Ask:
How much do you spend on each person? We only buy for the kids in our extended family. There are 3 kids in the family I have to buy for plus my 2 kids. I usually buy for my mother and maybe a box of choc. for my step-dad. I might get my dad and step-mom a small food gift of $10 or $15 dollars. I have 2 dd's and will probably spend around $100 a piece. I'm thinking of giving them $50 a piece to put in their savings and then buying them a few small things. I hate the toy overload after Christmas. They don't play with half of it and they get toys from all their extended family. I usually buy my dh a small gift just for the thought and a card. He doesn't need or want anything and neither do I. I think Christmas is mainly for the kids and to celebrate Jesus first and foremost.
Answer:
We have cut back- tons. We cut out the extended family exchange. We buy for our 3 kids- about $75-$100- a bit less for our 3 yr old dd and 4 yr old ds, but a bit more on the 12 yr old ds- probably closer to $100-110 for him. Then we give my parents and dh's parents gift cards for restaurants and shops- $50 for each parent. We get teacher's small gifts- only a couple bucks- this year I am thinking a Starbucks or Subway gift card- but now that ds is in middle school- I don't want to be buying for 7 teachers-kwim? I may do a bit more for my younger ds's preschool teacher as she is so wonderful with him. Dh and I really don't exchange gifts- but get things we need for the house. He surprises me though every year with something though. He always says not to get him anything- except house stuff- so I never know how to surprise him. But that is it- all for the total of around $500- maybe more if dh and I get each other things.
Does anybody tip their garbage or newspaper person? My garbage hauler send out envelopes that you can leave a tip taped to the can for the driver and I only get the Sunday paper- which doesn't even come to my driveway- but in the box on my mailbox at the end of our circle. Any thoughts?
Answer:
well we buy for my inlaws,sil and bil(both are single) so that is about $200.00 then we buy for my dh's dads side kids only so that is 6 kids 10 or less. this is the first year in a long time we are buying for my siblings children so there is 7 there i have managed to pick up stuff on clearance for all of them and it came to roughly 6 bucks a piece so they are all done plus we buy a gift cert for my dad and his wife around 25 for that then our 2 boys get about 100 a piece and our new dd will get a few needed items. dh and i don't buy each other gifts we would rather spend it on our kids. we will finish our shopping the last week of november dh gets his profit sharing check and that is what always pays for christmas and for us to have a nice dinner out(wich only happens once a year).
Answer:
we buy for 5 siblings out of 9 total we draw manes and that is a $50 gifl.... then there is 2 nephews and a neice and we will spend around $30 each on them. then parents. My patents never want anything and dh's dad we always get a good gift for since he does way to much for us year round. and dh mom and stepdad we get a little something then there is our dd and us but I like to keep the whole total to $500-600 range
Answer:
we have a lot of people that we "have to " buy a goft for but I dont want to so I usually make something. Over the years I have been able to knock one or two people off the list. I'd like to get it down to the kids and grandparents . I dont really know how much I spend becuase It all depend on what we buy that year. But I'd say about 500 to 1,000.
Answer:
We are down to kids 8 total, grandparents 5 total, and teachers/daycare provider (8). I'd say we try to keep in under $500. I don't really know the exact amount but that would be where I'd ball park it.
Answer:
I have a limt set of $500...That is 100 for each kid (2 plus a SS) my parents, in-laws, a great Uncle, A great Aunt, 2 cousins and a God son. I have trimmed our list CONSDERABLY in the past 2 years, this year I've cut back even more.
Answer:
I love to give gifts. I'm not sure why, but I know its definitely not a self gratification thing. I just like to find things that I think my loved ones will like. I also love the house decorated with little piles of prezzies on end tables etc.
That being said, there is a limit. On my side of the family I buy for Mom, Dad, Grandma, Nephew and this year our DS!!!! We also buy a "stocking stuffer" worth around 5-10 dollars for each person (8 in total) x 2 (I buy one and my DH buys one).
On my DH's side, his Mom and 6 neices/nephews.
Friends are usually my 3 closest friends and their kids. (9)
I have been keeping a spreadsheet for the last 5 years listing what I bought for each person, and how much I spend. This year I am guessing that the final total will be around $1200. I don't think this is bad when I end up with approx. 42 people to buy for!!! On average, although the funds are not distributed evenly, is $28.00 each.
One trick or tip: If you have a credit card that builds up points that can be spent in their store, save them until Christmas. I consider this "free money" and it helps considerably. Only do this though if you are dedicated to paying off your CC EVERY MONTH or it isn't worth it financially.
I also save all my Air Miles and then cash them in for gift cards. They can either be given as gifts, or you can buy several smaller gifts using the card.
Answer:
On my side of the family the adults pick a name from a hat, and then everyone buys for the 5 kiddos. And then I usually get the granparents a little something, and I have an aunt, uncle, and two cousins that live out of town, so we usually get them something too. So we buy for at least 12-16 on my side.
Dh's side is huge, so we usually just bake something for the adults, and then his brothers, and wives, and us all go in together to get something for the eacho one of the 6 kids. But between his two brothers and their wives we trade off each year. Like this year it's our turn to buy for his middle brother, and they buy for the older brother, and he buys for us. Then we all buy the kids something, and his mom and dad too. So I guess that's 15-18 on that side.
It get's pretty crazy! I'm just so thankful that we have an amazing family, and everyone is so understanding, and loving Yeah it's nice to get gifts, but that's not the real meaning anyway!
Answer:
Too much for my budget and liking! We spend about $100 on each of our 2 girls (usually 1 big present) and maybe $10 each on their stockings. For my hubby side we buy presents for our niece and nephews (only 3) and try to spend only $10-$15. For the adults on his side we draw names and the minimum is $25 ( I usually get away with it being under that by scoping out deals). For my family we spend about $20 each on my mom and stepdad (depending on the year if we have the extra money we may go in with my brother and get them a larger present). Every year I also make a stocking for my mom, it usually costs around $20 and my bro will chip in on that also. I usually don't exchange gifts with my brother for Christmas, we do birthdays (my birthday is 2 weeks before Christmas). If the money situation is good, I will buy for my one aunt and uncle and my grandparents, I try not to go crazy spending on them.
It does not seem like much but then we get to our 2 girls. The oldest will take a present to her teacher (the more I like the teacher the better the gift) and her best friend (usually something small that I picked up on clearance after Christmas). The youngest just started preschool and I will have her give something to her 2 teachers (something small- maybe a gift card to office max). They give a present to their grandparents and aunts and uncles (usually something small but still it adds up quickly!). This year however, we are doing something different. After Christmas, I picked up Christmas candy molds and glass ornaments and paint for the glass ornaments really cheap at Joann's. We are making candy for the men and soap for the women made from the candy mold and everyone is going to get an glass ball ornament. I already have the chocolate and soap so it only cost $4 for our families presents from the girls!!!
As for my hubby and I, I make him a stocking (usually about $25-$30) and buy him something small. I usually buy my present from him and make a small stocking for myself (usually $10- typical mother, put everyone else before yourself). I don't like making my own stocking and present- but hubby has no clues as to what to get me!