More, Less....Or the same ?

Oh and by the way, I intend to spend LESS !

Probably more. My children are adults now, with homes they have bought recently, and partners who are now part of the family. We are retired, and our home is more or less how we want it, so we have less to spend money on than when they were growing up.

The children haven't asked for anything yet, but I'll soon be asking them, and suggesting that if they need anything for their houses it could be a Christmas present. It makes sense to help them now when they need it and we can do it.

We spend about the same on food - maybe more, as we see both sets of 'children' over Christmas and each brings their partner (and dog!) so we are feeding six adults instead of four. We don't go to work 'dos' any more though, or Christmas parties, so maybe that balances out.

Definitely more, the GC and DC are older, more expensive tastes.

Everything is more expensive this year even the ingredients for chutneys, pickles, cakes and mince pies.

More here too - the price of everything has risen and since last Christmas, I now give my DDs money for their family holiday funds.

Doesn't it always cost more?

As GG said, stuff the DGC ask for is getting more and more expensive.

Same

I decrease my kids each year, while increasing what I spend on the GC.

Christmas to me is a silly and outdated custom that causes so much stress.

So this year is going to be a lot, lot less.

Rocketstop2

Oh and by the way, I intend to spend LESS !

As do I 😃

DC and GC (all grown up now) are given money.

DH and I stopped giving each other gifts years ago, pointless. We just buy as and when we need things.

Apart from giving chocs to an elderly friend in a nursing home, and one close relative, I buy for no one else.

Food wise, make simple Christmas cake and puds, and whatever main meal we want on the day and next day.

Far too much fuss made over one day.

I’m giving more. Getting to that age when my DC and DGcs need it more than I do.

Far less, this year is about self-preservation, my AC get help when I see a need, they never ask and we don`t give expensive presents anyway. I already have one-off presents for them, stylish tactile and not expensive. I will just need the bags of nuts to go with them

We are about to go into very hard times and we will just enjoy the week without all the expensive fuss

Interesting thread.

Very even so far, in the more or less, categories.

I've no idea what I spent last year.
I shall just spend again this year until I have acquired everything I want for the festivities.

The same ..I allow the same amount of money for my three children and seven grandchildren and as I rarely go anywhere apart from dinner with my daughter whose children have left home …so not a lot
Can’t wait to get over with

It depends what’s on the wish lists from the children and grandchildren!
I’d imagine it will be about the same with some judicious shopping.

It’s sad that people don’t enjoy Christmas, I think. Not sad that they don’t want (or are not able) to spend a lot, but that a festival that breaks up what can be a long dreary winter isn’t something to look forward to and enjoy.

I love Christmas - seeing the family, planning meals, treats such as stollen that we don’t get all year round, decorating the house and so on.

I think the winter would be very dull without it. I do understand that for those on their own the festivities might make things feel worse though

Doodledog I totally agree, I adore Christmas, including the run up to the day.

I m also mindful that for some it is difficult.

We as a family stopped doing presents for adults a while ago, its amazing how much headspace this has freed up!
We all love to plan the walks, making recipes & decorations and visits to Christmassy NT houses & the music events of course but not the shopping
Christmas here lasts for a good 6 weeks now instead of the focus being on 'one day'
Cutting out the shopping malls, online ordering & just the thinking of it all, makes Christmas magical again for me and I'm very excited about it all.

If we buy the same sort of things this year that we bought last year, then yes, we will be spending more simply because just about everything has increased in price.

I’m another who doesn’t buy presents for adults any more and have asked that they don’t buy for us - too much stress and angst for everyone wondering what to buy and if it will be liked/needed.

Having said that, I love Christmas itself, it is a special time, and it is good to have a bit of indulgence (I’m certainly no Scrooge), but I am trying very hard not to be dragged into all the commercialised hype which, in my opinion, is nothing to do with the celebration of Christmas proper, but everything to do with making businesses lots of profit and is responsible for getting some people deep into debt as they try to create the “perfect” Christmas, which just doesn’t exist.

I think Doodledog has summed it all up pretty well and she mirrors my thoughts about Christmas.

I meant to add, too, that the religious side of Christmas, celebrating the birth of Christ, is very important to me.

I'm with the Christmas lovers. In the Northern Hemisphere, the dark days can seem very dreary. Wisely, Northern European Christians hijacked pagan midwinter festivals as Christmas.
Decorating our homes with lights and enjoying seasonal music comforts us as we await the return of longer, brighter days.
Present giving is but a very small part of this.

They want to know whether you will spend more or less on your Christmas binge this year. They don’t care WHY.

I’m all for pretty lights and seasonal music and some foody treats, and you can have that without spending a fortune.

MartavTaurus

I've no idea what I spent last year.
I shall just spend again this year until I have acquired everything I want for the festivities.

Can I come?😁