Just curious. My family always goes overboard. We each easily take $700-$800 worth of spoils each Christmas morning. I realize that this is a lot, but we also don't give presents for much else, after 18 you don't really get birthday presents, we don't do Mother's Day gifts or anything else. Christmas is the only time we do gifts. So when I came home with $600 worth of gifts for my mom and brother today, I didn't think much of it. My roommate, however was floored at how much money I spent. I admitted, that while it was a lot, it's the only presents we buy throughout the year. It's like Christmas, birthday, Mother's Day, etc., all wrapped up in one holiday. When I asked her what she got her mother she responded with 'a DVD.' As in one. Single. DVD. For her mother. To top things off it was out of the $5 bin at Walmart. I don't have a filter, which does get me into trouble sometimes, and I responded with, "So in other words, you're giving your mother a slap in the face for Christmas." I don't think I would have said that, but I happen to know she didn't give her mom anything for her birthday or Mother's Day either. And it's not like she doesn't have the money, she totally has the money. Anyway, that made her mad, I don't really blame her, I probably shouldn't have said it, and it probably would have made me mad too. This experience got me thinking. I'm certain my family probably spends above average on Christmas gifts, and I'm certain she spends far less than average, but I'm just curious as to how much everyone else out there does for Christmas.
Yeah, we're pretty much the opposite of that. None of us really have any money in our family. So the past few years even with my parents and siblings we just draw one name to shop for and I'd say I spend probably about $50. My parents get mad at me if I spend a lot on them because I'm supposed to be saving and they say they have everything they need already.
Growing up my sister and I were spoiled for birthdays and Christmas. My parents spent a decent amount on each grandparent and my Grams always spent tons on my parents. My mom and I were actually talking about this on black friday because the first ever Christmas she had with my Paternal grandparents she was FLOORED at the amount of gifts she got-- my mom grew up with 5 brothers and sisters so they never got much of anything. The thing my mom brought up is that my Grams passed away suddenly this summer and she was the "Holiday Glue" so-to-speak, in our family. We have my mom's mom left, but she has over a dozen grandkids and often gifts just the little ones on Christmas, which we expect. My mom was saying that since all but one grandparent was gone and my parents have been divorced for about 3 years now that I'd be the only one she'd be getting a Christmas gift from (my little sister isn't the giving type) and that she knew our family always over spent and over gave but that she still felt a little sad by it. I think she's just sad that we went from a large family and tradition to just her and I and sometimes we are graced by my sister and Brother-in-laws presence. This all happened within just a couple years. But to answer your question.... yes, it might be a little excessive... but I'm guilty of it either way. I LOVE to give gifts and always end up spending much more than I need to or should. If I have it, I will spend it. I usually get one bigger ticket item and several small items for my mom (because that's what she use to do on Christmas) and that's, undoubtably, what I'll do for my future kids. On a side note... one $5 dvd for Christmas? I understand if you don't have money... but I'd feel SO bad if that's all I got anyone on my list, (add some candy, maybe?) I got a couple $5-10 dvds for stocking stuffers for my mom. However...because I'm broke this year I'm doing about $125 on my mom and I got my brother-in-law and sister a couple little things and then I'm paying for Six Flags season tickets for them for a year... (it's a monthly payment so it doesn't hurt.) EDIT: I just realized I probably sound REALLY bratty and spoiled... I really am grateful and never expect. I've always preferred to give.
It's just my parents, my BF, & I. We give each other presents on other holidays/special days too though (b-days, Mother's, Father's, etc.) I don't think several hundred is going overboard if that's the only time of each year you give gifts. Of course my parents & BF never expect anything, but it's nice to have them unwrap something! The best gift I've gotten my parents so far is a TV. I think if was about $400. I got my mom a leather bag over $300 once. The best I've gotten my BF is just a group of many things he loves totaling $200-300. I seem to generally be in the $100-200 range for them for Christmas. This year, it's a medley of various items for all of them totaling a good amount.
I probably spend $15-20 on average per person that I get gifts for...slightly less if distant, more if a close friend, wife, or immediate family. With the four branches of our family (each of our parents are divorced), the socioeconomic status varies wildly, so I try to focus more on the thoughtful gift or experience rather than worrying about the cost. Similarly, I avoid judging anyone based on the retail value of their gifts. Honestly, this is often my least favorite time of year, as the pressure of doing gifts drives me nuts...I'd much prefer to give thoughtful gifts throughout the year for thoughtful reasons rather than because it is the social convention. That, and this has always been a busy time of the year as an adult - working retail and subbing and writing competition tests that most of the work has to get done over the next couple months.
I get together with family and eat. That's pretty much it. No presents. No stress. Just the wonderful experience of enjoying the holiday season with others since we see each other so rarely.
I spend anywhere from $200 to $500 on my husband depending on what he needs/wants ... it is usually one big item like rolling tool chest, outdoor grill, gun, or a watch. He does the same for me. Then, we spend about $50 on the dogs. I buy my mom something ranging from $20 to $50, usually something for her kitchen or home decor. I buy my dad, step dad, and mother-in-law fancy candy from a local chocolateer (about $40 for each). My husband buys something for his father. I adopt a student in need and usually spend $200 on him/her. Then, my husband and I do small gift cards for our custodians and our mail carrier.
My dad does this with a family - I remember going one year with him to take them their presents and it was such a great moment
Every year is different for us. We like to buy practical, useful things for our sons and wives. The grandchildren get a couple of toys they ask for and some useful things like pajamas/long johns. It really doesn't matter what amount of money is spent on our loved ones. Everyone is different and should give according to their circumstances. Our family loves to give homemade things and they are the best things ever.
I spend a lot on my nephew since he is the only child in the family but usually not more than $80-$100. I usually get my mom what she asks for. Sometimes it's $50 sometimes more. I don't want to get her some random junk so I always ask what she wants/needs. Not sure what I'm spending on my husband yet since he keeps changing his "wish list".
I spend $200-$300 on my parents and the same amount on BF. Animals we've spent about $50. Friends I stay around $15. That's all I buy for. My parents spend a lot on me. I'm always surprised when everything fits in the car to go home :lol:
I usually spend around $1500 for the whole extended family. My children and husband receive the bulk of that money. Most of that money is spent on cheaper items, but TONS of them. I love to sit and watch people open presents on Christmas, hence the large number of cheaper gifts!
My mom and I usually do something small or stocking stuffers. That's it. No extended family. No friend exchanges. Nothing from BF. I like it that way.
I have bought my daughter some Uggs shoes, Sperrys, House shoes, jeans, socks, some little items. I paid half of my son's new bow, he get a sound bar for his tv, a chrome, a tv mount. I will do a stocking that will have a few gift cards and some bath products for them. I got hubby a chrome, too. I ordered him spices from his favorite bbq restaurant in Memphis. I still have shopping for him. My mom got a locket and warm fuzzy socks and house shoes. My sister a scentsy warmer, Betty boop socks 3/4 pairs, a mixer blade for her Kitchen Aid. I bought my brother in law a shop clock. My aunt and uncle come to my house for Christmas so my aunt gets a scentsy and I still need a gift for uncle...any ideas?
I have a small family. I buy gifts for my parents, sister, brother, and nephew. I think I spend the biggest amount of $$$ on my nephew, though. I adore him. BF and I are buying each other new phones.
Unfortunately, I spend an awful lot. I have two kids and nieces and nephews. My BILs and SILs and I all buy for each other's kids so it adds up quite a bit. I also usually buy some luxuries for my hubby, but I haven't bought anything for him yet. I need to come up with some ideas quickly. Then, for school, I chip in with other teachers and we get gifts for the principal, secretaries, and custodians. If it were up to me, I would only buy for my principal as I see no need to buy for the custodians and secretaries at all, but I don't want to be seen as the school scrooge. We all have this secret santa thing in our school where we each spend about $20 for a child in need, so I do that as well.
I am the opposite, we give gifts to our principal for her birthday and boss day. I think at Christmas we should only give to secretaries and janitors. They work so hard and make so little.
I never buy for the administrators. A group of us have gone together to buy restaurant gift cards for our secretaries and I'll take in a big tray of cookies for the caretakers. On the home front, I usually spend between $100 and $150 on a joint gift for my sister and brother-in-law, about $75 for my mom, and several hundred each on my kids. Not sure what my husband and I are doing this year--last year we bought a TV instead of exchanging gifts.
Yeah...In my school, my principal does a lot for us. A lot - including personally funding at least one staff luncheon a year. Secretaries and custodians do their jobs well (mostly), but are definitely not underpaid. They make around what I make. Some make more, and none have to spend hundreds each year on their classrooms. At least that's the case in my district.
Usually we spend about $1000 total on family members/ friends and then $200-300 on each other. I lost my job in September so we are one income. We saved up enough to send each person something small ($20-30) A little more on our nephew as things were tight last month and we couldn't get him a bday gift. So we managed to pull together a little extra and combine a birthday/christmas gift for him. I hope I never have to do that again, I hate combined gifts. But he just turned 1 so I'm sure he won't even notice.
I don't like to buy people stuff they don't need and won't use. I don't like to receive those things either. So, I have a hard time with gift exchanges. My husband and I often just do stocking stuffers, but this year I got him a TV. We spend the most on our kids. We always get gifts for our nieces and nephews. Some years we get gifts for our parents and siblings, sometimes we don't. Both of our parents are divorced so it can add up to a lot.
SO and I set a small budget for ourselves for Christmas. This year, we aren't allowed to spend more than $50 on gifts for each other. That's about what we'll spend on my parents, his mom, my sister, BIL and nieces as well. We send our grandmothers flowers for Christmas. This will be our son's first Christmas. He'll be less than 2 months old, so we aren't going overboard with him at all. He's getting one gift from Santa and that's only because my 4 year old niece will be here and she might find it weird that Santa didn't get her cousin anything. Other than that, he might get some clothes from us seeing as he's got everything else that he needs. Our projected budget this year for everything is about $600.
