The Irish Mammies' guide to Christmas on a budget

The definitive guide to an affordable, sustainable Christmas this year - from some of the experts in resource management and events planning

Caitríona Redmond's handpicked panel of Irish mammies - ready to advise on Christmas and its potential pitfalls.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but with less money it can also be the most stressful time of the year.

From meeting wishlist demands to collating the groceries, decorating the house, and creating a “perfect” Christmas experience — the pressure is immense.

Research published earlier this week by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) revealed that while the average expected spend is down this year at €1,030 (compared to €1,186 in 2022), the number of people planning to borrow to cover the cost of the festivities has increased to 29%.

As a mother of three who has lived on a budget for some time now, I know keeping it thrifty while juggling the pressures of the season is tough.

The chief elf in command and bearer of the bulk of the mental load in most families still tends to be the Irish mammy. 

So I asked three of the canniest mothers I know for their advice to help us all enjoy a magical Christmas, without starting the new year in debt.

Meet the mothers

• Corrina Stone, a mother of eight, ranging in age from one to 17. She hates terms like “you have your hands full there”, and focuses on giving her children the best
  experiences rather than stuff. Corrina is the co-admin, along with her sister Susan, of several communities of women searching for thrifty shopping and
  holiday advice.
• Karen Manning, aka @motherofalldeals on Instagram, is a mother of three. Not a fan of paying full price for anything, she’s an ultimate bargain and discount seeker. She’s learning to enjoy life again after losing her mother in recent years.
• Naomi Donaldson, mother of one, lives with a disability and is an expert life juggler. Naomi lives with multiple sclerosis and is an ambassador for MS Ireland. She has many “spoons” to juggle, and is also carer to a young child with autism.
• Caitríona Redmond, mam to three, ranging in age from 12 to 24 (one of whom has a disability). She’s the main breadwinner and her husband is the primary carer in the household.

Naomi Donaldson advises making the most of Christmas jumper swaps in schools

Getting into the spirit

When it comes to decorating the house for Christmas, recycle what you’ve got.

Glue broken Christmas baubles into a garland, use thinning tinsel as a ribbon, and old Christmas tree branches can make fabulous swags.

LED lights are very low on energy consumption. Pair them up with solar panels or rechargeable batteries and you won’t get a nasty electricity bill in the new year.

Opt out of Christmas jumpers altogether and simply pin festive decorations to any t-shirt or jumper. If you are handy you could also sew these on.

A geansaí festooned with baubles is a joy to behold, if a little difficult to close a coat over!

• Extra tip: “Make the most of Christmas jumper swaps in schools to get a barely used — or even new — jumper for children. This is a sustainable way to get the right size for free or a minimal donation,” Naomi advises.

Mother of eight Corrina Stone knows how to celebrate Christmas on a budget, without sacrificing any of the magic

Under the tree

Encourage children to pick just a few presents from Santa, with the rest a “surprise”, guaranteeing that no child is disappointed.

When it comes to writing Santa letters, gently encourage your child to pick just one thing that they really, really want.

Pick up gifts in increments. Make the most of the sales throughout the year, including summer sales and Black Friday.

If you have missed these sales this year, there are often deals to be had in the last few days of Christmas shopping.

If you see something that you think would make the perfect present, nab it no matter what time of the year it is. Take advantage of this year’s January sales.

Vouchers and money take up less space and allow the recipient to get what they want, when they want it.

We need to be more conscious and savvy about how we shop for our children and our families. In the absence of buying stuff, experiences are an invaluable gift and way of sharing more time with those you love.

Consider handmade gifts. From a simple knitted scarf to a jar of homemade fudge or jam, they cost less but can mean an awful lot more to the recipient.

Regifting is not the social faux pas it once was. Don’t feel bad about passing something on that you know the recipient will get more use or enjoyment out of than you.

Skip wrapping the presents for less stress and less waste. We don’t need a tonne of wrapping paper going into landfill. Remember paper with foil and sparkles doesn’t recycle either.

If you do decide to wrap, brown wrapping paper, with a beautiful twine is a gorgeous solution.

Penneys’ bags are preprinted as wrapping paper again this year, making it a clever way to recycle the carrier bags.

We are all more conscious of how sustainable Christmas gifts can be, particularly for children. This is where we all agree that Secret Santa is the perfect
solution to less stuff. From nieces and nephews to extended family and friends.

The gifting app “Elfster” is an excellent way to pair up givers and recipients with minimal stress. It also allows recipients to express their preferences and share links to items they would like.

In the weeks up to Christmas, many families donate outdated or outgrown toys and clothes to charity shops.

In many cases, these are in pristine condition or brand new with labels. Start your list in the charity shop — you may be pleasantly surprised.

Online exchanges or marketplaces can really save the day when it comes to people who have a very specific wishlist.

Facebook marketplace is particularly popular, but you can be subject to scammers. Be careful who you deal with and only hand over money when you have the product in your hand and are satisfied with the quality.

• Extra tip: “There is huge value in our extended communities from WhatsApp to Facebook and beyond,” Corrina says. “If you are searching for something that is tricky to find, just ask. Most people understand what it’s like trying to find that perfect gift and will offer advice and help source it, because the Irish Mammy Mafia are an incredible support.”

Caitriona Redmond. Photograph Moya Nolan

The Christmas spread

Cooking from scratch is a common theme in all our thrifty families when it comes to saving money on the big Christmas dinner.

It may be cheaper to buy ready-portioned and cooked turkey, ham, and stuffing from your local butcher than to cook up a full-sized turkey and ham in the

oven, given the cost of energy.

Generally, it’s a false economy buying convenience foods — especially when it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables.

You can start preparing these weeks in advance, provided you have space in the freezer to store the ready-prepared trays of roasted potatoes etc.

Buy only what you need and remember that the shops are closed only for one day, not a whole week.

Plan your meals in advance and make sure you have space and/or plans for any leftovers that may arise.

• Extra trip: “Head to the supermarket in the days after Christmas and New Year to bag a food bargain. Items like Christmas hams and turkeys can be cooked up, portioned into meals, and frozen for another day on a budget,” Caitríona says.

Karen Manning, a mother of three, has grown an audience of over 44K on Instagram with her savvy @motherofalldeals account

A note for those struggling

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Don’t compare your Christmas to everyone else. We are all different and our seasonal celebrations will be right for us.

“I’m starting to realise it’s not all about what you have, it’s about who you are spending quality time with,” Karen says.

“My mother passed away two years ago. It really makes you rethink Christmas, who you are shopping for and who you are spending your time with.

“I am learning to simplify everything at Christmas and take time out for me and my family, which I think is the most important.”

I asked my own three children what their favourite present was and they couldn’t answer. They each talked about a memorable sunset walk on St Stephen’s Day and the way they feel snuggled up on the sofa on Christmas Eve.

There was talk about honeyed parsnips and eating chocolate coins for breakfast.

Taking a step back myself, my fondest memory of Christmas as a child was getting a book I’d coveted and reading it under the covers with a torch.

That much hasn’t changed, no matter what age I am!

On a personal note, if you are struggling at this time of the year, know that you are not alone in your difficulties or feelings.

Contact MABS or a financial advisor to set a new plan in place as soon as possible that will help into the New Year and beyond. If putting food on the table or gifts under the tree for your family is an issue, reach out to St Vincent de Paul.

If you do get into debt over Christmas, contact your local Credit Union and don’t use unlicensed moneylenders. Once you have a payment plan in place, set a second payment plan for December 2024.

While asking is the most difficult step, there is help there for those who request it.