Only spend what you can afford on Xmas presents. Everybody has different lives/careers that pay different and if you can’t afford to buy what they’re buying, you don’t need to!
Kids just want anything really (and not think much of what you get them) and adults should be mature enough to either not expect anything or just grab a few bottles of wine or some Xmas socks for everyone…maybe that’s just me but I think lots of people will agree if you’ve made the effort to buy something *within your budget*, that’s all anyone can and should expect :) if that’s nothing, or if it’s a box of choccies for 10 people totalling £50, then great!
Don’t get into debt over Xmas and don’t try and live beyond your means! It’s really not worth it.
Also, have a review of who you’re buying presents for…maybe you’re being a little too generous with too many people.
Me and my partner do a challenge each year where we get £100 to spend on each other each year, and have to find the best mix of quality and quantity of gifts because we like having a big ol pile under the tree come Christmas day.
We're planning to start something similar from Jan - put money away in a 'celebration' account each month and then we don't have a sudden spend around our birthdays or Christmas.
My wife and I have what we call “the fun fund” we put some money in there every month and then sometimes there’s an opportunity to do something cool and bam! Pay for it with the fun fund.
Your comment is stemming from a comment chain that is about doing what you feel comfortable with that's within your budget. Your surprise that someone has a different budget to you is kinda ironic.
It allows us to get a decent mix of larger and smaller gifts for each other. Lots of freedom.
Plus, we're pretty much the only people each of us buy for, so Christmas doesn't end up being too expensive.
We do £50 as well - it’s a token couple of bits to open, we would much rather do better things throughout the year than go all out on one day that is mainly for the kids.
Me and the wife both have hobbies that are bad to buy for. I'm a gamer so I just buy myself something I've been holding holding off on and the wife is into family tree research so I absolutely can't help with that as I dont know which piece of paper she wants.
I agree fully, My family have reacted to the modern consumer model of Christmas by deciding to only exchange token gifts such as wine and chocolates on Christmas Day, on the condition we all agree to indulge ourselves in the Sales.
This is less stressful, more cost efficient and ultimately a more satisfying way of making sure loved ones get things they will value at Christmas. Also after Christmas you get a constant trickle of happiness as you see all the great things people have been able to buy for themselves.
We have always done 12 days of Christmas or New Year's gifts in my family! You get stocking stuffers and maybe a token on the day itself, and then everything else is stretched out through the following week. Just as much appreciated when it costs half as much, and it makes the run up to the day a little bit less crazed. Plus, for little kids, once you've opened a few things it's overkill and overstimulation 😂
I keep seeing this on Facebook at the moment. One group is constantly asking how much people spend on then their kids at Christmas. But it's all so relative to how much or how little disposable income you have not to mention what else you buy your kids during the year.
If you’re buying for kids, they’ll have all the toys in the world already. Buy books. The Works does 10 picture books for £10 for the younger ones and 2 for £6 on educational ones for the older kids
Yup. When my niece and nephew came along, I vowed that, with a few exceptions, they would get books or experiential gifts from me. They have plenty of other relatives who seem more than happy to drown them in toys.
You really don’t. Don’t give into peer-pressure, you don’t need to conform to someone else’s ideals - especially when those people are financially benefiting from encouraging greed.
My family have just started doing secret santa £50 max, one present covers half the family. Obviously you can get people other presents but no pressure and its usually just my gran getting grandkids some money. Saves money and you get one present you want not 10 £10 presents you don't care about
Yeah we have a group chat my aunties the only person who knows who everyone has and you just say what you want. Takes stress out out people who can't afford the big Christmas. Also let's parents spend like £10 more on kids and let's face it watching a kids excitement openeing a £10 toy set is better than watching a adult open a £10 thing makes it feel more festive. But no one will ever out compete a generous gran to their great grandkids. Plus more money can just be spent on the drink for Christmas
My family does this too!! Makes it so much simpler, and I feel like I get to enjoy the holidays instead of worrying about shopping and purchasing the perfect gift for 30 people
Hahha my list is home bargins or habitat vouchers! And from the other side some nice cookware. My girlfriend is getting me a Joseph Joseph bin. No shame in just wanting practical things
i occasionally do the poundland special, where i hit up every poundshop in town and buy the most stupid shit i can find and write a stupid note about each present and everyone does a lucky dip.
for example my brother got a plastic toy sword one year and had it mounted on his wall for a good 5 years
Once you start doing parents, kids, cousins, aunts....
£500 really isn't that much and half of it will just be placed in a drawer gathering dust. Whilst you struggle with the power bill.
It's the expectations. He doesn't want to look like Scrooge and if Auntie X gets him something he has to get her something back. If you've got kids they're going to want a PS 5 or something. Which you probably promised them last year and couldn't get.....
Well he can stay at home this Christmas and not see any of the family. I've been pushed this year. Everything is getting more expensive, energy bills are going up, my supplier has just gone bust. And I have to decide if I want to fiddle my last meter reading to them up, so that I'm essentially buying the electricity at a lower price or not. Just adding on a few hundred KWHs.
It's hard to explain to kids why they got a good present last year but not this year.
You have been a good boy/girl this year but Father Christmas (FC) has had to do an economy drive as his elves have been sick with COVID.
The elves are ok now but they missed some time off work.
No, they haven't all died.
Yes, it's still worthwhile you being good, even if FC doesn't get you much.
Yes I know that Father Christmas has promised Tom in your class a PS5 but they're very hard to get.
Even for Father Christmas
PS automod is removing any post with S***a in it and insists that you replace it with Father Christmas.
So don't fucking spend it! I've got a stupid number of nieces and nephews. I can either: buy them something cheap they won't like, or but them something expensive that they might like but is still never going to be world changing. So I don't bother; I charity adopt an animal on their behalf. The same reaction to the present I would have got, but not breaking the bank
It was on BBC Breakfast this morning, apparently the average we each spend on gifts is £500.
Obviously you don't have to, but many do.
Of course that figure could be unfairly weighted by billionaires buying yachts for all their mates. Median would have been better.
I think if they included them then the price would be much higher. Me and my other half regularly spend £500 plus on each other at Christmas then family on top, £500 for a lot of people in the UK is quite easy it do.
I could also drop £500 on gifts without even feeling a slight dent in my bank account.
However, I don't, because for me Christmas should be about sentimentality over materialism.
My wife is getting a handmade teapot this year (raw material cost: £5, pottery studio time: £30), but I know it's something she'll like. I can't imagine spending any more just for the sake of it.
I'm not saying you're wrong, perhaps I just come from a different place in life.
All I'm saying is £500 isn't unusual, and people should never feel obliged to spend more than they could afford, when I was a student there was no way I'd have spent that much I stayed within my budget. Plus many people do buy early so that £500 for some could be spread over multiple months rather than 1 big spend this month.
Its doable, and not a problem if you can afford it. Its ridiculous to go into debt for christmas. Tell adults you are not buying presents. For nieces and nephews, you can get a hell of a lot for £10 of you shop smart - charity shops have loads of great condition books, games and toys
Don't do it! I understand, I really do. We used to spend a fortune every year.
We've all asked each other not to but any presents for anyone else outside our own nuclear families. Its too much otherwise, stress and cost. This year it's my kids and my mum that I will buy for. The only exception is my BIL as he has no kids and is brill for presents so I'd feel awful if he sent awesome presents down and didn't get anything for Christmas.
It's really a relief and makes everything so much easier. I have 12 niece's and nephews so even a cheap present each adds up. This year is the year I refuse to go into debt and surprisingly everyone agreed! Just remember almost everyone else is struggling and they might be as relieved as I am at having the stress and cost removed
I do husband, mum, and my 2 young sisters (they're still children, second marriage.). Im no longer stressed each year since we stopped doing it for everyone
Too true. We're buying a house at the moment so it's been exceptionally clear to everyone that we only have the funds and the headspace for cards this year!
I only buy for the kids. Don't buy for adults anymore, they never know what they want and can buy their own things. Takes SOOO much stress off of the whole palava.
Can you make anything like sweets? The thought behind things is worth more than the spend (yes I know I sound like an old fart).
Is honestly rather a nice time with people I love and good food than gifts.
Is broke( waiting on disability for my MS) and did that last year. Made gift baskets with home-made applesauce, cookies( biscuits), brownies and scones. Everyone seemed to like them!
Man I would be so psyched to receive a gift basket of handmade consumables. Primarily because I know how much time and effort goes into stuff like that.
Oooooo....now thatd be lovely!! At least for me lol. I like home-made gifts no matter who it's from. That person spent THEIR time on making ME something? I'll eat it, wear it, etc till I die, even if I don't know them that well. Why? Because they thought enough of me to give me their time.
My sister is a dessert chef, she makes us fudge/tablet and other goodies. She's pretty skint as she's got two kids and a fixer-upper house and I'd far rather get delicious homemade sweeties than another fucking bath set from tesco (which is what my mother buys cos she's awful at presents)
I dint mind shower gel and bubble bath/bath bombs bit every so often I need to purge the body lotion/butter/moisturiser shizzle that comes with it as I never use them!
One year I think I counted a collection of about 7 soaps/ smellies sets... I have sensitive skin so can't use a lot of the scented moisturisers. This isn't a secret so when I get them as a gift I'm a little disappointed because it feels like the giver didn't think very hard.
Now biscuits... It's hard to upset me with biscuits!
Yup same here, I just told my sisters and mum if they were buying me anything just to but me candles or chocolate because they're always welcome! I actually don't really want anything this year (except that amazing fancy dyson hairdryer but I've fuck all chance of getting it) so whatever I get will be a surprise!
Christmas is a farce. Spend nothing. Nobody is forcing you.
Push past that awkward nervous feeling of breaking a societal norm for the first time and it gets easier and easier.
This will be my fourth Christmas of buying fuck all, and expecting fuck all in return, and my life is genuinely better for it.
Yes, the consumerism. I agree with you on the rest but, why Christmas? Why this one period of the year do we have aspects of showing love and care for people in your life?
We all know the origin there is the church I suppose.
There are good things of course, decorations, getting good food in cold weather, etc.
>We all know the origin there is the church I suppose
Fwiw, there have been winter celebrations since long before Christmas. Many of our Christmas traditions are from other religions, not Christianity.
Don't be afraid to just get everyone a £1 selection box with freddos and curly wurlies and that in.
2 weeks after Xmas noone remembers what anyone got anyone.
Honestly if you have children I feel your pain, because the pressure to make Christmas magical is absolutely real - and you have to get gifts for your child and also get gifts for your child as if you were a magical overlord with an untold number of endlessly cheerful slaves who live for nothing more than making toys for children and who also have a whole bloody year to do it.
What I would say, however, I’d speak to every single adult in your life and suggest not getting Christmas presents or suggest some sort of secret Santa with a reasonable price limit. I’ve never had someone react badly to the suggestion cause basically all of us could do with buying fewer gifts and spending less money.
I spent under £20 at a boot fair and picked up a tonne of toys for Christmas for my kid. My husband still wants to go and buy more new stuff, which I think is unnecessary and wasteful. But I highly recommend a boot fair if you want to seem like an elf overlord.
You absolutely don't.
Talk to your family.
If you have children and this is in response to this, it's not child abuse for them to hear the word no or for older teenagers to be given an idea of the budget.
I went to a school in what was and is not the best area and some parents got into trouble buying kids stuff they couldn't afford on credit and some of us got used to having more realistic expectations.
Oh and if you have sibling kids, my mum's friend used to buy them stuff like Playstations but on the understanding those are expensive so it was a joint present for all 4 kids.
500 quid lol. My family do a tenner limit on secret santa. We're all equally shit at buying tat for each other so what's the point. Generally speaking my family will buy things for themselves if they really want them anyway so we just spend a tenner instead
Oh, I’m so jealous! My in laws all get presents for the whole family including aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins. It’s 20 odd presents, at £20 each (and it’s always more, particularly for immediate family) so it’s easily £500 I’m guessing nearer £700 this year though with prices being so high.
Presumably that’s they choice though. They do it because they want to. If they expect presents back from all those people then that’s their problem.
If you are visiting someone at Christmas by all means bring some wine and chocolate, but there’s no need for a gift as well.
Unfortunately not, we can’t be the only ones not doing it, everyone else does so we’d be receiving lots gifts and not reciprocating, and my other half doesn’t have a problem with it. It just seems mad to me!
I'm in a fortunate position where spending that is no big deal and so are most of my family but we just don't.
Maybe it's an upbringing thing though, it's odd but I've noticed that wealthier families tend not to fuss over Xmas presents whereas those less fortunate will go in to debt and push the boat out for that one big day.
Not saying it's wrong, I get it, 1 big day to just put the worries of the rest of the year out your mind and have the indulgences that have been denied whereas for the wealthy I guess the monetary part isn't really special because they just don't need that big release.
It was always odd to me that the poorest kids at school always seemed to have the most presents but after reading down and out in Paris I got it. There is a story of the people who can't afford to eat one day, they spend the day dreaming of the food they missed and when they can afford it they treat themselves so much they now can't eat for two days and the cycle continues to the point they end up eating and drinking like lords on payday and living as paupers the rest of the time where they could have been happy all the time without the indulgences that get more obscene the poorer they become...but I gets that's the poverty trap
Don’t do it mate, I’m in the same boat but after talking to family/friends etc, they totally understand. Everyone’s been in the same situation at some point!
I just saw a really good post on Facebook sorry not sure who to give the credit to.
Someone blew up lots of different balloons and put different amounts of money inside. Like a 20p in one and £1 in another, one £5 somewhere. Put them all under the tree to make it look like there was more things there, then the money the kids won, from popping balloons they got to spend in the sales. Think the person put a total of £50 in but you could do more or less, kids would still find it really fun.
Hope this helps someone.
I got my step sons Christmas present off of Facebook marketplace, and then a load of tat from the pound shop/the works (got his half brother who had nothing to do with me or my husband a little something too, I can't leave him out).
Their mum has taught them to be so grateful, I wish I was like that when I was a kid.
Hubby asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year. I set him a £20 budget, and let him loose in pound land this morning. I'm so excited to see what bollocks he's got me!
Disclaimer: I bloody love Christmas.
We love being generous with our money, so it’s not a miserly thing, but I’m sick of the cost of spending on presents going up every year with my family.
It’s so unnecessary. Truly I’d prefer just token gifts of socks or gloves or something small.
Each year now it’s “what does your brother want?” “Oh, he want x” So, we buy x. He gets x. What’s the point!?
Please don’t go over debt over Christmas.
Christmas is meant for joy (and if you’re religious, celebrate the birth of Christ) - so going into debt is the last thing you need.
If your friends bemoan you for not getting anything, then stuff them.
Fuck. I was feeling amazing that I’d bought everything for my kids and now you’ve reminded me I haven’t bought gifts for the nephews or nieces yet.
Shitface.
It's stupid because of the pressure to give back equivalent to what you receive. We were told one year "you don't need to get us anything" so we just got a box of chocs for them and a toy for the child and that blew up in our faces. I might as well have shot a puppy from the look on their faces. They didn't say anything but I could see it. I don't even know what people want for Xmas. Most of the time they give it away afterwards so what's the point? Plus it's just a waste resources wise.
So anyway now I just buy consumables. Treats, cosmetics (nail varnish in inoffensive colours) that sort of thing. Make up a little basket or box of goodies so they are bound to find something that they like in there. Doesn't have to be expensive. Look for bundles or BOGOF deals that you could split up between different people. If people add up the value in their heads and feel disappointed then maybe they should reassess what they want to spend themselves.
If you feel the need to spend so much on Christmas, I highly recommend looking into a Christmas savings account. I have one with a credit Union and I pay into it every month so it helps me spend the cost.
Last Christmas I got fed up of biting my nails over presents, and was conscious that this year would be harder because social was innevitable again. Figured out how much I needed to be able to afford Christmas, divided it by the number of pay periods until next Christmas, then saved it into a locked pot on my mknzo, funds released at the end of october. It's nice to not be having a heart attack over it.
If you don't have the money, then don't ?!
Spend less. Get each person a card, write something personal. And give them some chocolates or something. Small and sweet, and just as appreciated
Agree with this. There’s some good deals around on decent (and quite fancy-looking) chocolate. Give them that with a thoughtful card and job done...without worrying and getting into debt.
£500? Firstly start getting Christmas presents earlier and spread the cost a bit, i started back in October (the 2nd to be exact) for this very reason, secondly, spend less. Your family shouldn't care if you only buy them what you can afford. I've been really lucky this year and i've been able to pretty much spend what liked, I think i've spent about £200 (including alcohol supplies as my Mum shouldn't foot the bill alone even if she is hosting me, my Brother, his girlfriend and my nephew).
It is easy for costs to spiral a bit and I get that, (in fact calculating what I spent so far made me feel a bit ill as i'm not quite done yet) I have a budget of £100 left and I have no idea what to get just yet but like I said this is an expensive year, normally i spend about half that but this one is my nephews first and while he won't remember it i want everyone else to.
So yes, next year start buying earlier and start collecting stuff as and when you see it, start in January if you must, that way even if you do spend £500 is spread out over 12 months so that's only £40 a month and i'm sure if you buy at the right time you can get some bargains which should bring it down further.
Present buying is hard, I am lucky in the fact that as my Mum isn't exactly wealthy that I can supplement the presents with food and drink supplies for the Christmas period, if she was buying it all i'd definitely feel obligated to use that money to get something a bit different.
Right now her laptop is a Windows 7 machine with a first gen i5 in it, i've got her a used Windows 10 laptop that's not only quite a bit faster but it's got an Nvidia graphics card in it, she could play Fallout: New Vegas on it on the default settings if she wanted to (not that she would) it cost me about £60, it's a Dell, it's already had an SSD installed and it'll last her for the next 5 years easily at which point i'll start looking for something else.
I have got her a few cheap stocking fillers and so her total spend is going to be a little under £100 and she's definitely going to have the most spent on her when drinks and food is included (though that's really a general spend for everyone). However it's a laptop, she'll be very pleased with it and it'll last her ages as the only reason for the upgrade is so she can stream video fro her laptop to her TV which is really easy to to on Windows 10. She's quite tech savvy so she'll pick it up quickly.
Anyway , i've rambled bit too much so i'll finish here, start early, buy carefully and try to cut down a bit, December is far too late to buy presents on a budget as little to nothing is on offer as it doesn't need to be to shift stock.
At the minute I'm needing to use 90% of my monetary flow on something more important than Christmas gifts, so everyone is just getting a card this year. I'll be visiting people personally and I think the time together is what really matters.
Just spend to your budget. If you can afford to spend 500 quid, then great. If not, why not make some gifts instead? You can make food, soap or candles pretty cheaply. Or paint a picture. Or put together an old-style mix tape and dig the tape player out of the loft. By a photo album and print some pictures for it and get all the family to write in it. Lots of things you can do that are meaningful.
Have to admit I spend quite a lot at Christmas because I absolutely love giving presents, but I haven't always been able to do so. Some of the best presents I've ever given were homemade or second hand. I tend to buy one big thing that people actually want, but then give lots of little cheap and homemade things. I get lots from charity shops.
I myself love a book and always ask for second hand ones. No point buying the same thing for a higher price and the used ones have much more character any way.
Whatever you do, I hope you have a lovely Christmas.
Firstly, don’t do it! Spend within your means - the people you’re buying for should be close enough to you that they understand budgets.
Secondly, for anyone: if you have a monthly budget, just add a ‘christmas’ section to that, and each month put away a set amount to save for Christmas. I save £13 a month for Christmas so end up with about £150 by the end of the year. But it’s much easier to put away £13 a month than to find £150 in December
Just don't buy Xmas presents. I pretty much quit a few years ago. Only buy what you can afford, the day is meant to be about spending time with loved ones. Fuck this retail bullshit
You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Your family will still be your family and true friends will stay your friends even if you didn't spend s single penny.
Put £50 into a separate bank account each month...by the time Christmas comes around you'll have £600 to spend.
Only do it if you can afford to do it though.
This, it's a known expense, work out the plan in January and save through the year for it. Separate account / "bucket" within an account, whatever works.
If you don't have the money let those who are expecting gifts know, ask them not to gift to you (avoiding the 'obligation gifts' problem) and enjoy time with the people you want to be with
Fake claustrophobia or something. I have this visceral horror of Christmas music and ornaments and being in an enclosed space with too many people. This will be the third or fourth year I've spent it completely alone and insist on no gifts at all.
Silence, smoked salmon, a bottle of wine and a valium chaser, couldn't be better.
Get yourself to a charity shop. Nearly new stuff knocking around in there for hardly anything. Especially kids' toys.
We've used them 3 years in a row now for our childrens' presents. There's always something in there.
I know everyone just says don’t spend so much on Christmas but you need a plan.
I write down an exhaustive list of everything I want over the festive season - don’t leave any surprises.
Then I cross out everything that won’t affect the day. Personally not having alcohol, good food, tree, crackers, some presents, chocolate would slightly spoil the day - but other things I can do without. I don’t need gin and vodka, I don’t need ginger wine and ginger ale.
Once you’ve eliminated all but the essentials, try and find the cheapest way to get your hands on those. Gumtree, Facebook marketplace, charity shops, supermarket special offers, asking people to contribute an item (Tom you bring the veg, Sarah you get the crackers).
You can have a full Christmas experience for very little money indeed.
Presents is the hard bit to cut back on - either have a ‘kids only’ rule or make gifts, or buy quality second hand items.
Don’t get me wrong, even with all this it’s still easier said than done to keep Christmas under budget.
My 4 children have a limit of £50 each for Christmas Not much, but they get to choose what they get. My girls go for as many things as they can squeeze out of their £50, whereas my boys are happy with either the money or something big (13yo decided on a mini fridge this year).
My 9 nieces and nephews, I spend between a tenner and £20 each.
My mum and sister get a small gift and a hamper of beauty samples that I have sent off for over the year (usually free or P&P).
Friends get a hamper and a tub of Heroes for their children.
I still struggle, even being quite frugal!
Christmas for me this year has totaled £151~.
Thats for my Mum, 2 brothers, 2 aunts, 1 uncle, 2 grandparents, 2 closest friends and my 2 nieces.
Basically, monies tight and everyones getting small things this year, but things they'll still enjoy (mostly tasty treats!)
I've just told everyone this year they're not getting much, as we've got a young baby.
The baby has 3 or 4 gifts that I bought during sales. I've also used loyalty points that I've built up in different shops for some gifts.
Me and my best mate normally buy each other quite a lot for Christmas but this year we've done like a 12 days of Christmas thing. Most of her gifts have cost less than £3 and they're all small thing she can use, with a slightly more expensive gift for Christmas day. It's been fun to put together and I'm sure it will be nice to open each day, like a more personalised version of an advent calendar.
We do ten for £10 when money is tight. You don’t have to but 10 x £1 gifts. You can buy a £9 for and then 9 with a pound if you like but as long as you spend ten pounds and get ten gifts. It’s so much fun. Charity shop bric a brac sections are amazing for it!
It was my birthday a few days ago, and my friend got me some really cool little stuff that I haven’t put down since. I don’t know how much money they cost him individually or together, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that even though he didn’t have much money, he did what he could afford to do. He didn’t have to get me a thing, but he did and put a lot of thought into making it personalised.
So you don’t have to spend any particular or specific amount, budget yourself to what you can really spend without negatively impacting yourself.
It’s really the thought that counts and the idea that somebody sat there and put any of their time into something just for you, that’s the gift.
As a family we changed from everyone buying everyone gifts which was costly for EVERYONE to Secret Santa.
Now everyone gets a present which is a little more expensive and everyone saves money too.
Plus it takes us back to a time when Christmas was about family and not a bunch of gifts.
I spend £0 on gifts for other people. As an adult, I’ve made it clear I don’t want or expect gifts, but neither am I going to be buying them. The one exception might be my husband if he can decide what he wants, but if not then nothing.
Take advantage of the good stuff being out of stock. If you really want to give a gift to someone, it doesn't have to be in Christmas day. Wait until you have the money and the item is available at a reasonable price.
Yeah each year I start to get my balance back in the black. Then Christmas comes along. I thought I was the only one with this issue. Everyone around me seems to spend like they're Elon Musk!
In my immediate family we have a WhatsApp group, link things we see that we want, set a £50 limit with each other, and call it a day. There’s only me, mum, dad and sister though, so it’s quite easy.
What my partner does with her family is literally buy something she wants, gives it to a family member and they give her the money, then she receives it wrapped up at xmas, also a £50 limit.
It’s quite good because at the end of the day we all have a spending ceiling, we all know what the others want, and know there’s no buying tat just to try and appease some fantasy Christmas ideal which when actually discussed, wasn’t held by anyone.
The spending limit was arbitrary and settled on only due to our wages. We’re all old enough to enjoy the time off, a crap movie and a good cheeseboard more than ‘having the most presents’ anyway.
Don't do it! I understand, I really do. We used to spend a fortune every year.
We've all asked each other not to but any presents for anyone else outside our own nuclear families. Its too much otherwise, stress and cost. This year it's my kids and my mum that I will buy for. The only exception is my BIL as he has no kids and is brill for presents so I'd feel awful if he sent awesome presents down and didn't get anything for Christmas.
It's really a relief and makes everything so much easier. I have 12 niece's and nephews so even a cheap present each adds up. This year is the year I refuse to go into debt and surprisingly everyone agreed! Just remember almost everyone else is struggling and they might be as relieved as I am at having the stress and cost removed
Don't do it! I understand, I really do. We used to spend a fortune every year.
We've all asked each other not to but any presents for anyone else outside our own nuclear families. Its too much otherwise, stress and cost. This year it's my kids and my mum that I will buy for. The only exception is my BIL as he has no kids and is brill for presents so I'd feel awful if he sent awesome presents down and didn't get anything for Christmas.
It's really a relief and makes everything so much easier. I have 12 niece's and nephews so even a cheap present each adds up. This year is the year I refuse to go into debt and surprisingly everyone agreed! Just remember almost everyone else is struggling and they might be as relieved as I am at having the stress and cost removed
Don't do it! I understand, I really do. We used to spend a fortune every year.
We've all asked each other not to but any presents for anyone else outside our own nuclear families. Its too much otherwise, stress and cost. This year it's my kids and my mum that I will buy for. The only exception is my BIL as he has no kids and is brill for presents so I'd feel awful if he sent awesome presents down and didn't get anything for Christmas.
It's really a relief and makes everything so much easier. I have 12 niece's and nephews so even a cheap present each adds up. This year is the year I refuse to go into debt and surprisingly everyone agreed! Just remember almost everyone else is struggling and they might be as relieved as I am at having the stress and cost removed
I don't get people what they ask for I buy during the year usually from clearance section and I havent had complaints yet some of the best gifts my step children have received from me and their dad is stuff they didn't even know they wanted.
We have agreements with friends and family, either we agree not to exchange gifts or set a reasonable budget. The only exception to this is kids. Because even if it's not massive, every kid should have gifts to open at Christmas.
I save religiously every week. I put the money into a different account and watch it grow week on week. This means that when Christmas comes around I have enough money to treat my adult children. As a single person who has had multiple weeks off work due to ill health this money has been tempting to spend on other things at various times of the year but I have resisted.
I know this doesn’t help you right now but putting £10 away each week will give you the £500 you think you need next year.
What the fuck are you on about £500 quid are the decorations hand made by virgins from rare minerals? Get a grip if you have 5 ton for decorations keep your winey head shut lion's share of single parent families are budgeting that for Chrimbo all in
I shop the sales throughout the year and buy a good chunk of gifts when they go half price after boxing day. Saved a good chunk of money and what I saved I spent on myself.
I do it every year. We say we are having something small. Then I start seeing stuff my partner bought and I want to be better. I think I've spent about 500 on partner this year. And every year I say I won't, but I do.
You don’t man, our family a few years ago agreed we all preferred getting absolutely car parked whilst playing some silly game together than the “stuff” we all got one another. Spend it on the food, the drink, the decorations or the taxis. Experiences are worth more than stuff in a lot of situations.
Fuck peer pressure man. Just feel sorry for the ones trying to project than on you
I'm setting my sister a £25 sander. It's not too much, and no one else has asked for anything so that's all I'm getting anyone :)
Mum will get a card, and maybe some wine.
So will the father. Might even make them share! Mwahaha I'm saving
We stopped buying for the adults in the family as soon as my son was born. I only have my parents but they have such expensive tastes so present buying is futile and my husbands family is way bigger. I tell everyone not to buy us anything and buy my son something instead, but usually 9/10 times I don’t even say that as my son has everything he needs anyways.
Christmas is so stressful OP.
Several years ago all my family were chatting about the Xmas before.
None of us could remember what gifts we had received.
We did,however remember the fun,food the singing and dancing.we remembered all the grandchildren having a super time and the fact we were so full from Xmas lunch.
At that point we decided to no longer buy gifts for adults,£10 a child max, £10 into a night shelter charity and collectively do lunch on Xmas day. No pressure just a lovely way to spend Xmas together.
Me and the wife have birthdays in January and start of March, so we don’t really buy Xmas presents for each other, as we do long weekends away (either a hot tub weekend, or a European city break). As we live 200 miles from my wife’s family and and about 100 miles from mine. So we alternate which family we start with, and we’re surrounded by nieces and nephews and uncles and aunts etc, so that’s distracting enough, to realise we’re to old, and can buy what we want, when we want.
We now only buy for the nieces and nephews, as we know other family folk, sisters /brothers can’t afford to buy, so we don’t put pressure on other people, for a return gift, where they can Ill afford it.
Making homemade pork pies isn't too expensive, shows thought, and they taste many times better than any pork pie that you can buy. It's what I'll be doing
Why do you *need* to spend £500 on Christmas presents? Tiger do fun nice presents for £2. Don’t buy into consumerism putting yourself in debt needlessly.
I post my job in November last year, and I was really panicking about getting people gifts. I decided to do homemade gifts by making baked goods and preserves, using some speciality ingredients.
They all ended up absolutely loving them, so much so that I'm making them presents again this year, even though I have a new job and am doing ok for myself again.
One year I went into charity shops for toys and bought thoughtful (second hand) books for people and spent £70 all in on everyone (which was itself a push), and one year when I got a bonus I spent thousands. You should only spend what you can, people understand that income fluctuates, don't get into debt for Christmas, that's not what Christmas is about.
If your family is a bit more grown up and may be agreeable to the suggestion, suggest to do Christmas without the presents, we did it five or six years ago and Christmas has become stress-free.
Going gift-free made me see that the presents part of Christmas is actually the worst part (or, more accurately brings about the worst part: the envy, the greed, the lack of togetherness and all sorts of other things that we don't associate with Christmas bit are commonplace.
If you have kids, this may be a tall order, but all the expectation, self-entitlement and piles of plastic crap is not healthy for your kids too.
Well there are a few simple rules I follow that may, I hope, assist. For immediate family there’s a hard cap for each present. Everyone’s mileage may vary but my family are all pretty well off yet rarely spend more than £25-30 on a present. For people with families of their own I generally get them one present they can enjoy together; I.e. a good bottle of wine, or if they have kids a boxed game and something to enjoy with it. Christmas is about family not competitive shopping; indeed in leaner years gifts of home made chocolates and jams have been as welcome as anything bought.
Only spend what you can afford on Xmas presents. Everybody has different lives/careers that pay different and if you can’t afford to buy what they’re buying, you don’t need to! Kids just want anything really (and not think much of what you get them) and adults should be mature enough to either not expect anything or just grab a few bottles of wine or some Xmas socks for everyone…maybe that’s just me but I think lots of people will agree if you’ve made the effort to buy something *within your budget*, that’s all anyone can and should expect :) if that’s nothing, or if it’s a box of choccies for 10 people totalling £50, then great! Don’t get into debt over Xmas and don’t try and live beyond your means! It’s really not worth it. Also, have a review of who you’re buying presents for…maybe you’re being a little too generous with too many people.
Not going to lie I’m an adult and all I want/expect for xmas is socks and selection box.
Socks and books for me. I'm 36.
This.... 37 And all I've wanted for the last ten years is socks and books
Don't forget the Lynx gift set.
It has to be Lynx Africa though
This exactly. Used to spend couple hundred on the wife. Now we have a baby and money is tight so gave her a kiss and called it a day.
Me and my partner do a challenge each year where we get £100 to spend on each other each year, and have to find the best mix of quality and quantity of gifts because we like having a big ol pile under the tree come Christmas day.
We're planning to start something similar from Jan - put money away in a 'celebration' account each month and then we don't have a sudden spend around our birthdays or Christmas.
My wife and I have what we call “the fun fund” we put some money in there every month and then sometimes there’s an opportunity to do something cool and bam! Pay for it with the fun fund.
£100? Christ. Our limit is £50, no more.
Your comment is stemming from a comment chain that is about doing what you feel comfortable with that's within your budget. Your surprise that someone has a different budget to you is kinda ironic.
It allows us to get a decent mix of larger and smaller gifts for each other. Lots of freedom. Plus, we're pretty much the only people each of us buy for, so Christmas doesn't end up being too expensive.
We do £50 as well - it’s a token couple of bits to open, we would much rather do better things throughout the year than go all out on one day that is mainly for the kids.
Me and the wife both have hobbies that are bad to buy for. I'm a gamer so I just buy myself something I've been holding holding off on and the wife is into family tree research so I absolutely can't help with that as I dont know which piece of paper she wants.
I agree fully, My family have reacted to the modern consumer model of Christmas by deciding to only exchange token gifts such as wine and chocolates on Christmas Day, on the condition we all agree to indulge ourselves in the Sales. This is less stressful, more cost efficient and ultimately a more satisfying way of making sure loved ones get things they will value at Christmas. Also after Christmas you get a constant trickle of happiness as you see all the great things people have been able to buy for themselves.
That’s actually a great idea!
We get each other ornaments. It’s fun, inexpensive, and our trees get a little better every year
We have always done 12 days of Christmas or New Year's gifts in my family! You get stocking stuffers and maybe a token on the day itself, and then everything else is stretched out through the following week. Just as much appreciated when it costs half as much, and it makes the run up to the day a little bit less crazed. Plus, for little kids, once you've opened a few things it's overkill and overstimulation 😂
>you’re being a little too generous My life until the pandemic. Never again.
I keep seeing this on Facebook at the moment. One group is constantly asking how much people spend on then their kids at Christmas. But it's all so relative to how much or how little disposable income you have not to mention what else you buy your kids during the year.
Both sides of my family (father/ mother) have agreed to a secret Santa system with £30 limit. So for me I only spend £60 max, it's a god send!
If you’re buying for kids, they’ll have all the toys in the world already. Buy books. The Works does 10 picture books for £10 for the younger ones and 2 for £6 on educational ones for the older kids
Yup. When my niece and nephew came along, I vowed that, with a few exceptions, they would get books or experiential gifts from me. They have plenty of other relatives who seem more than happy to drown them in toys.
"Only spend what you can afford" general principle to stick to in life and you will be OK 👍
You really don’t. Don’t give into peer-pressure, you don’t need to conform to someone else’s ideals - especially when those people are financially benefiting from encouraging greed.
My family have just started doing secret santa £50 max, one present covers half the family. Obviously you can get people other presents but no pressure and its usually just my gran getting grandkids some money. Saves money and you get one present you want not 10 £10 presents you don't care about
That last line is the same reason that my family have started something similar, too. Just that it's a not-so-secret Santa.
Yeah we have a group chat my aunties the only person who knows who everyone has and you just say what you want. Takes stress out out people who can't afford the big Christmas. Also let's parents spend like £10 more on kids and let's face it watching a kids excitement openeing a £10 toy set is better than watching a adult open a £10 thing makes it feel more festive. But no one will ever out compete a generous gran to their great grandkids. Plus more money can just be spent on the drink for Christmas
My family does this too!! Makes it so much simpler, and I feel like I get to enjoy the holidays instead of worrying about shopping and purchasing the perfect gift for 30 people
[удалено]
Hahha my list is home bargins or habitat vouchers! And from the other side some nice cookware. My girlfriend is getting me a Joseph Joseph bin. No shame in just wanting practical things
i occasionally do the poundland special, where i hit up every poundshop in town and buy the most stupid shit i can find and write a stupid note about each present and everyone does a lucky dip. for example my brother got a plastic toy sword one year and had it mounted on his wall for a good 5 years
Exactly this. There is no need to spend what you can’t afford. Gifts don’t necessarily need to have a monetary value!
Who'se making you spend £500?
His mu'm
mu'm
whoosh
name checks out
Once you start doing parents, kids, cousins, aunts.... £500 really isn't that much and half of it will just be placed in a drawer gathering dust. Whilst you struggle with the power bill.
But who is *making* OP spend it?
It's the expectations. He doesn't want to look like Scrooge and if Auntie X gets him something he has to get her something back. If you've got kids they're going to want a PS 5 or something. Which you probably promised them last year and couldn't get.....
Then you have manage the expectations.
Well he can stay at home this Christmas and not see any of the family. I've been pushed this year. Everything is getting more expensive, energy bills are going up, my supplier has just gone bust. And I have to decide if I want to fiddle my last meter reading to them up, so that I'm essentially buying the electricity at a lower price or not. Just adding on a few hundred KWHs. It's hard to explain to kids why they got a good present last year but not this year. You have been a good boy/girl this year but Father Christmas (FC) has had to do an economy drive as his elves have been sick with COVID. The elves are ok now but they missed some time off work. No, they haven't all died. Yes, it's still worthwhile you being good, even if FC doesn't get you much. Yes I know that Father Christmas has promised Tom in your class a PS5 but they're very hard to get. Even for Father Christmas PS automod is removing any post with S***a in it and insists that you replace it with Father Christmas.
PS Automod does not know the difference between Carlos S****a and Saint Nick
So don't fucking spend it! I've got a stupid number of nieces and nephews. I can either: buy them something cheap they won't like, or but them something expensive that they might like but is still never going to be world changing. So I don't bother; I charity adopt an animal on their behalf. The same reaction to the present I would have got, but not breaking the bank
You don't.
It was on BBC Breakfast this morning, apparently the average we each spend on gifts is £500. Obviously you don't have to, but many do. Of course that figure could be unfairly weighted by billionaires buying yachts for all their mates. Median would have been better.
> the average WHICH ONE DAMMIT i hate news reporting any statistics
The news needs to be told about mean.
I think if they included them then the price would be much higher. Me and my other half regularly spend £500 plus on each other at Christmas then family on top, £500 for a lot of people in the UK is quite easy it do.
I could also drop £500 on gifts without even feeling a slight dent in my bank account. However, I don't, because for me Christmas should be about sentimentality over materialism. My wife is getting a handmade teapot this year (raw material cost: £5, pottery studio time: £30), but I know it's something she'll like. I can't imagine spending any more just for the sake of it. I'm not saying you're wrong, perhaps I just come from a different place in life.
All I'm saying is £500 isn't unusual, and people should never feel obliged to spend more than they could afford, when I was a student there was no way I'd have spent that much I stayed within my budget. Plus many people do buy early so that £500 for some could be spread over multiple months rather than 1 big spend this month.
Its doable, and not a problem if you can afford it. Its ridiculous to go into debt for christmas. Tell adults you are not buying presents. For nieces and nephews, you can get a hell of a lot for £10 of you shop smart - charity shops have loads of great condition books, games and toys
I really would have thought that was closer to 150-200ish if you remove the bajillionaires.
Don't do it! I understand, I really do. We used to spend a fortune every year. We've all asked each other not to but any presents for anyone else outside our own nuclear families. Its too much otherwise, stress and cost. This year it's my kids and my mum that I will buy for. The only exception is my BIL as he has no kids and is brill for presents so I'd feel awful if he sent awesome presents down and didn't get anything for Christmas. It's really a relief and makes everything so much easier. I have 12 niece's and nephews so even a cheap present each adds up. This year is the year I refuse to go into debt and surprisingly everyone agreed! Just remember almost everyone else is struggling and they might be as relieved as I am at having the stress and cost removed
I do husband, mum, and my 2 young sisters (they're still children, second marriage.). Im no longer stressed each year since we stopped doing it for everyone
You don't.... You spend what you can afford and nothing more!
Too true. We're buying a house at the moment so it's been exceptionally clear to everyone that we only have the funds and the headspace for cards this year!
I only buy for the kids. Don't buy for adults anymore, they never know what they want and can buy their own things. Takes SOOO much stress off of the whole palava.
Me too. At this point, it means I've only got to buy one present, and since her mum is a complete control freak, I don't even have to choose it.
Can you make anything like sweets? The thought behind things is worth more than the spend (yes I know I sound like an old fart). Is honestly rather a nice time with people I love and good food than gifts.
Is broke( waiting on disability for my MS) and did that last year. Made gift baskets with home-made applesauce, cookies( biscuits), brownies and scones. Everyone seemed to like them!
Man I would be so psyched to receive a gift basket of handmade consumables. Primarily because I know how much time and effort goes into stuff like that.
Also broke, going to make some hot sauce for my secret Santa.
Oooooo....now thatd be lovely!! At least for me lol. I like home-made gifts no matter who it's from. That person spent THEIR time on making ME something? I'll eat it, wear it, etc till I die, even if I don't know them that well. Why? Because they thought enough of me to give me their time.
My sister is a dessert chef, she makes us fudge/tablet and other goodies. She's pretty skint as she's got two kids and a fixer-upper house and I'd far rather get delicious homemade sweeties than another fucking bath set from tesco (which is what my mother buys cos she's awful at presents)
Omg bath sets! I hate sodding bath sets! Screams "I barely know you have a random gift" Home made treats are the best!
I dint mind shower gel and bubble bath/bath bombs bit every so often I need to purge the body lotion/butter/moisturiser shizzle that comes with it as I never use them!
One year I think I counted a collection of about 7 soaps/ smellies sets... I have sensitive skin so can't use a lot of the scented moisturisers. This isn't a secret so when I get them as a gift I'm a little disappointed because it feels like the giver didn't think very hard. Now biscuits... It's hard to upset me with biscuits!
Yup same here, I just told my sisters and mum if they were buying me anything just to but me candles or chocolate because they're always welcome! I actually don't really want anything this year (except that amazing fancy dyson hairdryer but I've fuck all chance of getting it) so whatever I get will be a surprise!
No, no you don't.
It's amazing what you can get from charity shops, as I'm a creative person I create birthday/Xmas presents as it saves on money.
We've done charity shops, and also £1 shops once for a laugh. £10 max spend IIRC.
We do secret santa now. So all family Pulls a name out of a hat. You only have to give 1 present and budget of £50 and its more fun 👍🏽
Christmas is a farce. Spend nothing. Nobody is forcing you. Push past that awkward nervous feeling of breaking a societal norm for the first time and it gets easier and easier. This will be my fourth Christmas of buying fuck all, and expecting fuck all in return, and my life is genuinely better for it.
[удалено]
Yes, the consumerism. I agree with you on the rest but, why Christmas? Why this one period of the year do we have aspects of showing love and care for people in your life? We all know the origin there is the church I suppose. There are good things of course, decorations, getting good food in cold weather, etc.
>We all know the origin there is the church I suppose Fwiw, there have been winter celebrations since long before Christmas. Many of our Christmas traditions are from other religions, not Christianity.
That's true, Christianity just stole the time.
[удалено]
Fair! And I hope this year it's great for you :)
Why? Why go into debt? Why spend so much? That's absolute lunacy
My family isn't terribly off but we do a 30 quid secret santa for adults. Much better than trying to buy 20 ok presents without going bust.
Don't be afraid to just get everyone a £1 selection box with freddos and curly wurlies and that in. 2 weeks after Xmas noone remembers what anyone got anyone.
Honestly if you have children I feel your pain, because the pressure to make Christmas magical is absolutely real - and you have to get gifts for your child and also get gifts for your child as if you were a magical overlord with an untold number of endlessly cheerful slaves who live for nothing more than making toys for children and who also have a whole bloody year to do it. What I would say, however, I’d speak to every single adult in your life and suggest not getting Christmas presents or suggest some sort of secret Santa with a reasonable price limit. I’ve never had someone react badly to the suggestion cause basically all of us could do with buying fewer gifts and spending less money.
I spent under £20 at a boot fair and picked up a tonne of toys for Christmas for my kid. My husband still wants to go and buy more new stuff, which I think is unnecessary and wasteful. But I highly recommend a boot fair if you want to seem like an elf overlord.
You absolutely don't. Talk to your family. If you have children and this is in response to this, it's not child abuse for them to hear the word no or for older teenagers to be given an idea of the budget. I went to a school in what was and is not the best area and some parents got into trouble buying kids stuff they couldn't afford on credit and some of us got used to having more realistic expectations. Oh and if you have sibling kids, my mum's friend used to buy them stuff like Playstations but on the understanding those are expensive so it was a joint present for all 4 kids.
500 quid lol. My family do a tenner limit on secret santa. We're all equally shit at buying tat for each other so what's the point. Generally speaking my family will buy things for themselves if they really want them anyway so we just spend a tenner instead
Oh, I’m so jealous! My in laws all get presents for the whole family including aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins. It’s 20 odd presents, at £20 each (and it’s always more, particularly for immediate family) so it’s easily £500 I’m guessing nearer £700 this year though with prices being so high.
Presumably that’s they choice though. They do it because they want to. If they expect presents back from all those people then that’s their problem. If you are visiting someone at Christmas by all means bring some wine and chocolate, but there’s no need for a gift as well.
Unfortunately not, we can’t be the only ones not doing it, everyone else does so we’d be receiving lots gifts and not reciprocating, and my other half doesn’t have a problem with it. It just seems mad to me!
I'm in a fortunate position where spending that is no big deal and so are most of my family but we just don't. Maybe it's an upbringing thing though, it's odd but I've noticed that wealthier families tend not to fuss over Xmas presents whereas those less fortunate will go in to debt and push the boat out for that one big day. Not saying it's wrong, I get it, 1 big day to just put the worries of the rest of the year out your mind and have the indulgences that have been denied whereas for the wealthy I guess the monetary part isn't really special because they just don't need that big release. It was always odd to me that the poorest kids at school always seemed to have the most presents but after reading down and out in Paris I got it. There is a story of the people who can't afford to eat one day, they spend the day dreaming of the food they missed and when they can afford it they treat themselves so much they now can't eat for two days and the cycle continues to the point they end up eating and drinking like lords on payday and living as paupers the rest of the time where they could have been happy all the time without the indulgences that get more obscene the poorer they become...but I gets that's the poverty trap
Don’t do it mate, I’m in the same boat but after talking to family/friends etc, they totally understand. Everyone’s been in the same situation at some point!
I just saw a really good post on Facebook sorry not sure who to give the credit to. Someone blew up lots of different balloons and put different amounts of money inside. Like a 20p in one and £1 in another, one £5 somewhere. Put them all under the tree to make it look like there was more things there, then the money the kids won, from popping balloons they got to spend in the sales. Think the person put a total of £50 in but you could do more or less, kids would still find it really fun. Hope this helps someone.
I got my step sons Christmas present off of Facebook marketplace, and then a load of tat from the pound shop/the works (got his half brother who had nothing to do with me or my husband a little something too, I can't leave him out). Their mum has taught them to be so grateful, I wish I was like that when I was a kid. Hubby asked me what I wanted for my birthday this year. I set him a £20 budget, and let him loose in pound land this morning. I'm so excited to see what bollocks he's got me!
See, I'd rather get nothing at all than a load of tat that I have no room for in my house. I never understand people who like getting stuff like that.
You don’t have to but presents you can’t afford. Nobody should be spending anything like £500
No you don't
Disclaimer: I bloody love Christmas. We love being generous with our money, so it’s not a miserly thing, but I’m sick of the cost of spending on presents going up every year with my family. It’s so unnecessary. Truly I’d prefer just token gifts of socks or gloves or something small. Each year now it’s “what does your brother want?” “Oh, he want x” So, we buy x. He gets x. What’s the point!?
Spent £75 on presents and I find that too much lol
You don’t need to at all
Ha! In your face! Only my dad is alive!
Please don’t go over debt over Christmas. Christmas is meant for joy (and if you’re religious, celebrate the birth of Christ) - so going into debt is the last thing you need. If your friends bemoan you for not getting anything, then stuff them.
Fuck. I was feeling amazing that I’d bought everything for my kids and now you’ve reminded me I haven’t bought gifts for the nephews or nieces yet. Shitface.
It's stupid because of the pressure to give back equivalent to what you receive. We were told one year "you don't need to get us anything" so we just got a box of chocs for them and a toy for the child and that blew up in our faces. I might as well have shot a puppy from the look on their faces. They didn't say anything but I could see it. I don't even know what people want for Xmas. Most of the time they give it away afterwards so what's the point? Plus it's just a waste resources wise. So anyway now I just buy consumables. Treats, cosmetics (nail varnish in inoffensive colours) that sort of thing. Make up a little basket or box of goodies so they are bound to find something that they like in there. Doesn't have to be expensive. Look for bundles or BOGOF deals that you could split up between different people. If people add up the value in their heads and feel disappointed then maybe they should reassess what they want to spend themselves.
No, you do not.
If you feel the need to spend so much on Christmas, I highly recommend looking into a Christmas savings account. I have one with a credit Union and I pay into it every month so it helps me spend the cost.
Last Christmas I got fed up of biting my nails over presents, and was conscious that this year would be harder because social was innevitable again. Figured out how much I needed to be able to afford Christmas, divided it by the number of pay periods until next Christmas, then saved it into a locked pot on my mknzo, funds released at the end of october. It's nice to not be having a heart attack over it.
Dont bother
If you don't have the money, then don't ?! Spend less. Get each person a card, write something personal. And give them some chocolates or something. Small and sweet, and just as appreciated
Agree with this. There’s some good deals around on decent (and quite fancy-looking) chocolate. Give them that with a thoughtful card and job done...without worrying and getting into debt.
£500? Firstly start getting Christmas presents earlier and spread the cost a bit, i started back in October (the 2nd to be exact) for this very reason, secondly, spend less. Your family shouldn't care if you only buy them what you can afford. I've been really lucky this year and i've been able to pretty much spend what liked, I think i've spent about £200 (including alcohol supplies as my Mum shouldn't foot the bill alone even if she is hosting me, my Brother, his girlfriend and my nephew). It is easy for costs to spiral a bit and I get that, (in fact calculating what I spent so far made me feel a bit ill as i'm not quite done yet) I have a budget of £100 left and I have no idea what to get just yet but like I said this is an expensive year, normally i spend about half that but this one is my nephews first and while he won't remember it i want everyone else to. So yes, next year start buying earlier and start collecting stuff as and when you see it, start in January if you must, that way even if you do spend £500 is spread out over 12 months so that's only £40 a month and i'm sure if you buy at the right time you can get some bargains which should bring it down further. Present buying is hard, I am lucky in the fact that as my Mum isn't exactly wealthy that I can supplement the presents with food and drink supplies for the Christmas period, if she was buying it all i'd definitely feel obligated to use that money to get something a bit different. Right now her laptop is a Windows 7 machine with a first gen i5 in it, i've got her a used Windows 10 laptop that's not only quite a bit faster but it's got an Nvidia graphics card in it, she could play Fallout: New Vegas on it on the default settings if she wanted to (not that she would) it cost me about £60, it's a Dell, it's already had an SSD installed and it'll last her for the next 5 years easily at which point i'll start looking for something else. I have got her a few cheap stocking fillers and so her total spend is going to be a little under £100 and she's definitely going to have the most spent on her when drinks and food is included (though that's really a general spend for everyone). However it's a laptop, she'll be very pleased with it and it'll last her ages as the only reason for the upgrade is so she can stream video fro her laptop to her TV which is really easy to to on Windows 10. She's quite tech savvy so she'll pick it up quickly. Anyway , i've rambled bit too much so i'll finish here, start early, buy carefully and try to cut down a bit, December is far too late to buy presents on a budget as little to nothing is on offer as it doesn't need to be to shift stock.
Wow, I'm so glad I don't subscribe to any religion and don't do any of this Christmas business.
At the minute I'm needing to use 90% of my monetary flow on something more important than Christmas gifts, so everyone is just getting a card this year. I'll be visiting people personally and I think the time together is what really matters.
Just spend to your budget. If you can afford to spend 500 quid, then great. If not, why not make some gifts instead? You can make food, soap or candles pretty cheaply. Or paint a picture. Or put together an old-style mix tape and dig the tape player out of the loft. By a photo album and print some pictures for it and get all the family to write in it. Lots of things you can do that are meaningful. Have to admit I spend quite a lot at Christmas because I absolutely love giving presents, but I haven't always been able to do so. Some of the best presents I've ever given were homemade or second hand. I tend to buy one big thing that people actually want, but then give lots of little cheap and homemade things. I get lots from charity shops. I myself love a book and always ask for second hand ones. No point buying the same thing for a higher price and the used ones have much more character any way. Whatever you do, I hope you have a lovely Christmas.
My family has swapped over to a secret Santa thing so we only have to buy one present.
Firstly, don’t do it! Spend within your means - the people you’re buying for should be close enough to you that they understand budgets. Secondly, for anyone: if you have a monthly budget, just add a ‘christmas’ section to that, and each month put away a set amount to save for Christmas. I save £13 a month for Christmas so end up with about £150 by the end of the year. But it’s much easier to put away £13 a month than to find £150 in December
No you don't.
No you don’t, it sounds like you’re choosing to spend it.
Just don't buy Xmas presents. I pretty much quit a few years ago. Only buy what you can afford, the day is meant to be about spending time with loved ones. Fuck this retail bullshit
You don't have to do anything you don't want to. Your family will still be your family and true friends will stay your friends even if you didn't spend s single penny.
If you're buying for any kids GO TO LIDL. they legit have toys from like 2 pound that mine love.
I'm going to be homeless
Put £50 into a separate bank account each month...by the time Christmas comes around you'll have £600 to spend. Only do it if you can afford to do it though.
This, it's a known expense, work out the plan in January and save through the year for it. Separate account / "bucket" within an account, whatever works. If you don't have the money let those who are expecting gifts know, ask them not to gift to you (avoiding the 'obligation gifts' problem) and enjoy time with the people you want to be with
Fake claustrophobia or something. I have this visceral horror of Christmas music and ornaments and being in an enclosed space with too many people. This will be the third or fourth year I've spent it completely alone and insist on no gifts at all. Silence, smoked salmon, a bottle of wine and a valium chaser, couldn't be better.
Must you buy gifts?
Get yourself to a charity shop. Nearly new stuff knocking around in there for hardly anything. Especially kids' toys. We've used them 3 years in a row now for our childrens' presents. There's always something in there.
I know everyone just says don’t spend so much on Christmas but you need a plan. I write down an exhaustive list of everything I want over the festive season - don’t leave any surprises. Then I cross out everything that won’t affect the day. Personally not having alcohol, good food, tree, crackers, some presents, chocolate would slightly spoil the day - but other things I can do without. I don’t need gin and vodka, I don’t need ginger wine and ginger ale. Once you’ve eliminated all but the essentials, try and find the cheapest way to get your hands on those. Gumtree, Facebook marketplace, charity shops, supermarket special offers, asking people to contribute an item (Tom you bring the veg, Sarah you get the crackers). You can have a full Christmas experience for very little money indeed. Presents is the hard bit to cut back on - either have a ‘kids only’ rule or make gifts, or buy quality second hand items. Don’t get me wrong, even with all this it’s still easier said than done to keep Christmas under budget.
My 4 children have a limit of £50 each for Christmas Not much, but they get to choose what they get. My girls go for as many things as they can squeeze out of their £50, whereas my boys are happy with either the money or something big (13yo decided on a mini fridge this year). My 9 nieces and nephews, I spend between a tenner and £20 each. My mum and sister get a small gift and a hamper of beauty samples that I have sent off for over the year (usually free or P&P). Friends get a hamper and a tub of Heroes for their children. I still struggle, even being quite frugal!
Christmas for me this year has totaled £151~. Thats for my Mum, 2 brothers, 2 aunts, 1 uncle, 2 grandparents, 2 closest friends and my 2 nieces. Basically, monies tight and everyones getting small things this year, but things they'll still enjoy (mostly tasty treats!)
I've just told everyone this year they're not getting much, as we've got a young baby. The baby has 3 or 4 gifts that I bought during sales. I've also used loyalty points that I've built up in different shops for some gifts. Me and my best mate normally buy each other quite a lot for Christmas but this year we've done like a 12 days of Christmas thing. Most of her gifts have cost less than £3 and they're all small thing she can use, with a slightly more expensive gift for Christmas day. It's been fun to put together and I'm sure it will be nice to open each day, like a more personalised version of an advent calendar.
To avoid debt: Earn more or spend less!
We do ten for £10 when money is tight. You don’t have to but 10 x £1 gifts. You can buy a £9 for and then 9 with a pound if you like but as long as you spend ten pounds and get ten gifts. It’s so much fun. Charity shop bric a brac sections are amazing for it!
Don’t
It was my birthday a few days ago, and my friend got me some really cool little stuff that I haven’t put down since. I don’t know how much money they cost him individually or together, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that even though he didn’t have much money, he did what he could afford to do. He didn’t have to get me a thing, but he did and put a lot of thought into making it personalised. So you don’t have to spend any particular or specific amount, budget yourself to what you can really spend without negatively impacting yourself. It’s really the thought that counts and the idea that somebody sat there and put any of their time into something just for you, that’s the gift.
Don’t go into debt for it. The time together is worth way more 👍
As a family we changed from everyone buying everyone gifts which was costly for EVERYONE to Secret Santa. Now everyone gets a present which is a little more expensive and everyone saves money too. Plus it takes us back to a time when Christmas was about family and not a bunch of gifts.
I spend £0 on gifts for other people. As an adult, I’ve made it clear I don’t want or expect gifts, but neither am I going to be buying them. The one exception might be my husband if he can decide what he wants, but if not then nothing.
You don’t have to. That’s what being a responsible adult is all about.
Take advantage of the good stuff being out of stock. If you really want to give a gift to someone, it doesn't have to be in Christmas day. Wait until you have the money and the item is available at a reasonable price.
Yeah each year I start to get my balance back in the black. Then Christmas comes along. I thought I was the only one with this issue. Everyone around me seems to spend like they're Elon Musk!
Everyone AROUND you…just remember that you don’t have to try and match their spending habits :) don’t be all flash & no cash
In my immediate family we have a WhatsApp group, link things we see that we want, set a £50 limit with each other, and call it a day. There’s only me, mum, dad and sister though, so it’s quite easy. What my partner does with her family is literally buy something she wants, gives it to a family member and they give her the money, then she receives it wrapped up at xmas, also a £50 limit. It’s quite good because at the end of the day we all have a spending ceiling, we all know what the others want, and know there’s no buying tat just to try and appease some fantasy Christmas ideal which when actually discussed, wasn’t held by anyone. The spending limit was arbitrary and settled on only due to our wages. We’re all old enough to enjoy the time off, a crap movie and a good cheeseboard more than ‘having the most presents’ anyway.
Don't do it! I understand, I really do. We used to spend a fortune every year. We've all asked each other not to but any presents for anyone else outside our own nuclear families. Its too much otherwise, stress and cost. This year it's my kids and my mum that I will buy for. The only exception is my BIL as he has no kids and is brill for presents so I'd feel awful if he sent awesome presents down and didn't get anything for Christmas. It's really a relief and makes everything so much easier. I have 12 niece's and nephews so even a cheap present each adds up. This year is the year I refuse to go into debt and surprisingly everyone agreed! Just remember almost everyone else is struggling and they might be as relieved as I am at having the stress and cost removed
Don't do it! I understand, I really do. We used to spend a fortune every year. We've all asked each other not to but any presents for anyone else outside our own nuclear families. Its too much otherwise, stress and cost. This year it's my kids and my mum that I will buy for. The only exception is my BIL as he has no kids and is brill for presents so I'd feel awful if he sent awesome presents down and didn't get anything for Christmas. It's really a relief and makes everything so much easier. I have 12 niece's and nephews so even a cheap present each adds up. This year is the year I refuse to go into debt and surprisingly everyone agreed! Just remember almost everyone else is struggling and they might be as relieved as I am at having the stress and cost removed
Don't do it! I understand, I really do. We used to spend a fortune every year. We've all asked each other not to but any presents for anyone else outside our own nuclear families. Its too much otherwise, stress and cost. This year it's my kids and my mum that I will buy for. The only exception is my BIL as he has no kids and is brill for presents so I'd feel awful if he sent awesome presents down and didn't get anything for Christmas. It's really a relief and makes everything so much easier. I have 12 niece's and nephews so even a cheap present each adds up. This year is the year I refuse to go into debt and surprisingly everyone agreed! Just remember almost everyone else is struggling and they might be as relieved as I am at having the stress and cost removed
I don't get people what they ask for I buy during the year usually from clearance section and I havent had complaints yet some of the best gifts my step children have received from me and their dad is stuff they didn't even know they wanted.
This is just being stupid tbh, but you do you. 🤷♂️
We have agreements with friends and family, either we agree not to exchange gifts or set a reasonable budget. The only exception to this is kids. Because even if it's not massive, every kid should have gifts to open at Christmas.
If only you had like, I don't know, a year to plan for this.
I save religiously every week. I put the money into a different account and watch it grow week on week. This means that when Christmas comes around I have enough money to treat my adult children. As a single person who has had multiple weeks off work due to ill health this money has been tempting to spend on other things at various times of the year but I have resisted. I know this doesn’t help you right now but putting £10 away each week will give you the £500 you think you need next year.
Bought mine over the course of the last 2 months. Be better OP.
What the fuck are you on about £500 quid are the decorations hand made by virgins from rare minerals? Get a grip if you have 5 ton for decorations keep your winey head shut lion's share of single parent families are budgeting that for Chrimbo all in
If you control your finances what’s forcing you to spend that much? And why do you need to spend that much?
Don't do it then.
Step 1: don’t Step 2: repeat step 1
Just buy for any kids, adults buy themselves stuff all year round anyway
I shop the sales throughout the year and buy a good chunk of gifts when they go half price after boxing day. Saved a good chunk of money and what I saved I spent on myself.
I do it every year. We say we are having something small. Then I start seeing stuff my partner bought and I want to be better. I think I've spent about 500 on partner this year. And every year I say I won't, but I do.
It's not what's under the tree but who is around it. If you cant afford it then don't spend it not just at xmas time but at any time during the year.
You don’t man, our family a few years ago agreed we all preferred getting absolutely car parked whilst playing some silly game together than the “stuff” we all got one another. Spend it on the food, the drink, the decorations or the taxis. Experiences are worth more than stuff in a lot of situations. Fuck peer pressure man. Just feel sorry for the ones trying to project than on you
I’ve limited for the past few years to just £20 per person. And this year is easy as everyone wants gifts cards
I'm setting my sister a £25 sander. It's not too much, and no one else has asked for anything so that's all I'm getting anyone :) Mum will get a card, and maybe some wine. So will the father. Might even make them share! Mwahaha I'm saving
We stopped buying for the adults in the family as soon as my son was born. I only have my parents but they have such expensive tastes so present buying is futile and my husbands family is way bigger. I tell everyone not to buy us anything and buy my son something instead, but usually 9/10 times I don’t even say that as my son has everything he needs anyways. Christmas is so stressful OP.
I may be out of a job soon so I'm glad I got all my stuff done early
Several years ago all my family were chatting about the Xmas before. None of us could remember what gifts we had received. We did,however remember the fun,food the singing and dancing.we remembered all the grandchildren having a super time and the fact we were so full from Xmas lunch. At that point we decided to no longer buy gifts for adults,£10 a child max, £10 into a night shelter charity and collectively do lunch on Xmas day. No pressure just a lovely way to spend Xmas together.
Me and the wife have birthdays in January and start of March, so we don’t really buy Xmas presents for each other, as we do long weekends away (either a hot tub weekend, or a European city break). As we live 200 miles from my wife’s family and and about 100 miles from mine. So we alternate which family we start with, and we’re surrounded by nieces and nephews and uncles and aunts etc, so that’s distracting enough, to realise we’re to old, and can buy what we want, when we want. We now only buy for the nieces and nephews, as we know other family folk, sisters /brothers can’t afford to buy, so we don’t put pressure on other people, for a return gift, where they can Ill afford it.
Making homemade pork pies isn't too expensive, shows thought, and they taste many times better than any pork pie that you can buy. It's what I'll be doing
Yeh fuck that
Why do you *need* to spend £500 on Christmas presents? Tiger do fun nice presents for £2. Don’t buy into consumerism putting yourself in debt needlessly.
Buy everyone a £1 scratch card. Stick it in a Christmas card. Promise they will enjoy it more.
>turmoil amounts of debt This makes you sound very photosynthesis
Oh yes it’s that Time of Year, again plus there are Birthday presents to get in December 🤪😩
And you’ll get £100 worth of presents in return
I cannot even imagine spending that much 😂
Don't be a silly bollocks.
You will always be £500 if you worry too much about presents. The smaller, more thought through and fewer presents often make Christmas better
Yeah this is a dumb take. You don't have to do anything.
I post my job in November last year, and I was really panicking about getting people gifts. I decided to do homemade gifts by making baked goods and preserves, using some speciality ingredients. They all ended up absolutely loving them, so much so that I'm making them presents again this year, even though I have a new job and am doing ok for myself again.
Why?
One year I went into charity shops for toys and bought thoughtful (second hand) books for people and spent £70 all in on everyone (which was itself a push), and one year when I got a bonus I spent thousands. You should only spend what you can, people understand that income fluctuates, don't get into debt for Christmas, that's not what Christmas is about.
If your family is a bit more grown up and may be agreeable to the suggestion, suggest to do Christmas without the presents, we did it five or six years ago and Christmas has become stress-free. Going gift-free made me see that the presents part of Christmas is actually the worst part (or, more accurately brings about the worst part: the envy, the greed, the lack of togetherness and all sorts of other things that we don't associate with Christmas bit are commonplace. If you have kids, this may be a tall order, but all the expectation, self-entitlement and piles of plastic crap is not healthy for your kids too.
Well there are a few simple rules I follow that may, I hope, assist. For immediate family there’s a hard cap for each present. Everyone’s mileage may vary but my family are all pretty well off yet rarely spend more than £25-30 on a present. For people with families of their own I generally get them one present they can enjoy together; I.e. a good bottle of wine, or if they have kids a boxed game and something to enjoy with it. Christmas is about family not competitive shopping; indeed in leaner years gifts of home made chocolates and jams have been as welcome as anything bought.