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How have you afforded christmas year?

42 replies

spicyorange · 07/11/2011 10:00

Its in the title really, this is the first year we have really struggled and we have cut back so much to try and give our dds a good christmas.

However with the price of everything through the roof we are going to struggle buying just the extra bits of food and drink. We have cut back on family presents but not sure how else to afford whats coming.

We have been buying dds presents all year and have been getting one or two little things in last few weeks to stock up freezer and cupboards.

Anyone else in the same boat what do you do.

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fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 07/11/2011 10:02

Are you having anyone over for Christmas? If not, then all the excess food really isn't necessary, at the end of the day it's just a roast dinner. I'm not planning on going all out on the food, and am pregnant so can't even get in the usual cheap bottle of Baileys Wink.

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spicyorange · 07/11/2011 10:05

We are going out to my parents for dinner this year thankgod. We always have everyone over for xmas eve though.

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Hullygully · 07/11/2011 10:08

You don't need to "afford" Christmas. You do what you can, explain to the dc that that's how it is, they are still massively more privileged than the vast majority of the world's children, and you have loads of fun with games, board games and charades. That's the stuff they love and remember, not the quality of the turkey or how many electrical goods they got.

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spicyorange · 07/11/2011 10:12

Thanks hullygully, the eldest has been told not to expect a huge amount and the youngest is 3 so we can get away with it. Just felt really bad explaining to the family as we seem to be the poorest relations out of everyone.

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Hullygully · 07/11/2011 10:15

Don't feel bad. It's funny how we struggle to say "no" to our kids when we can't afford something, but feel virtuous saying "no" if it's a choice.

There is no shame in struggling. It's just life.

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GwennieF · 07/11/2011 10:22

I've been getting little bits and bobs (presents and booze) since the end of the summer. Have made as many presents as I can - rag doll, dress for my daughter, christmas stockings, christmas baubles. Have also been flogging stuff on ebay - old clothes, baby stuff, etc.....

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Pootles2010 · 07/11/2011 10:24

How old's your oldest? Could you involve them in handmaking presents/food for parties/etc?

There will be lots in the same boat this year sadly. What sort of thing do you do for xmas eve? Is it normally buffet type thing? Will you be expected to put on alcohol?

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spicyorange · 07/11/2011 10:27

My eldest i s 9 and she would love to help. We do a buffet and yeah we put alcohol on, do you think it would be cheeky to ask everyone to bring some alcohol if we do the food.

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Hullygully · 07/11/2011 10:28

Of course not! Surely they bring it anyway?

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fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 07/11/2011 10:30

Yes, ask them, anyone with basic manners would bring something anyway I'd have thought. Check out cheaper places for buffet food as well, so many people have recommended the Aldi Christmas stuff to me as being very good, so I'm going to give that a try this year.

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spicyorange · 07/11/2011 10:31

No we have always provided it never asked anyone to bring stuff.

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Pootles2010 · 07/11/2011 10:32

No not at all. In fact don't people normally bring a bottle anyway? I know we do when we go to someone's house for dinner. I bet a lot of them will ask if you want anything bringing.

With regards to presents, we've been saying to a lot of people lets not do presents this year - and they've all, without exception, been relieved and agreed its a good idea.

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spicyorange · 07/11/2011 10:38

My parents will bring a bottle, we will have around 20 people in and out.

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notyummy · 07/11/2011 10:38

Was about to recommend Aldi - but see it has been done already! Really good quality for less and definitely worth stocking up pre-Christmas.

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PurpleWithaBlueBun · 07/11/2011 10:40

Is there a Morrisons near you? Last year, I would buy a few £1 tokens for the saver cards they do at each shop I did there. This was an easy way to accumulate money for food and bits that I need. Also, saving up any tescos vouchers are simple things.
My theory at the time was that I could do a shop with the tokens and have more money for pressies, in the end we moved house early December last year and were skint! We also made chocolate brownies and things as gifts for family.

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ThingsThatGoFlumpInTheNight · 07/11/2011 10:41

This probably isn't much of a help now but we afford a big Christmas by saving up all year (we both put a bit aside every month from January so we have a 'fund' for present & food), and also by taking advantage of good deals throughout the year and not just buying everything full price in Nov/Dec.

For example a couple of months ago Argos were doing a 3 for 2 on all toys, so we bought our DC their main presents then - saving about £60. I also keep an eye on websites like hotukdeals all year and buy the good offers on toys etc as they come up. That way I'd probably done a good 70% of my Christmas shopping by October and still have the Christmas fund to dip into.

I know it's not a necessity to have a big Christmas, but if you do want one it's one way of making it a bit easier, even just for next year.

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ThingsThatGoFlumpInTheNight · 07/11/2011 10:42

PS we also all agree (ie wider family) that we all spend our money on presents for the children in the family, and just buy each other small token gifts. That saves a lot.

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spicyorange · 07/11/2011 10:42

Have just not long ago started shopping in aldi couldnt believe some of the savings we have made was very impressed.

There is a morrisons but its not very local, the main supermarket where i live is asda.

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spicyorange · 07/11/2011 10:46

Thingsthatgoflumpinthenight i took full advantage of that offer for my dd who is 3. I have present shopped for them all year a little here and there so that isnt to bad,

It just seems to be the added xtras on top of normal things. We have said that we will buy for the children and probs just some choccys for adults this year.

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pissedrightoff · 07/11/2011 10:47

I keep my tesco points vouchers until Christmas to help with the cost of food and drink.

I save £50 per month January to July and buy all Christmas presents then.

I have also been adding at least one item to the weekly food shop to hide away for Christmas, Even if it's just a tub of peanuts or a bottle of appletiser.

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spicyorange · 07/11/2011 10:49

Thanks everyone your making me feel better i have to go to work now will check in later.

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ruddynorah · 07/11/2011 10:52

I bought several presents for my dc in the sales last January. So I already have a stock pile of stuff from elc, m&s and boots toy departments. I plan to do the same next January.

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higgle · 07/11/2011 10:55

I do a lot of ebaying at this time of year and use the proceeds to top up what I've saved. I have tried spreading the shopping out throughout the year but somehow I generally end up looking at my purchases and not liking them too much. Christmas cards ( Debenhams a good place to try) are virtually free at the end of January, though one year I got stuck with some with nice pictures but blank insides, so I had to write long messages instead of just names.

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LittleMissFlustered · 07/11/2011 11:05

Saved tesco vouchers and doubled them up for toys. Went halves with my ex on the bigger present for each of the kids which was a lifesaver for both of us. I'm also cutting down on what I buy. I don't overstock on munchies and stuff at Christmas so that's less of a worry too.

My local butcher does a fabulous set of reasonably priced meat hampers every year, which works out very economical as the hamper joints last us through into new year:)

Good luck to everyone:)

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PetiteRaleuse · 07/11/2011 11:08

Hullygully "It's funny how we struggle to say "no" to our kids when we can't afford something, but feel virtuous saying "no" if it's a choice."

That is the wisest thing I have read on the whole of MN in a very very long while. I completely agree, and have come onto these sorts of threads with something along those lines in mind so often, but you have put it so well.

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