.

[nunzia]

OK. We are done shopping and I was curious to know the total. It is not that bad. Now keep in mind DH & I do not exchange gifts, but I think we did good.

The grand total was $420 for 20 people. I am pretty happy with that. (I also do not know what DH and DD spent on me, but I imagine it was about $25 for that would make it $445 for 21 people)


So what was your damage??

DH - $23.00
• Gift form DD/Mom $9.00
• Gift From DD only $2.00
• Gift from “Santa” (1 for DH and 1 for me)$12.00

DD - $109.00
• Gel Pens $20
• Coloring Books $2.50
• Markers $10
• Trinket Box $2
• My Little Pony $3
• HM Paddle Ball $2
• Bratz Toothbrush – Free
• Socks/Undies – Free
• Fuzzy Socks - $1
• Tights $2
• Loofa $1
• Stickers/Tattoos $3
• HSM Poster Book $3
• Mickey Book $2
• Prep & Landing Book $4
• Nerds $2.50
• HM Doll $10
• Clothes $20
• Math Game $11
• Guess Who $10
• HSM Movie – Free

Other Family - $288
• Mom – Sears Doll & Hoody $55
• Dad – CD & Gift Card $54
• Photobooks for Mom & Dad, Nana and Grandma and Grandpa $30
• Nephew #1 – Frogger, Magnatex & PJ’s $33
• Niece #1 – Drums, Disney Dolls, Clothes $25
• Niece #2 – Drums, Cabbage Patch, Clothes $31
• Niece #3 – DS & Game Free
• Niece #4 – DS and Game Free
• Nephew #2 – Frogger Game $5 **Note we only do a small token gift with DH's Family
• Nephew #3 – Ernie & Bert $10
• Nephew #4 – Race Cars $5
• Teacher Gifts x 3 ($5 each) = $15
• Daycare provider $10
• $10 gifts x 2 = $15 (I have to top DH's up with chocolates, he only spent $5, but it was a great gift!!)

Wow! You did good! I have no idea since I buy all year, but have decided I need to keep track of at least what I spend on gifts (sometimes I'll buy something for Christmas then shift it to a birthday or vice versa) all year long. I know I was way over $1,000..my kids are grown with spouses and los of kids..I do real well with kids since I buy discounted stuff, but then the grown ups hit pretty hard. I've also decided to start my own little Christmas savings fund this year.

 

[greens_in_WA]

hahaha no way in heck do I want to add all that up

 

[auroralark]

hahaha no way in heck do I want to add all that up

Same!

I spent quite a bit...probably more than I should have, and I don't have a lot of people to buy for AT ALL. DH and I don't have any kids, so I spent all my money on him, my family, his dad and my 3 grandparents.

 

[bucket o' butter]

I spent about $300 on each the three kids! I was trying to make it no more than $250, but I went over. Other expenses were:

Gift exchange for DH family - $50
Nephew - laptop bag $50 (this is combined birthday and Christmas)
Nephew - kitchen equipment and sports glasses$50 (same as above)
Nephew - headphones and gift card $50 (same as above)
Gift exchanges for my family - $40 (4 - $10 gifts)
Nephew - Bop It $15
Nephew - Aeropostale shirt and hat $18
Nephew - Aeropostale shirt and hat $18
Niece - Aeropostale sweatshirt $15
Great niece - Little Tikes Car $17 (got this on major clearance over the summer!!!)
Friends daughter - Littleest Pet Shop toy $18
Brother in law - $40 (spent a little more. He just moved out on his own so we are helping him stock his apartment)
DH - $200 (I went overboard this year. We usually keep it to $100, but I kept finding deals!!!)
Nephew - Video game ($18)
Great niece - Video camera ($18)

Total around $1550. Probably a little more than that. Way too much to spend. I am planning to cut back next year and use the savings to help a disadvantaged family out in our community. I always buy a few gifts, but my kids do not need all of this stuff. I get carried away, but I am making a commitment now to help someone else out next year! You don't realize how much you spend until you see it written down in front of you!

 

[Ember]

Hmm... Let's see...

- Family gifts (Aunt, Uncle, 3 cousins) was $200.

- Between DH and myself, we have a $200 limit each, which includes a $50/each donation to a charity we think the other person would like. So total that would be $400.

- I also spent about $50 on various gifts for the exchange at work and between my friends.

And I called the new mattress we bought for my mum a Christmas gift because otherwise she wouldn't take it, thought I don't count this as a gift... I also got her some new nightgowns for about $50.

So about $700 total. Not great, but not bad. I have spent some money on various concerts and nights out that normally we wouldn't do, though. It's a special year for my family.

 

[julluvsdisney]

Thats about where I am and includes toy donations, giving tree, and family.

I was pretty pleased - in years past I have gone past $5000 which is a little nuts - but I love giving.

So spending half that amount feels great!

I feel the same way! Christmas is big in our house so we go all out! I love getting amazing gifts for my family. This year DH and I are very lucky to be employed and making the highest we ever have. Both were promoted within the last yr so we are able to spend it this yr. Last year I was on maternity leave and making nothing so Christmas was VERY scaled down last year. I just love giving gifts!

 

[lisaross]

I budgeted about $1000.00

this includes...

my two boys (just under 200 each)
husband (about 100+)
2 nieces (about 25)
3 nephewsn(about 50)
4 teachers (about 40)
3 cubscout leaders (about 25)



I also have a New Years Eve party so that will be about 100-200 w/food decorations etc.

Plus some extra's i buy after the holidays to put away for next years gifts.

 

[hlane]

For our 2 DS (ages 8 & 9) I'd guess a total of about $600 but $360 of that was for season passes for the four of us to Kings Island, thats the big family gift this year.
This Christmas we were only able to get them about 1/2 of what we usually do and didn't buy for anyone else including extended family other than a pair of PJs for my dad & small (about $3) gifts for each of the boys teachers.

 

[Magic Mom]

I didn't count it up. It was within my budget, and I think I did a pretty good job at picking things everyone wants.
I don't really like this kind of thread. It doesn't matter what you spend, as long as you can afford it. Some people will spend more and some people will spend less. Amounts don't really matter as long as you remember what's important.

 

[Green Tea]

DS 2: pajamas, doll, doll clothes, Tinkerbell hat and gloves, book ($45)

for DS or DD?

 

[DMickey28]

I don't know but I am going to find out right now ...

DH:
Sneakers $59.99
PSP: $199
Madden for PSP: $40
Toothbrush: $6
(I am still going to get him a case for the PSP and stuff ... so another $50ish)

Me:
Kindle plus cover $300
(Whatever random things DH gets for me in the next day or two. $50)

DS:
Circo Train set: $25
Thomas the Train stuff: $75
Cars Wii game: $50
Radio Flyer Trike: $30
Random Crayola stuff: $15

Rest of the family:
DBrother:
Gift card: $50
Beard trimmer: $20
Meat thermometer: $10

Mom:
Vizio 22" LCD $229 (split with brother)
Salt and Pepper Mill: $30

Dad:
This is the toughy, I literally have NOTHING for him right now. There is nothing on his list other than firestarters or something. I am going to find him some clothes.

So the total so far:
$1200 give or take. The PSP and the Kindle are last minute gift ideas when DH got an unexpected small Christmas Bonus. Otherwise his gift would have stopped at the sneakers and mine would have been comprable. The TV should be split with my brother but he is unemployed so we will probably pay for that too.

 

[Green Tea]

I have no idea. Sadly.

 

[mum4jenn]

We spent more than we thought we would be able to but since Dh found a job we were able to do a bit more. I did not pay full price for anything and found some great deals. Best of all it is ALL paid for and nothing was charged.

 

[staticgirl50]

My lips are sealed. Actually, I do not keep a tally. Otherwise I may throw up, if I heard the total!
The funny part is, most was spent on family and friends and not our DD. I LOVE buying gifts for others. Ok--- I LOVE shopping period! LOL. So any excuse to shop is a good one in my book!

 

[disney4us2002]

We easily spend 3K every year on xmas. With teen/adult sons the gifts are very expensive whether clothing or electronics. More than half are for them, the rest is extended relatives, coworkers, friends, and the miscellaneous new xmas decorations and whatnot every year. We do xmas up big. I guess it was something passed on to us by our parents and we've carried on that tradition. We spent more on the stuff that goes in their stockings than many posters here spent total on their kids. I kinda wish we could get away from these big extravaganzas but not sure how to do "less is more".

 

[Justsyd2]

I don't have a clue. I'm gonna guess around $1,200.00 not including the Dooney and Bourke purse DH picked up for me on the way home from work today...

 

[quentina]

$2100 for 3 kids. It feels like a good year to me, I was actually expecting more.

I am amazed at some of the bargain hunters on the DIS.......I wish someone could pass some of that over to me.

 

[eliza61]

Total!! you mean I have to add it up....

 

[DawnM]

I spent more this year than I have previously.

The kids wanted a Wii and then with all the accessories and some games, well, it just added up.

$230- Wii and Wii Fit (special deal on Amazon)
$42- EA Sports
$250- Wii games (and was able to get several used from friends, kids don't care!)
$155- Extra remotes and nun-chucks
$100- DS games
$100- Misc. small stuff (games, puzzles, books)

$300- Extended family

$150- Scanner for ME!


So, around $1500 total I guess. We usually spend around $500 so this is a big deal for us.

Dawn

 

[pigletto]

Between 2700- 3000.

However.. as a family gift we bought a new computer which was 1000 right off the bat and totally covered by my dh's Christmas bonus.

And for the rest we started early and only used money that Dh made working overtime (2.5 times regular pay) and extra money I made.
NOTHING came out of our regular budget/paychecks.

I'm fine with it. It covers many people and we tend to do it up big at Christmas and be much more frugal the rest of the year.