Did you get into debt over Christmas

I have already filled one of the drawers underneath my bed with gift sets bought from charity shops all new and donated from people who did not want them,also a brand new Shaun the Sheep cuddly toy for GGD to go into her box for her birthday.
When mine where small we used to have a bill come in January but always cleared it now we buy every month and save 30£s a month towards food bill so we have never overspent for many years thank goodness,I feel so sorry for younger families who are under pressure to buy "the gift" its something we have never done.

Lillyflower, "^We told everyone we were going to go carefully and my children (who both earn) were great about it although my DS had a hissy fit so I couldn't cut down on her, her husband or her three grown up children^." IMO your DS acted very selfishly, has she never heard of the biblical story of the Widow's Mite?

Lilyflower Am I missing something but when were as your comments suggest ' times of plenty?.

Totally debt free which was not the case ?? years ago when married to my ex who hated to see money spent on anyone but him. Ahh Christmas was certainly a struggle then with three children, a really good job and a party time husband. Leaving me for his secret mistress changed my financial situation. Oh to realise you would have been better off all those years as a single working mum. Heartbreaking at the time to be dumped but someone else has the job of funding his expensive lifestyle now. Me? I enjoy my family Christmas celebration with joy and no money worries

I spent about £400 overall and could afford to do so. I soften the blow by buying bits throughout the year as I see things I know they will like. I already have my Christmas cards, wrapping paper and home made cracker fillers and some gifts for next Christmas and birthdays.

Kim19, you said "I get such selfish pleasure in buying things for them."
Remind yourself that it is selfish and that should help you to resist.

Lilyflower since when should a hissy fit be rewarded with generous gifts? Maybe all through your sister's life?

Almost all posting here are of the careful variety but I have known contemporaries spend far too much, in the past, and they are now also in the same age group as those here.

No, and never have. When we had less money we spent less. I'd hate to get into debt. (I am discounting things we did years ago such as buying necessary items like a cooker on hp , bank loans for new car etc. None of these were for christmas anyway. ) Now we dont need to borrow but still spend carefully.

Nope no debt. Just too much food even though we cut back and chocolates still hanging around. Thinking of going to a restaurant next year think it would be better.

We are comfortably off but don't overspend at Christmas. We no longer buy each other presents because neither of us need anything. We buy for the four grandchildren and their parents. Throughout the year I look out for things they might like, and squirrel them away. We host on the big day and spend quite a lot on food, but well within our means.

You are so right FarNorth. Thank you. Just another personal discipline I'll have to put into practice. Strangely, this one feels more challenging.

I am going to break the run of common sense and say that I did overspend at Christmas (again). It's really hard not to when you don't always get a regular income and I do like to treat the children.

I also do the Christmas dinner for the family which costs an arm and a leg. I don't begrudge it at all but have to use credit card to spread the cost.

oh dear.

I do think that I overspend but I don't get in debt. I would worry if I owed money in case I couldn't pay it back.

I budget for Christmas & tend to buy mainly online. I do use my credit card but always pay it off every month.

It is nothing to do with what generation people people are in. Some people are good managers and some are not.
Some people have enough money to never be in debt and never have been. Some other people also have enough money to never be in debt but they still overspend.
We are not some sort of superior generation when it comes to money.

I'm not afraid to be in debt, my miserly side hates the thought of having costs added on if I default on payments.

Having been born during the great depression, I have a dread of being in debt, so shop for Christmas all year round as and when I see a suitable bargain and don't get snarled up in expensive last-minute panic buying.

No debt here, I shop during the year when I see suitable gifts. Always had to have strict budget years ago and have kept that going to a great extent.

With my ex many many years ago it use to be a real struggle. He just gave me a lump sum every week to pay for everything, food, clothes etc and nothing extra for Christmas. It was very hard and I did get into debt but once on my own it was different and I just managed to get by without debt or very little. Now it’s different we are comfortable with money but don’t spend very much at Christmas as the gc are older and they get driving l3ssons and help through the year I just give them a home made stocking filled with bits and bobs.

I was brought up with the mantra "never buy what you can't afford". We had very little as I was growing up and that has stayed with me all my life, you have a budget and you have e to stick with it. Saves a great deal of angst. I think kids remember the joy and love you give them not the big presents that they will probably discard in a few months.x

As a child, hiding behind the settee from the rent man, I vowed that I would never owe anybody a penny - and I never have. I did without many things for years whilst I saved up for them and have only ever bought what I could afford. With a very large family to buy for I purchase items throughout the year and take advantage of sale prices so it's not often I pay full price for anything. My family know how much our income is and every year they are amazed at the quality of the gifts they receive, but they also know that canny mummy will have got a deal.

I did not get into debt at Christmas, I have never been in debt in my life.
My father used to drum into us that we had to save for what we wanted.

Thank goodness, gillybob, I was beginning to think OH and I were the only ones to use our credit card to treat the family and spread the cost. Having said that, we mutually agreed not give presents to most adult family members this year as there are so many children! I missed getting presents from them though! I shall have to buy my own smellies this year so I don't know if I'll really save money or not in the long run.

No getting into debt here either. None of us really have need of anything so siblings agreed to just send a card many years ago.
We struggle to find gifts for the DC and DGC so this year, for the first time ever and partly due to ill health, we resorted to vouchers wrapped round bars of good quality chocolate. The DGC were surprisingly excited by the prospect of sorting out their own presents and we are hoping that the process will teach them something about the value of money and things. We shall see! Apparently they are still working it all out and their parents say it has provoked long and deep discussions. They are coming to us for Easter and planning to do "show and tell" then and so we are really looking forward to it all.

I think if any GN members do get into deep debt over Christmas, and I am sure some do,they are not going to post about it on this or any thread.