Christmas - will it put you in debt or do you save for it

After a bad time with credit I save for it and if that means people get less because I have less then so be it . How do you handle xmas

I always struggle with it, it has stressed me out so much in the past! But this year I have saved, yay so I'll actually look forward to Xmas shopping  

Previous years we have always had the cash ( the house fund etc suffers though) this year I dont know , do we cut down on the spending to make sure everyone is happy or do we just blow it and spend a few months getting out of debt. The choice is easy when you don't have kids but we have that obligation as parents for the kids not to feel lesser than their mates

i wont put myself in debt for christmas unless it ment the kids didnt get what they wanted if the money only covered them then everyone else would have to go with nowt  

It must be so hard when you have kids, they have such expectations and like you say, comparison to mates etc I would make sure the kids are happy and cut some people of the list, if that's an option?

Christmas hangs like great black cloud towards the end of every year, Dave. But I'm slowly learning how to cope with it.

Firstly, I hope that everyone who has a right to expect a present from me understands that although I would love to be able to shower them with the Crown Jewels some things are just not possible, and that "it's the thought that counts".

Then after my daughter's birthday at the end of October, I start applying that thought. I have a running list on my computer showing everyone I have to get presents for, their particular enthusiasms, ideas, and what they have been given previously (by me at least). Then I hit Amazon.

Off the top of my head, one of the most successful presents was one I gave my nephew over from Australia for Christmas - it was an Aussie hat complete with corks on strings. He loved it! And it was only a couple of quid.

Sazzle wrote:It must be so hard when you have kids, they have such expectations and like you say, comparison to mates etc I would make sure the kids are happy and cut some people of the list, if that's an option?

easy to cut people off the list just start a argument mid november and fall at before christmas     but make sure you make up before your birthday    

Yeah good idea I like it  

neither i don't save but it's never put me in debt, i just buy things as i go along.

However this year i'm making everyone gifts

Sazzle wrote:It must be so hard when you have kids, they have such expectations and like you say, comparison to mates etc I would make sure the kids are happy and cut some people of the list, if that's an option?

I've spent the last half of this year trying to convince Jen that Ipad is not the way forward and Android tablet is the way to go

Don't spend anything on the kids cause they aren't mine.
So just my Nephews and I don't go overboard. Baaah! Humbug! > 

ella wrote:neither i don't save but it's never put me in debt, i just buy things as i go along.

However this year i'm making everyone gifts

kinda knew you would be doing that ella  

Warren wrote:

ella wrote:neither i don't save but it's never put me in debt, i just buy things as i go along.

However this year i'm making everyone gifts

kinda knew you would be doing that ella  

I think it will be nicer

I have my Nephews birthday 10/12 and nieces birthday 11/12, my brothers birthday 18/12 and my sisters birthday 31/12, and christmas.......I hate December  

Dave wrote:

Sazzle wrote:It must be so hard when you have kids, they have such expectations and like you say, comparison to mates etc I would make sure the kids are happy and cut some people of the list, if that's an option?

I've spent the last half of this year trying to convince Jen that Ipad is not the way forward and Android tablet is the way to go

It must be a nightmare, I hear what my friends are buying their kids, so much money!

ella wrote:neither i don't save but it's never put me in debt, i just buy things as i go along.

However this year i'm making everyone gifts

I'm gonna try and make some presents this year  

Sazzle wrote:

ella wrote:neither i don't save but it's never put me in debt, i just buy things as i go along.

However this year i'm making everyone gifts

I'm gonna try and make some presents this year  

Am going to make everyone some chilli and lime jam with my home grown chillies, and then some other bits and bobs

Thankfully we neither have nor know any kids... so the pups get all the spoils

I buy for the dogs and my parents thats it - my OH and I don't buy for each other as we would rather spend it on the dogs.

Since I've had children I've always saved when Andrew was young it was vouchers, now and for the past 5 years I put £20 away from the second week in jan until the 30th November usually have about 1000 so that usually does Xmas

I now make edible Christmas presents which saves a bit and I only do this for immediate family members. Hubby and me start about now and buy a little something each week that can be put away for Christmas ie a nice bottle of wine or a jar of pickles etc. That way we don't have to do a huge Christmas shop and we don't really notice the extra spend.

Always saved for it and won't go into debt

Just found out today it doesn't look like Jo will be back at work for a few weeks yet so looks like some savings have to be made somewhere

I just tend to buy throughout the year.. if I see something that I think somebody would reeally love i'll pick it up on pay day and store it Then of course it factors on whether my dad's gone awol or my mum's not got a bee in her bonnet as to whether I actually see them to get the presents or not!!  

I'm a cash man for Christmas. We just stick to what we can afford and create a budget each year for each person we purchase for.

Ben wrote:I'm a cash man for Christmas. We just stick to what we can afford and create a budget each year for each person we purchase for.

Did the kids decide which Rolex they want then Ben  

Dave wrote:

Ben wrote:I'm a cash man for Christmas. We just stick to what we can afford and create a budget each year for each person we purchase for.

Did the kids decide which Rolex they want then Ben  

 nope. We prefer surprising them annually.