How much are you planning to spend on Christmas this year?

[prolesunited]

Do you buy for a lot of people or just limit it?

I get off fairly easy because we draw names among my siblings and their spouses. And then parents and nieces and nephews. My grandparents are all gone and so are his but one. I used to by for my staff at work, but I don't have that anymore. I'm baking cookies to take to our respective offices.

He got a computer for his bonus/birthday/Christmas, and we're taking mine in to get it fixed (hopefully, if repairable). But, that's about it.

As for how much for each, nothing extravagant, just nice items -- all on sale, of course.

So, what are your spending and shopping habits?

[KitchenWitch]

1. About $400 for everyone.

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. I read a few days ago

that the average American spends $700.

I wanna know who these "average" people are. :shrug:

[KitchenWitch]

3. No shit

and can they send the $700 in cash to me!

[freestyle]

4. About $200. Baking cookies and gifts for a very few people.

I just don't have the money this year, and refuse to go into debt for gifts. My partner, parents and siblings will get gifts and cookies. Everyone else will get cookies, and they'll like them. I will get myself some new cookie sheets.

[dolo amber]

5. My "planning" and my "reality"

live in different universes. x(

[In_The_Wind]

6. $0.

Normally I spend around $100. to $200. on a very few people.

[Midlodemocrat]

7. Between my kids, nieces, nephews,

and my PF party, about $1500.


Edit to include the angel tree gifts.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

8. I will spend about five times the average

and I'm not rich..just nuts. I have two sisters, whom I buy something nice for (usually about $50-100) and I have four nieces and nephews. I usually spend about $50 for them. They ALL have husbands. So they get a gift, too. Then THEY all have kids (8 all together). I write books for them but I send the pages to Shutterfly and they bind them, so that isn't free by any means. That's the out of town folks. Plus the money it costs to send the gifts. I have one in-law still living and he usually gets good fruit or something exotic to eat from Harry and David's.

Then there is local. I have two kids, each with a spouse. (well, actually one is just engaged) I spend about $500 on each of them. I usually buy something electronic like an ipod or printer or something and then clothes. None of our family spend much during the year. Also, in FL we never get to wear heavy clothes very much so we give them to each other at Xmas, which makes it more fun. I have two grandchildren, so maybe $300 a piece or so on that. And then there is my husband. And me, because that's out of the same fund. (I save all year plus use a Christmas bonus)

Then there are the work presents. I have three close colleagues and we exchange gifts. Then there is the custodian, two teachers' aides, my boss, and my husband's two bosses That adds us, too.

We also host Christmas Eve dinner (my husband is European and the festivities are on the 24th) and also Christmas Day dinner as well. THAT costs a lot of money...roast beef, turkey, wine, etc.

Someday we will retire and this is going to have to be pared down a bit. But for right now, it gives me a lot of pleasure.

[seemunkee]

9. Guess I'm spending a bit beyond the average

That includes going a little overboard for my wife since her birthday was a bust. I didn't have time to get her a gift and due to other things we didn't even go out for a nice dinner. She always finds me great gifts, so she deserves something special.

[eyesroll]

10. Not a lot.

My family's small, and scattered throughout the country (and Jewish -- and Hanukkah generally isn't a big deal in my family). My parents want time, not stuff, so I take them out to dinner. My remaining grandparents (both of my dad's parents are living) and I don't buy for each other -- they usually send me cookies (my grandfather owned a bakery), and I send a card/letter, though.

My sister and I will trade gifts sometime, and they're usually in the <$20 range (little fun stuff -- I got her a cookbook of recipes collected from the authors' ex-boyfriends one year, for instance).

That leaves J (who I know is getting me RAM for my iBook -- he's asked for a scarf and I'll get him something personal too -- yes I haven't done the shopping yet) and his daughter (who will be getting something of the art variety from me)...

I'll also need a few hostess-type gifts for parties (usually wine), and, since I will be attending a very awkward brunch hosted by J's ex on Christmas, I'll bring something there as well. Probably a baked good of some sort.

[tigereye]

12. I would think that your baked goods would be excellent ER

all of the sudden I feel I should run into the kitchen and start baking.... :)

[madrchsod]

11. as little as possible

cause that is about as much money we have.... baking cookies? how comes you never brought any to the meet-ups?

[prolesunited]

14. Perhaps I will to the next one

I wouldn't say I'm an excellent baker, but I'm usually several steps above giving people food poisoning.

[tigereye]

13. since we started a family grab bag last year

not as much as we used to... probably under $500, although I do tend to go a bit overboard sometimes. I try to stay out of Marshalls and Filene's Basement for that reason. You see stuff and you start thinking that everyone you know needs a little something.

My husband already ordered what he wanted (he's really hard to buy for), and my kid is computer/Gamecube obsessed, so that's not too hard. I also bought him a bunch of books in the hope that he will disconnect himself from the Gamecube for a while. ;)I got my brother's name for the grab-bag and I don't know what he wants yet.

We usually donate to Habitat and the food bank, too, I think it is better to give money to those who need it than spend a lot for gifts people really don't need.

[LeftyMom]

15. I'm spending less than $200 on everybody (10 people on my list)

I'd rather spend a bit more, but that's already a big strain on my budget. Next year I'll plan better but I really didn't expect to have to do it all on my income alone.

[politicat]

16. About $100, all told.

The niece gets Megablox, the nephew gets a Leapfrog game, their parents get gift certificates to restaurants, and my mother gets a porcelain shoe for her shoe collection.

And they're only getting that much because they've been well behaved this year - had they been poorly behaved, the kids would have gotten their toys and that would be it.

I'm not christian so the winter holiday is more of a cultural tradition for me than a religious duty.