Budgeting for Christmas: Do you plan ahead or spend as you go? - £200 to be won.

[EllieSmumsnet]

On average Mumsnetters are expecting to spend £786.30 this Christmas. Although Christmas is a magical time of year, it can also be an expensive one – especially when it comes to making it special for your kids. From gifts to festive treats, the costs can sneak up quickly!

Do you plan ahead with a set budget, spread the cost across the year, or have clever ways to keep spending under control? Perhaps you’ve tried Secret Santa swaps, homemade gifts, or setting spending limits for family and friends. We’d love to hear your tips and strategies for managing the financial side of Christmas. How do you balance your festive spending?

• Post your thoughts in the thread below to be entered into a Mumsnet prize draw
• One lucky MNer will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice (from this list of VEX retailers).
• The closing date for entries will be 20th December 2024.

Here’s what some of our users say about the Natwest Rooster Card:

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We’ve had to cut back a lot over the last few years, so I spend much less on Christmas than I used to to & it honestly hasn’t made any difference to our enjoyment of the holidays!
In terms of gifting - adults don’t buy for each other any more. Kids get smaller gifts & then we tend to try to do an activity together instead. I bake & cook a lot of food from
scratch & that definitely saves money (& it makes for a good activity too!).
i love scouring charity shops, jumble sales & car boots throughout the year to pick up bargain little gifts for people - kids toys & books especially!

I start buying in September. I make a list and try to stick to budget but this year have gone off budget a little.

I but things through the year, cards and stuff like that in January sales. I bought a lovley bag as a gift reduced to £40 from £100 a while ago. It’s always been a way to do this, spread the cost. I also clear a draw of the freezer and buy bits from October onwards like pigs in blankets plus have a Christmas cupboard where I hide nice chocolate biscuits and stuff like that.

I wish I was organised enough to plan totally ahead, maybe one year!
I do a mix of being semi-organised in November which lured me into a false sense of security ensuing a mad rush around 16-20 December.
It all comes together in the end though and as a family with a growing tween and late teen now the cherished memories are of the actual magic of the season rather than a pile of gifts on the day.

I scour facebook marketplace, and ebay for BNWT things at a bargain, and use a catalogue for paying by installments (because I am not good a saving - I always dip into it for 'emergencies' - I get zero percent where I can and spread my payments - and wait for a 20% off deal to come up.

I have an amount in my head - around £600, but don't stick to it - it can be slightly higher or lower depending on whether I can get item in the sale, or the presents which are wished for are of a lower value - I look for the offers at Argos.

I start my Christmas present shopping in the January sales. I save so much by doing this but the downside is storing everything until the next year

I buy all year round for the stocking fullers, but plan around October when I don't have to save for holidays and summer things, I make a note when their face lights up at a game or book, or they mention loving a certain brand, I will look out for this in the sales - often waiting until the 20th when reductions start

I used to go mad at Christmas - lots of overpriced tat - and my DC's wanted EVERYTHING - we have scaled down and negotiated a Christmas list - as santa has got less time and money since Covid - so I have a budget and buy a few wishlist items, stocking fillers and celebrations tubs when on offer - and I have cut my spending down by 50% - (and saved a lot of plastic going to landfill)

I don't have a set budget but I do look at all the sales even from boxing day for things that can be for the following christmas. Like the size up clothes onsale for the kids, I use latest deals app and Facebook group to keep an eye on bargains throughout the year. From August I try to set aside 100£ a month to go towards the foods and extra christmas bits. And we forgo takeaways and such from September.

I do half and half - save what I can - but if I see something they want before Christmas - I will buy it. I also trawl ebay for preloved toys and games I know they want - but at a fraction of the price (Biggest bargain Apple Airpods BNWT for £90)

Start gift buying in September and try to finish in November. Buy all cupboard food beginning of December pluscheese and other fridge stuff that would last. Usually my Christmas grocery shop is quite small due to this

I set money aside each month for all things Christmas - food, gifts, 🌲, etc.

I saved money this year by suggesting to friends that we stop buying for each other's children. I'm also not sending cards because HOW MUCH for a stamp?!

I try and have a surplus at the end of the month and transfer that to my savings account for Christmas, (and holidays etc) I try and set a budget - but if 'the must have toy' goes over (or under the budget) I will always accommodate - I have used a catalogue in the past to help with the cost of a Playstation - and I found that manageable paying interest free.

We don't buy presents amongst friends except for small token ones if we want, like lip balm, a compact mirror. But I do love meeting up for dinner with friends over the holiday period, to me that's 2 in 1. Eat lovely food and spend time with friends catching up.

I do small jobs on the side and save that for meetups with friends in the lead up. Managed to save £70 in the last 2 months, and it has paid for meals out with 2 friendship groups. Socialising is very important to me otherwise i start to feel disconnected and lonely so i am keen to keep money aside for this.

We budget £1000 for Christmas and save throughout the year. This covers everything, gifts, days out, and a few extra bits and bobs.

I tend to start shopping in September, but will buy things like cards, wrapping paper, crackers and possibly decorations in the January sales.

We also save supermarket rewards for our Christmas food shop.

I have spreadsheets going back years so I know what I've bought previously, how much I've spent etc, but it also serves as a shopping list for DD'S stocking.

Knowing we have the money keeps us on track, and there is usually money left over so we can book something to do in January.

We have an online joint account with a savings pots feature. Every time money goes into the account (wages, child benefit etc) I immediately transfer 5% to a Christmas and birthday pot. I also have "round ups" activated so every time we spend money, the bank automobiles rounds that to the nearest pound and transfers the extra to the savings pot. So if, for example, I spend £10.47, it will transfer 53p straight into the pot which quickly adds up without even noticing

I don't get to budget. I dknt have the budget for that!
I try and always buy things with thought behind it. I find people really do like it when I buy something that means something to us.
Also towards the end of the year I'm spying for appropriate items. And definitely on the lookout for the middle of lidl and aldi who around Halloween start getting little bits in.
I always spy where cheaper deals on food is.
And always go unbranded now.
I try not to panic buy as most shops jave learnt by now and keep the shelves stocked.
My thinking always has to be spend a little as possible. And the spending goes from there.

I have a notes page dedicated to everyone I need to buy for. I generally start with ideas then hone it down.
I also have a notes page to prices I've seen here there and everywhere to keep an eye on whether a certain site does it cheaper or is having a sale soon.

I get paid a week early each year around the 20th.
So I buy the kids presents and everything else I need until the money runs out on the 20th. I then only use the rest of the money for Christmas meal food.

I would never go into debt. But we are always skint as hell in January!

We don’t need to particularly budget, but definitely use the majority of our disposable income in October, November and December on Christmas gifts, donations, entertaining, social events, new outfits etc.

Mid October DH and I sit down and make a rough Christmas gift list for the DC, their partners and DGC.

I try all year round and keep them in my loft, I also traul ebay for PS5 games which are used but VGC - get them for half the real price, i save what I can - but it's not a lot, so catalogues help me, as does Park Hampers.

We don't really plan, but we never spend more than we afford and set budgets with relatives, so spend an agreed amount of nieces and nephews. We also make sure whatever we buy is at the best price we can find. The only adults we buy gifts for are our parents.

I start thinking about it in September and try and save a bit towards Xmas.

Also, I save a bit of money each month anyway but don't save November and December and that goes on Christmas.

Don't spend more than I have. Definitely use Vinted / eBay etc for some items if I can get them new which helps.

And a few weeks before Christmas- maybe 6 weeks? - I add a couple of things to the trolley in the food shop and store them

I’ve varied over the years to buy during sale times and as and when I see something I know someone will like but come Christmas they don’t look so special anymore so find myself compensating and spending more than wanted to. so now I just buy nearer to Christmas. My budget is flexible as possible as I can’t match price easily if I’m to give what suits people really.

I plan ahead. Always.
Buy bits throughout the year and order and pay for Christmas food in September when M&S pre order comes out.
I like December to be about doing things, rather than shopping