How much will you spend this Christmas?

[cardtrick]

i know for a fact people are hurting this holiday season and we should see the biggest decline in holiday spending maybe since 2005 or 2006. Obama totally lies about the unemployment rate and people are keeping money this holiday season preparing for the debacle that is to come in Obamacare.

Political posts are not welcomed on this forum.

Besides, I call BS on your statement. Unless you've polled a representative sample of the entire country, you can't claim to know that people are hurting the most since 2005 or 2006. You're obviously biased. Churchill's quote on democracy is so true - "The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter". The Bureau of Labor Statistics isn't controlled by the President.

[kimmroz]

i got $300 saved

[scfr]

$266 for gifts (shopping is done)
$37 for decor and music (a high spend year; most of that is for 2 photo ornaments of our beloved dog who passed early on in the year)
approx $20 for postage
$83 so far for charity (plus a fair amount of gas money for driving around), may do a bit more
Will probably buy some special food like a tray of sushi from the grocery store

Grand total will end up in the $425-450 range

[Rogerthat11]

I'm trying to keep it under $1000, buy myself a nice gift

[adviceseeker]

I have spent approximately $150 to $200 already on Christmas gifts and will be needing to spend maybe around $200 to $300 more (not only on gifts but also on food) and planning to be on budget as the New Year comes.

As for Christmas decor, I recycle them. Keep what I have and use it for the next Holidays!

[Dr.donor]

Around $500, I don't let it to exceed

[dawnwes]

under $1,000. I save $100 in an ING account per month for Christmas spending. I don't really need that much though.

[PMMM]

We budgeted about $1600 this year. Down from previous years for 2 married kids, their wives, children and my wife's mom. A total of 10 family members. In the next year or two we will go to drawing names from a hat in an attempt to reduce costs a lot. Too many people to buy for and it's just become too much.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Just tabbed up $624, gifts, wrapping & mail.

Beverages (inc wine), food, & snacks unaccounted but higher than usual as I am not up to much food prep this year.

Bought a few dollar store decorations & lights as doing an artsy "tree" together will be part of our entertainment-- $8 Will spend a bit more if we can find a certain kind of light weight garland....I had given away a lot of what we had in the summer.

[rigz]

looks like somewhere between 800-1200

[Reggie]

I'm shocked at these numbers. I spent a bit more than I usually do by about 800. I will spent $3500 total. I wanted to be closer to $2500 but I found out my SO bought me an expensive gift so I spent more on him than planned. I also don't really spend money on gifts except at Christmas time so I give nicer gifts I guess.

[neatdesign]

I spent $144 for gifts this year:

Mom - $36 scarf
Dad - $34 pedometer
Brother - $25 Amazon gift card (it's what he wanted!)
Sister-in-law - $10 for All You magazine subscription (I had a BOGO subscription offer for $20; I got the other one )
Nephew (12yo) - $15 iTunes gift card
Niece (9yo) - $12 necklace
Nephew (5yo) - $12 250-piece puzzle

Everything was from Amazon (free 2-day shipping with Prime) except for the iTunes gift card. I don't bother with gift wrapping -- what a waste of $20! Instead I just include "Do Not Open Until Christmas" in the address so they know there's a gift inside.

[scfr]

$266 for gifts (shopping is done)
$37 for decor and music (a high spend year; most of that is for 2 photo ornaments of our beloved dog who passed early on in the year)
approx $20 for postage
$83 so far for charity (plus a fair amount of gas money for driving around), may do a bit more
Will probably buy some special food like a tray of sushi from the grocery store

Grand total will end up in the $425-450 range

We were invited to a party and spent $8 for a gift. Glad I gave myself that $25 "buffer" as we are still within the $425-450 range. There's always something "unexpected" that pops up, isn't there?

[fruitbowlk]

Zero, I'm not shopping for Christmas.