceramic pens were on offer at £5 and will last for years. Bargain-tastic.

Also making scarfs for DS's friends (all of whom are 3) to save money.

Got cards in the sale last year, and paper.

I don't have a budget, exactly, but I know how much I am willing to spend up to for certain items, if that makes sense. Being prepared helps with this, because you are much more likely to go, "Oh screw it" and spend too much money if you're working close to your deadline.

I tend not to buy too many food and drinks things - because you normally end up with at least one bottle of wine and one box of chocolates among the presents

I don't know how much exactly I will have spent on Christmas, but I do know that spreading it throughout the year will have saved me both money and stress.

Can't wait to start wrapping presents!!

What plans you have to get finances in order - or is it something you manage well, try to avoid thinking about or leave 'til the new year to sort?

We never used to do this but things have been tight for the last three to four years. We save our Nectar points throughout the year to pay for the christmas food shop which we would not be able to afford otherwise.

We buy birthday and christmas presents for our son throughout the year - sales, ebay etc and stash these.

We set budgets for everyone's presents and have significantly reduced the number of people who get presents.

For the last two years we have bought giftwrap and cards in the january sales and we have had to move to a fake tree because over the three years we've had it it has saved about 70 versus real trees.

Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you?

Yes, we buy in the sales throughout the year for our son and I've used the MN christmas bargain threads to help source good cheap presents for my staff, granny and my niece.

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not?

Yes because there just isn't the money not to do so. As above we use our nectar points to pay for the food and drink and other vouchers like morrisons miles if we have them for wine. We also look for offers on alcohol and shop in advance of December for this if necessary.

My husband and I set a budget for each other's presents each year. this year it's £50 but we have had very good christmases on £30 budget each. It really makes you think about what you are buying and squeezing every last ounce of buying power from every penny. I think it makes the shopping more fun.

We set a budget for my parent's presents (he doesn't buy for his step parents) and my grandmother. Usually £20 to £25 per person. this year there will be some home made items in this selection, a blanket made for DM (over budget on wool but spread the cost over the summer months) and some Jams etc.

Has this changed since the recession started?

Yes, no pay rises for the last 3-4 years and the increased cost of fuel (vehicle and domestic) and food have had a real impact and there just isn't the money to fritter away, to be fair there never was and I wish we'd adopted these principles earlier and before we were forced to by circumstance.

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online?

I do both. I shop from stores I know and trust or whose service is rated by others.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?

Homemade gifts are great but be careful that they don't cost you more - homemade chocolates for example can be really expensive.

Contact friends and say (in a nice way) that you want to stop sending presents to each other. They will probably be grateful!

How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year?

Not bought anything yet as the kids have not decided

SOn £100 but value of the gifts for that money is probably double
husband £50
Parents - Mum homemadew blanket £40 for wool. Dad don't know but budget is 25
Grandad - homemade Jam and £10 on a morse book set
Friends none
Food = £100 in nectar vouchers not cash

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DW always used to buy quite a bit through the year when she was shopping but she was only remarking the other day that she didn't seem to have the spare cash for doing this this year.

I always bury my head in the sand about Christmas pressie shopping but then I don't have to do much of it.

DW is getting a bit panicky as it's only two salaries until Christmas and she's done precious little. We don't have that many pressies to buy compared with a lot of families but it's a bit worrying nevertheless. Can see we will be living off baked beans on toast for the next few months .

I actually find all the discount codes quite mesmerising but sometimes counter-productive. There's always that sense that if you hang on you might get a higher % discount code or discount and free P&P. DW seems to spend a lot of time surfing various websites then deciding she might do better if she waits - not the way to spread out the cost of Christmas though???

Also sometimes she's seduced by a 'bargain' buys it and then can't decide who it's appropriate for so it ends up at the School Fair....

It certainly seems like there's not that much money left for buying the 'goodies' to eat etc.... Our guilty secret is Lidl for Christmas things really. DW normally puts aside about £50 and we go and buy nice Christmassy goodies there - lots of European deli type stuff at a fraction of the cost they'd be in Waitrose, Sainos etc...

We always used to order Christmas meat from M&S but seem to have stopped doing that over the past couple of years....

It is easier to buy presents on line (saves the carrying for one thing) but it's not the same and you don't find the same cute little extras browsing - or that's what DW thinks anyway. I do think she has a point. The whole online shopping experience is time-saving in the extreme but it loses a lot in transmission. It's pretty hard to get into the Christmas mood sitting at a computer, unless you are drinking mulled wine, eating mince pies and listening to Christmas music...

Christmas tips - not sure I have any although most grandparents neither want or expect large, expensive pressies and are much happier with a token that's been chosen with thought and love.

No we haven't been saving although I can see DW planning a raid on the savings account. She will try not to but what's the option? She refuses to have a credit card (and so do I). I think she might try downscaling on cost of pressies too.

Any other thoughts on the cost of Christmas all welcome.

Postpone it by 24-72 hours and you could save yourself a helluva lot of money getting it all in the Sales!

Also, the children get so much from relatives that I think it is totally justifiable to just do them a good stocking full of pressies (particularly when they are under fives).

One of the DCs aunties tends to buy them tickets to a panto as their main pressies. It has become a bit of a tradition and stores up lovely memories for them as they grow up. The always really look forward to the treat and think they appreciate it much more than just more random pressies that are soon forgotten in teh maelstrom of pressie opening!

We definitely do have less disposable income for pressies this year. We lost our FTC in June 2011 when the Govt decided to lower the threshold by about £15,000 virtually overnight (and they generously gave us a whole month to pay back they £84 they'd overpaid us through their tardiness to stop payments when they'd changed their policy). That £40 a month did make a difference and it's sorely missed. Frittering seems to have gone out of the window in this household but we are still finding things very tight at the end of the month.

Bah humbug ! I feel quite depressed now.....

try to avoid thinking about or leave 'til the new year to sort? I always start saving for christmas just after the summer holidays

Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you? I pick up bargains through out the year in sales, sometimes starting in January sales.

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not? I dont have a budget for food, we just buy what we fancy, but i do start adding non perishables to the weekly shop from about now, so it takes the pressure off and i also collect my shopping recipts from Morrisons in the weeks running up as they usually do an offer to get money off your xmas shop.

Has this changed since the recession started? I have always been more carefull with money since the recession espcially now as money does not seen to go as far.

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online? I do a mix of online and in store shopping, depends on who has the best bargain! I do feel safe shopping online as i always use a reputable website with secure check out.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?
How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year?
M tips would be, only buy for those you need too. Buy in the year in sales if you can and make a list of who you have bought for so you dont forget and buy more. Also after christmas you can get cheap cards, wrapping paper etc from most shops, i always stock pile for the next year so that saves a small fortune. Also as above, add a non perishable to the weekly shop in the run up to xmas.

I have no idea what the final total will be this year but it may be around £600 including all presents.

I plan Christmas all year, save up money and Nectar points etc. We aren't doing presents this year because we're hard up - we will get our 7 month old a book as a token gift, but that's it. We're hosting and everyone is chipping in so that we can afford the food.

When we did do presents I mostly shopped online and always budgeted and saved in advance. I feel safe shopping obline. As our son gets older I will buy presents in sales throughout the year.

Biggest tip: don't do presents for adults!

I think Christmas is a major source of a lot of stress and spending to lots of people including me. I've learnt that I have to control my spending carefully or it spirals very easily.
What has worked for me is;

• my family only buys for dc's and no adults except my parents.
• DH and I buy a small gift only but go out for dinner/away for a night in Jan sometime.
• use a Christmas present app. I've entered everyone I need to buy for and a budget for each. I enter presents as soon as I've bought them. This has been a revelation for me as in the past I've bought in a scattergun fashion and found myself on Dec 23rd having spent £50 on one nephew and £10 on another.
• yes I do try to shop where there are offers but I also know that if I wait for offers that don't appear then I'm more likely to panic buy which is always a disaster.
• I also make myself stop as soon as the budget is reached. I then don't even look at gift things anymore.
• wrap presents up as soon as the gift is complete.
• shop for food fairly normally. If you have people visiting shop like you would if they visited in February. You MUST however buy a box of celebrations regardless

I think it's easy to forget just how much 'stuff' comes into your house at Christmas especially if you have dc's. I often review what I've bought my own dc's and keep things back for their birthdays.

This year I'll probably spend around £400 all in.

They'd like to know what plans you have to get finances in order - or is it something you manage well, try to avoid thinking about or leave 'til the new year to sort?

Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you?
I'm used sales and discounts much more this year. Mr Sainsburys set the ball rolling yesterday with his toy sale! It's certainly helps to be able to spend less and get more for your money.

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not? Has this changed since the recession started?
Yes to gifts, food and drink less so. The budgets for gifts, for friends and family as reduced.

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online?
My shopping is a combination of online and in the shops. I do enjoy Christmas shopping and find it a good to be able to browse but enjoy the hastle-free that is buying things online. I will always shop around and like to find a bargain online.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?
DH and I are only buying each other a little gift this year. Normally we spend quite a lot on each ther but this year we've decided to cut back. I'd much rather spend the money on our DC or save for our holidays so this seems like a sensible sacrifice. This year we have agreed with IL not to buy gifts for adults, well all still buy for children just save a bit by not getting for each other.

How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year? In theory we were saving, we decided to do that earlier in the year but it's not panned out like that. Various things have happened which meant we've had to dip into the pot which is now much less full than it should be [hshock]. Think we need a more foolproof plan for next year!

They'd like to know what plans you have to get finances in order - or is it something you manage well, try to avoid thinking about or leave 'til the new year to sort? I try not to think about it

Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you? Yes I try to. TKMaxx is my friend too!

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not? Has this changed since the recession started? No I don't set a budget but I tend to be quite frugal anyway. We share out food costs round the family so that helps.

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online? I do both, I do feel safe if I've looked for the secure shopping mark.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?
Don't get carried away! Don't try to give what you will receive - give what you can afford. Don't overbuy food, the shops are only closed for a day...

How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year? No idea tbh, haven't bought anything yet. AAAAAGH!

I start to shop around august. so that by November I dont have to think about presents or inflated prices. i also have a littlewood catalogue that gets a bit abused around Christmas and I pay off over the year.
I dont set a budget but each child gets the same amount spent on them depending on what we can afford. I did pretty much 90% of my shopping on ebay last year.
I happily buy second hand products for the kids and others if they are in good condition.
I will spend a lot less on christmas this year as they are going to their dads for the first time so we will have a scaled back version of christmas the weekend before.

What plans you have to get finances in order - or is it something you manage well, try to avoid thinking about or leave 'til the new year to sort?

I wouldn't say I really get my finances in order, I just start very very early on the shopping and try to buy a few gifts every month of the year.

Do you wait for sales and discounts?

Yes I try not to buy anything full price if I can help it!

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not?

Yes for gifts, have a set amount per person. Food wise we don't buy a lot of extras at Christmas as visiting family all contribute to food and drink.

Has this changed since the recession started?

I have always budgeted and bought my gifts in the same way

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online?

I do the majority of my shopping online and will look for reviews of a website before purchasing if I am unfamiliar with them.
I will only venture out to Christmas shop if I am using Tesco voucher exchange or to the Boots points event.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?

Shop around! It's time consuming but saves a fortune.
Mumsnet has brilliant Christmas online bargains thread that I check before buying anything.
Save nectar points, club card points or advantage points and look out for in store events

How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year?

Will be probably around £1000 but have spread that cost over the whole year.

They'd like to know what plans you have to get finances in order - or is it something you manage well, try to avoid thinking about or leave 'til the new year to sort? We manage ok because we plan well in advance.

Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you?
Yes, I buy stuff mainly in the sales and second hand, wherever I see a good quality bargain. Im not proud because we are a one income family, having recently made the decision for me to be a SAHM

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not? Has this changed since the recession started? Yes budgeting for everything

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online? I do both, no preference. Yes.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?
We only buy one gift for each other, and several small gifts for the children. Wider family we only buy small gifts for the children and nothing for the adults. Would rather spend the money getting together for family time than more unwanted gifts.

How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year? Aiming for £150 including gifts, have started buying early october and will stock up for the festive period as it gets nearer the time.

For our extended family we only buy for one person as a secret Santa with a budget of £30. My DH and I also only buy on a budget of £30 for each other. For the kids as there birthdays are Oct and Nov we start buying really early to spread the cost but we also put money into a Christmas saving account each month to help. I try to buy supermarket saver stamps too so the food bill isn't a struggle either.

This Year is the first year i have saved up money for christmas.Usually i panic and put a lot of it on a credit card. I have saved £50 a month with a friend in work and after the 1st couple of months i havent really missed it, my dh unbeknown to me has also been saving £30 a month, i have also been saving with tesco stamps for my grocery shopping although ive not done so well with this, i had been putting the old couple of pounds on here and there.
I do budget gifts for family and friends, I no longer buy for siblings just for nieces and nephews and that is a maximum of £20 per child, i buy for parents but not really a budget, they are really good to us so i generally buy something that they like without considering the cost.I dont buy for my friends anymore but a small token for their children.
This year i had a special discount weekend at work and got the childrens main present then.
We are having christmas dinner at my parents this year so not got to spend much on food.
I think all in all with new outfits for children aswell, i will be spending around £ 500(i hope).

They'd like to know what plans you have to get finances in order - or is it something you manage well, try to avoid thinking about or leave 'til the new year to sort?
I plan ahead. I spread the cost of Christmas - buying presents in August, September and October and food/ drink in November & December.

Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you?
Almost always buy gifts in the sales, unless its a specific request. I tend to start buying at the end of the summer sales and then keep an eye out for things I need in all sales up until November.

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not? Has this changed since the recession started?
Yes, I have a budget in my head for gifts. Food and drink less so but take advantage of offers when see them.

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online?
Most gift shopping done on line as can browse at home and easier to take advantage of offers. Then will often get delivered to store to save on postage.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?
Use internet to keep an eye of sales. I bookmark pages and once a week or so go and check for offers.
I save up supermarket points (eg nector, tesco) and use it for the Christmas food and drink.
Post presents/ cards early then can use second class.

How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year?
Probably about £400 in total.

Do you wait for sales or discounts when buying gifts - does this help you?

If there are ever any special offers I will use these to buy gifts for the children. Also will use Tesco double points for buying wine and gifts if they are included in the offer.

Do you set budgets for gifts, food, drink etc - if so, why? If not, why not? Has this changed since the recession started?

Budget has been getting smaller over the last four or five years. We have to stick to it. I also stock up on alcohol early on and buy things on offer.
I've also found a few things from charity shops - books and games in very good condition. Luckily my children are too young to notice.

Do you shop online or do you prefer to buy gifts in person? Do you feel safe shopping online?

I buy online if it's a better deal than going in person. it sometimes is. I feel quite safe doing this.

What money saving tips can you pass on to others at this festive time - for example - do you make your own gifts? Do you buy fewer gifts?

Just buy fewer gifts and stick to it. I used to buy early, but then I'd keep on buying stuff if i saw it. Not anymore! This year I am sticking to my budget and have already told family I am spending £ on their child and so not to spend too much on our children.
Keeping an eye for bargains in charity shops and ebay is a good tip.
Moneysaving expert is a good website that often has discounts and special offers. I look at this from time to time. But I think sometimes it makes you think you need to buy something when normally you wouldn't. I like his mantra:
Do I need it? Can I afford it? Have I looked to see if it is cheaper elsewhere?

How much will you and your family spend on Christmas this year? Have you been saving for Christmas or buying things over the last few months or year?

I have been trying to save since the end of summer holidays for Christmas. But , I've had to dip into the money for car repairs etc. Children will get around £50 spent on them and Dh will get £30 ish.