How much are you spending on Christmas gifts this year?

[mefordis]

I was listening to Dave Ramsey and he said the national average is $800 per every $50 grand earned. So if you make $100k, that would mean $1600 for Christmas gifts would put you within the national average.

How much have you budgeted for Christmas gifts this year? AND how much will you spend on each of your children, if you have any.

I have budgeted $1800 and I plan on spending $350 for my 7 yr old and $300 for my 2 yr old.

 

[Rora]

I just figured out what I'm spending on 10 people: $205. That's about $20 a person.

I have no children (yet!).

Honestly, that's all I can afford but I'm not surprised by the national average formula. If I could only give and receive homemade gifts, I'd be a happy girl.

 

[golfgal]

I was listening to Dave Ramsey and he said the national average is $800 per every $50 grand earned. So if you make $100k, that would mean $1600 for Christmas gifts would put you within the national average.

How much have you budgeted for Christmas gifts this year? AND how much will you spend on each of your children, if you have any.

I have budgeted $1800 and I plan on spending $350 for my 7 yr old and $300 for my 2 yr old.

I think the only time we have ever hit that "average" would be the year we gave the kids a trip to Disney for Christmas. We usually fall in the $500-800 range. DH is doing the shopping this year so we will probably spend nothing

 

[snowywhite89]

I have never heard that formula before. Interesting.

 

[DisneyScraps]

That is interesting. We spend a lot more than that. I typically use Christmas as a chance to splurge on wow gifts. I budget for it no credit card debt at all for our Christmas.

Lisa

 

[smb6]

I'm spending about $300 per kid also. But I have 5 kids; so that's 1500 right there. Probably another $200 on family gifts. And we will be taking a small trip as a family gift that will cost $300 or so.... Making my grand total approx $2000. I think that's pretty good given we have a large family

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I think we are going with about the national average. Maybe a little more.

 

[marcyinPA]

I haven't added it up. I make a list, try to spend as little as possible on each item, and only buy things when I have cash. I've been buying things here and there since the summer.

When all is said and done, it should be less than $800. Probably about $250 on each kid (I have two), $100 on my DH, and $20 or so on a couple of family members. I make a lot of homemade treats to give too!

 

[SC Minnie]

That formula is waaayyyy off. We would never spend that much on a regular Christmas.

We are probably going to end up spending about +/- $500. We did get DD a Nook and I bought my mom a Coach bag (from the outlet store and 20% off ). Those were the most expensive items on our list.

 

[charming23]

Mom and I budget $100 for each of us to give each other gifts and then we spend $25-$30 each on other family members.

 

[kehlyrsmom]

We are trying to cut back this year. I am hoping to keep it under $200 for each of our children we have 2 and at this point I am not sure if my husband and I are going to exchange gifts this xmas or not. We normally do but we got to do a Disney trip in May just the 2 of us for our Anniversary and we took the kids in Sept so we spent more on vacations this year then normal.

The plan is too spend around $75 each on our parents, my husbands sister husband has been off of work for most of the year due to medical and to be honest we never see them I think I have seen them once in the last 3 years. So we suggested to them not to exchange gifts this year, both of their kids are grown and out of the house.

Which leaves my brothers family which if I was hoping to suggest to them that we just buy for the kids since their kids are still very young. We also have my daughters b-day which is 2 days before xmas and my moms which is on xmas.

All in all I am hoping to keep it under $1500 for everyone this year I think last year we spent closer $2500 - $3000. We bought the kids netbooks last year among other things and a new TV for ourselves.

 

[Donaldswife]

The formula is pretty close for us, we will spend about $2000-2500 on Christmas, but Christmas and vacations are my two splurges each year. I don't wear fancy clothes, don't like fancy jewelry, live in a modest home, max out contributions for retirement, and only have one child, so I go "all out" at Christmas.

We only have one child, and this year is a big one as we are redoing her bedroom. We will spend @$1000 on her, but that includes new bed, desk, mattress, curtains, chairs, etc. Plus some toys and books. Thanks to Ikea we will be able to keep it at a budget. I don't think that is too bad!

 

[mill4023]

I'm spending about $300 per kid also. But I have 5 kids; so that's 1500 right there. Probably another $200 on family gifts. And we will be taking a small trip as a family gift that will cost $300 or so.... Making my grand total approx $2000. I think that's pretty good given we have a large family

We also have 5 kids and it's probably going to end up being 200 to 300 each.

 

[orbrian]

I need to make a list for that.

 

[scrapquitler]

I was listening to Dave Ramsey and he said the national average is $800 per every $50 grand earned. So if you make $100k, that would mean $1600 for Christmas gifts would put you within the national average.

How much have you budgeted for Christmas gifts this year? AND how much will you spend on each of your children, if you have any.

I have budgeted $1800 and I plan on spending $350 for my 7 yr old and $300 for my 2 yr old.

We are spending about $1500. We only buy for our children, one niece, one nephew, DH & I, MIL/FIL/BIL and a few (6-8) token gifts in the $10 range. About $500 of that for our DS and about the same for our DD.

 

[monkeybug]

We are spending more than ever this year. I usually make at least 50% of the gifts we buy, but with a new baby in the house, there just isn't time. I think we will be close to 1,000 in gifts, and that doesn't include the plane tickets, car rental, tree, baking supplies, and all the other little expenses that come up this time of year. Yikes! My poor savings account!!

 

[golfgal]

When the kids were younger I don't know that I could have come up with $300 worth of ideas of things to get them, especially when they were toddlers. As teens with electronic stuff it is obviously easier. DS15 is getting his letter jacket this year. The other two got theirs as a Christmas present in previous years. With all of his patches, etc. it cost $320 . He will get a couple small things to open but that is it.

DS18 wants gift cards. We will probably spend about $200 on those and maybe find a couple small things, and maybe not.

DD15 wants a couple WII games, so those will be less then $100. After that, I have no ideas for her yet.

This all dependent on DH actually going out and shopping- We did get DS's letter jacket though so I know he will get that.

 

[Kathi OD]

$800/$50K salary is just about spot on for us.

I have money taken out of each paycheck and put into an account that is used strictly for Christmas. That way there are no credit card bills to pay and it doesn't break the weekly budget.

 

[C.Ann]

I'm done - did all of my shopping online.. I spent around $350 (4 adults & 1child), but have to add a disclaimer to that.. Some of that money was spent on myself for items I knew my family wouldn't be able to locate - and to honor my late DH's wishes.. Before he passed away, he made me promise that every year I would purchase gifts "from him" to me (DGD calls them "presents from Heaven") for Christmas, our anniversary, and my birthday.. DGD wraps them and adds the tags..

Other people that I didn't buy for are receiving homemade/handmade gifts that they specifically requested - which saved me quite a bit as I already had everything on hand to make the items.. They've been done since last winter -now I just need to wrap - and ship (where necessary)..

Some others will receive Christmas cookies - so I may have to spend a bit more on a few ingredients that I don't have on hand - and I'm figuring maybe another $50 for that..

I feel pretty good with all I was able to purchase - and the final tally.. It will be a very nice Christmas for all..

 

[rodeo65]

I've spent $250 per child on two children. I'm doing homemade items (kid videos and pictures - plus things the kids make) and baked goods for my parents and about $300 in total for DB and his family. DH and I are not exchanging this year since we are spending the holiday in FL with my parents and then heading to Disney after the New Year.

In a normal (non travel) year I start purchasing in the summer and hide it away and spend probably around $1500-2000 in total on everyone plus another $500 on a party we normally throw. I always shop for months so we can pay cash and not carry CC debt into the new year.

I'm finished shopping and now I just have to figure out how to pack the gifts so they are not seen and then have to get across the border without hopefully having to give too much info at the cross to the patrol on what exactly I am transporting - thereby ruining the kids' Christmas surprises.