How much do you and DH spend on each other for gift(s)? - Page 2

[1growingsprout]

DH and I are only doing xmas for the kids, Valentines day is OUR holiday :

[Sailor]

We don't spend any money.

We use what we have in the house, and make something for one another.

I'm making him a lamp this year (ok, it really is cooler than it sounds, lol). Meanwhile, chances are very high that he will paint me something (he's an artist).

To be honest, because of this tradition we've started of making things for one another ... I'd be disappointed in getting a purchased gift! I just think he's so talented, as an artist, that I always want more and more of his things.

[akwifeandmomma]

We had a limit of $150/ea for this year. We decided to pool resources and bought a camcorder for just a bit more.

[4evermom]

We don't agree on a set amount. I encourage him to spend as little as possible or to not get me anything so I have more money to go shopping. That's come about because of his tendency to buy something that expresses and symbolizes his love for me. Sweet, but I want something useful, lol.

This year, I've spent about $70 on him but half of that is things he really needs that we would have spent money on anyway. The gift part is that I did all the price comparison, picking out, and running around to find nice versions of the needed items at good prices.

Last year, he gave me a book trilogy at about $20 which I enjoyed. One year, he picked up a bunch of crochet notions and a pattern book. That was sweet and useful.

[sunnmama]

This year I am spending $80 on dh, but I usually don't spend near that much. He is getting a coat and boxer shorts, both of which are needed.

He probably spends over $100 on me each year, but he is more of a gift-giver than me (it is a major way he shows his love--he always finds the perfect gifts!)

I'd be happy if we didn't do gifts for each other at all, though. It is more important to dh (giving gifts to me, that is).

[Llyra]

DH and I don't gift each other anything that costs money. We give each other a handmade/found/scrounged gift. Last year, I built a frame from scrap wood and finished it nicely and framed him one of DD's paintings, and he made us all dream catchers. This year I knit him a pair of socks from scrap yarn, and it remains to be seen what he'll do for me. We don't do any gifts at all other than homemade in either of our families, except for the kids.

[Equuskia]

We don't buy anything, we exchange....favors :

[Logan's Mom]

We don't really have a rule. The xmas before DS was born, we got a joint gift - a digital camera. Come to think of it, I think I paid for that!!!

Our DS' first Christmas we went back home to CA - so I think that was what we called Christmas.

Last year I got him new speakers for his car (pretty cheap as I had a friend order them and he put them in for free.) I think I got him some socks and undies. I'm sure I got him a few other things but I really don't remember. I put a few things in his stocking, no big deal. I did really want to get a camcorder as a joint gift again. That didn't happen. Quite honestly, I don't remember what he got me besides the socks I asked for...

This year, I said we should buy each other gifts in January after I find out if I still have a job. I work for one of the big 3 and we are downsizing. I am the primary bread winner, so its going to rock our world if I don't have a job. If I survive, we are again talking camcorder (ok, I am) he wants a home theater system and I'm talking maybe a Bose docking station for my iPod that I just got for FREE!

Next year (again, if we are able to keep our jobs) we will be going to CA as our DS has only seen some relatives (aunts, cousins, grandparents, etc.)once so far. Its a very costly trip purchasing 3 tickets and renting a car for a week. We will *have* to take our DS to some of the local attractions (I'm sure Disney will be in order) but I'm hoping we can get grandparents to pay for that.

[joyluc]

This year I suggested that we not buy each other presents so we could buy a piece of furniture together. But then I bought him a GPS on Black Friday because it is so perfect for him and I am totally psyched to give it to him. So now I have reneged on my idea and he is feeling the pressure to get me something - poor guy is a stressed out last minute shopper.

Meanwhile I am spending WAY more than I have ever have on DS - more than $300 so he is having the biggest Christmas ever. DS knows what he is getting and he is so excited he is doing the 'present dance' like on the commercial

[AllyRae]

It depends on the year. This year, we had to get a new digital camera, so we picked that as our joint gift ($150 Black Friday sale), plus we are doing $50 on eachother for individual gifts.

[delicious]

i put greater than $300 cause he got me a kitchen-aid mixer and a couple other things that i don't know what they are yet! and i got him some art and am having it framed and that will end up totaling over $300, i think. yikes!

[SAHDS]

Easily over $300 but only because we use Christmas to get bigger things. Like, this year our new camera was $400 plus I've already spent another $200 on other gifts/stocking stuffers and I know he'll do the same. One year, he put a new wedding set in my stocking (total surprise) and that was definitely more than $300. One year we did camping gear and that was probably $500 (ish). Sometimes it's furniture, whatever.

[Poddi]

Usually it's about $100 cdn. But this year I already spent more than $250 for him. I don't know what he got for me, though. He's not a great shopper so sometimes I just get gift certificates from him.

[BetsyS]

We set an amount before the season. It varies year to year. This year, it's $20 for a stocking and $60 for presents.

The stocking limit is because, well, dh stinks at stockings. LOL. My dad always did the best stockings, nad I love that part of Christmas, so I've had to do some major coaching for dh. I usually give him a list of ideas to choose from, with the $20 limit, so I don't end up with a $700 stocking or something. It's not perfect, but it's a whole lot better than the no stocking of our first year of marriage.

[GooeyRN]

Nothing this year as we are poOR WITH ME NOT WORKING. (sorry caps squirmy baby)

[scrapadoozer]

$100 each plus a little extra for stocking stuffers. I am sincerely hoping DH sticks to the limit as things are mighty tight this year.

[absinthe]

I normally spend about $100-150 on dh. This year I am spending a lot more though. This year I am sending his vintage amplifier to Belgium to be repaired by the only guy in the world who does it. Dh works soo hard for us, and he has been waiting for this for years. It always gets bumped for something more important and he never complains. Well this year I'm just doing it!

I also bought him a much needed new fleece jacket, and a much desired new camp stove. I can't stand for him to have nothing under the tree.

[Chicky2]

I voted >$300. I give him cash to spend so I don't know where/how much he bought me (it freaks him out when I call him and ask him how his burger/wings,etc are because I can tell where he's been when I log into my bank acct, lol). I spend about that on him. We try to do practical gifts mostly (last year he got me a digi camera and a new printer). I will buy him a chainsaw (so he can cut our firewood next year!)and a gift card to get the things he needs to run more electricity and water to our livestock area. I told him I want him to buy fencing for me, lol, but he probably won't 'cause then he will be expected to put it up.

We spend alot at Christmas because we use it as an excuse to buy all the kids/parents clothing for the year.

[ASusan]

Originally Posted by BetsyS

We set an amount before the season. It varies year to year. This year, it's $20 for a stocking and $60 for presents.

The stocking limit is because, well, dh stinks at stockings. LOL. My dad always did the best stockings, nad I love that part of Christmas, so I've had to do some major coaching for dh. I usually give him a list of ideas to choose from, with the $20 limit, so I don't end up with a $700 stocking or something. It's not perfect, but it's a whole lot better than the no stocking of our first year of marriage.

This is what I was looking for - who actually sets a limit in advance? - rather than working on assumptions.

And I get you about poor stockings, although DH did pretty well our first year. I hung mine - and he knew it was a family tradition. He filled it with card games and other things primarily from the toy aisles at the local grocery and big box store. I think the tradition will change to "only children get stockings,"

[kirstenb]

Hmmm... it really just depends on the year. I would say generally $200-$300. Sometimes we won't get each other presents but will buy something big for the house. I'm hoping DH stays closer to $200 this year but he's so busy with work he might not have time to buy any presents (which is no big deal to me).