How much have you spent on Christmas gifts this year (so far)? - Page 2

[sunnysandiegan]

It would take me awhile to figure this out and I am out of time for that right now (off to get my DD from school). However, sibling gifts were free and my aunt's gift was free. One grandparent gift was a magnet from our vacation back in April. Two more grandparent gifts were photo books that were free, but shipping was $2-3 each. Another grandparent gift was $10. Pictures for all family were free since I volunteer on school picture day. All inexpensive, but meaningful items to the recipients. Nieces and nephews will be $60. The rest would take some research. It is all paid already and purchased over time. The hard part is I buy all DD's Christmas, birthday, and Easter gifts over a period of time and then divide them out.

[AllyRae]

Kids: $200ish each (kind of.  They all got a big gift, a couple little gifts, and some joint gifts to share among all of them.  But it averages out to about $200)

DH and I: We bought new cell phones right before Christmas that counted as part of our gifts, and that was about $200.  We also have a $100 limit to eachother--this is the first year in several years we've actually bought Christmas gifts to eachother due to finances...although last year we bought a new house, so that counts. ;)

Money for the kids to buy parents and siblings gifts: $150

Parents (mine and DH's): About $150 total

DH's sister: About $40

Sister's kids: About $30ish

Teachers/therapists: $150 total (3 therapists, 3 teachers, a gymnastics coach, 2 martial arts coaches (husband and wife team), Vietnamese tutor, and 2 PSR teachers)

My PSR and children's liturgy students: $50 total

Shipping on gifts to everyone we won't be seeing this Christmas: about $100

DH's aunt: $25

Giving tree & Toys for Tots: $50

So, far too much.  And all 3 of my kids have birthdays near Christmas, and DH/my anniversary is right after Christmas.  We start shopping in June to offset the cost

[Knittin' in the Shade]

on our own kids (4 boys - 11, 9, 7, 4) we've spend about $450 (biggest gift there is actually joint for eldest DS and I - a Kindle, woohoo!) and I'll spend another $50 total on stocking stuffer items. Dh and I aren't exchanging gifts this year, as we're got to do bathroom renovations starting right after Christmas (the tile is cracked and leaking into the wall behind and dripping from the ceiling below into the living room!)  DH joked last night that it's the most expensive Christmas present he's ever gotten me - it's going to be about 5K!

For family, we spend about $50 on niece and nephew, then $150 on MIL/FIL/BIL/SIL (that was an "alternative gift" - we donated the $ to World Vision) $150 on all the teacher gifts (again, alt gifts; this time to Compassion Corp's Barrels for Education campaign) and another $50 on sundries to make buckeyes, caramels and peppermint bark to give to neighbors, friends, and teachers. we also spent about $75 on Angel Tree gifts for kids in our church's local school district :)

[mommamanjari]

We decided to give gifts to the children only. I made a squirrel and a doll for my nieces and a mouse for my son. For my daughter I made a doll as well. I used some fabric & yarn that I already had and spent about $10 on more supplies. I'll have enough to make 4 more squirrels for other kids' birthdays next year. We also got some secondhand books for my son for about $5.

[BetsyS]

We end up spending about $800 on everything--from the tree to cards to extra food to presents.  Dh and I are giving each other shoes (a need for both of us), plus a stocking (surprises!  but mostly cheap, grocery store types).  My boys are getting stockings, 2 new baseball hats, a big truck, and water bottles from us.  And matching pajamas on Christmas Eve.

I grew up with lots and lots and lots of presents (my mom would wrap a 6 pack of socks in 6 packages), so it feels weird to have such a small Christmas.  Santa brought everything, and our parents didn't give us anything from them.  Dh grew up with much smaller holidays.  We've compromised, and now Santa brings 1 big present plus a stocking, and parents give the other presents.   Even though it's a nice holiday, my children are totally spoiled by my parents, and the smaller Christmas prevents being overwhelmed, there is still a moment on Christmas Eve where I feel like, "this is ALL there is?" 

And even with a small, downsized Christmas, it's still $800.

[Ravin]

$19 so far. That may be it, too, thanks to van repair bill.

[ancoda]

We budgeted $100 for the five of us. So around $20 each.   I also bought cheap yarn to knit hats for my parents and 3 sisters who we are spending Christmas with.  We are sending a card with pictures of our boys and some homemade crafts to the other grandparents.  So in total I am hoping to keep all of Christmas under $150.

[colsxjack]

I am not too sure yet.

$130 for 8 photo calendars for DD's grandparents, and adult aunts and uncles. $30 for jars of local honey to go with calandars. Money from honey also supports the food security org. I work for as well as a local bee keepers cooperative.

$110 for the 7 niece, nephews and aunts/uncles who are still children.

$25 for good friends kids.

Probably $50 for DD. Although we have to buy a car seat too.

We are buying a yogurt maker as a family gift instead of gifting to each other. DD is intolerant of milk and we want to make our own coconut yogurt.

We were also given $$ for birthday and christmas gifts. We are putting that together and buying a second hand ipod and getting rid of our stereo.

$100 bond for new local food cooperative start-up in DD's name.

So maybe $550 by time we are done. And another $30-$50 for holiday baking?

[matey]

It will be about $300. This covers my parents, dh's parents, my gram, niece, nephew, two gift exchange gifts for my family, dg's 2 brothers and their wifes, another thing for dh's mom due to some confusion, dh's aunt and uncle, and my two kids. dh and bought gifts for each other this yr. We spent under 15 each. Also, I started early and used some money I earned babysitting , otherwisw we wouldnt have afforded it.

[onlyzombiecat]

I have spent about $160 so far on dh and dd. I'm not sure the exact amount dh has spent but $100 was the max he was budgeted. After spending more on stocking stuffers and gifts for relatives our grand total should be about $400.

[rachieface]

This made me interested in totaling it all up for myself...it has all been budgeted in separate areas. 

DS: $60.  He's still little, so many of those things are essentials (i.e. onsies, thermometer) that he will probably need before his birthday.  The toys are mostly thrifted or made by me.

DH: $60ish.  Several of his gifts were made by me, and one of his "big" gifts ($18) I got brand new off of Craigslist.  I got a couple of other things from the thrift store.

Me: I am guessing DH is spending $70 or so.  We had a basic $50 budget for each of us, but we went over it a little bit and I think he went over it the most, because he has less time to shop around for deals and make stuff for me. 

Our relatives are Dad, Mom, MIL, FIL, SIL, my seven siblings (most of them still kids/no inlaws/nieces/nephews there), two cousins that we're very close to, and seven great-grandparents.  I am making almost all of their (small) gifts.  So the main cost is supplies.  Probably about $50, but that is an estimate as I had most of the supplies already.  Neighbor/postman gifts are homemade bread in cute little dollar store pans, so $5.  I made and sent a gift to a young single mom I know, which was probably another $5 in supplies.  Postage for several mailed gifts ...$5.  We have a fake tree and already had our ornaments, although I bought a wreath to decorate and some more supplies from the dollar store, so I'd guess maybe $5.  I don't think we've spend extra on groceries.  I'm not counting gas because the stores aren't far and we'd probably visit the relatives we're going to see soon anyway.  We haven't filled stockings yet, so that will probably be another $25.

So.....$285.  Wow.  I didn't realize it was that much!  We have a relatively frugal Christmas, although hubby and I both get decent "fun" allowances throughout the year to spend on ourselves so we don't feel the need for many presents. 

[JamieCatheryn]

My gifts for DS1, DS2, DH, and 28 friends and family members: $350. I knitted something for everyone with nice yarns (hats mostly), made wooden toys, bought toys and games and learning/art supplies for our kids, new storebought socks all around etc. DH will have spent something getting and making me stuff too, under $100 besides that I don't know.

[crunchy_mama]

We didn't take on any debt but we still spent more than we should have this year.

$300-3 kids-

$60-adopted kids from church-

$60-nieces and nephews-5 total-

$10-friends used books and homemade cds of old radio shows-3 families-

$30-$40-family name drawing-2 people-

Grand Total

$460

Dh and I don't exchange gifts. 

We have a artificial tree we were gifted and didn't purchase any new ornaments.  I did spend $2 on candles for the wreath.

I am well pleased with what we bought the kids.  dd1 is getting a wooden play kitchen I found at a flea market for $22(including metal pots and spoons)- it is really awesome.  ds main gift is a hand-me-down- so free.  dd2 is getting a fleece bunting and some wood blocks and cars- for a total of about $30.  The kids both got some clearanced halloween costumes for dressup- 4 used books a piece- ds is getting bongo drums I found for $15 at the flea market and dd a small xylophone.  Ds is also getting a drawing set and dd a wooden princess doll set.  About $100 of their gifts were games for everyone.  I did spread out what I bought for Christmas so it wasn't all at once and I am happy that the gifts that we bought were things that they will like and get lots of good use out of for many years.  I would like to keep our total at about $360 though.  Next year we are opting out of the name drawing.  I didn't have to get my friends any gifts, they didn't buy any for us but I did so as I wanted to- I love getting books for people.  I want to keep a look out this year at Goodwill so I can buy them all books for $1 or less. 

[cristina47454]

Dang. Just added another $200 to my $400 original total (stocking stuffers were $30 for three stockings, another $150 on amazon...decided to "splurge" and get my brother something bcs they are always so generous to us, plus a gift for dh, and a couple of other gifts for my dds.)  Plus dh had to buy gifts for people he works with.  So add another $100. And I have yet to do teacher gifts. How does it add up so quick??

[fierrbugg]

We were super frugal this year - my siblings set a $10 limit on everyone - so for dh and I that was $20 on everyone. 

4 siblings + 1 sister's fiance + 2 parents + mil = $160

3 nephews = approx $40 (shopped after Christmas sales last yr. (hard to beat 75% off) and scoured clearance racks all year for clothes - got cars for them 2/$1 around Halloween, etc.)

Dh and I spent about $50 each on each other.

Will probably end up spending around $50 on groceries (including stuff for my Banana Bread which my grandparents LOVE - so that will be their present this year - They have so much stuff/gift cards and really don't need any more - my grandmother literally pulled out a fist sized pile of gift cards around Thanksgiving because that's all they get anymore - so, hoping this will be a nice change of pace for them)

Grand Total = $350

[*MamaJen*]

I budgeted $25 each for my mom, dad and two sisters, and hit that almost exactly, so $100 on family presents. I spent $15 on my nephew.

DS -- About $100 on toys. I went a little overboard, I guess, but not too much. He's about to turn 3, and he's getting a doctor's kit, cash register, stick horse (basically new on CL for super cheap), digger truck, magnifying glass and stocking stuffers. I've been buying his gifts for the last five months, so it's been spaced out easily in the budget.

I'm also going to be able to contribute $20 to DS's teacher's christmas present (we're all pitching in cash, and she's an awesome teacher).

For DS's dad (me ex) and his grandmother, I'm making them both photo albums with pictures of him from the last year. I'll probably spend about $20 printing photos. I bought a $7 album for DS's grandma, and I'm using one that I had on hand for DS's dad.

I spent $9 to buy a book for the guy I'm seeing. :)

We didn't get a tree since we're going to my parent's house in another state for christmas (driving, they're paying for gas). I put up decorations I already had. Oh, and I spent $4 on fancy eggnog. I love eggnog.

So all together, $266. Not bad on a grad student budget.

I'm also feeling really guilty since I haven't done a holiday helper yet this year, and I've done one the last three years. I have two-day amazon shipping, so I may do that now.

ETA:  And $44 on Holiday Helper gifts for three kids brings it right up to $300 on the nose. That worked out well.

Edited by *MamaJen* - 12/21/10 at 6:03am

[Zach'smom]

We spent about $1000 total.  That includes all gifts, cards, extra food and baking supplies, donations, etc. 

That does not include the gift Dh and I got for each other.  A super special brand new furnace!!!  It's the gift that keeps on giving.

We stayed well within our budget and we do not go into debt for Christmas gifts.

[OkiMom]

A lot more.. and a lot less than normal..

For inlaws/family I made journals. About 1.00 in fabric/supplies and another 1.00 for the composition book times 12 so 24.00. Then I made rice snake ties for my BIL/FIL who breed reptiles, the ties were recycled (got for free) probably .50 in rice so another 1.00. 25.00 total. spent another 10.00 on fabric for a my SIL's baby-to-be.. so 35.00

DH: I told him to pick something because originally we weren't suppose to be buying anything for each other and then he bought me something.. ughs.. So he picked out a new football jersey hes been wanting 95.00 with shipping. I spent around 30ish on his stocking so 125.00 total

DH spent 120 on me for a present and another 7.00 for my stocking 127.00 total

Decorations: tree, tensil and a wreath holder 100ish (not sure, the tree and holder were on sale so Im not 100 percent sure of the total but it was under that).

Girls: around 80 around there. I made most of their gifts. Then another 40 or so on stockings. so 120 or around there.

Baby to be: around 20.00, DD wanted "her baby" to have his very own stocking..

Family gifts killed us though: DH spent around 60 on DVDs.. then we had to buy a new car thats a family Christmas present (our current car fits 4, our third child is coming in Feb so we needed a bigger car), so 1000.00 there 35.00+125+100+80+40+20+60+1000=1460 if you count the car (which I don't because it was a necessary purchase that had nothing to do with the holiday, DH does however so I threw it in there)