Did you get into debt over Christmas

Never. Christmas is over-hyped and now our boys are adults, one with family they understand the need not to overspend for the sake of it. We have a great time within budget.

I've always gone over the top with Christmas but never been in debt that we were unable to pay. When times were hard when we were very young with little children I used to buy all the Christmas presents from my catalogue and spread the cost over the year. In later years we had a permanent overdraft - this was nothing to do with living above our means or being knee deep in debt for extravagant purchases - it was how we survived especially in the earlier years of being in business. We don't need credit cards and overdrafts now but I still use the credit card for big purchases - why use our money when we can have interest free credit - it's how we've always managed our finances. I have never been someone who can think far enough ahead or be organised enough to buy presents through the year - I wish I was but I still like to buy my family as much as we can afford to give them. We are not here forever and I'd rather have the pleasure of seeing them have things now.

Years ago,yes but paid-up credit cards prior to retirement reaped rewards a few years ago when PPI came into being. So having been in debt paid off as I've enjoyed debt-free Christmas's since.
D goes for the interest-free which when an item or items are paid before a certain time no interest is accrued. It's convenient for her as she works and is able to pay a bill in time. I think she has an account with Argos so her arrangement is handy in case her washing machine or something large breaks down.

I have never got into debt over Christmas - when we were poor presents were cheap, when we were a bit better off the presents were better too.

I no longer buy heaps of presents but in the days when I did I started in the January sales and if I saw something in July which I thought would be ideal for somebody, I bought it. Then and now I would not dream of going into debt, I never have and never will.

Don't go into debt as such, but don't go mad either, and counteract the extra Christmas spending by what my mother used to call 'going on frugals' after Christmas.

Part of which includes using every scrap of leftovers, boiling up turkey carcass for stock/turkey stew, making pea and ham soup with the last shreds of gammon, etc.

Another 'frugals' ploy of my mother's was what she used to call 'dustbin soup' - i.e. whatever veggies/suitable leftovers you happen to have, plus any lentils, pearl barley, macaroni, etc. you have in the cupboard.
Luckily dh would happily eat this sort of thing every night! We usually have some grated cheese on top.
Great for veggie intake, and use of cheap, seasonal, UK veg.

I already have!

Perhhaps we should start saving for next Christmas?

I think I must've had the 'cheapest' Xmas ever, this year. I bought from Amazon for my Gt. Grandson, using my credit card, and bits and bobs for my adult GC (and these WERE just bits and bobs), as we never go overboard present-wise these days. DH and I don't buy presents for each other, because we just buy as we want or need, anyway. I use my CC regularly, more or less paying it off when it's due. I find it a useful tool to spread spending, and it works well for me.

I do not really think that a planned spend spread over CCs is getting into debt for Christmas.

Getting into debt means spending money you do not have and will not have so that you are still paying for this Christmas next Christmas or where paying it off is a real worry.

We use our CC to pay for Xmas but pay off the balance when it is due but I see nothing shameful in using a CC to spread the cost a little if needed. It is just another tool to allow us to manage our money as is buying in the sales for next Xmas . I buy cards, wrapping paper , bows , crackers etc in the new year sales for next year.

I’m not ashamed of the truth M0nica and can’t see the point if trying to pretend to be someone I’m not . I know you can show love without spending much money ( and I do that all year round in abundance ) but at Christmas I do like to treat the family. I also save with Park which helps a lot but I always end up putting the difference on my credit card .
I’m really happy for those people that enjoy a debt free Christmas ( jealous even) but my CC is essential for me.

I think if any GN members do get into deep debt over Christmas, and I am sure some do,they are not going to post about it on this or any thread.

No getting into debt here either. None of us really have need of anything so siblings agreed to just send a card many years ago.
We struggle to find gifts for the DC and DGC so this year, for the first time ever and partly due to ill health, we resorted to vouchers wrapped round bars of good quality chocolate. The DGC were surprisingly excited by the prospect of sorting out their own presents and we are hoping that the process will teach them something about the value of money and things. We shall see! Apparently they are still working it all out and their parents say it has provoked long and deep discussions. They are coming to us for Easter and planning to do "show and tell" then and so we are really looking forward to it all.

Thank goodness, gillybob, I was beginning to think OH and I were the only ones to use our credit card to treat the family and spread the cost. Having said that, we mutually agreed not give presents to most adult family members this year as there are so many children! I missed getting presents from them though! I shall have to buy my own smellies this year so I don't know if I'll really save money or not in the long run.

I did not get into debt at Christmas, I have never been in debt in my life.
My father used to drum into us that we had to save for what we wanted.

As a child, hiding behind the settee from the rent man, I vowed that I would never owe anybody a penny - and I never have. I did without many things for years whilst I saved up for them and have only ever bought what I could afford. With a very large family to buy for I purchase items throughout the year and take advantage of sale prices so it's not often I pay full price for anything. My family know how much our income is and every year they are amazed at the quality of the gifts they receive, but they also know that canny mummy will have got a deal.

I was brought up with the mantra "never buy what you can't afford". We had very little as I was growing up and that has stayed with me all my life, you have a budget and you have e to stick with it. Saves a great deal of angst. I think kids remember the joy and love you give them not the big presents that they will probably discard in a few months.x

With my ex many many years ago it use to be a real struggle. He just gave me a lump sum every week to pay for everything, food, clothes etc and nothing extra for Christmas. It was very hard and I did get into debt but once on my own it was different and I just managed to get by without debt or very little. Now it’s different we are comfortable with money but don’t spend very much at Christmas as the gc are older and they get driving l3ssons and help through the year I just give them a home made stocking filled with bits and bobs.

No debt here, I shop during the year when I see suitable gifts. Always had to have strict budget years ago and have kept that going to a great extent.

Having been born during the great depression, I have a dread of being in debt, so shop for Christmas all year round as and when I see a suitable bargain and don't get snarled up in expensive last-minute panic buying.

I'm not afraid to be in debt, my miserly side hates the thought of having costs added on if I default on payments.

It is nothing to do with what generation people people are in. Some people are good managers and some are not.
Some people have enough money to never be in debt and never have been. Some other people also have enough money to never be in debt but they still overspend.
We are not some sort of superior generation when it comes to money.

I budget for Christmas & tend to buy mainly online. I do use my credit card but always pay it off every month.

I do think that I overspend but I don't get in debt. I would worry if I owed money in case I couldn't pay it back.