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.

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Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

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We start buying from about early October onwards. The idea is to balance out the spending, though what normally happens is that it's all a bit haphazard and come mid December we find ourselves trying to fine tune present distribution, with predictably expensive results.

I use Park for saving for vouchers, and buy throughout the year, plus I enter competitions on facebook, twitter and instgram for prizes which I can put aside for the family (Won a PS5 two years ago)

I tend to spend as I go, as I am no good at saving, I don't like a lot of plastic stocking fillers or selection boxes, so will buy carefully, for my dc's and will give others home made gifts when I can (Love to make fudge and buy fancy gift boxes from etsy)

I buy presents throughout the year when shops and websites have offers. I limit to £100 for each DC and DH. Then I start buying food like biscuits/snacks/ drinks in November.

I have a separate christmas account set up. Standing order on pay day to tx to the account. I treat it like any other bill.

I save for Christmas - try to get to £300 for all of the extras, plus I buy gifts all year round or add something when at the supermarket to make hampers up for my gran and mom. I think making my own gifts would save me a lot and try to set time to do this each year -but never seem to get around to it.

I've been in an incredibly difficult financial situation for the past 6 months. I've had to use credit cards to get my children their gifts but... paying it over a period of months makes it more affordable and I couldn't see them go without.

I buy things all year round to keep the costs down. It's definitely worth looking in the sales after Christmas for gift wrap etc. and keeping a list of what you buy.

My strategy is to save for Christmas - save my clubcard vouchers all year for December, save for gifts, I usually manage around £600 by October, I will also buy in the sales for next year (gift wrap and cards).
I was horrified that my DS wanted the 'new' football kit for his Christmas present - nearly £100 for the full kit and name and number of the player - who would almost likely leave mid season.

I really try to budget as I hate putting things on credit (been there done that) so buy as a go along, I make my own fudge for relatives, and peppermint creams for others. I let my DC's know that they have a budget of £200 each.
I buy Christmas cards and wrap in the 75% off sales in the new year - but only hand deliver cards to people now - cost of stamps is extortionate.

I try to keep an eye out for things I think each person would like for Xmas through the year but often end up giving them it early and needing to buy them something else for Xmas. So my top tip doesn't work well for me.

When the DC were young I loved to give piles of gifts and this was possible as I went to NCT baby/child second hand sales where I could find excellent condition barely touched items. Main present and others were new but things like jigsaws and books were bought secondhand.
I created a precedent though and now always feel obliged to provide a pile of gifts. I usually start getting bits in September or October and spread the cost over about 3 months. We don't have many other family to buy for. I keep a spreadsheet of what I've spent and always make sure both DC have had similar amounts - it'd bother me otherwise.

I use the Christmas threads on here to help, buying early and good offers. I don't budget as such but try and spread presents across months. There are offers to be found. Harder now the kids are older and more specific about what they want. Also got a few winted things (new).

I have a separate savings account which I have a monthly direct debit going into. Enough to cover birthdays and Christmas.

For me it’s about planning and also avoiding unnecessary expenditure. We love Christmas as a family and are fortunate to be able to buy what we want and need. Since my divorce I’ve spent a lot less both on the DC and on food and I’m pretty sure we’ll have an even better time than pre-divorce!

I have a budget - I don't like to be in debt, so will save throughout the year, and buy as I go along, I usually manage to stick to my budget, I've used 4 months interest free before for a couple of my purchases. I know we want to please our family with a great Christmas, but if you are paying for it throughout the next year - you'll just resent it - I now I've been there when I bought a console from Curry's on credit - horrendous interest

I save for Christmas as other than the family holiday it's the most expensive month of the year, I put away what is left over at the end of the month as my 'emergency fund' which is used for Christmas and replacing white goods and unexpected repairs)

I save money each month towards Christmas and set a budget for presents for each family member/friend that I buy for. I pick up gifts throughout the year and stock up on wrapping paper, candles, decorations etc for the following year in the post Christmas sales. The christmas threads on here are full of great ideas.

Same as lot on this thread. Put £100 a month away into a separate bank account. This covers all presents for the kids and family. DH also keeps a track online for some of the bigger things he knows the kids want as the prices can change so he usually manages to get them at a good price.

I always say I'm not buying gifts then feel bad at the last minute so use my credit card to buy some. Then pay it off in January.

I start buying in the January sales, and as I see deals through the year I buy them. So today I’ve bought all my Christmas cards, wrapping paper and tags at 50% off which I will use next year.

i also save for Christmas, not monthly but ensuring I have enough by November to buy any remaining presents and Xmas food

I save a pot of money for Christmas, around 50% of what I spend on gifts and also I buy for Christmas food throughout the year, and keep in my freezer.

I have some monthly side gig earnings that go straight into a PayPal account. That usually more than covers the annual Christmas presents spend with a bit left to put towards the following year's money.

We have a Christmas savings account and pay in £100 a month pays for everything x

I saved up £500 for December, and use this for the extra shopping, stocking filler toys, and gifts for the family, for the 'big present' I try to buy this in November - hoping they don't change their mind of course. I have bought a console from a catalogue paying in 3 months with no interest after Christmas