How much does xmas cost?

2moretrees · #1 (**permalink**) 10-22-2004, 07:52 AM

I was reading another thread where mom-from-missouri was able to do all her xmas shopping for under $100. I don't think I'll come close to that, but I sure wish I could. How much does everyone budget for xmas?

rabbitfoot · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2004, 08:22 PM

I'm not really sure (I know that is not good). I will know when everything is bought. I have bought about 1/4 of my gifts and have spent $75.

Tree0164 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-24-2004, 04:45 AM

Much more than I really like.

I spend about $300 on the children.
Hubby and I don't spend on each other but we end up getting that we both would like. Usually about $100 or so there
Parents about $150
Neices and Nephews, Sibling my on side about $100
Various teachers and therpy aides $50

About $600 all together. Give or take

terry1156 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2004, 06:36 PM

I spend about $700 on Christmas gifts, but many of these are spread out over the year so it doesn't all come out of my pocket in December.

singinjeannie · #5 (**permalink**) 10-28-2004, 07:55 AM

Christmas for us this year is going to be slim. I have 4 kids and no money. Hubby says we aren't having Christmas this year, but I have to do something!!!

Christmas is such an emotional high amidst so much stress and work throughout the year. I'm just not willing to have to tell my 3 year old that there is not Santa Claus. It's just such a joyful fantasy to share with the kids until they get older. I've given up so much this year, no vacation, (not even camping) no celebration for my 40th birthday -- I'm just not up to giving up my Christmas, and all my Christmas' to come, since telling my 3 year old there is no Santa will ruin it for her, me and her baby sister (who I'm sure she'll share this tid-bit of juicy information with as soon as she's able).

I'm near tears writing this. It's just beyond depressing.

In past years I've spent about $200 total on the three kids. (It's gone up as they've gotten older and a rattle or a truck doesn't cover it anymore!!!)

-Jean

terry1156 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-28-2004, 08:47 AM

Jean,

I would suggest making this Christmas more about family than gifts. Spend time together doing something that may become a tradition...baking cookies and other goodies together, making an album, or something like that.

You may want to turn Christmas around this year and make it a lesson in giving. Sit down and talk with your kids and explain that there are other kids that don't have any toys. maybe they can pick a toy they no longer use but that is still in good shape to donate to another family.

Another option may be putting off the gifts to later. Explain they can have a gift at Christmas or get a small gift at Christmas with a bigger one later on. This will also teach them the value of waiting and will give you a bit more time to get the money for the gifts.

Just remember that the season isn't about getting gifts and its also important to teach your children that. If they learn that, they will apreciate the gifts they get even more in later years.

Tree0164 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-29-2004, 05:02 AM

Aah Jeannie, Christmas is so much more than gift giving. Can you hit some yard sales to see if there are any toys that you can get gently used. Traditions are so much fun, focus on the overall meaning of Christmas.

byusteeler · #8 (**permalink**) 10-29-2004, 11:08 AM

We have been lean for the last few years due to my being layed off and the decision not to seek other employment. We lost my $40,000 a year income. So for the last couple of years we have been creative. I have the advantage of my youngest child being 17 so he can understand the situation we are in. We do still budget $100 per child plus stocking stuffers and we watch for bargains throughout the year on the items that our children want. I have always been pretty practical. So stocking stuffers usually consist of razors, socks, deodorant, etc. things that the kids are going to need anyway. We do put a few fun things in. Last year, for extended family and neighbors, we made the parts to make gingerbread houses added some small candies and a baggie of frosting put it all in a large plastic bag, printed a cute label on green and red paper, folded it and stapled it to close the top of the plastic bag. It was a huge hit with everyone we gave it to. Buying in bulk we spent less than $1 per gift and we had a fun family activity making, assembling and delivering the gift. Another year I got fun bottles at MacFrugals and made Herbed Vinegars. This year I think I am going to give Brownie Mix (homemade of course). It should cost well under $1. We are a little leaner this year because the supposedly non existent inflation is drowning us. If you are not crafty or a do-it-yourselfer barter with someone who is. Maybe you could watch children for someone so they can shop and have them make you something to give as a gift. Just some ideas. Happy Holidays

singinjeannie · #9 (**permalink**) 10-29-2004, 11:49 AM

My biggest problem is my DH and the fact that I really, really enjoy the fantasy of Santa Claus. I have cut many expenses over the past few years, such as: I don't bake anymore because #1, it costs a lot to buy all the ingredients (around $150.00) and #2, you just get fat on the cookies!
I have always shopped for bargains for the kiddies. I did my 2 year old daughter last year for $25.00!!! The older boys, (12 and 9) are a little more expensive and I usually purchased some wanted items for them and then rounded out the gifts with stuff they'll need anyway. (White socks, boxer shorts, etc.) Usually it cost me about $175 to do both boys, give or take a few $$.

In recent Christmas seasons, we also cut out all card sending ($100) and all gifts to friends and my husband's co-workers ($300+).

DH doesn't want me to buy ANYTHING for the kids this christmas and the idea of having to tell my 3 year old that there is no Santa is driving me to tears. It's just rediculous. Motherhood is such a tiring, thankless job and after telling your kids "NO" all year long (because we just don't have the money...) one of the few joys of motherhood is Christmas Morning when you can finally let your kids have some of what they want. If my kids were older (high school or above) it wouldn't be nearly this heartbreaking. They'd understand. I just know my 9 year old and my 3 year old are going to be crushed about this (and frankly, so will I).

I gotta find a way to get DH to change his mind. I need to have some kind of Christmas morning for my kids.

Sorry to be so negative. I just seem to give up more and more and more and this is just one thing I really don't want to give up!!!

miclason · #10 (**permalink**) 10-29-2004, 05:24 PM

Why not a home-made gift??...go to http://www.askdrmom.com/beadit.htm ....make a bunch of beads (or, just get the materials ready), put them together in a pretty box and give your daughter a "beading craft kit" all of her own!...these call for mostly recycled materials, so there wouldn't be any extra $$$ spent!! (if you want it to be a surprise, just prepare the materials while she is away visiting relatives or once she has already gone to sleep!!)
Xmas is not so much about gift-giving, and gift-giving is not about how much you spend, but about how much you care.... ((hugs))
(we've had a couple "slim" Xmases here already!, I know how you feel!...I have told my child that Xmas is Baby Jesus' birthday, and the gifts we get are just the party favors....)...Make it a party for your family: play some music and dance, watch some Xmas videos.... make some games with the children (have DH play musical chairs, they'll love that!)...try to keep it festive and make it a special day...they won't mind so much about the presents!

byusteeler · #11 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 10:57 AM

Singin Jeannie, That is a really hard situation to be in. I know when we had a really lean Christmas when our kids were young although we were able to get them some toys. They did not get what they wanted and it was hard for them to understand why Santa brought the neighbor kids everything they wanted and they only got 1 or 2 gifts each and they were not exactly what they had wanted. Are grandma and grandpa alive and in a situation where they could play Santa? My kids always got something nice from their grandmother until she passed away. (my kids were 4,7 & 8 when she died. but we were in better financial shape then). I will pray for you. Your situation brings back painful memories for me. But on a happier note. My children have only happy memories of there childhood christmases and they are teens and 20's now. So the lean years and unfair Santa apparently bothered me much more than them.

lieweheksie · #12 (**permalink**) 10-30-2004, 02:17 PM

Talk to DH- why is he so against buying the kids presents'- maybe you can agree to buy nothing for each other this year but the little ones need to have some excitement. I agree with the previous post about involving grandparents- for several years my godchildren's parents went through major financial problems- it was allways a relief to me that we could buy our godson something for xmas- even better when his mom told us what he wanted- or sent us his santa letter- when the relatives and friends ask what the kids want/ need tell them
Also maybe get the older kids involved in the planning and keeping the santa secret
Do a search for frugal christmas- you should find plenty of ideas- dollar stretcher, www.creativefrugality.com are good starts. Maybe you can get DH to agree to a small xmas budget- $100 would be more than enough to have a simple but meaningful xmas- good luck

pimburg · #13 (**permalink**) 10-31-2004, 04:34 PM

One thing my family has done to cut down on expenses over Christmas has been to do a Secret Santa gift exchange. Instead of everyone buying for everyone else, we draw names and buy for only one person. It has cut our expenses (and stress) significantly.

It's a lot of fun, too. We now do it with my wife's family as well.

Sometimes the organization of a Secret Santa can turn people off of it. I know it can be difficult. That's why, over the years, I actually developed a software program to make it easy. This year, it is available for anyone to use, and it is free. This is just a little hobby of mine.

If you are thinking of doing a Secret Santa this year, try out my site, elfster, <a href='http://www.elfster.com'>http://www.elfster.com</a>. In addition to helping you invite people, determining who wants to participate, and randomly drawing names, the site will also allow participants to keep a wishlist, and to even ask their person questions without giving away who they are.

If you decide to give it a try, let me know how it goes. I would like to make refinements to better suite people's situations.

Many thanks and much ho ho ho,

Peter
peter@elfster.com

singinjeannie · #14 (**permalink**) 10-31-2004, 05:39 PM

My extended family has stopped buying for each other entirely. We have a grab-bag for the kids, but do not exchange gifts between adults. We really don't need anything! Instead, we adopt a needy family and all contribute a set amount of money, then one family member goes shopping for the needy family. These families are truly in need. One year the kids from the family we sponsored asked for pillows and socks. You know they are truly in need when they are asking for a pillow for Christmas!!!

On my husband's side of the family, we also don't do a real gift exchange between adults. Instead, we try to find the ugliest, strangest item we can and then we pick a name out of a hat on Christmas eve, when we get together. It's absolutely hysterical opening these gifts and is truly a high-light of our Christmas celebration every year. You might get an oversized, horribly painted piggy bank, or a horrible, gaudy lamp. You get the idea. The gifts don't cost much at all and are always fun to shop for. (I purchased our gift last March, because I found this awful looking pig statue, and just knew it was the right gift for this fun tradition.)

This is a cheep way to celebrate with extended family and is more fun than you can imagine. (Sense of humor for all is mandatory for this to work!!!)
-Jean

Tree0164 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 02:54 AM

Jeannie,

We do the Yankee Swap too but not the ulgiest gift. We have so much fun doing that and it has been a highlight of the Christmas celebration.

terry1156 · #16 (**permalink**) 11-01-2004, 06:09 AM

The ugliest gift traditions sounds like great fun! I will have to make that suggestion to our family group this year

debtfree · #17 (**permalink**) 11-05-2004, 09:02 AM

We usually go overboard on Christmas spending $700+ per year (I have five kids) I try to save throughout the year-I save all of my change and this is Christmas money which is sometimes almost $200.

This year my goal is to spend less. How will I do it? Bartering!! Do you have a talent you could share? Haircutting, yard work, house cleaning, etc. - all of these services could be bartered with neighbors or friends who offer gifts or services in return. Are you crafty? Make up some crafts and barter with other crafters. Or use the crafts you make as gifts.

There are tons of ways to be frugal at Christmas but still keep the magic alive

)

globetrotter · #18 (**permalink**) 11-05-2004, 06:53 PM

My x-mas expenses are very high. I probably spend a good $1000, but I have a large family and we do a lot of party events that time of year. I'm sure that I can reduce that quite a bit with a little more organization.

Lori63 · #19 (**permalink**) 11-06-2004, 04:03 AM

We overspend-my kids don't have any grandparents and pretty much everything under the tree ends up coming from us (and Santa). We've always been able to do a big Christmas-we don't buy a whole lot any other time of the year.
Anything for hubby and I are necessities-if anything in the house falls apart after Sept. it becomes a Christmas present (this year we are getting a phone/answering machine).
I know it's basically 'emotional' spending for me-I know that spending alot doesn't make up for the kids not having extended family.

Lori63 · #20 (**permalink**) 11-06-2004, 04:11 AM

Forgot what the post was about-saving!
I belong to alot of reward programs (MyPoints, QuickRewards, etc) and use my earnings for gift certificates and use them at Christmas. I also sign up for store's websites-they really compete at Christmas and send alot of coupons.