Christmas abroad

Guest2

Guest2

Guest2

Soldato
Joined
6 May 2009
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Last year me and my girlfriend did not see each other until after Christmas as her family are in Newcastle and mine in Somerset. It would have been logistically very difficult to travel to see all families.

I spent about £600 last year on family presents and her around the same, maybe a bit less. We said we would not get any presents this year and save the money for a holiday away instead and see family in January / February.

Does it seem selfish to do this and not see family over Christmas? It will seem strange not being with family but at the same time there are no young kids we usually see and can see family later on in the year. Money saved we could go away for a week abroad
 
Not to me, me and my wife have been doing this for years.

We don't buy each other any birthday or Christmas presents, and had 2 weeks in Barbados last December (flew back in to the UK on Christmas day)

I still buy presents for my parents/sisters etc but we don't spend much on them.

Edit - One of the best Christmas's we had was out in Florida over Christmas and New Year of 2014/2015. No pressure to host or worry about who we should spend Christmas day with, or stress about getting the right presents for people etc.
 
My girlfriend and I go away now, but have just stayed in the UK. We'd rather spend it with each other, than apart and at our respective parents houses. Plus, she doesn't drive and I like a drink. We spoke to our parents, explained what we were doing and always made sure we saw them around the period but not necessarily Christmas Day. All we completely fine with it, and understood. I'll Interflora my mum and her mum some flowers. My brother and I just buy ourselves a nice bottle of something, and call it quits. She's agreed with her friends not to do presents anymore apart from the young kids.

It's saved us a lot of money, stress and hassle. Last year we stayed in a converted American school bus, with Christmas night spent in the hottub with a few bottles of red under the stars. Bliss. I think this year we're going to try and stay at a nice hotel for two nights, have someone else do all the cooking and spend the night in bed with a few bottles of red.
 
I go away every Christmas and have done for years. Im not one for ferrying the kids around all day and all the faff that goes with it. Plus the weather is always misserable.

Jump on a plane, nice bit of sun for 10 days over Christmas. The kids love it. Sat on a beach playing in the sea wins every time of a grey day up north :D

It just takes all the stress out of it and you can unwind and enjoy it. Plus I get out of cooking for the masses which is always a bonus!.

Of course, all this was pre covid, no idea what will happen this year.
 
I only buy for immediate family, and I'd never spend £600 (let alone £1200) on gifts. Honestly I'd rather do away with the gift giving part entirely, it's too much time, pressure, and expense everyone could be putting to better use. In an adult orientated family the entire event has become a weird sort of 'guess what the other person wants' bartering where you'll probably get something you don't really want in return for something the other person probably doesn't really want.

I love spending time with my family over the Christmas, getting together for a meal and to catch up with each other, sitting and watching corny Christmas movies and what have you. That doesn't necessarily need to be on the day itself though. Given the opportunity I'd happily go away somewhere for a week or so and just leave the mad rush behind.

It's different when kids are involved but there aren't any in my situation.
 
Thanks all. Definately going to look into booking a week somewhere this year (Covid permitting!)

Bassmansam said:
£600!!! Jeezuz thats mad.
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Not really. I have quite a small family too.
We have a £30 budget for 8 family members on my mums side, dads side there are 4, girlfriends parents and girlfriend.
I always take a good bottle of wine and some spirits down south with me to contribute towards the food/drink/petrol which comes in at about £150
 
No, I'm thinking about doing the same. But I dislike the whole Christmas thing, it's a weird thing to me. Spending crap ton of money to be wasted, always confused me.
 
I've spent the last 2 New Years abroad and will be this year covid or not . We'd like to go away Christmas time but the wife works in Pharmacy and time off is a no go till after boxing day and seeing as they will be closed for 3 days it will be hectic this year
 
I personally wouldn’t go away over Christmas (not that I could, my job has an holiday ban in December) but other family members have. All we did was have ‘Christmas day’ either early or late. We don’t really do presents except for the kids, it’s more about having everyone together as it only happens a few times a year at best.

Would happily go away over New Year though as I can’t stand it.
 
Guest2 said:
Thanks all. Definately going to look into booking a week somewhere this year (Covid permitting!)


Not really. I have quite a small family too.
We have a £30 budget for 8 family members on my mums side, dads side there are 4, girlfriends parents and girlfriend.
I always take a good bottle of wine and some spirits down south with me to contribute towards the food/drink/petrol which comes in at about £150
Click to expand...

We do secret santa between about 10 of us at a budget of £40. Much cheaper than your 600.
Each to their own though :)
 
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