by Paul Gibson
Home >> Merry, Merry Expensive Christmas!
Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Have you even started? Well, the longer you wait, the less chance you may have to spend like there’s no tomorrow! Of course, Christmas shopping is not an easy task and requires not only money, but also a lot of insight into what to buy each member of the family, each friend, or even your husband or wife.
In Spain, we not only have to deal with this predicament, but we also have to figure out how to “finance� our gift-giving. The study points out that consumers are likely to buy gifts one by one instead of buying several gifts at the same time. That way they can camouflage the effect each gift has on their budget. But at the end of the day, it all adds up!
And the sum is way above the average amount spent in the 14 different countries included in the study – an average of €662. So why do we spend so much money at Christmas time?
Let’s break down the expenses into three categories: Food, gifts, and going out. The average Spaniard will spend €500 on gifts, €218 on food and €167 on going out. Now that may not seem like a lot of money for most of you, but when you have to buy gifts for the extended family or just the immediate family (in my case, for 12 brothers and sisters and two parents), that may just exceed the budget by about 5 times. So what should we do to control expenses?
We could share expenses… I mean, as a family we can spend Christmas Eve at my house, New Year’s Eve at Uncle Armando’s house, and then celebrate the Epiphany at your in-laws. But that’s just food money, and according to this study, the bulk of our expenses are going to be on gifts. So before you start rubbing your forehead or scratching your head trying to figure out where all the money is going to come from, let’s see how much we are going to spend for each one.
We spend 31% of these €500 on presents for our parents, 26% on our significant other, 24% for our children, 12% for friends and the remaining 7% goes to our local charity. Apparently, Spaniards are not having many children these days, and this study reflects that phenomenon.
But aside from that, we now know we need to think long and hard about what we are going to buy our parents and our spouse. And if you are especially prudent (like me), you might include your parents-in-law in that brainstorming session.
Happy Shopping!
Add a comment
I havent’ began with my Christmas gifts and I will have problems, I know. My children want so many toys that I don’t have enough money to satisfy them (and I don’t want to do it so). I have a large family and too many presents to buy too… I don’t like Christmas, it’s too sad, and too expensive.
Do I hear a “Bah, Humbug!” from Mr. Scrooge!
I don’t think so… Christmas is not about toys, it’s about celebrating the family, especially the Holy Family! I know El Corte Ingles wants you to think that “they are playing with their ‘juguetes’.” But let’s get real!
Don’t worry! What children adore is a bit of “TLC” – tender love and care, NOT TOYS! Maybe you can surprise each one by getting something they don’t expect that costs less… Money isn’t everything!
As the commercial says: Playing golf….60 euros, Dinner on the town…120 euros… Seeing your child’s face on Christmas Morning… PRICELESS!
Hang in there Anonymous!
I don’t like Christmas because it’s time to spend a lot of money in gifts for you family, friends, etc. It’s time to behave politely with people who you don’t talk to the rest of the year. It’s time to spend money in many, many food. It’s time to spend money in lottery.
This is way I don’t give gifts to anyone, I give gifts only in birthday because I think it’s a good time to do it.
I like Christmas because I spend my time with my family, but I spend my time with them in other dates too.
I prefer enjoy the rest of the year.
Hi Paul,
I’m not afraid to say it: I like Chrismas, and I am happy to spend these 904 € for such a good occasion (well in my case, a little bit more as I have to fly back to France with all my family to join the rest of my parents but you might get used to these travel extras…).
Anyway, will you remember the money you spent for Christmas´06 within 20 years? Of course not… Will your little girl remember this Xmas in 20 years? May be. I wish you she will. Personally I remember many Christmas of my childhood. Not because of the Christmas presents of course, but because of the people who where there, maybe an old aunt, your favourite cousin, and of course the beloved grandmother spending the all day preparing delicious food for Xmas Eve… It can be a smell, a feeling, an old family mansion memory or this special atmosphere and excitement you will associate with “feast� for the rest of your life.
Of course Christmas shopping is usually a nightmare during all December for millions of good reasons, and I tend to prefer original and personalised presents to expensive fashion gifts. But in spite of all their effort to change Xmas in a repugnant commercial waste, “El Corte Inglesâ€? and others Consumer Society’s Santa Claus won’t change my mind: Xmas is not mainly associated to gifts and food…
Xmas is also time to think about past, remember, your missing parents, time to think about your “still alive� family and time to enjoy each second you spend with them because later it will be too late, think about your children, take special care of them, building their memories and their future, improving a strong family relationship. Xmas is a great opportunity for the family, regardless of your faith, but even more of course if you are a Christian.
Xmas is a break in the year, and in our always going-faster life (did you note that time has been accelerating since we are 30 and it will probably double at 40). So not a minute to waste! Enjoy your Xmas! Don’t hesitate to spend your money, but don’t buy gifts, buy illusion for you and your kids (PRICELESS as you or Amex said). There is no better investment!
Hi Paul,
Must the Christmases be a time to share with the family and friends, to visit nativity scenes, time of celebration of Jesús’s Birth, but in what it is turning?
Consume, consume and more consume !!!!!
We are a big family too, we are six brothers, parents, uncles, etc..
We have solved the topic of the gifts giving each one to his proper son, with the exception of the grandparents.
At least in gifts we have saved and this way we have of a little of more presupposed to do a good gift to our children.
In the end they obtain a pair of good gifts of the whole family.
I like the Christmas, we met to do a few best doughnuts=rosquillas, visited nativity scenes and we laughed, we sing , but especially on having had vacation spent more times with our girls.
Happy Christmas to all !!
Bye Paul.
Reyes.
Thanks for your comments Monica!
I don’t think anyone likes “spending” their money away…but I think most of us enjoy giving presents. When you give someone a present, it’s the thought that counts. Christmas is not supposed to be a burden, but rather a time to relax and spend time with your loved ones, which is obviously a thousand times more important than shopping.
I wonder whether or not we have truly forgot the real meaning of Christmas…hmm.
Thanks again Monica!
Wow Guilhem! Christmas sounds like a “happening time” at your house. What time is dinner on Christmas day? Ha ha!
You hit the nail on the head – Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ without looking at your wallet – put up that Christmas tree, buy some gifts (not too many), spend money on that expensive dinner, life is about LIVING! Go for it!
Thanks for your comments REYES! Don’t forget to log in though…
Your comments reminded me of the way we celebrate Christmas at home in Chicago. Everyone buys a few gifts for each one, a nice family dinner, followed by some prayers around the Nativity scene. This is what Christmas is all about.
“Consumerism” has been taking over our society now for the past 15 years at least. This unbridled and uncontrolled appetite to spend, borrow and waste money on all sorts of material things has a limit: your own happiness. Some people think spending will make you better, others think that spending will make you happy. I think spending may help you forget about what you don’t want to think about, but it certainly won’t resolve many of the issues you face every day… That’s why there are poor people who are very RICH, and rich people who are very LONELY and POOR!
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