Thinking ahead to the end of the year

Adrian_Scope

I know it's August and the festive season is probably the last thing on anyone's minds at the moment, despite retailers throwing up Christmas aisles like we're in the middle of advent!

So, I'm terrible at planning for Christmas in advance. Every year I start out with the best of intentions and then before I know it it's 23rd December and I've done nothing but procrastinate.

This year, with things as they are, I simply can't afford to leave it so late, but with all the uncertainty around costs and rising prices, it feels as though Christmas should be the last thing on my mind and is a frivolous expense.

I'm in a relatively fortunate position but I'm still worried about what our energy bill will look like this year and I know already that Christmas will look very different for my kids than they have in years gone by.  

Is anyone else thinking ahead or feeling the same way? 

Grinchy

Christmas is not that far away, we buy throughout the year, we have bought less so far this year, i hope you get sorted out soon, my wife always finds a way to make Christmas enjoyable, she knows how important it is to me, i love seeing the decorations instore as well as all the associated things, i'm a bit weird like that though, lol

durhamjaide2001

It's for too early for even the Christmas word 

Adeline

When you're living hand to mouth you can't afford to think ahead. I'm struggling with now, especially with school uniforms, the summer break, new school shoes, stationary and how I'll afford the bus fares come September. We ended up in so much debt from last winter and heating I don't know what we'll do this year. As for the C word, I really don't know. Buying through the year makes sense if you can afford it but when you have zero disposable income it isn't an option.

C_J

Buying throughout the year is a good idea if you can manage it but I think everyone is kind of feeling the cost of living hitting them at the moment. It is nice to see the Christmas things in the shops. I shop nearer the time kind of last minute sometimes but that could be me being a little Choosey when I buy gifts for people.

I must admit that when I go shopping with someone else I can be a little embarrassing as when the Christmas things are out if there's a button to be pressed to try things I will be the one pressing the button or switching things on to try them.

Sandy_123

I've started looking now luckily we have a thing in the family where we all buy for the kids bit all the adults do a secret santa. So instead of buying all the adults an individual present, we buy 1 secret santa. Everyone gets a gift. We set an amount for all the secret santa gift that everyone sticks too. It works out well I think.

woodbine

The hope is energy priced will come down again later this year and I think most people have Christmas whatever the circumstances but with mortgage cost rising and rents going up I suspect that Christmas 2023 will be a really tough one for families, my advice (for what its worth) would be to start planning now and where possible agree with adults that children should be the priority.

We are also buying some tinned and packet foods now to donate to local food bank in December.

Hannah_Alumni

I am from a big family, so Christmases are always "big" but I've found a few ways to cut down costs. For example, I remember to maximise points through the year at retailers with loyalty or points cards. I usually save up enough to do some 3 for 2 offers at Boots and get some great gifts without spending money I wouldn't have already. If that makes sense?

Outside of energy bills, I think I am worried about enjoying this year. My health kept me housebound for so long and now I am getting out and about. I want to enjoy everything I missed out on for years. Unfortunately, "everything" is just so expensive. Like going to the theatre or getting together with friends and family for meals. Even with wanting to see the Christmas lights turned on, something that is free, but I have to take travel costs into account. I have definitely had to change my way of budgeting to enjoy doing things I has labelled as undoable for so long. 

Steve_in_The_City

I have always planned Xmas well in advance and buy pressies throughout the year. I also buy food for the freezer. The Xmas menu is planned months in advance. Essentially, when Xmas does truck up on the doorstep, I don't have much to do and the expense has already been met; the forward planning pays dividends for me. When things have been financially bad and times tough, by forward planning I still manage a good Xmas. I also avoid the Xmas shopping crowds.

My partner died in 2019, all my friends have moved away or "gone abroad", I have no family so Xmas is now spent alone. But I still plan Xmas with military precision and get myself in the mood.

I do feel sorry for people with kids who are feeling the pinch. My mum struggled financially and Xmas was always quite sparse. Fortunately I am only accountable to/for myself, but if I had a lot of family commitments I would be worried.