Average holiday spending $ ?

[Ima saver]

Since we eat out every night and have several waitresses, I have budget $100 for there christmas tip. I will put $20 with a card and give it to the 5 regulars along with a little box of candy. I always gave the postman liquor which he liked. I would like to give the new mail lady something, but all I can think of is food and she is over 300 pounds.
I usually spend about $1000 because my dh usually wants some big tools and they are costly. I give the grandchildren money so they can buy what they want.

[abowers]

I'm 23. I'm planning on spending ~$50/parent, no idea what to get my sister yet but probably in the $40 range; and my fiance and I haven't decided if we are getting eachother presents this year. Last year we didn't get eachother anything because we were preoccupied with finding gifts for both of our families, this year we are saving up for our wedding next summer. I'll probably spend about $20-25 on each of his parents, and then maybe some small things (<$10) for about 3 or so friends. Last year I sent maybe 10 cards, and they were all cards I had from previous years, so only $3.90 on postage. Last year we spent $30 on decorations, we're reusing them this year, plus spent another $5 for some new lights this year. My only other expense for the holidays will be the gas and the tolls to go to my parents house 6.5 hours away ($70-80).

[baking23]

Sometimes I swear I'm the only woman who asks for tools, but I love them, and i tend to be the one to fix things up.

We've done liquor for the postman too, I'm sure he enjoys that.

Could you get her a nice gift certificate somewhere?

[JoyJoy]

[quote=baking23]I like that you remember teh postcarrier,

My hubby worked for the P.O. for 37 years as a supervisor and postmaster. He said the postal carriers aren't supposed to take over $20.00 in cash for Christmas but who's looking and who's counting?

[baking23]

not me!

[mrvirgo]

My family, friends and I decided years ago to opt out of this bogus gift giving insanity. So I spend zero. Now that's a budget I can live with. It helps if there are no children involved as is my case.

[cicy33]

well, I must be in the minority but I sure don't really think so. We spend an average of $2000 per year on xmas. That is for 5 kids, his parents, his brother and wife and their 5 kids, his uncle and aunt and 2 kids and then each other. We also don't spend alot year round generally I save it for this time of the year. We spend an average of $200 per child (our own) so that alone is $1000. But again remember we dont' buy stuff all year long either. and most gifts now days is not $20. I think for the 200 we get about 6 things each. One child has requested a nintendo ds lite which is 159 with warranty so she is getting but two or three more things tops due to cost. I have always felt that this is not the time of year to get "frugal" but it is more the time of year to give. I am very careful all year long. I remember this time was so magical when i was young. The only time of the year that I actually got cool stuff. I do however try to get the best deal on the products that I buy.

[Snoopy2645]

Well the more kids you have of your own the more you have to spend really we have 3 kids so thier is no going around it. We also mainly only buy them stuff at xmas they get clothes socks bedding & pjs & some toys or other things they want. I do alot of freebies & clearance shopping all year though so thats how we save money. But I agree most things are so expensive its hard. You definetly dont find much for under 20 bucks. I feel super lucky in some of the things I found I got one a comforter for $5 at walmart they are now $40 & I got them tons of jammies for $3 a piece or less stuff like so I have been lucky that way!!!

[cicy33]

I dont' generally buy clothes for xmas, if I do it is usually a special pair of jammies. I did this year for their stockings buy the tooth tunes toothbrush. they are $10 each and I think that is a good compromise, they think it is cool, I get them to brush their teeth without struggle!

[BCHGRL]

WoW! I'm striving to keep it below a grand with the following budget

DH: 100
Me: 100
mom: 150
dad: 100
MIL: 150
FIL: 100
Nephew: 25
Nephew: 25
DH Sibling: 75
DH Sibling: 75
Pawpaw: 25
Grandma: 25
Aunt Kay: 30
Dad's aunts and uncles: 20 (will give additional $50 of regifted gift cards)
Gift for elderly (charity program at work): 50

[tgavin71]

Originally Posted by cicy33

We also don't spend alot year round generally I save it for this time of the year. But again remember we dont' buy stuff all year long either. .

Same here. Apart from Christmas and birthdays our kids do not get any presents from us. We find that if we are strong during the year and not give in to any " I wants" we can afford to give them a bigger. better present at Christmas or birthday without breaking the budget.

So far this year we have spent
$268 for a bike and helmet for son. He is 165cm tall so it is a men's bike. Yeah no more bike purchases for us. We got it from a bike shop that sells bikes fully assembled with free life time servicing. More expensive to start with but well worth it. His old bike has been passed onto to his sister and looks just as good as it did the day we bought it 3 years ago.

$229 ( I think) for 2 portable dvd players for the kids. That way they can each watch what they want whereever they want.

$80 for a luggage set for hubby and I

$30 for photos for Christmas presents

$100 gift card

I dare say we'd spend around $1500 on christmas including fuel, food etc.

[cicy33]

Our xmas between the family is more of a opportunity to get each other things we need, not junk. for example usually my dh and his brother and dad buy each other tools or things for the garage. They are all contractors so this is especially nice! my mil and I tend to let each other know what we are in need of so one year my mil got me an indoor grill that is so awesome and I use it all the time. She is getting a mop and vac this year cuz she is having trouble lugging what she has now up and down the stairs and this will stay upstairs. since it is only 50.00 I will probably get her something else for her kitchen. she needs new pans! I gave my sil new pans last year cuz hers were all scratched and icky. my dh even has the kids get me stuff I need for my kitchen or new disks from my camera (i have the old mavica that takes floppy) we don't generally buy nic nacs or junk like that. So as a result cost is a little higher! but the items are worth it and useful. I am planning on buying my 4 neices mp3 players for xmas. I have already got my two older ones mp4 players on ebay for $30 total. I am hoping to get a good deal on the mp3 players for the girls.

[neatdesign]

A couple of months ago we decided to "opt out" of gift giving this year. We told our families of our plan, and they were completely supportive of it.

Our only gift-giving exceptions are our 5-year-old nephew and 2-year-old niece. They're getting one gift each, which my husband bought at Barnes & Noble with his 30% employee discount. Total cost: $30.84.

The funny thing is, with all the recent Black Friday hype and everything, I feel so relieved that we made this decision -- not so much because of the money it's going to save us, but because of the hassle we'll be avoiding. It's just so nice to not have that stress hanging over our heads!

~ Jenney

[cicy33]

While I totally respect people who make the decision to "opt out" I guess I feel personally that I would miss so much of the fun of xmas. I realise that it is supposed to be a religious holiday but that aside, I really enjoy the fun of picking things out for each other. we do only get the nieces and nephews one each our own kids get a few and each other and everyone that gets one it is just fun to do it. Besides my mil has picked a couple of things that I truly love and would never have got for myself. for us it is the time of year we allow ourselves to purchase something a little over the top, like last year my dh got me a small freezer for my kitchen which I needed but we couldn't afford on normal daily bill time.

[kunoichi]

I guess I try to find a balance between opting out and the 1k budget. For me, it simply does not make sense to spend over a thousand dollars. Though I do have a fairly small list. My budget is $500 and so far I have stuck to it. I think one of the keys is narrowing down the list. I can easily leave the mailman a card, I don't have to get everyone something. I actually thing the old saying, "It's the thought that counts", holds true.