Christmas Present Budgets - how'd you do?

[TwoMisfits]

I'm finally done shopping and I think I hit my budget ($200/person. First time in awhile...if I post, I won't get tempted to spend more for the kids (Teen DD, Tween DD, 2 younger DS). I had the advantage of using airlines miles for my oldest's big gift and passing down my laptop for my 2nd child (so the new computer cost was part of my and my spouse's present budget, but I think I did well. I also have to split Santa and Parent gifts b/c we still have 2 believers.

I posted my girls on the teen board (and came in $30-$40 under each - time to buy a nice new toothbrush for the stocking and keep the $30 each to cover the laptop excess or the boys' toothbrushes). For the boys, I got

Older DS
Big Santa Gift - Mario 3DS ($99) with New charger ($5)
Santa Gift #2 - Minecraft Periodic Table of Elements Set ($12)
Santa Gift #3 - Minecraft Stop Motion Animation Set ($21)
Santa Gift #4 - PS4 Minecraft game ($14)
Santa Gift #5 - 3ds Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Game ($5)
Santa Gift #6 - Super Mario Adventures Graphic Novel ($8)

Mom Gift #1 - $10 Gift Card to Comic Book Store (Free Gift)
Mom Gift #2 - 2 sets of Supers/Pokemon Pajamas ($9)
Mom Gift #3 - Rock Em Sock Em Robots Superman vs Batman ($10)
Mom Gift #4 - Nerf Zombie Strike Sword ($8)

Stocking
Mom Gift #1 - Nintendo $10 E-card ($8.50)
Mom Gift #2 - Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars Fig ($1 - loved the Best Buy clear out sale)
Mom Gift #3 - High End Chocolate Bar ($1.50)

Total $202 for DS #1

Younger DS

Big Santa Gift - Mario 3DS ($99) with New charger ($5)
Santa Gift #2 - Power Rangers Dino Super Charge Gold Heroes Set ($20)
Santa Gift #3 - Nintendo Wii Power Rangers Samurai Game ($9)
Santa Gift #4 - Power Rangers Dino Super Charge TRex Launcher ($15)
Santa Gift #5 - 3ds Cut the Rope Triple Threat game ($7)
Santa Gift #6 - Star Wars the Force Awakens DVD/Blu-Ray ($10)

Mom Gift #1 - $10 Gift Card to Comic Book Store (Free Gift)
Mom Gift #2 - 2 sets of Supers/Pokemon Pajamas ($9)
Mom Gift #3 - 2 DC Super Heroes Board Books by Katz ($6)
Mom Gift #4 - Nerf Zombie Strike Sword ($8)

Stocking
Mom Gift #1 - Nintendo $10 E-card ($8.50)
Mom Gift #2 - Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars Fig ($1 - loved the Best Buy clear out sale)
Mom Gift #3 - High End Chocolate Bar ($1.50)

Total $199 for DS #2

Gonna be about $5 over for each with the toothbrush, but I feel pretty good with how I did. Both sons have winter birthdays, so I may look to see if there is a stupid good deal on a 3ds game or something cool for their big gift, but other than that, I'm gonna sit back and relax and wrap this week.

 

[mrudman]

I went over budget this year...

But I don't buy much for them through the year... they've had a super rough year and have gone through what no kids should have to, and even with that they're both doing excellent in school.

So I've chosen to spoil them a bit.

And in my defense, some of what they're getting is to help my sanity, lol.

They're each getting Apple watches, so now I can keep in touch with them a lot easier, and I know they'll get my texts.
Older dd has her temps, so she's getting driving lessons as a main gift also.
Younger dd has been wanting to join the ski club for 3 years now, so I'm finally letting her (and getting her a used snowboard/boots, because to rent would have cost just as much)

Then they're getting a bunch of smaller/stocking-stuffer type gifts.

I feel good with how I did, even though i did go slightly over budget.. I've set money aside all year for this time of year, and have no credit cards so nothing to pay off afterward.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Well I'm not even halfway done. It's been busy, I just haven't really had a chance to shop much. And teenagers and adult children are so hard to shop for. My daughter is done, we bought a "new" laptop for her. It's my DS's older laptop, he was going to sell it so we bought it. It helps him out and helps us out.

I got a few things for the other kids and I'm sure amazon will be my friend tomorrow.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Way over...good deals on items got the best of me. I always do at least somewhat. When they were young it was so much easier. The older they get the more expensive things get!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

At this point I'm wondering "What's a budget?"

 

[Southernmiss]

We are in a good place right now financially. Never gone extravagantly. The kids don't ever ask for anything bi. So we got what was on their lists without wondering what we were spending. Mostly needs a few wants.

For other family members, I bought what I thought they would like. We had Christmas with dh's side of the family yesterday. For the first time in 25 years, I felt confident in what we gave and woke up happy and excited for Christmas this year.

So freeing to not be constrained by a tight budget.

And the credit card is paid off.

Have a few stocking stuffers and a gift for dh yet to get.Then it's time to prepare for my side at our house on Christmas eve.

 

[MomToOne]

I went over budget by about 25%, but that's good because usually I go over by 50% or more. And the extra I spent came out of other areas of the budget, not savings, so it's all good in the end.

We travel for Christmas, so Santa Mom actually came to our house last night. So I know I won't be buying anything else for DD. And with packing and such, I won't have time for any more shopping, so everyone else gets what I have at this point and that's it!

 

[nugov2]

I never really have a budget. My kids have a set list of what they get:
Santa gift (big item)
Want from us
Outfit or jersey(what the boys usually want)
Book
Board game
Special gift from dad, this is another want

So they each get 6 gifts and some small stocking stuffers.

Some years i spend 100 on one and 300 on another. It just depends what they want. The youngest usually wants inexpensive gifts. My middle son wanted a basic 20 razor scooter from santa, but dh got him tickets to see the Bruins as his special gift...otherwise he would have been very inexpensive. My older dd wants nothing. It was difficult to even come up with 6 gifts that weren't just 6 books....that's all she wanted.

 

[charming23]

I did pretty good this year. Still need to pick up a few gift cards but those are already counted for in the budget.

My mom and I got a new fireplace entertainment center as our big gift this year and agreed to spend $100 or less for some other things

I got her:
A kitchen aid stick blender $29
Tea pot with filter for loose tea $21
Sweater $17.99
A new watch $14.99
A movie $7.99
New tablet cover $5

Total $95.97. I think I did well

 

[lullwater]

I don't budget as I lost my first two children and tend to overcompensate with my remaining son buy getting everything on his list. At least he will ask Santa what he imagines DW and I would like to have. Last week I donated 4 of his wrapped gifts, which weren’t on the list, to a local family as the tree pile started to get out of control. I have buyer’s remorse, but the guilt is stronger.

 

[tikilyn]

For the first time ever I AM UNDER BUDGET with everyone on my list!!! The kids got everything they asked for. My daughter asked for driving lessons and my son asked for a computer monitor as their big gifts.

 

[KarenAylwood]

You are so good! I didn't track what I spent at all. I really need to keep a better list since I start shopping so early. I went for "good deals" so I kept costs down but I didn't set a budget at all. I normally don't for Christmas. I spread it out and didn't have to pull much out of what's normally sent to savings.

 

[wenrob]

I don't really have a budget but I do have guidelines:

Cash Only, no credit cards
Never pay full price
Do not touch Savings

I stuck to those so I stayed 'within budget.' The only things I would consider over is that my Dad and DH's Aunt usually send a check and my mom usually sends gift cards and I buy presents for them and put them under the tree. So I had already bought Grandpa/Grandma/Aunt gifts but it looks like they don't plan on doing that this year. Which is cool I guess but it bothers me that both my parents (divorced) didn't bother to tell me. It makes me feel like they're blowing my kids off. Hard to explain.

The other was we were at the mall last night and while the kids and I went in one store I sent DH to Sur Le Table to get TWO Ice Cream Base mixes for DD. Sending him breaks the rule of not paying full price (I usually use DD's Culinary discount) and he bought FOUR! It could have been worse, he says he got distracted by all the gidgets and gadgets and had to remind himself he was on a mission, lol.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

I shop throughout the year for the most part which really helped me save money this year! Just picking up little things here and there and stopping by clearance sections often helped me stock up at a good price and spread the spending out throughout the year. I did go a little over budget on my godson though, but only by about $15. I spoil him a bit because hes five his dad has already spent 2 years of his life deployed with the navy and he's such a tough kiddo! Plus he has an early January birthday so I always get his birthday presents around this time too, and I want to be careful not to get him less for either Christmas or his birthday just because they fall close together

 

[Canooknic]

We don't set a budget, but we also don't go overboard which is why we don't need one.
Our boys are huge Lego fans so they always get a larger ($150ish) set, although this year one wanted the $300 Big Ben set so we explained to him that we would put his $150 towards it with money that the grandparents send from England every year.
They get a couple of board games, lots of books and a few little 'bits' for their stockings, so I guess we don't have a budget but we have a set of things they get every year!!

 

[StephMK]

My kids are teens or young adults now and I stayed in the general range of my budget. I'm struggling because DD16 doesn't have any big wants so I haven't decided what to do for her yet.

I use an app called Santa's bag. It has been a huge help to keep track of what I've spent, deliveries, and gift ideas.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Reposting my older gamer/geek DDs here (I admit, my budget was helped by airline miles for the teen's gift and by me using my own Christmas budget for a laptop for myself - no sacrifice there - so I could pass my 2 year old laptop on to the younger DD...

Teen DD

Big Santa Item - PS4 (Free - Airline miles)
Santa Item #2 - PS4 Extra Controller (Free - Airline miles)
Santa Item #3 - DC Rebirth Omnibus Vol #1 Graphic Novel ($45)
Santa Item #4 - PS4 Game Batman: The Telltale Series ($15)
Santa Item #5 - Nintendo 3ds Game Project X Zone 2 ($12)
Santa Item #6 - Finding Dory Blu-ray/DVD Box Set ($10)

Mom Item #1 - Polar Women's Waterproof Snow Boots ($30)
Mom Item #2 - D&D Bag of Holding Dice Bag with 7 sets of dice ($29)
Mom Item #3 - $10 Comic Book Store Gift Card (Free Gift)
Mom Item #4 - Women's Night Shirt - Christmas PJ ($5)

Stocking
Mom Item #5 - $10 Nintendo E-Card ($8.50)
Mom Item #6 - Trident 12-pack of Gum ($5)
Mom Item #7 - High-End Chocolate Bar ($1.50)

Total - $161 (don't mind not spending to $200 b/c she is getting the free items that my other kids are not - gave me a little buffer for my laptop...

The almost teen DD got...

Santa Big Item - Used Dell Inspiron 3000 series Laptop (Free - she is getting mine handed down) with New Wireless Mouse ($8), New Computer Cart ($26), and like new Computer Chair ($8 - got a beautiful put together one from the thrift shop, so one less thing for spouse to set up)
Santa Item #2 - Pokemon Johto Monopoly ($20)
Santa Item #3 - Amazon Basics Light On-Ear Headphones (for her Fire) ($15)
Santa Item #4 - Pokemon 20th Anniversary Jirachi Stuffie ($16)
Santa Item #5 - Jigglypuff Amiibo ($8)
Santa Item #6 - PS4 Tearaway Unfolded ($8)

Mom Item #1 - Polar Women's Waterproof Snow Boots ($30)
Mom Item #2 - King Dedede Amiibo ($5)
Mom Item #3 - $10 Comic Book Store Gift Card (Free Gift)
Mom Item #4 - Women's Night Shirt - Christmas PJ ($5)

Stocking
Mom Item #5 - $10 Nintendo E-Card ($8.50)
Mom Item #6 - Trident 12-pack of Gum ($5)
Mom Item #7 - High-End Chocolate Bar ($1.50)

Total - $164 (again, since she also got a free item, I don't mind coming in under - this extra also covered my laptop...

I stayed within $1200 for the 6 of us - budgets matters a little more here, b/c with all the people, if I didn't have a budget, I think I'd stress out come January. With the budget, it's all paid for and I can relax and enjoy the new Year (and not just Christmas day)...

 

[Hook326]

I use an app called Santa's bag. It has been a huge help to keep track of what I've spent, deliveries, and gift ideas.

I used this app for the first time this year. I really like it!

I stayed on budget this year I keep thinking of more things I could get my kids but I've stopped myself So far anyway... Now I just need to get the wrapping done

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I stopped counting when I blew the budget. I stay on budget for everyone except my kids. I wanted to do $300 per kid. They are 16 and 10 but I think I'm at $400 or so. Happens every year!

I went over budget on my boyfriend. I had no idea what to get him but I got a good deal on a Bose speaker that he's been talking about for months. I spent double what I had planned on.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Reposting my older gamer/geek DDs here (I admit, my budget was helped by airline miles for the teen's gift and by me using my own Christmas budget for a laptop for myself - no sacrifice there - so I could pass my 2 year old laptop on to the younger DD...

Teen DD

Big Santa Item - PS4 (Free - Airline miles)
Santa Item #2 - PS4 Extra Controller (Free - Airline miles)
Santa Item #3 - DC Rebirth Omnibus Vol #1 Graphic Novel ($45)
Santa Item #4 - PS4 Game Batman: The Telltale Series ($15)
Santa Item #5 - Nintendo 3ds Game Project X Zone 2 ($12)
Santa Item #6 - Finding Dory Blu-ray/DVD Box Set ($10)

Mom Item #1 - Polar Women's Waterproof Snow Boots ($30)
Mom Item #2 - D&D Bag of Holding Dice Bag with 7 sets of dice ($29)
Mom Item #3 - $10 Comic Book Store Gift Card (Free Gift)
Mom Item #4 - Women's Night Shirt - Christmas PJ ($5)

Stocking
Mom Item #5 - $10 Nintendo E-Card ($8.50)
Mom Item #6 - Trident 12-pack of Gum ($5)
Mom Item #7 - High-End Chocolate Bar ($1.50)

Total - $161 (don't mind not spending to $200 b/c she is getting the free items that my other kids are not - gave me a little buffer for my laptop...

The almost teen DD got...

Santa Big Item - Used Dell Inspiron 3000 series Laptop (Free - she is getting mine handed down) with New Wireless Mouse ($8), New Computer Cart ($26), and like new Computer Chair ($8 - got a beautiful put together one from the thrift shop, so one less thing for spouse to set up)
Santa Item #2 - Pokemon Johto Monopoly ($20)
Santa Item #3 - Amazon Basics Light On-Ear Headphones (for her Fire) ($15)
Santa Item #4 - Pokemon 20th Anniversary Jirachi Stuffie ($16)
Santa Item #5 - Jigglypuff Amiibo ($8)
Santa Item #6 - PS4 Tearaway Unfolded ($8)

Mom Item #1 - Polar Women's Waterproof Snow Boots ($30)
Mom Item #2 - King Dedede Amiibo ($5)
Mom Item #3 - $10 Comic Book Store Gift Card (Free Gift)
Mom Item #4 - Women's Night Shirt - Christmas PJ ($5)

Stocking
Mom Item #5 - $10 Nintendo E-Card ($8.50)
Mom Item #6 - Trident 12-pack of Gum ($5)
Mom Item #7 - High-End Chocolate Bar ($1.50)

Total - $164 (again, since she also got a free item, I don't mind coming in under - this extra also covered my laptop...

I stayed within $1200 for the 6 of us - budgets matters a little more here, b/c with all the people, if I didn't have a budget, I think I'd stress out come January. With the budget, it's all paid for and I can relax and enjoy the new Year (and not just Christmas day)...

You are such an awesome mom to know that your DDs want these things. I was (and still am) a big gamer as a kid, but my mom never really got me much of what I would actually want. I got lots of clothes, jewelry and skin care products when I was a teen.