Christmas on a budget?

[Serene123]

I need help!

Rich wants to save to get the engagement ring he picked out but that's going to cost a bomb so I have to have a cheap Christmas!

We're going to go to his mum and dads for Christmas day so really it's just presents I need help with. And some reassurance that if I don't buy Caitlyn 5 million presents she will still have a great day!

 

[buttonnose82]

we are on a budget again this year as we plan on moving in spring, we sit down and set a price limit per person, then when we buy anything we write it down to keep a note of what is brought and make sure it all falls within budget.

Caitlyn really isn't going to be bothered about how many gifts she has, and if you go OTT this early your making a rod for your own back when she is older because she will then expect it. Maybe look at what you got her last year and ask yourself have you really got your moneys worth out of it all??

 

[Serene123]

we are on a budget again this year as we plan on moving in spring, we sit down and set a price limit per person, then when we buy anything we right it down to keep a note of what is brought and make sure it all falls within budget.

Caitlyn really isn't going to be bothered about how many gifts she has, and if you go OTT this early your making a rod for your own back when she is older because she will then expect it. Maybe look at what you got her last year and ask yourself have you really got your moneys worth out of it all??

Noway did we! I bought her everything ITNG I saw and she went off it straight after

Her Grandma and Grandad are getting her a Dora bike and that's all she has asked for so she shouldn't be too bothered.... Plus she has a playroom full of toys already!

I guess I kind of set a president for myself and now I don't want to spend ridiculous amounts of money any more

 

[booflebump]

Too many presents can be overwhelming for them, and she will be just as happy with a couple of presents that she really loves. So dont stress yourself that she isnt going to have enough - your 'cutting back' will still be a lot more than some children get xxx

 

[strawberry19]

kids really dont care infact my friend had a cheapy christmas last year and the kids loved all the little stocking fillers more then they did their main presents!! lol

we are doing a cheapy christmas this year were thinking bottle of wine.. asda are always doing 3 for £10 i think?! so stock up on these throughtout the months! and a box of homemade cupcakes and then maybe a small something else but havent quite decided what yet! put in a little pretty bag.. we done some of these for older family last year and they loved them

 

[Boothh]

im not getting jesse alot of toys this year, his main presents off us are a toddler bed and a smrt trike, and hes gunna mostly get clothes (which he will need anyway) and a couple of £10-£20 toys, i have a house full from christmas and his birthday and half of them he barely touched, i have a huge family so hes gunna have a mountain of presents anyway without me adding loads to it, xxx

 

[Blah11]

im cutting back this year too hun. Amelies birthday is right after new year and last year i found half her xmas presents half price so she's getting only a few things for christmas and il buy her the toys i want to get her in the sales.
Also, half her stuff from last year is still relevant to this year and theres not much stuff she still 'needs'. I'm going to mainly get her character toys cos shes much more interested in certain tv shows this yr and her kitchen is a main present. I'll prob get her a toddler bed for her 2nd day

 

[Serene123]

Yeah.... Caitlyn's into Dora and she's getting a Dora bike off Grandma and Grandad....

To be honest I can't even think of anything to get her other than an indoor wendy house for her bedroom to replace her playpen tent. Maybe I could find a cheaper one of those than the one I wanted...

 

[Rachiebaby24]

Have you thought of selling the ITNG stuff or the stuff she doesnt play with anymore? then if you bought new presents with the money you got from selling her old stuff then technically you havent "bought" anything if that makes sense!

 

[Linzi]

They dont care about presents, seth got far too much stuff that he's never even touched. the best things we got him have been the cheaper things anyway.

Just make a budget & stick to it, buy early and gradually, and you should be ok x

 

[embo216]

I haven't got a lot to spend this year either hun so I'm just picking out lovely books and going to get lily a nice new dolly and maybe something Toy story- i would love to get her a jessie. Also cheapie stuff for her stocking

So excited. Its not all about pressies babe, make a big thing about father christmas coming, do all the letters and cookies.

Oh and I always do boots 3 for 2 for presents for family,works out really well plus you get your points!!

 

[Glitterfairy]

Will be doing cupcakes for a few people as gifs this year and i'm finding Ebay good for 'different' cheap stocking fillers.

 

[Fraggles]

Maybe it's worth having a treasure hunt for toys through the day so the opening lasts longer too. So you could say some of Father Christmas' little helpers have been playing and hidden some toys. Then let her go hunt for some.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Were on tight budget also as saving for deposit for house for the new year!

We were spending crap loads of money anyways, ive learnt kids dont need thousands of presents, really its just a waste of money.

We've opted for the approch of getting the girls about few things to open on xmas day, but were putting all money aside to go out on boxing day and get twice as much for our money so be having like 2 xmas days lol.

Dont really nee to worry about other family members as they tell us to just see to the girls.

Just read, yes boots 3 for 2 offer is good value, but on boxing day all the prices been put down by lik e75%!

 

[GreatfulMummy]

I'm sfraid I am a bit tight when it comes to presents !!! I don't think children need a mountain of gifts. It's about spending time together for us and making it a special, fun day for the children. I buy a main present from mummy and Daddy, and besides the have a pressie from father Christmas too if they are good !!!!!! My Mum always buys too much, and so does the in-laws, so I don't worry to much. xxx

 

[kiwimama]

You could get Caitlyn to draw some pictures and then buy some cheap frames to pop them in for grandparents, aunts etc. Then bake some little cookies or something and pop them in coloured cellophane to go with them. Caitlyn could do some little cards as well. I think that will keep the rellies happy.
Caitlyn really won't care if she doesn't have a huge pile of prezzies. As you said she's getting the only thing she actually asked for. For us, we get Ella one large present from us for Christmas and then buy her several small cheaper gifts and some sweets and choccies to go in her Santa Sack and that's all.

 

[Tegans Mama]

We went way overboard with Tegan last year, this year we will be on a much tighter budget because we're moving house in a couple of months. We're probably not buying for family (except immediate family, both our Mum's, brothers and sisters, Grandparents, Hayley's two cousins, my littlest cousin and my niece who is due next week) and we only spend £10-20 each on everyone, so its not really much more than £150 for them all. For the cousins we might go with the old favourite - chocolate obviously we'll spend a bit more on my niece since she's our only niece and my sister spoils Tegan rotten.

As for Tegan's presents, I think its mainly going to be a few bits of Duplo, some clothes and books this year. She can't have bikes, play kitchens, etc because of her mobility issues so we get really stuck for big presents for her. I am to spend £200-300 AT MOST this year (last year was a LOT more)

 

[Serene123]

Yeah we spent way over 1k last year

I feel bad having more than that saved this year but intending to spend it on myself instead!

 

[Laura2919]

I think the one thing that keeps me from spending a fortune is to start now while shops have offers and deals on because when Christmas comes some of them take off all their deals. I have already got my girls and my aunty's present and that was in August.

Also, betterware had these little sweetie jars and biscuit tins for kids so I am going to make little biscuits and buy some little sweets to fill them up for a few of the younger kiddies. Saves sooooo much money.

If anyone likes chocolate, thorntons have 20% off everything right now, I got a letter through the door the other day! Hope it applies to all stores!
And, 24studio have yard sticks of chocolate for £4.99 when they are £10 in some supermarkets come christmas.

You can buy hampers and stuff or make them yourselves!

Last yr Chloe and Jaycee were spoilt but not by me and OH just family. This year I have bought them some stuff I know they will want to play with but I have asked family for clothes and some toys I know they will like.. Last yr they got stuff they didnt even play with!

 

[hazzabeanie]

i was worrying about this too, but i changed up my 77pound tesco vouchers while they had there offer on and had 150 to spend on toys so we got harry a few bits with that which saved us money.. i have 2 sisters too so we most of the time buy joint pressies for our mum n dad etc so its a nice pressie but dont cost so much splitting it 3 ways. plus its harrys birthday on jan 11th so we wont go mad xx