Copy article

Daily Mail opp - Are you paring back Christmas this year?

ended 17. November 2022

Hi all,

A journalist on the Daily Mail is writing a piece on families having a pared back Christmas this year due to food shortages and rising food and energy costs.  

Eg. due to a turkey shortage people are having pork or beef instead on Christmas Day, presents under the tree are being replaced by Secret Santas to save money (or no gifts at all), pubs will be closed on Christmas Day, companies aren't having parties, families won't be adorning their homes with lights and many may even choose to do without a Christmas tree!

Are you planning to have a pared back Christmas this year, and what are your plans?

Need responses by midday ideally - just a couple of paragraphs max, thanks.

4 responses from the Newspage community

Copy all

Copy

Editor
Samuel Mather-Holgate
Independent Financial Adviser at Mather and Murray Financial
Rather than going crazy on presents for adults in the family, we are doing a secret santa this year so everyone gets something but no one has to spend too much. The kids are except because they would kill us! Rather than going out to the pub with friends for weeks leading up to Christmas, we've decided to host a pre-fake-Christmas at home, inviting all of our friends for dinner. This saves the hundreds of pounds everyone spends on booze over the Christmas period and gets everyone together for one really special occasion, especially for those who normally spend Christmas by themselves.
Copy

Legend
Dr Jackie Mulligan
Founder at ShopAppy
We have decided as a family to only buy for the nieces and nephews and not the aunts and uncles this year -but will be hosting a party instead for lots of aunts, uncles and cousins which might end up costing us more! Mostly we are making sure our spend for gifts is going to small local businesses instead of the billionaires - as the best gift would be to have vibrant high streets in 2023. I am giving my team Black Friday afternoon off so they can spend time and money locally too.
Copy

Natalie Ormond
Owner at Smallkind
Our Christmas will be simpler but no less magical for the kids. We won't be doing expensive pantos and 'Christmas Wonderlands' this year. We've done them before and they are fun but not really worth the cost for a family of four. Instead we're going to a local Christmas show and I'll be looking for winter walks and festive trails we can do without spending a lot. We pared back gifts last year and now only buy for our kids and parents. I'll be making hampers of foodie treats for our parents and looking out for deals early on so I get value for money. We follow the five gift rule for the kids - something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read and a surprise. We won't be going crazy spending because they don't need it. In previous years when they got way too much stuff it made Christmas Day stressful as they were overwhelmed and we ended up with far more toys than we have room for. I'm all for a simpler, cheaper and more relaxed Christmas.
Copy

Rachel Harvey
Proprietor - Hand and Footprint Specialist at The Paint Box
There will be absolute no pairing back Christmas in my house … because Christmas isn’t about the money, the gifts, the trimmings and the food. It’s about family, spending time together and traditions. I will spend less, but I think with money shorter we need to take this opportunity to reset and remember what really matters at Christmas time. All the fluff just lines the pockets of the big companies it doesn’t give you the warm and fuzzies!