Christmas Spending

[mandynee22]

I spend about 1000 total (3 kids). If I had to save all year, it would probably be less but I deliver newspapers and Christmas-time is the biggest tip month. No debt, no having to save. It's probably my favorite part of the job, since there's a lot about it that kind of stinks lol

 

[minushka72]

We usually spend about $500 total. That is for DH, me, and 2 kids, Something for my parents, and DH's dad. Also my sis and her 3 kids.

 

[gracie1]

I find it hard not to spend $700. The cost of toys and everything have gotten so expensive.

 

[brymolmom]

OK - I know you didn't ask for a list - but you're making me think about it now and try to add it all up. TRYING to keep it very light for the kids this year - we're going to WDW Jan 8th so that's part of their present. I'm usually pretty good to sticking small with the kids - but dh isn't as good at it.

So for dd8:
Rolling carry-on for WDW trip (already ordered) - $60
yellow snuggle blanket (she loves anything yellow) - $7
likely some sort of squinkie toys- $20
1 outfit - $30
1 more thing?? - $40

ds9:
Wii game - $50
MAYBE some sort of gameboy or other from ebay (he loves OLD electronics) - $30
bike (hoping to find used one on Craigslist between now and then) - $40
books??
I bought him an ice cream maker - not sure if i'm giving it to him yet - $15

Stocking stuff is usually socks, underwear, small dollar store gadgets - maybe a CD - so let's say $40 each. So I'll estimate $175 per kid total.

Then we have my mom and step dad (no ideas at all so far- UGH) maybe $100 total, dh's mom another $100, 3 nephews and 1 niece (1 already purchased and 1 I have one little part) (varying amounts - let's say $75 total for all).

I usually spend about $100 - $200 on dh and he varies in how much he spends on me (he is not much of a shopper - does a lot online).

I already have my secret santa gifts and work grab bag taken care of - after xmas last year. ANd teacher gifts are mostly set.

I do get a Wegmans gift card for the mailman - $20.

I would estimate that my family's total comes in around $1000.

 

[bettymae1121]

We normally spend about $900-$1000 but this year we are spending less than $500. Only because we are expecting our first child in Feb. so DH and I are not exchanging presents, the baby is present enough! :

We are still giving gifts to family though.

Next year we be back to our usual spending, assuming our finances stay the way they are now of course.

 

[happygirl]

OK - I know you didn't ask for a list - but you're making me think about it now and try to add it all up. TRYING to keep it very light for the kids this year - we're going to WDW Jan 8th so that's part of their present. I'm usually pretty good to sticking small with the kids - but dh isn't as good at it.

So for dd8:
Rolling carry-on for WDW trip (already ordered) - $60
yellow snuggle blanket (she loves anything yellow) - $7
likely some sort of squinkie toys- $20
1 outfit - $30
1 more thing?? - $40

ds9:
Wii game - $50
MAYBE some sort of gameboy or other from ebay (he loves OLD electronics) - $30
bike (hoping to find used one on Craigslist between now and then) - $40
books??
I bought him an ice cream maker - not sure if i'm giving it to him yet - $15

Stocking stuff is usually socks, underwear, small dollar store gadgets - maybe a CD - so let's say $40 each. So I'll estimate $175 per kid total.

Then we have my mom and step dad (no ideas at all so far- UGH) maybe $100 total, dh's mom another $100, 3 nephews and 1 niece (1 already purchased and 1 I have one little part) (varying amounts - let's say $75 total for all).

I usually spend about $100 - $200 on dh and he varies in how much he spends on me (he is not much of a shopper - does a lot online).

I already have my secret santa gifts and work grab bag taken care of - after xmas last year. ANd teacher gifts are mostly set.

I do get a Wegmans gift card for the mailman - $20.

I would estimate that my family's total comes in around $1000.

I like list It fun to see what others are buying

 

[gracie1]

I like list It fun to see what others are buying

I'm with you on the list It actually gives me ideas on what to get for people!

 

[clanmcculloch]

I answered over $700. I'm assuming the question is asking about the whole family, or even me who does all the shopping (including buying my own Chanukah gifts because at least that way I get what I want LOL). I suppose I should have answered other since I don't buy Christmas gifts (I'm a heathen LMAO) but I figure the spirit of the poll was holiday gifts so Chanukah counts.

The thing is, almost all of the things I buy are things I'd buy anyway. Friday I ordered myself a 2T external hard drive as a gift for DH to have the kids give me. I need one. I'd buy one anyway. That $70 still counts as part of the $700 though even though I would have spent it anyway. We buy a bunch of things we'd buy anyway. I watch deals and some things really do become cheaper this time of year so this is when I buy them. All of our major electronic purchases are done this time of year. We got our Wii with starter games and remotes and all that stuff as a family gift one year. We got our large TV and blue ray player as a family gift one year. We'd have bought these anyway. My 11yo's DS is on its last leg (we've had strapping tape holding the hinge together for a couple years now but the rest of the hinge cover is now falling to pieces) so I'm just hoping it'll last another couple months so the replacement can be a gift. We really need a new desktop computer (our old one literally can not boot because the hard drive has a bad sector in the boot sector and it's 5 years old so new drives won't even work on this thing without spending more than it's worth in upgrades) so that'll be DH's big gift this year (we have a couple laptops but DH is not at all comfortable with them so he prefers to use a desktop plus the desktop has other specific uses). We'd definitely be buying this anyway but we'll just call it a gift.

Basically, there are a few little things we wouldn't necessarily otherwise buy but we'd be spending most of this money anyway regardless of whether there was a gift giving season or not.

 

[Katy Belle]

My Christmas list has at least 27 people on it, and that is after paring it down! Way over $700 I'm afraid. Actually, we spend around $200 each on our 3 sons, so we probably go over $700 just on immediate family.

 

[Karenj2]

I chose more than $700 (figuring you meant per household), but I've already got money saved up in the Christmas account that will cover the amount I plan on spending... (I put in extra, because we buy a tree every year, plus usually some other expenses pop up...)

 

[julluvsdisney]

I will be spending a lot more than that! Christmas is the one time of year I splurge on my kids! That being said we will be spending less this year due to me going back to school. My budget will be
ds3=300
ds9=300
DH=200-300
our four parents 50 each 2 out of our siblings(the other 2 have kids so the moneys going to their kids instead!) 25 each.
2 grandmothers 20
1 nephew 1 niece 25 each
1 nephew(my godson) 40.00
1 friend 30
about 1300 total
plus my husband will prob spend about 300 on me (knowing him prob more but I wont complain lol)

So I guess we will be spending atleast double than the average!
and this is scaled down! ouch!

 

[Juliee8]

I picked over $700, but I have a set amount pulled out of my checking account each week for my christmas club account. I just got my check this weekend!! So I have budgeted to spend that amount.

 

[momto2girls]

Definitely way more!

 

[KELLY]

I know this sounds bad but we don't really have a dollar budget for the kids. Just a 10 gift under the tree rule. So while my older dd is into AG my younger dd wants a 25.00 princess doll. If I did a dollar amount for the girls it would drive me nuts. And my younger dd would get way more gifts.



DD 6
AG doll Kanani and assecories 350.00
Mogo Braclet and charms 28.00
LPS Jet and some LPS walkables 85.00
New leo and tutu for dance 32.00 Total 495.00

DD 3
Princess and me doll and outfits 50.00
Belle coustume 30.00
LPs tree house and walkables 70.00
My Little pony things 50.00
New leo and tutu for dance 32.00 Total around 250.00

Dh
I will spend around 500.00 between the 2 of us.



Everyone else including family,Dance teacher and school teacher around 600.00

Polar Express tickets and dinner 150.00

Grand total for this year 2000.00.

 

[nycdisneygal]

WOW!
we spend way less. Although we do spend about that in tips for the doormen for xmas-and from what i hear we give less than the norm. EECK!

I dont buy for DH's nieces and nephews. The parents cant be bothered even calling us and make 5 times as much as us and have NEVER given my daughter a birthday present (or phone call) and only sent her a $20 xmas gift one year when the the four gifts (their two kids and then for the parents ) we sent arrived at their house. ok. enough of my venting on that!

Dont flame me but for me holidays are about doing things together... WHen I can, I bake cookies for friends as gifts. Go see the decorations. Watch holiday movies. We try to buy a new tree decoration whenever we travel so we have fun decorating! DH and I are living in a SMALL 1 bedroom apt but are working hard to send my DD to a great school and saving up for another disney vacation! Usually try to get DD small gifts--she doesnt really even know about the big expensive stuff so she is happy. We feed my sister and take her on vacations with us but i try to get her something little too since she helps a lot with DD. We also try to get gifts for toys for tots - and explain to DD what it is all about. I get some small presents for some kids of good friends-my friends have a lot more money to spend than I do but I usually can find something inexpensive that their kids will love. (one year I had Cinderella autograph a postcard for my friend's daughter - inexpensive but special!).

 

[Nayan]

Nothing!

http://frugalbeautiful.com/blog/giftless-christmas/

 

[gracie1]

Nothing!

http://frugalbeautiful.com/blog/giftless-christmas/

I couldn't imagine the holiday season and not spending anything!!! That's great for you

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

I couldn't imagine the holiday season and not spending anything!!! That's great for you

I couldn't do it either! I think I like the toys as much as my kids!

I told my hubby (who always kinda shakes his head at the stuff we end up with) that I am probably making up for my own childhood when we would get the occasional "IOU" in lieu of Christmas presents. I simply hope I don't screw up my kids by spoiling them too much, though!!

 

[neatokimmo]

I couldn't do it either! I think I like the toys as much as my kids!

This is me, I want to play with that Fijit. I am thinking about buying another one so she won't think I'm hogging the toys.....

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

This is me, I want to play with that Fijit. I am thinking about buying another one so she won't think I'm hogging the toys.....

I bought an extra Kindle Fire to give to hubby so everyone doesn't fight over my sons.