I know it might seem a bit odd to be thinking about Christmas when it’s July, and quite warm outside. In fact, for most people Christmas will be the last thing to enter their minds! Having fun in the summer, enjoying the warmer weather and being outside is what the majority of people are doing. And so they should 🙂
But, Christmas comes every year (if you celebrate it). It shouldn’t be a surprise to your budget that Christmas is coming up. After all, every 12 months the holiday rolls around and all the decorations get put up and presents are wrapped and put under the tree.
However, more and more families are feeling the pinch. Everyday expenses are going up and the cost of toys and gifts is also rising.
Related post: How To Budget For Christmas
So, I was thinking about Christmas yesterday. About how much we are able to put towards it this year, all things considered. We have multiple family birthdays in December, including Frugal Baby’s 1st. Christmas time is also a time where we travel to see various family members, which incurs costs of their own. Then we have lots of presents to buy for (which I love, incidentally) which we have to budget for too.
And suddenly, you can see how the costs start to mount up.
Normally, it gets to November time and I start to think ‘I need to get started with Christmas shopping’ so as to spread the cost out a bit further. But, it always seems to be a last minute rush. Of course, last year we were in a slightly different boat with a two week old baby so everything logical went out of the window. Not this year though, I vow to be different!
So, I think I’m going to do a savings challenge for Christmas. I looked at the calendar and it is 21 weeks tomorrow until Christmas Day. Sorry to say, but it doesn’t seem that far away!
Each week from now on, I intend to save at least £10 every week. If I manage that, I’ll have saved £210 for Christmas spends. If I manage more, then the total will be higher. A very nice chunk of change to use towards presents, travel costs and food 🙂
How about you? Do you want to join me? I’d love to hear how you budget for Christmas!
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I’ll join you! I need to do a couple of things to prepare for the cost of Christmas, so this can be one of them!
Fab! Let me know how you get on 🙂
I’m in normally my budget is really hit and miss we get paid monthly on the 7th so Imuch going to do 50 each month x
Good luck! Keep me posted 🙂
I have been saving £50 a month since Christmas for the first time ever! I’m on track and feeling much less stressed about it all 😀
That’s awesome, well done you!
I put aside a little bit each month but it’s not for gifts for this Christmas, it’s so I’ll have some money to take advantage of the sales for NEXT Christmas. I buy as many cards, wrapping and non-perishable gifts as I can afford in the sales and stash them away. I write my Christmas list then too, so I know who I’m buying for and roughly what I intend to get them. Then during the year whenever I have a bit of spare cash I pick up another gift and that way Christmas isn’t such a shock to the financial system for me. I’ve been doing this for years mind you – I was always tight, even as a child.
That’s so organised! Maybe I should try this next year…
Hmm I need to start doing this, so from mid September £10 a week it is until Yule!
Me too. I’ve set up £50 per month dd
Great! That will soon add up 🙂