The expensive side of Christmas: the "extras"

[Leader of the Club]

We have a new house so I bought lights for the outside this year. Actually, I sent DH out to buy them 'cause I didn't want to know how much they cost.

We have a very big and very beautiful 15 year old artificial tree and the plastic rings that hold the branches on were all cracked and broken. I used duct tape, yes, duct tape, my friends, to hold it all together. It looks awesome and you can't see the duct tape at all with all of the lights and decorations on it. I will buy a new pre-light one after Christmas. So, $0 on that.

We had our pictures taken at church for free and they turned out awesome. We all wore whatever we wanted. My 12 y/o wore his Weird Al concert T-shirt. copies at Sam's were about $5. Christmas cards: $2. Stamps: $0 ( I found a roll in a parking lot in the summer.)

We have so many decorations, stockings, etc that we have accumulated over the years and hand-me downs from were our parents down-sized. $0 for that.

Christmas cookie and baking supplies: I always have stuff. I might spend $5-10 on an extra bag of flour or eggs or something. Nothing major.

Christmas Eve will be spent with my family at my mom's house. We'll sing, laugh, look at old pictures, bake cookies and eat a simple meal. Mom usually wants something like paper towels or snacks for Christmas. Mom's gift: $30. the rest of the fam: $0

Christmas day we will go to my in-laws for lunch. I usually give them a gift card to their favorite restaurant. $25.

Christmas dinner at our house: tacos! $10

Gift for my three kids:

$200 total

Total for Christmas: less than $250! (not counting the lights, of course)

 

[drcmk]

Regarding "wants" versus "needs," I guess you could say that Christmas isn't a need at all--witness Ebenezer Scrooge.

I empathize with the OP regarding all of the extra expenses I rack up to have the holiday celebrations that I "want" for my family and friends. I cut back on gifts every year, but I think I spend more on "celebrating," like going to local Christmas displays and shows and making extra-special foods and treats. I'm self-employed and I have three main clients, so I spend about $100 on a year-end gift for each of them in December. I don't skimp on teacher gifts because I am so appreciative of the devotion my children's teachers have shown. I also find myself more charitably inclined this time of year and we've made some significant donations as a family.

So my Christmas splurges usually surprise me a little, but for me, Christmas is the time to splurge.

I hope you all have happy holidays, that you can spend the way that you enjoy best.

 

[disykat]

I always count all those little extras into my Christmas spending budget as well and they do add up. The difference for me is that my entire budget is less than half of yours.

 

[KKB]

Decor, wrap, gifts for teachers/white elephant, etc: all bought in years past, for 75-90% off ($0)

Cards/photos--I have gone to every 2 years, this is an ON year. But I got paper 75% off last year, so I will type the letter, run it on that paper and get reprints of a photo. Dang postage is the killer. I REALLY need to do this online--maybe this year is the year. (better for budget & environment) ($50 max; hmmmm...online $0)

New family photo--got one w/ Mom & Dad w/ photopass at WDW this fall. ($20)

Baking supplies...maybe $20; I stock up when on sale

Adult gifts (2grams, 2 sets parents, step mom): $250 total

Cousin gifts (4) $150 total

It's the KIDS killing me...not so long ago I could EASILY get by for $100 each, especially buying all year. But now that toys don't really make our lists..(DS14, DD11, DS9)--electronics/teen clothes are killing me! Luckily about half of their gifts are things they need--socks, jammies, sweats, jeans. And I have been neurotic about sales/coupons/free shipping. On a positive note (for them, at least), I have actually got them things on their lists! I think I am around $600 for all 3 (and DS14 is around $300--and he has the fewest gifts!)

Travel expenses minimal...just gas to 90 miles away, RT.

DH & I travel, a couple of trips a year, so that is our gifts to each other.

Hmmmm...funny, when we went to WDW for the first time 2 years ago, we told the kids that it was their Xmas present from us. Kinda forgot about that this year!!! (last year Santa brought 2 nights at Great Wolf Lodge). I would REALLY like to move to virtually all gifts of travel...guessing that will go over good as they get older! (DS was vying for a trip to the Holiday Bowl to see the Huskers play...MAYBE for graduation present!)

 

[annsteere]

Yep, the "extras" are an important part of the budget.

Gas to the in-laws for Thanskgiving and then again for Christmas. Plus food on the way.

Postage--even using cards bought cheaply last year it cost a buck for every two you mail.

Food--we had four generations gathered from 5 states here over the weekend. A blessing and worth every penny. But, even stocking up on bargains and sharing the cost with my sister, it costs money to feed 23 people for a few days.

If I'm gonna brag next year about all the stuff I got cheap and ahead of time, I'll be spending some money the week after Christmas.

And--a whopper nobody else has mentioned. We have matching stockings. My Aunt knit mine when I was a baby, DH's the year we got married, and one for DS and DD the year they were born. DD is getting married and the cost to have one made to match will be nearly 100 bucks. (Just the supplies are over $40 and I'll have to pay someone to make it.) The good news is that my soon-to-be son-in-law is priceless.

 

[C.Ann]

That's where I always got "snagged" - and ended up spending much more than I wanted to.. It's one of the reasons I do all of my Christmas shopping online now..

The only additional items I have to buy this year are the ingredients for whatever Christmas cookies DGD and I will be making during our annual Christmas cookie baking marathon.. Many ingredients I have purchased ahead of time, so the "list" shouldn't be too awful bad..

Nice, heavy, extremely thick rolls of wrapping paper are purchased every May at a place up to the lake for $1 a roll - so as long as I still have tape, I'm good to go..

 

[timzagain]

Normally, our "extras" really eat holes into our budget. So far this year, I've been a relatively good girl.

Decor - in spite of my intervention-worthy Christmas decoration addiction, I have not bought a single new ornament this year. The only decor item I've bought are 2 strings of lights.

Gift Wrapping - I've decided that wrapping paper is largely a waste of money. Last year I bought a few velvet gift bags, which will be reused 'til they disintegrate! I've also made a few other fabric gift bags. Then there's the brown craft paper and the silver paper (a roll end) from a local label printer. I don't anticipate buying any wrapping paper.

Charity Gifts/ Functions - I never remember to include these in the christmas budget. This year, we've already decided that we are cutting back on the charity functions we attend. I've been buying gifts year round, so I have already bought various toys on sale for the charity toy drives we support. No added expense there

Stocking Stuffers - I've also been accumulating them year-round. Stocking stuffers in our family are inexpensive items (toiletries, fun socks etc). My problem is that I keep seeing all these cute things that my family would enjoy, and buying them because "they only cost a dollar!"

Gas - didn't think of including that in the budget, but I should. We definitely do more driving over the holidays so it should be reflected in my budget.

Eating Out - another financial black hole for my family at Christmas. Between work, shopping, my seasonal side business etc, I am usually too tired or busy to cook. My plan is to cook double meals and freeze extras for later. I've started accumulating extra meals in the freezer - hopefully, my plan will work

So far, I've been able to reduce many of the potential extras.

 

[timzagain]

It's the KIDS killing me...not so long ago I could EASILY get by for $100 each, especially buying all year. But now that toys don't really make our lists..(DS14, DD11, DS9)--electronics/teen clothes are killing me! Luckily about half of their gifts are things they need--socks, jammies, sweats, jeans. And I have been neurotic about sales/coupons/free shipping. On a positive note (for them, at least), I have actually got them things on their lists! I think I am around $600 for all 3 (and DS14 is around $300--and he has the fewest gifts!)

I can totally relate! Our 4 "kids" range in age from almost 12 to almost 20. Good news is that we found a digital camera for one at $99, reduced from $209! Today I ordered a Nintendo DSi for youngest ($169) Still haven't bought for DD18 and DSD20 - the wish list items are a bit on the pricey side.

 

[happygirl]

Some of you spend more on your extras then I spend just on my Christmas

 

[HunnyPots]

Some of you spend more on your extras then I spend just on my Christmas

Yep, me too!