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Considering we skipped Christmas last year for financial reasons I imagine we will spend more this year. We will not be spending as much as in years past.
We began cutting way back on spending at xmas time several years ago. Probably do not spend more than $200 max for everyone. Xmas is way too commercialized.
Do you plan to spend less than last year. I do and no Mattel or plastic china junk for the kids
I am not going to spend much. I don't think you need to buy expensive gifts. I will spend $10-20 per family member and that is it. Plenty of sweet little gifts you can get for that price.
We started going on a vacation somewhere warm in January or February and because of that, have slimmed down quite a bit on buying gifts. We do a family grab now and we each spend $100 on shopping for one person. It's worked out really well. Grandma and small kids get smaller gifts from everyone and the teens and adults participate in the grab bag. We'd rather take a nice trip than overload on tangibles.
I've never seen the point of spending lots of $$$$ on Christmas presents.
I have one son, d-i-l and grandbaby...they will probably have a total of $150.00 spent on them. Hubby and I probably $100.00 each. This includes stocking stuffers.....
Others I buy for never go over $20.00 each...most of the time much less if I find something they would like.
No TV, no cell phones, no stereos or game systems...
I love the challenge of finding really nice things for less money. I refuse to buy junk! I don't spend much on gifts but the stuff I buy is nice.
Just for example, for H's birthday, I found a great pair of Serengeti sunglasses with the most expensive lenses. I paid about $35 including shipping! Love a good deal and he will have those glasses for years.
My total holiday budget will be about $400. And that's less than last year.
I am I think my DH family just wants to do gifts for the kids, and i am great at bargin huntting for my family I know what they like and can by for them when i hit sells. I gave my husband an x box last year, ( so this year games for it and I am buying them used) as for my son he loves to dress up in costumes so i am hitting all the store for chepa halloween costumes.
We are going to try and keep things reasonable this year and not use the plastic to pay at all. We're trying so hard to get out of debt so hopefully we will be able to do so. I want to buy my daughter some things but I'm going to wait for good sales and especially wait until I have the money to pay for it right away. That's why hubby and I are working overtime!
It'll probably be the same for me this year. No changes financially BUT I will shop smarter. Christmas is celebrated at my parents home with siblings, their spouses and their kids. There usually is a mountain of presents, a flurry of wrapping paper and the family room, living room, and foyer is a mess when it's all over. Personally, I think it's wasteful but every year we say that we should adhere to the one gift per person rule but it never happens! I will usually start by purchasing the one really thoughtful gift and then in the days leading up to Christmas, I'll buy the last minute 'have-to-have' items. Last year I stuck to the plan and I was pretty happy with the way things turned out. When you're forced to make that statement with just one gift- it sort of makes you put more thought into it and it seems to mean a lot more in the end.
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