Samantha Thomas is spending £70 each on her children and will save by shopping for special food offers on Christmas Eve
In our special How I Manage My Christmas Budget series, we speak to people to find out how they are saving and spending money during the festive period.
This week, we talk to Samantha Thomas, 44, a full-time content creator and part-time private tutor, living in Wigan with her 17-year-old daughter and five-year-old son. Samantha starts saving for Christmas in January, setting aside hundreds of pounds in cash ready for December. She was once in debt and had to watch every penny. Now, Samantha still enjoys shopping for a bargain and is very selective about the time and date she buys Christmas desserts and other treats in the supermarkets.
Monthly budget
My monthly income: I set up a limited company a few years ago and all the money I earn from social media work, tutoring and side hustles goes into it. I pay myself a salary of just over £2,000 a month.
My Christmas budget: Food, £20; drinks, £50; decorations, £3; pre-Christmas activities, £60; presents for family, £155; presents for each of my children, £70; presents for friends, £20; travel to family and friends, £12; stockings, £20; children’s Christmas parties, £20.
I save money for Christmas all year round, starting in January, and typically aim to set aside £500 for it. I set aside a few pounds each week for Christmas via cash stuffing. By December, the magic happens and I’ve got hundreds of pounds in cash set aside. I use cash stuffing trackers, planners and binders to keep on top of everything I’m saving up for the festive season.
I love giving, but experience has taught me that I can still give people presents without dreading the credit card bill landing in January. I shop in the sales all year round, use charity shops, get ex-display items, make some gifts and even sometimes use freebies as gifts.
I’m spending about £60 on pre-Christmas activities and another £20 on Christmas parties my children are going to. We enjoy the free light display put on in the local park by the council, and a friend is hosting a children’s craft afternoon which we’re going to.
During the first weekend of December we went to the local Santa Claus train ride as it is always much cheaper earlier in the month. We might also go to a pantomime at some point.
New FeatureIn ShortQuick Stories. Same trusted journalism.
When it comes to meals out around or on Christmas Day, I find restaurants impose something akin to a “Christmas tax”, given they charge much higher prices in December. If we fancy a meal out at this time of year, I’ll hunt around for a local pub which doesn’t charge more at Christmas.
I save money by not sending Christmas cards, as the cost of stamps is expensive. I only buy one new tree ornament a year.
I’ll be spending around £70 on each of my children for Christmas. My son is getting an ex-display end-of-line scooter which cost £100 originally but I paid £44.99 for. My daughter is turning 18 so I will be opening a cash Isa for her and transfer money from her child trust fund into it.
Usually all the pressure is on me at Christmas, but this year we are doing things a little differently. I’m going to my mum’s house with the kids. My brother will be there with his wife and their children too.
We will have a late afternoon Christmas dinner, a few games and then go home to watch films by the fire. My mum will be cooking the main meal, a simple roast chicken dinner, and I will bring the dessert. My food bill this Christmas will only be about £20.
When buying the dessert I will shop around to see what is on offer or reduced the day before. I try to head out on Christmas Eve at about 2pm or 3pm to some of the higher-end supermarkets before they close for a couple of days. There are usually lots of reduced items on offer and I plan to stock up on goods for the freezer while I’m there.
Luckily, I do not feel under pressure to spend more than I can afford at Christmas any more. I think people have become more open and honest about what an expensive time of year it is and how challenging this can be.
After a messy divorce I was left with £100,000 of debt a number of years ago. I had to put food on the table and get the debts paid off. I began taking cash-stuffing seriously and set up a YouTube channel talking about budgeting, getting out of debt and cash-stuffing, which I was quickly able to monetise.
Being so frugal is fortunately no longer a necessity for me, but has just become an enjoyable normal way of life all year round, including at Christmas.
Dining and Cooking