What's your Xmas budget?

[billybob]

I've been crunching the numbers, and I (single M, age 29) plan to spend about $600 this holiday season. Hopefully it will be less than that, but...

This is also including several (about 4) family birthdays that happen to coincide with the holidays, so I factored them in. Fortunately, my family decided to cut down the gift exchange significantly this year. I no longer have to exchange with my Brother's wife's family, or my aunt's family.

I am buying for:

-Girlfriend ($150)
-Mom and dad ($65 each)
-Grandfather (about $40)
-Brother ($65) , his wife ($40) and 2 young kids (i get them savings bonds)($25x2)
-4 misc. birthday gifts.

What about you?

[miclason]

I (single mom, 1 child) think I can make it all for ~$250 (including dinner!)
Here's my gift list (total:~$175, but could be lower if I find better prices for what I want)

name |gift |$
Ale |traje |10
Ale |camison |5
Ale |scooter? |33* (non-sale price, I can get it for about $15!)
Ale |muñeca? |22* (non-sale price, I can get it for about $12)
Marisol |pantuflas|3.5
Claudia | ||5
Chiqui | |5
Diego | |5
Martha |pantuflas |3.5
Robertio | |5
GB | |2.5
Alci y Gerardo| |2.5
Ismenia |toalla |2
Melissa |pantuflas |3.5
Yo |zapatos |10
Tia Gloria | |5

and for dinner: (we go 50-50 with my sis, so my part is ~$42)
pavo | 45
pan | 4
pure de papas |2
escabeche |4
vino |13
postre |6
gaseosas |4
salsa |5

I have also included the nanny's "aguinaldo" (like a Xmas bonus) and foodstuff that I always buy for her for her Xmas dinner...~$45

Hmmmm...but we still haven't figured out New Year's dinner, though, but it'll be about ~$45, too, so I still manage for around $250...

[TBH]

sister: 60
neice and nephew: 25 X 2
brother-in-law: 20
mother and her spouse: 50 (donation to katrina relief in their name)
father and his spouse: 50?
other sister: $10 (woohoo, found something nice but cheap)
step sister: 20 (including shipping to the UK)
brother, his wife, and 3 kids: 0 (gotta love that no-gift pact)

my son: trying to keep it under 50

preschool teachers: 25?


Total: under 350

[jodi]

I was hoping for $600-700, but it will probably be more like $1000.
Here's the anticipated breakdown:
Two sons: $100 each (DH thinks this is way too low, but they will be getting gifts from EVERYONE)
DH: $100-300, depending on what I find
My parents, DH's parents: $200-250 total
My siblings and their spouses: we drew names, so we only have to buy for two of them at about $50 each
DH's siblings and their spouses: $20 each (we put a limit on this year), so $100 total
Nephews and nieces: about $25 each, total $125

Well, that's about $1000 already...so it will probably be more. Sigh.

[CheaplyClever]

No kids, so that makes it lots cheaper! DH and I try to keep it small, around $20 each 'cause we're really cheap! I spend about $100 on my Dad and less than $60 on the little things we do for friends.

So $200, tops.

[kashi]

Right now, I estimate about $490, including my mother's birthday gift. Hopefully it will end up being a bit less. I've already spent over half of that and am half done buying gifts. Last year, I spent $405. I doubled my sister's gift amount this year, am spending a lot more on my in-laws, and might be included in a family gift drawing. We'll see how it ends up!

[fultron]

this year, we're forced to cut back on everyone but our daughter...it's her first real christmas and I want her to emjoy it!

me and my wife - $50 each = $100
our daughter - $200
3 nephews - $20 each = $60
2 sisters + 1 brother-in-law - $20 each = $60
3 grandparents - $30 each = $90

"planned total" = $510

but we'll likely go over that. especially if we exchange with a couple of good friends.

[Snoopy2645]

I will buy my 3 kids the most then thier is my mom & her husband & my brother & my niece & maybe his gf & her kids & maybe my nephew & my 1 grandma & probably one thing for my dh & thats it. Not sure about the budget but I try to get as many things with those 10 off 10 coupons the day after thanksgiving. And other things the stores are giving away that day. I dont spend much that day. I get so many good deals. I might spend around $50 that day its so funny though, how I always see tons of people buying several hundred dollars worth of stuff that day but not I no not I the whole point of me going that day is to get a good deal not to bankrupt us.

[Armywife]

I've saved exactly $500.00 for christmas. I am using 300.00 in gifts for my immediate family- (hubby, dd's, mom). I already purchased christmas cards and collector tins that I bought at liquidation prices earlier this year. It was definitely a rare find (I bought 50 tins for .10 each (they were retailed at 2.99 each)) I am giving people these tins filled with christmas candy and a card. The remainder of the money is going for the holiday meals and spirits. I know I may not stick to this but at least I tried

Barb

[PrincessPerky]

Bils family of 6 people, 20 each = 120
Grand ILs 4 people, 15 each = 60
My Mom's family 3 people, 15 each = 45
Bros family 6 people 10 each = 60 (hope they arn't looking at what we spend on the ILS!)
My kids 3 people, 50 each = 150

Total = 435 for 22 people

plus some for DH and I, but that is never disclosed, it is usually 'found money' so we don't budget it.

Oh and we might have friends that exchange this year, dunno yet.

[german0955]

For Boyfriend I got plane tickets, car rental & one night hotel for the two of us which cost around $1000.00 because I had a $50 companion ticket - these are already bought and paid for. The other nights we are staying with his folks.

For Mom I got a nice velour robe (normally $44) on sale and with coupon for $26.00 (will need to ship for around $7.00)

Brother and Dad I have a gift closet to choose from only need to ship for around $10.00

Already bought the Chinese Auction stuff for work and family parties (around $100 spent on these)

Will need to pick up some bottles of wine and maybe do some baking. I already have wine gift bags, so at this point Christmas should only cost me another $100 plus whatever I spend on the trip visiting boyfriend's family. As you can tell, I'm a planner !! Also house pmt and car payment are already paid for December so I'm breathing ok at the moment ! When I fill up my oil tank I might end up sobbing, but I try to prepare for these things.

$1500 is probably what the damage will be and quite a lot of that is stuff I will buy for me !

[Firefly]

$25 on Mom
$50 on Dad
$25 on Sis
$160 on Brother (he's 15 and of course has to have the latest electronic gadgets)
$70 on FIL
$50 on MIL
$30 on Aunt

Still waiting to figure out what to get hubby and he is still figuring out what to get me.

[PrincessPerky]

I forgot to mention two things,

1. most of that is already spent, thruought the year we look for stuff.
2. There is a additional budgeted cost of food, which is quite a bit, I love to bake and i do some for gifts and some just cause. (fudge anyone .)

[frugalfarmwife]

We just spent 175 to butcher a beef and about 1/4 of it will be given as Christmas presents, I also already have gift bags for it Add to that we're giving home made squirrel feeders and corn to all the families so we got off pretty cheap but they love the beef.

Total of 43.75 for 16 people.

Hubby and I aren't buying for each other, the farm is our long term present to each other.

KJ