How Much Do You Spend on Christmas?

[captain_cynic]

£0.

I'd be just as happy if Christmas didn't exist. Happier even.

[berlintaxi]

rfisher said:

Have we had elevenerife yet?

Did you somehow miss Bigmowley's post?

[Hol]

Around £2000 this year as two of the boys need newer (read reliable) laptops for university.

That probably matches the previous record when the Ps4 came out and I had to buy 3x of them, with games and accessories.

Other relatives get about £20ea and the wife and I spend around £100 on each other, as we typically buy whatever we actually need ourselves during the rest of the year and tend to spend out more on birthdays, or significant anniversary's instead.

[rfisher]

berlintaxi said:

rfisher said:

Have we had elevenerife yet?

Did you somehow miss Bigmowley's post?

It's my NYR to follow the PH tradition of not reading the OP or any subsequent posts, but just load up the last post and reply to that.

Feel free to Sauvage my lawn bro.

[berlintaxi]

rfisher said:

berlintaxi said:

rfisher said:

Have we had elevenerife yet?

Did you somehow miss Bigmowley's post?

It's my NYR to follow the PH tradition of not reading the OP or any subsequent posts, but just load up the last post and reply to that.

Feel free to Sauvage my lawn bro.

You want me to douse your lawn in after-shave?

[toon10]

CS Garth said:

Well done that man - nice spreadsheet use.

If I’m honest I was hopeful there would more precision folks out there to shame my useless approach.

I wasn't that precise as I've not taken into account the new iPhone I got my eldest. I pay his mobile contract now and there's nothing to pay for the new device up front but technically, I can add another grand or whatever to my spend. That's spread over 24 monthly payments. Apologies to the real geeks and accountants out there for my oversight.

[J4CKO]

toon10 said:

CS Garth said:

Well done that man - nice spreadsheet use.

If I’m honest I was hopeful there would more precision folks out there to shame my useless approach.

I wasn't that precise as I've not taken into account the new iPhone I got my eldest. I pay his mobile contract now and there's nothing to pay for the new device up front but technically, I can add another grand or whatever to my spend. That's spread over 24 monthly payments. Apologies to the real geeks and accountants out there for my oversight.

Its quite difficult to quantify actual exact spend as my missus buys a load of stuff for the kids like socks and pants that she would buy anyway.

[rambo19]

bigmowley said:

Christ I wouldn't mind having most of the budgets above. Our spend is somewhere between £5 and £10K at a guess. Assuming you throw everything in, food, drinks, presents, traveling, utility bills, flowers, decorations, eating out, etc etc. I don't really mind as we have real quality time with the family but it makes me realise how lucky we are. It's an important time for Mrs BigM and she works hard for it so I just go with the flow and enjoy the ride.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but that is utter madness!

[condor]

Probably around £200 and that's mainly down to food and drink.
2 Christmas party pub lunches at £30 each, and that's with only a small glass of wine at both.
Christmas fayres, raffles, cards, presents ...it all adds up.
Then there's lots of tempting goodies to eat....

[bigmowley]

rambo19 said:

bigmowley said:

Christ I wouldn't mind having most of the budgets above. Our spend is somewhere between £5 and £10K at a guess. Assuming you throw everything in, food, drinks, presents, traveling, utility bills, flowers, decorations, eating out, etc etc. I don't really mind as we have real quality time with the family but it makes me realise how lucky we are. It's an important time for Mrs BigM and she works hard for it so I just go with the flow and enjoy the ride.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but that is utter madness!

That's a bit harsh! Each to their own and all that

To clarify it a bit, we live on the Isle of Man and our 3 grown up kids live away. Apart from the odd wedding and funeral it's the only time we all get together as a family again. We go from a fairly parsimonious twosome to a house bursting full of folk. That spend does cover the whole holiday period until new year when they all bugger off again and leave us in peace. Last year was the first year when I didn't have to stump up for flights / ferries now they are all earning proper money not students. The Isle of Man might be a low tax economy but the secondary taxation levels are high. Just for Mrs BigM to go Christmas shopping involves flights and hotels, and no according to her there aren't any shops on the island!!!

To be fair I have never sat down and thought about it before and TBH I am very surprised by the number of posters claiming to spend next to nothing. Perhaps they get to spend all the time they want with their loved ones throughout the year but for us and the family it is a very important time. So consider the boat well and truly pushed out again

[NoVetec]

captain_cynic said:

£0.

I'd be just as happy if Christmas didn't exist. Happier even.

Almost this.

I've spent £170.61 to hire a car for a week and insure against the excess to drive to nice places and walk the dog. Did toy with the idea of going abroad this year but decided against it in the end. I'll be a tourist in my own county instead.

Everyone's grown up in our family now - no presents exchanged just food, drink and crap telly shared - although I'll miss most the day doing the aforementioned driving and walking.

[hyphen]

alorotom said:

Upto about £2k on the wife, the daughter probably about £300 (currently)

Parents / sister / bil/ nephew etc... about £50 each

£2k a year... Can't you opt for the more expensive implants that last longer??

[alorotom]

hyphen said:

alorotom said:

Upto about £2k on the wife, the daughter probably about £300 (currently)

Parents / sister / bil/ nephew etc... about £50 each

£2k a year... Can't you opt for the more expensive implants that last longer??

Theyre not necessary, and the Vicki’s Secret gear that’s included in the spend for her will enhance her natural 32e/10 frame perfectly - and no there aren’t any pics I’m willing to share with all you pervs, well unless you want a nice pic of my mini + hairy man-boobs lol

Oh and I’ve never been a fan of the fakes - ex wife and a couple of previous girlfriends had them and they really didn’t do it for me

[red_slr]

NoVetec said:

captain_cynic said:

£0.

I'd be just as happy if Christmas didn't exist. Happier even.

Almost this.

I've spent £170.61 to hire a car for a week and insure against the excess to drive to nice places and walk the dog. Did toy with the idea of going abroad this year but decided against it in the end. I'll be a tourist in my own county instead.

Everyone's grown up in our family now - no presents exchanged just food, drink and crap telly shared - although I'll miss most the day doing the aforementioned driving and walking.

Ditto. I will retreat to Cornwall on Saturday for a week with the dog and wifey. Other than xmas day when we will stay in as everywhere is closed we will probably just wander the villages of the north coast and eat a few pasties.

[ziggy328]

£2343.14p so far. Nearly done on presents but have the big final shop to do for food and drink. It's madness how it adds up so quickly.

[sparks_E46]

These are all “so far”

Wife £200ish, haven’t quite added it up yet. She always one ups me, last year was Foo Fighter tickets!
Mum and stepdad £50
Youngest sister £25
In laws £30
Secret Santa £40
Aunt and Uncle £30

Food £80
Drink £50
Decorations £40
Fuel £40 I reckon I’ll do seeing everyone. Hopefully some clear weather and some empty roads so I can enjoy my car properly. My local roads are around the North Dorset countryside, I accidentally on purpose tend to take the longer routes

When you earn only the national average and have just purchased a house the above is noticeable, but I fking love Christmas and don’t care what it costs!

Have a good one!