I usually spend about $275-300 on Christmas gifts 🎁.

Since I believe Christmas is for the kids - I typically will spend more for their presents vs. any adults.

If you're having trouble keeping track there's a wonderful app called Gift List that keeps track. My most used App the last two months.

I set a budget this year because I have a bad habit of buying the big stuff early, then feeling like I’m not doing any Christmas shopping and buying more, and then becoming convinced I don’t have enough and doing a last minute panic blitz the week of Christmas. End result is a disgusting amount of gifts and I’ve noticed that the kids don’t even fully absorb like 1/3 of what they got because it becomes so overwhelming and just a mass of stuff. So I dialed it back this year and budgeted $1000 for two girls (16,12). I was a lot more intentional with what I bought because I really had to think about whether it was worth a chunk of their allotment or not. I thrifted / Depoped some things I think they’ll truly love and got the rest from other places but also had a personal rule of NO Amazon since I canceled prime in June and no longer shop there.

I have to say I am really pleased with what I got them by doing this and each gift feels special and intentional.

About $3500 mostly spent on my 3 dd's and 2 grandsons with a few gifts for extended family.

Anonymous wrote:

@$3k for us I Didn’t realize we spent this amount . I’ve been buying items since early Nov

23yo son -$300 on dressy sneakers, sweater - it’s sort of become a tradition that every year we get him a new top that he wears to dinner with family
20yo college daughter $1000 (yikes!) on college essentials - boots, sneakers, tote,jewelry, AirPods
DH - solo stove $700 (this isn’t really Xmas budget because DH would’ve bought this himself either way)
Me - $600 I bought myself (and will wrap) a stick vacuum and shoes and DH will prob get me something else from my list
My parents - $400 tickets to NYC broadway show & dinner
My MIL - $250 new iPad (just realizing we’ve bought her all 3 she’s had since 2012)

2 kids in family - $100 each

How does this go over with your kids? Our rule is to spend roughly the same on each child, especially with young adults who I think would notice a big discrepancy. Why not get DS other things?

I'm not that poster but fair means everyone gets what's right for them, not equal down to the penny. If the son is happy with what he got, then it shouldn't matter what the daughter got.

About $850 so far but will do more shopping this week.

@$3k for us I Didn’t realize we spent this amount . I’ve been buying items since early Nov

23yo son -$300 on dressy sneakers, sweater - it’s sort of become a tradition that every year we get him a new top that he wears to dinner with family
20yo college daughter $1000 (yikes!) on college essentials - boots, sneakers, tote,jewelry, AirPods
DH - solo stove $700 (this isn’t really Xmas budget because DH would’ve bought this himself either way)
Me - $600 I bought myself (and will wrap) a stick vacuum and shoes and DH will prob get me something else from my list
My parents - $400 tickets to NYC broadway show & dinner
My MIL - $250 new iPad (just realizing we’ve bought her all 3 she’s had since 2012)

2 kids in family - $100 each

How does this go over with your kids? Our rule is to spend roughly the same on each child, especially with young adults who I think would notice a big discrepancy. Why not get DS other things?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much did you/will you spend on holiday gifts?

$15-20k

Including travel?

Anonymous wrote:How much did you/will you spend on holiday gifts?

$15-20k

Anonymous wrote:@$3k for us I Didn’t realize we spent this amount . I’ve been buying items since early Nov

23yo son -$300 on dressy sneakers, sweater - it’s sort of become a tradition that every year we get him a new top that he wears to dinner with family
20yo college daughter $1000 (yikes!) on college essentials - boots, sneakers, tote,jewelry, AirPods
DH - solo stove $700 (this isn’t really Xmas budget because DH would’ve bought this himself either way)
Me - $600 I bought myself (and will wrap) a stick vacuum and shoes and DH will prob get me something else from my list
My parents - $400 tickets to NYC broadway show & dinner
My MIL - $250 new iPad (just realizing we’ve bought her all 3 she’s had since 2012)

2 kids in family - $100 each

Just so we're clear:
Jewelry is a college "essential"?
Your MIL went through 3 iPads since 2012?

About 2,000.

Probably 4k total for kids, stepkids, parents, SILS, BILS, nieces, nephews, friends.

About $400 per teen + stocking stuffers

Unsure DH - haven’t shopped yet

About $75 per parent of ours and $25 per niece/nephew

$12k for trip to Europe for two kids. I'm buying nothing else for the next 6 years but clothes.
Family will still buy them things they may want.

I have been shopping for myself like crazy, but that was because I have not shopped for basics for some years. I am now shopping to go to parties etc. Same for DH. He is buying to basically replenish his wardrobe. All of the stuff I have listed...I have already used.
- Boots - $250
- Earrings - $75
- Sweater - $40
- Charger - $40
- Coat - $115
- Lotions and hand-creams - $50

DH - $20 - moisturizer
DS - $200 cash gift
DD - $200 cash gift
Secret Santa - $100
Kids in the family - $300
Cleaner - $150
Trash pickup - $50
Pets - $50
---------------------------------------------------

I'll be buying more stuff for my kids after Christmas though.