What did you spend this Christmas?

[Swirly girls]

I think that is why many go over budget, because Christmas spending isn't just the presents - it all the little things (that added up to 25% of our budget!) that do you in.
Sounds like a great menu. Our inlaws go to visit their other grandchildren out of town for Christmas so we 4 are on our own and figure our christmas meals are part of our regular food budget. But we are hosting a get together this weekend with hors dourves and wine - could add another $50 bucks or so to the Christmas budget? Nah, leave in the food budget, lol. Enjoy!

I do love to cook the meal, my kids, and husband help out too. In fact, my husband is a huge help getting the meal on the table after church Xmas eve.
My kids help me bake the baked goodies and treats before hand ( this weekend in fact )

 

[Gorechick]

More than I expected this year, but I got some really good deals I couldn't pass up like 50% off both Barbie Dreamhouse and American Girl Doll for my daughter.

 

[jacksmom]

To Much! But always do!

 

[Mkaz]

I have no idea. I'm not finished.

 

[Riverhill]

2 iphones for kids $200
gifts for co workers 40
gifts for nieces 50

all total $290 DH and I do not exchange gifts not going in to debt is our gift to each other.

 

[it's kelly]

About 1200, and that includes charitable donations. My mother asked that instead of a gift we donate to Hurricaine Sandy survivors, and instead of exchanging with siblings, we 7 siblings contribute to a charity, this year, Ronald McDonald House.

The rest of the $ was for exhanges between DH and I, gifts for our 5 year old twins, and DH's non-philanthropic family, all of whom are comfortable and don't need anything because we just buy what we need when we need it, yet, we still exhange gifts.

As a NY'er who also volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House of NYC for 4 years, I thank you. It really means a lot.

 

[ajh88]

I'm a bad Budget Boarder...I'm not all in all sure my total. What I do know is that we did get a little crazy this year. I definitely spent more on DH than ever before and one of DD's gifts was incredibly expensive (One Direction concert tickets).

I had budgeted about $1500 our of our normal November/December paychecks for gifts but then we hit an ebay jackpot...bought 2 dolls at an auction for $22 and sold them for a total of $1700! We also normally sell quite a bit on ebay this time of year and made a fair bit more than just our doll money...it was hard not to spend every last dime, but I haven't! We did adopt 3 Angel Tree kids this year and went a bit overboard on them too.

We are completely done, no debt on credit cards, and still have money in PayPal...I am over budget, but satisfied.

 

[lisateaches]

DD 10 - tablet, dock station, books, Legos-@200
DD4-guitar, doll house, dolls, Legos @180
DH$100
Me $100. ( coach purse from online outlet for $80)
Nieces nephews parents sisters brothers cousins - haven't done yet. Estimate is$350
So....I'll average that to be around a thousand.

 

[crl]

I spent about $250 total for my 3 kids. Then about $50 per nephew ( we have 2). And about $100 total for DH, and 2 grandparents. So that puts my total at $400 for the year.

 

[Happyjen27]

So glad to have read other responses. Not so much for the scroogy people (you know who you are), but for the excellent planners that have included the "soft" costs of Christmas into their budget!

Next year, I will plan for those as well. Because they do add up. A new tablecloth, ornaments for the kids for St. Nicholas Day, supplies for homemade projects, baking supplies, the case of wine we buy for hostess gifts and general survival.

Thanks for the learning opportunity DISers!

 

[aml3679]

7 gifts for my secretaries and unit aids at work - big discount with Yankee Candle = $50.00

Our family does secret Santa:
Nook bookcover $35.00, Bean Bag holder for Nook & Socks $25.00 - got a $50 gift card from Living Social for $25 = $60.00

Gifts for Grandson (Age 2) at Toy's-R-Us = $110.00

Gifts for our 2 cats, our 3 grandcats and 1 granddog = $30.00

This year I ordered personalized stockings for our 2 daughters, 2 son-in-laws and 2 grandchildren = $110.00

Stocking stuffers = $600.00

3 turquois necklaces when a co-worker goes to China for our 2 daughters and granddaughter = $300

My husband said he got me a new car (we actually needed one) = $15,000

So about $16,120 (minus the car = $1,120

 

[Ivonne]

7 gifts for my secretaries and unit aids at work - big discount with Yankee Candle = $50.00

Our family does secret Santa:
Nook bookcover $35.00, Bean Bag holder for Nook & Socks $25.00 - got a $50 gift card from Living Social for $25 = $60.00

Gifts for Grandson (Age 2) at Toy's-R-Us = $110.00

Gifts for our 2 cats, our 3 grandcats and 1 granddog = $30.00

This year I ordered personalized stockings for our 2 daughters, 2 son-in-laws and 2 grandchildren = $110.00

Stocking stuffers = $600.00

3 turquois necklaces when a co-worker goes to China for our 2 daughters and granddaughter = $300

My husband said he got me a new car (we actually needed one) = $15,000

So about $16,120 (minus the car = $1,120

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on your new car!!!!!!

 

[MomToOne]

Gifts -
DD12: $500-600 for all gifts incl. stocking stuffers
Family (mother, 4 siblings, 2 significant others, 2 nephews): $250
Children of Family Friends: $50
Gardener: $50
Co-workers: $40

Travel Costs (plane tickets, rental car, cat boarding, checked bags): $1050 - I'm using frequent flyer miles one way this year

Misc. stuff - tree, Christmas clothing, gingerbread house kit, Christmas cards and postage, etc.: $100

Package Shipping: $25

Grand Total: Around $2165

 

[briarrose]

We spent so far $538 which is for DS, DD, teacher, angel tree, 3 neighbor kids,me, DH and 3 nieces . 168 of that has been paid with different free money like amazon credit, $100 credit for using a new charge card once,
and gift cards. Also have $16 check from ebates.com sometime. So out-of -pocket is $350.

 

[bdcp]

About $2700. Two grown sons and future DIL, husband, Me , two sets of parents, 5 nieces and nephews, two Secret Santa gifts ( we draw names for everyone over 18 and grad from HS-my sisters, their husbands and kids). I usually spend $30 on each niece and nephew except the 2 that are part of the secret Santa for that we spend $50. I spend around $100 on each parent ($400 total). DH and I spent around $700 each on each other so there's $1400 for that. Sons and future DIL around $700 total. This year we actually spent less than we usually do. Most years we spend at least $3,000.

 

[scbelleatheart]

I kept my budget but I plan all year long so I can keep it.
My budget for me and DH is Zero. Kids all over 22 with jobs (4), $1,000 each. Fiancé's (3), $250 each. Their budget for us, Zero. We don't need anything. My DH feels guilty at giving so little . To my DH this is a small Xmas. My family wasn't like his so we agree to disagree. Good Lord, we have 3 weddings in the next year!
When I married I had no idea people spent money like some do at Xmas.

 

[Southernmiss]

Way more than I budgeted for. My husband kept saying "Oh let's get this for the kids" and so they each have more than their usual gift amount. Though it will be a Merry Christmas, next year I plan to stick closer to the budget and make him stick to it as well.

DH does this and I say this EVERY year! Sticking to the budget never happens

Kids bdays are are $40 gift, a cake and a sung happy birthday (maybe a friend or 2 over and that's it), we don't go out to eat during the year, vacays are every other year if that so we do go overboard at Christmas-even if we don't mean to.

 

[princesspiglet]

I wanted to point out that I have a "budget", but it's not really a budget per se. I have a Christmas Club account set up through my bank and I automatically deposit $150 of my 1st paycheck every month into it. Come December 1, I have $1800 saved. I use that money only and once it's gone, it's gone- I don't take money from any place else.

This has worked out great for me in the past 10 years I have been doing it. I know exactly how much money and I have and I don't even really miss it in my paycheck because I have been doing it for so long. Just an idea for others.

 

[pigletto]

I wanted to point out that I have a "budget", but it's not really a budget per se. I have a Christmas Club account set up through my bank and I automatically deposit $150 of my 1st paycheck every month into it. Come December 1, I have $1800 saved. I use that money only and once it's gone, it's gone- I don't take money from any place else.

This has worked out great for me in the past 10 years I have been doing it. I know exactly how much money and I have and I don't even really miss it in my paycheck because I have been doing it for so long. Just an idea for others.

I truly love this idea and I think it's time to do something similar. Even though I start early if I can it still seems that every extra cent goes to Christmas from the start of November until it's over.
Sure I am not wracking up the credit cards which is good.. but I am still stretching every allowable discretionary penny and it would be nice to not have to do that. Especially when we are crazy busy. It would be nice to be able to go out for dinner a few times while spending the day out shopping etc.
It would just be a better idea to save it all up ahead of time

 

[BeachLove]

I wanted to point out that I have a "budget", but it's not really a budget per se. I have a Christmas Club account set up through my bank and I automatically deposit $150 of my 1st paycheck every month into it. Come December 1, I have $1800 saved. I use that money only and once it's gone, it's gone- I don't take money from any place else.

This has worked out great for me in the past 10 years I have been doing it. I know exactly how much money and I have and I don't even really miss it in my paycheck because I have been doing it for so long. Just an idea for others.

Yup, exactly. I do the same thing when it comes to saving up for a new wardrobe, gifts and house upkeep. Even if its just $50/60 a month, by the time spring rolls around I have $600-700 for a small home project or a piece of furniture.