holiday spending

[PrincessFiona]

Spill it. How much do you usually spend?

We are a family of 7. I was just calculating that last year I actually spent over $2000k by the time I bought gifts for relatives, our family, etc. I'm trying to reduce that ...

[diggitydot]

We only buy for our own kids and each other. We might spend $150-$200 per person, max. I might go a little over that this year because I'm considering doing one large gift per person instead of a bunch of smaller ones.

[Pollyanna]

Spill it. How much do you usually spend?

We are a family of 7. I was just calculating that last year I actually spent over $2000k by the time I bought gifts for relatives, our family, etc. I'm trying to reduce that ...

We go over that for sure but we rarely buy the kids clothes and other stuff during the year so they get a pretty good sized haul of needed items.

[MrsK]

IDK. I usually collect gifts throughout the year when I see a good deal. I keep a stash in my basement and when the holiday approaches, I review and figure out whether anyone is left out. I buy 8 smallish gifts for each "family group" -- one collection for each brother's family and one for my mom (incl her dog and if she has a boyfriend). I don't really have a budget for the gifts but with sales/coupons/promotions, I usually end up spending $5-$10 for most items and then I may have a couple things that costs about $30 -- so the whole box ends up costing about $100+shipping.

This year mom got: a handmade mosaic switchplate ($28 at an art fair), about 6 hair bows for her dog (free -$2 each), yorkie note cards ($1 at Dollar General, she loved them), a retro ice pack http://www.viewgoods.com/general/retro-ice-pack.html (I found it for $5), Trader Joes Fig Butter http://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Bu.../dp/B0090CSIVM, handmade eyeglass case from a craft fair, and I don't remember what else.

My one brother, his wife, and 8 & 6yo sons got: retro ice pack, dry erase board from my etsy shop, apron from my etsy shop, handmade superhero wallets from an art fair, lego bionicals set, Boys' Life magazine subscription, disgusting science kit http://www.amazon.com/POOF-Slinky-0S.../dp/B000BUW7E6, Trader Joes peppermint bark, Vera Bradley wallet, and I don't remember -- probably some "guy" gift for my brother.

The other brother, his wife, and 2yo son got: Little People Dump Truck, Food Face dinner plate http://www.perpetualkid.com/food-face-dinner-plate.aspx, olive oil mister http://www.williams-sonoma.com/produ...=34-83003110-2, vintage ice pack, dry erase board from my etsy shop, apron from my etsy shop, Doodle Diner placemats http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193...SIN=1934706256. . .

I buy for my friends' children:

Almost 3yo girl: Melissa & Doug Farm puzzle set: http://www.justkidsstore.com/prod/me...zzles-in-a-box

14yo girl: $25 iTunes gift card and sephora kit for her Christmas birthday http://www.sephora.com/the-cookie-exchange-set-P383145

13yo boy: $25 iTunes gift card.

8yo girl: Canopy bed for her AG doll http://www.walmart.com/ip/Badger-Bas...ll-Bed/5673410

Still shopping for two 2yo boys.

So, at the end of the day that's how much? About $400?

I also tend to do a lot of advance buying for upcoming birthdays, for my kids' clothes, and buy a few things I've been coveting. I also get clothes and things for DrK since there are good sales during/after the holidays.

[spotty_dog]

We spend about $50-150 per sibling family and set of parents (so x 6) on charitable donations and some extra spending cash for the kids. Within our family we do probably $100-125 per kid and $100 on each other? Every so often we splurge and do $2-300 on each other, like the year I got him a new digital camera, or this year he already got me an iPad mini (and a dining room rug).

[Curegirl]

I'm like MrsK and collect things throughout the year. I try to keep it to 30-50 a person and avoid malls as much as possible. Hate crowds.

[mommax3]

It's all over the place. Anywhere from 3-5K wouldn't surprise me. We have done different things for the kids depending in the year, but $350 each is probably a good average (big boys=big toys....and clothes....and shoes....). For each other, sometimes we spend a lot and sometimes hardly anything....but we may go downtown for a couple of nights and eat at some nice restaurants instead, which isn't cheap. So maybe $1000? We are in an exchange with DH's siblings and their children, and probably spend about $200 altogether on the 5 gifts we buy for that. We spend between $50-$100 on each of our parents, so say $400 for that, and then gifts for each of my siblings, their spouses and their kids (11 people) at about $40 each, so say another $450. Add in incidental gifts (secret santa, friends, piano teacher, hair guy, house cleaner, etc.) and we are at $3500 easy, probably closer to $4000.

[moonlight]

I think since starting residency (aka poorville) I spend about $300. That includes a couple small gifts to my nieces, Mom, DD, and Christmas photos and cards/postage. I wanted to do more this year, but looks like its not going to happen.

[SuzySunshine]

I think this year will probably end up being around $3K, but we made two big purchases for the kids, a computer and a PBK chair/table set. The nieces/nephews on my side draw names so that is only $60. Otherwise we only buy for DH's parents, brother, SIL, and my parents. On years that we celebrate with my side the adults also draw but not this year. Sometimes DH and I buy each other expensive things but I don't think we'll do that this year. We spent more last year, our first year out of training, kind of as a reward for ourselves. We have a "gift fund" an account we put money in each month, its not just for the holidays either - its for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. and its so nice to tally up all of the Christmas spending and then just transfer a bulk amount.

[Vanquisher]

A lot. Probably 2-3K.

[PrincessFiona]

Okay. I'm closer to 3k but was too embarrassed to confess.

[moonlight]

Okay. I'm closer to 3k but was too embarrassed to confess.

You are so cute!

[ladymoreta]

Ours will be somewhere around $1500-2000. We buy for our family of 4, parents, 1 grandparent, 1 sibling each, siblings' spouse/SO, my sister's SO's 2 kids, teachers, and one family we are close friends with.

[weeniegeniewife]

A lot. Probably 2-3K.

Ditto.

[KlynK]

I don't add it up - would probably get too depressed! How much we spend greatly differs from year to year as our financial situation differs. Our first year married we had to be cheap but the second we went all out, since we could afford it. This year will be somewhere in the middle. I'm working on keeping costs down by making some gifts. I tend to try to spend $30-50 per person at most (parents, siblings, niece, nephew, godmother, godson). I spend a bit more on DH, like $100-200. That puts us under $1000.