What is your Christmas budget

[DSNLvR]

For presents only? Do you usually go over or stay on track?

 

[Irin997]

This year my budget is $1000 for presents and stocking stuffers. I just got a promotion and a raise so that increased the budget. I only have one child, but it's the only time of the year she is spoiled rotten and I have a lot of other family members to buy for. Plus I tend to spoil my BF too. I'm hoping he'll get the hint one day and spoil me with a diamond ring.

Forgot to mention that I've been budgeting all year for Christmas too. I've been saving about $40 per pay period just for Christmas.

 

[ilovejack02]

I dont budget really budget much. For family I usually spend about 25.00 each , but always try for less of course.
Parents 50.00 -100.00 each. Hubby and I just get each other what we want, but usually not much because we know Valentines and after xmas sales are right around the corner.

Our two boys .. it just depends on what they want and what they NEED lol. My youngest wont be getting very much this year, prob spend maybe 200.00 on him .. 80.00 of that is upgrading to the DSI , I can turn his old DS into Gamestop and up grade to the DSI for 80.00.
My oldest is 20 and just got his own place, I will prob spend quite a bit more because he needs everything lol for the apartment .

No budget, just make sure I pay cash for everything.. no credit cards, been doing that for years.

 

[Darcy03231]

Most years we do a big trip each year so we don't buy much for Christmas or birthdays (less than $100 per child). If its a year we aren't doing a trip I spend about $200-$250 per child with another $25 per child in stocking stuffers.

DH and I don't buy for each other. I spend around $50/pp on my parents and his mother. Another $50 on my ex's mother (children's grandmother).

Nieces and nephews (6 total) - depends on the year and how we're doing. Some years its around $25/pp and others its closer to $50-60/pp.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I only have to buy for my parents this year (I'm always mysteriously single around Christmas time ) but I budget $100 each. And $50 for my dog I'm already done with my Christmas shopping though. My brother (31) and I don't get each other anything. Oh, and I budget $100 a year to either give to a local animal shelter or buy things that they need (my local no kill dog shelter does an "angel tree" for dogs).

 

[gillenkl]

Around $100 per child, DH and I get $50 each to spend as we like, $50 for a good family friend and $100 for my mom. That's it.

So a total of $400 for all. Our thought is that this is what we can afford and we aren't going into debt for one day.

 

[Belle5]

We spend about $125 per kid X 6 sons...
$50 on my parents
$25 on each other (DH and myself)
$25 on mentally handicapped older sister
$25 operation Christmas child
$50 gift for exchanges/baking for gifts (including kids exchanges for scout party, etc.)

This is just a ballpark estimate...

So, I guess it adds up with wrapping paper and everything else to about $1,000.

 

[neatokimmo]

I plan to spend $100 on the kiddo this year. My Mom, Brother, Aunt's family & Grandparents will end up being another $200.

$100 doesn't sound like a lot for a kid, but I buy things all year long for her.

 

[thebeesknees]

We do $40 each per child x 3, $40 per niece/nephew x 8, $50 each parent x 3, and $50 total for miscellaneous teacher/friend gifts. We don't buy for each other because we get each other little things throughout the year and Christmas is mostly for the kids, anyway. So I guess that's $640 total. I keep a spreadsheet running with what I have already purchased and what I am planning to purchase so I don't go over that amount. And if I get something on sale for less than I planned, then I can adjust the spreadsheet accordingly.

 

[kydisneyfans]

$1,000 total this year. We usually go over budget, but not into debt.

 

[toledo13]

As cheap as possible.

Generally, I spend $30 a person on my family gifts (mom, dad, sister, brother in law), $25 on DH's family gifts (his mom, dad, sister in law, and brother), and $50 on my DH (the same for me, from him). Then, I have 4 cousins on DH's side that I buy for... $20 a piece, and $50 total on stocking stuffers for my family and DH and I. Then, I have 10 flute students that I buy for, generally $5 a piece (generally home baked goods and stuff). For, a grand total of $400. If I can get under that, I try to. I'm all about the black friday sales and will be out at the crack of dawn (hahaha actually I'm back HOME by that point).

 

[toledo13]

WOW... I'm way below everyone else!!

But, I don't have kids of my own. And I'm cheap anyway. OH oops I left out the grandparents... Ok, so I'm up to $500.

 

[Karenj2]

Since last Christmas, I've been putting away $120/month towards this Christmas, so I'll have $1440 to spend, but that includes:

- Christmas tree and any new decorations
- Bday presents for Dmom, FIL, possibly DSis, DH (all of their birthdays fall around Christmas)
- Presents & stocking stuff for DH (and presents & stocking stuff for me)
- Presents for 4 nieces & newphews (~$25 each)
- Pollyana (x2) for my side of the family (probably between ~$25-50 per person)
- Stocking stuffers for my side of the family (try for under $5 PP, but we usually go over)
- treats for my dog
- Christmas tree gifts for needy family


What it doesn't include this year which I had planned for:
- pollyana for DH's side of the family (they don't want to do pollyana)
- pollyana for my extended family (we're not getting together this year)
- presents for soon to be ex-BIL's kids (because he's an idiot)
- presents for DH's aunt (who died this year)
- treats for my other dog (who was put to sleep last week)

If we don't spend all of that, it'll stay in my savings, because next year I'll have my Baby's first Christmas!!

 

[Cynt]

Like someone else mentioned I pay cash for everything and I've been doing it for years. I pickup stuff all year long for the nieces and nephews. November and December I pay all my bills and then shop until my hearts content. I don't have any kids so it's mom, step dad, dad, 6 siblings, 10 local nieces and nephews.

I love Christmas - so I have a grand ole' time shopping. And I have to shop during the season. It's half of the fun for me. I tried the early shopping but I don't like it near as much as being out there in the hustle and bustle.

 

[downsouth]

We're hitting the world in Feb. (surprise trip for the kiddie) so we're trying to do $200.00 for the kid and around $500.00 more for extended family (DW has 5 brothers and sisters).

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I'm cash only as well ~ well debit card, but it's tied to my checking account. I buy throughout the year so I don't have to shop all at once and spend all that $$ at once.

DD is so easy and fun to shop for ~ I have 4 American Girl dolls in my closet! She won't be getting all 4 for C~mas but might get 3 (one from me (Chrissa) and 2 from Santa (Gwen & Sonali ~ Chrissa's friends)

Mattel.com has/had 30% off recently so I ordered ~ the Barbie camping dolls ~ Barbie, Ken, !Skipper!, Stacie & Kelly ~ a 4 pack of the princesses that are like Polly Pockets, a Tiana *Polly Pocket* set, a Tiana "Barbie Doll" and a singing Snow White "Barbie Doll" ~ to go with the Snow White DVD/Blue Ray combo I got for $10.

I found the darn Zhu Zhu sets earlier this week and spent $100 there ~ I did pay retail and even had a 20% off coupon

DS ~ that's hard - boy toys are ugly and mean and he's getting older, his wants are getting smaller and $$$. Probably a $$ Lego set, perhaps a net book ~ my SIL has a $125 one on lay a way at Kmart ~ I need to see if I can get one. I purchased some DS & PSP games from Amazon when they were Buy 2 get 1 free.

For my former inlaws (I'm still very close with them ~ prefer them to my own family ) we do family gifts ~ $25 limit. For my family - I'll get my 2 nephews something, we'll probably do a sibling exchange and I'll get something for my parents, grandparents. We'll probably get together with my dad's family C~mas Eve - my kids will do an exchange with my cousins kids and I'll get something for one of my cousins, not too much $$ spent on those gifts, however we did this last year so maybe not this year I'm not sure where we'll be C~mas Eve.

I need to remember that my ex will get our kids gifts ~ always last minute so I never know what he plans to get them.

 

[Irin997]

Since last Christmas, I've been putting away $120/month towards this Christmas, so I'll have $1440 to spend, but that includes:

- Christmas tree and any new decorations
- Bday presents for Dmom, FIL, possibly DSis, DH (all of their birthdays fall around Christmas)
- Presents & stocking stuff for DH (and presents & stocking stuff for me)
- Presents for 4 nieces & newphews (~$25 each)
- Pollyana (x2) for my side of the family (probably between ~$25-50 per person)
- Stocking stuffers for my side of the family (try for under $5 PP, but we usually go over)
- treats for my dog
- Christmas tree gifts for needy family


What it doesn't include this year which I had planned for:
- pollyana for DH's side of the family (they don't want to do pollyana)
- pollyana for my extended family (we're not getting together this year)
- presents for soon to be ex-BIL's kids (because he's an idiot)
- presents for DH's aunt (who died this year)
- treats for my other dog (who was put to sleep last week)

If we don't spend all of that, it'll stay in my savings, because next year I'll have my Baby's first Christmas!!

What is Pollyana? I've never heard of it before.

 

[mindyd]

We do alll Cash my budget is 2,000 atleast

250- Nieces and Nephews
50- Grab Bag with Sisters
120- Parents Gifts
200- Aunts and Uncles
80- Gifts for Teachers, Bus Drivers, Dance Teachers
700- without my kids gifts

I spend normally atleast 500 on each so that is 1,000
Then I buy them together Gifts sot hat is 200-300

 

[julluvsdisney]

100 each child, I have 2. 300 for my DH. 100 for my mom. 75 for mil. 50 for fil. 50 for my dad and 50 for my step mom. 40 on 3 of our siblings. 20 on my niece. 40 on my god daughter. 20 on my goddaughters brother. 10 on 3 grandmothers. so a little over $1300. Christmas is a splurge in our family!

 

[a1tinkfans]

30 per niece and nephew, 6=180.
1 Auntie, she is 96!!!! Usually just some powder or something...really nothing to buy for her. =20
3 SIL 30 each= 90
1 BIL 30=30
Misc= 100 (donations, little extra's)
Dad 50
MIL 50
Sis and BIL 30
Sis 50-75
SIL and Brother 30 TOTALS=$660.00

THEN..................2 Stockings: 100. (dh and ds)
ADDED: I charge EVERYTHING, pay it all off before its due and get DISNEY $$$ to boot!!

[DH, no budget (thinking an electric pole saw this year ), typical clothes an whatever I see that I think he'd like...........
Prob 2-350.
DS no budget ...but he won't know that ....he is our only one, so honestly I/we generally buy him whatever we like....last year was about 2K...(But music equip is Expensive!!) Thinking....1500., we'll see....
and before I hear how spoiled he is/heaven forbid flames......Ill just say..It is what it Is! ..its CHRISTMAS and I ENJOY buying him awesome things..and I always get carried away...lucky him

I generally wind up going over on the nieces/nephews too , especially the littlest ones, they are so fun to buy for......

Added: I charge everything, pay it all off before its due and get DISNEY $$$ to boot!