Christmas spending

[Jessie 2nd]

With all the stores set up for the holidays and Christmas music already playing, it's got me thinking about my Christmas shopping. I'm just curious, how much do you spend each year? Between, parents, family, friends, co-workers, etc... it gets so out of hand. My hubby and I got married this year so at least now we're buying presents together. Just curious how much everyone spends and who you buy for? I can't believe the holiday season is upon is already.

 

[RAD]

We have cut way back on Christmas spending. It was getting to where everyone was buying everyone else gift cards. It seemed rather ridiculous to exchange gift cards!
Now DH and I just buy for each other and our DD. DD is in college, so clothes, toiletries, a roll of stamps, ink for her printer, etc. are always appreciated. This year we plan to get her a digital camera too.
I give my mother a magazine gift subscription and make lots of things to put in her freezer for meals for her. She is 80 years old and hates to cook. She appreciates soup, baked goods, chili, etc. that she can just take out of the freezer and heat in the microwave.
My FIL is in the nursing home, so there is very little he needs/wants. He does enjoy going for a ride and getting some special treats, but that's about all we can do for him. We visit him every other weekend and always bring him some treat and usually take him for a ride. We live 65 miles from him, so we try to make it a special day when we go see him.
Since we have cut back on Christmas, we enjoy the holiday so much more. We do Secret Santa at work, which is fun. Other than that, I make cookie trays for some elderly people in our church and the Pastor and his family. We buy a poinsettia in memory of my MIL to give to her church. Those are the types of giving that make me feel in the spirit of Christmas.

 

[Rubyslippers]

We've always been skimpy with spending...

simply because we don't have it to spend. We live on my income alone. I buy for my DS first, then hubby if I have the $$ and then I might have to buy a work gift if we have a party (usually only $10, I get a gift certificate to Bath and Body Works). We don't usually buy for anyone else even though we both have big families. They understand because their money is tight, too. I do, however, make my own Christmas cards every year and send them to everybody, so most everyone feels thought of (like it or not!)

 

[linny22]

I just spent $120 on my mother. My co-workers I am looking to spend no more than $40 (about $10/person).

 

[Ilvtching]

Christmas money

I buy for my son, (usually my hubby, but not this year..he has spent his on new hunting "crap"), my parents, and my secret pal at work. I usually kick in some money for my grandparents gift (there are 11 grandchildren and we all pitch in some money). For grandma it is always the same gift...money to help fund the scholarship fund that was opened in her mother's name (for teachers) and for Grandpa we find some neat service type project and donate...last year we bought a pig in his name for a third world country family and he got all this information about it...he LOVED it...so we may do something like that again this year. If I could get my spending under control for my son I would get out of the holidays for under $350...but he is an only and tends to get a bit more!

Amy

 

[linda2671]

I usually end up spending about $1000.

That sounds like a lot, but my husband and I buy things for all of our nieces and nephews. There are about 10 of them. Then I buy for the other teachers on my team. There are 6 of them. I don't buy for all of my brothers and sisters, but I do buy for my twin sister (sometimes we accidentally buy each other the same gift). Then there's my husband's parents and my father and our own 3 children. I don't like to just get a token gift. If I'm going to spend money, I want it to be worthwhile.