Christmas with FAIRshare

How do you feel about Christmas?

Christmas should be a wonderful time for families to gather and show appreciation for each other. Sadly, the commercial pressures have made it an incredibly difficult time for some. We are keen to support families to enjoy the season whilst easing some of the financial burden.

FAIRshare is lucky enough to have a wonderful community of members who have shared some of their suggestions for cutting costs at Christmas. There seems an interesting trend to enjoy moments rather than gifts. What would you remember most? Here’s some member suggestions…

• A group of friends commit £20 per couple or £10 for a lucky single, into a pot and instead of all buying gifts for each other, one of us hosts a get together with the money, nibbles, Prosecco etc and lots of cheesy Xmas jumpers and Mariah Carey belting out! It’s great fun and always plenty of good food, and drink.
• Buying only one present for one adult in the family for Secret Santa.
• Hampers of home made gifts, body scrub and bath salts, a homemade recipe of cherry and pistachio fudge, seed bombs, Christmas tree shaped bird feeders, and very easy mulled wine kits. Affordable to make but much more appreciated!
• A carol singing evening with friends in the garden where we light candles, sing carols and bring and share food and drinks for afterwards.
• Set a budget for gifts as a family.
• Bring and share Christmas dinner.
• Spread spending for gifts throughout the year.
• Buy in sales and throughout the year.
• Buy practical but welcome gifts such as pyjamas and fragrant toiletry.
• Create memories rather than gifts.
• Charity shop challenge – set a budget and see what you can buy. This supports charity shops at Christmas too.
• A group of friends commit £20 per couple or £10 for a lucky single, into a pot and instead of all buying gifts for each other, one of us hosts a get together with the money, nibbles, Prosecco etc and lots of cheesy Xmas jumpers and Mariah Carey belting out! It’s great fun and always plenty of good food, and drink.

Martin Lewis has some brilliant tips for Christmas too. His website recommends not planning the perfect Christmas but one you can afford. One of the best points he makes is that when buying a gift for someone, they are obliged to buy in return. If it’s all got too much, why not agree not to buy gifts or set an affordable budget. You could try organising something to do with loved ones instead of gift giving such as visiting Christmas lights switch on with mince pies afterwards. You might just be reducing the stress on someone else at Christmas too!