No not at all on the contrary we all need something to cheer us up.

As you say it is never easy especially on a pension with a mortgage, strata, rates etc. to cover but I do have a few extra presents this year which will begin to strain the budget but I never spend big but try to spend wisely and thoughtfully.

Yes, definitely. Cards are my only luxury. I make them myself.Edited 09-Dec-20 21:50pm

Going to try. I'm making most of my gifts.

Trying to have made Somme gits. But hopefully Christmas Cub will pay most the.gifts after the trauma of the pandemic ?? we need a little pleasure and what better than celebrating ?? Christmas with All we can GODS GIFT. TO US AS CHRISTIANS TO SHARE AND ENJOY

I’m trying to

Yes everything costs and so hard to stop buying yum food

similar to last year?

We don't believe on giving gift on Christmas we believe all about getting together on this special day.

Wanted spend less but spend more so far because is so many good deals around lol

Yep, going for the cheaper but more time consuming option of making all my gifts this year. Hoping they'll be received well!

About the same

No more, no less, because we don't celebrate Christmas any more

We are a very small family out here and all are adults so I reckon if we just all get together, ALL 7 OF US, and each just bring some food and drink for sharing and enjoy each others company and talk til we drop, should round the year of better than it has been faring lately.

l thought l would buy less but l seem to have paid more

yes the main item is I have sent calendars to my friends around the world for the past 50 years but now cannot afford the horrendous cost of postage, apart from Australia, It would cost far more than the calendars

Bit less. I have lost family this year and a few have moved too far away

About the same as usual.

Less is better when they are hand made like in the early days - they are more personal and also cheaper. How does homemade rocky road sound?

Yes I am as there are not somany to buy for

Most possibly will spendless as it has been a rough year.

No i will spend about the same like any other year

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes.

We will buy for kids under 15.The family have decided to do secret Santa for the adults we each buy 1 really good gift.That will save us all money & 1 nice gift will be better than some of the budget priced gifts of past Christmasses

About the same really...

No. But it is very expensive with 6 children & their partners plus 17 grandchildren & 7 great- grandchildren

I sure am, what a year, the most important thing is to be together, after a trying year apart, that's what it feels like, just to spend quality time with family and friends, I am making puddings and special Panatonne, for close friends and family, home-made is always special and it doesn't cost that much, just some extra time. Only buying presents for immediate family, that is all we can afford this year, our income has dropped by about 20%, so we have had to pull the belt in, big time, but next year things will get better. I am always the optimist.

Haven't started yet/

Buying Christmas presents can sometimes be a bit tricky especially this year. As we are a large family-5 children and 13 grandchildren we have a kris Kringle system -we each have 2 presents to buy-the grandchildren under 18 still get presents.

yes

A couple of years ago I gave up om Xmas presents for my nephew's kids - now they get some money for Xmas and birthdays. Otherwise I avoid the commercialism.

yes

A little less this year. We only have a small family with hubby, 2 daughters and son-in-laws and one granddaughter. They will be receiving their usual cash, but apart from my granddaughter not as much. The rest I will be giving to charity as they so badly need it at this time of the year. My thoughts for this Christmas is of thinking of all of those that have suffered so much and I will be thinking of them.

I never really used to buy or receive gifts at Christmas but since being with my partner I have since they celebrate and buy me gifts. I didn't do it last year though because I was broke but I saved up this year and bought everyone a gift. I spent my money buying from artists to support them.

Only buying things that are on sale, have to be more careful with my spending now.

No same as last year

same as last year

Depends

Yes, we were defrauded of $53,500 so it is hard enough buying the bare necessities let alone being extravagant, can't even afford to buy and post Christmas cards

no not really. you cannot spend what you have not got. I got my rego.cttp to pay BUT have heaps of vouchers from online survey sites I do to use so that may solve the problem regarding money.

WE ALWAYS PUT MONEY IN GRANDCHILDRENS BANK ACCOUNT AND FAMILY ALL PUT IN $50 AND WE CHOOSE A CHARITY TO SUPPORT HASN'T CHANGED THIS YEAR

yes, no choice, with eneergy retaillers gouging and prices of essentials gradually increasing somethings gotta give

About the same

Christmas has never been overly expensive for me as I have a very small family. 2 gorgeous grandsons have slightly swollen the numbers but that adjusted with the loss of a lovely son-in-law to be (relationship break up) and my beloved grandpuppies. So small adjustments but it balances out. Spending way less on food though as we’re having pre Christmas and on the day I have a dinner engagement. So during the day it’s a tossup between a small grazing table or an actual lunch.....whichever is healthier and cheaper.

Less family is more important

About the same.

I think it's a good idea for the individual to adjust to world's financial status. Reminds me a lot of the Greek mythology of the brothers Plutus and Philomenus. Even though the richer of the two, Plutus, the Greek God of Wealth, never gave anything to Philomenus. Philomenus's wealth was generated from converting hard work into riches. Philomenus (inventor of plough) is known as the Greek God of Agriculture. In Dante's Inferno Plutus is portrayed as a Demon who represents both wealth and greed/craving of material goods - power, fame, etc. The poet Dante considers money and greed to be the greatest cause of trouble in the World!

Same as every year

less

less

`Give an experience as a present.

We don’t need presents and over spending, and those that go into extreme debt, to provide children everything on there wish list. The spirit of Christmas has been lost. Hand made, is more appreciative or one gift. Presents are more for those children, whom believe in Santa, once children no longer believe, it’s not as exciting

Yes

I don't buy presents for anyone

no

yes

Will buy less gifts as we intend to give the grandchildren money so they can buy what they want

Less than I was expecting to be able to buy however probably sent probably more than usual as my eldest daughter is going to high school in the new year so I had to buy a laptop for school if I bought it now or in the new year the cost would still be the same in total. I usually start Christmas shopping for the next year right after I've finished the last so it won't be long before I start again and spread the cost over the whole year it doesn't seem to feel so much.

I buy them throughout the year with sales. Get Chrisco which arrives in November. So my Christmas is sorted months ahead of time. After all we do have 364 days notice to get sorted :)

always plan to hold back but......

yes more grand children

A little yes family is more important

I don't celebrate religious holidays (born again Atheist) - not going to buy any presents (it is a tradition in my household) - LOL!!!!

I will be spending much less on Christmas presents this year then I already do .

um, not necessarily cheaper gifts, but definitely less.