How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

With the way the economy is and my DH's job being directly effected by it, we're trying very hard to cut back on how much we spend but with the number of people we have to buy for, I just don't see how!

We buy for 30, yes, I said 30 people!!! This is ALL immediate family so it's not even like it's anyone we can cut from the list.

I don't know what we're going to do this year.

Does anyone else out there buy gifts for as many (or more) people?

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

Last year we decided Christmas was just for the kids (we don't have any ourselves so the only gifts we get is from each other and our parents).

Our list is only kids, our parents, and each other.

We have 23 people on our list this year, plus 4 doggies (which we usually just buy some treats for, but I always like to get something for).

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

14 adult couples ( one gift each )
3 single older women
DH
8 children
10 dogs
1 coworker for Secret Santa

37 gifts total

plus I usually buy for three children off of the tree at Church.

40 gifts total!


Just wanted to add that besides one couple and my coworker - they are all family ( parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings )

Message edited 11/18/2008 3:40:29 PM.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

Wow, 30!!!

We've narrowed our gift list to about 10 people, down from 18 two years ago (no more buying for cousins & extended family - it was getting excessive).

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

omg 30

this year in our family .. whoever has kids.. thats who is getting a gift.. not the adults..
its a way for us to cut back.. its way too much!!

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

I have 6 siblings (+ spouses) and DH has 4 siblings (+spouses), then there are 11 grandchildren (not including my step-son), then our parents.... it just keeps adding up.

This year we decided that with the size of our families it is just too much, we told everyone that we will only be buying gifts for the kids and I am making gifts for all of the adults; everyone was really into this idea and from now the family 'tradition' will be to make gifts for each other and buy gifts for the kids.

Christmas isn't about presents and certainly isn't about going into debt, I really like how we have decided to change how we celebrate it

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

Probably around 18 people.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

Message edited 1/17/2012 1:03:30 PM.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

We Buy for:
My:
parents
sister and brother in law
niece
my brother

His:
Parents
brother and sister in law
nephew
brother
sister

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

We have 16 kids in total that we buy for.

Four Secret Santa gifts w/ family

Our Parents (4)
Grandmother (1)
About 10 from DHs work

So, we are at around the 30 mark also.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

Hmmmmm... 14 and then each other.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

Gifts:
Each other
My parents
DH's parents
My brother
DH's brother
DH's sister
Ali (our dog)

People who get cookie gifts:
My grandma
DH's grandma
5 families on my side
However many families we will see on DH's side (as in aunts & uncles & cousins, but one tin per household)
Our apartment manager (sometimes he dog sits for us, he's our buddy)

None of our siblings are married or have kids so that makes it a lot easier for us, although I think I might get something smaller for BIL's girlfriend this year--they moved in together this year and she's been around for a bit.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

My parents
His parents
BIl, wife, 2 kids
SIL, hubby, 1 kid
Sis
Sis
Grandma
Each other
2 girlfriends

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

Each other
Both sets of parents
My brother
My sister
DH's brother
My grandma

We only buy for immediate family and we have no nieces or nephews or anyone else to spend on.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

I made our gifts this year. It cost $30 per gift and couples only are receiving it. There are 12 couples between me and DH.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

Each other
my mom n dad
2 bro's
goddaughter
grandma
people at work...but last year after xmas i went to yankee candle and they had cute candle ornaments 1/2 off so i picked up enough...
..im lucky ..we dont buy for a lot of people....

dh's fam is in va and one year we got them baskets but to b honest i dont know if we are doin anythin for them this year...
we are saving for a house.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

My parents (sometimes a mutual gift)
DH's father
My sister
My BIL
3 SILs
10 kids (nieces and nephews)
DH
2 children from NY Cares winter wishes

21 gifts

then for work i buy for 32 people!
Some as friends and some as their supervisor
SO......

53!!

Message edited 11/18/2008 7:56:03 PM.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

I buy for about 15 people. We buy for my parents and sister and do Kris Kringle with the extended family on my side and only buy for parents and 4 children on Fh's side.
I'm a teacher and buy something small for the 2 or 3 class moms and my principal.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

Last year, my family decided not to give each other gifts (the adults, not the children). DH and I gave each other gifts, but I didn't buy anything for my immediate family. Two of my friends were laid off also, so I didn't exchange gifts with most of my friends either. The only people we had to buy for were DHs family. So that made 8 people total (not including tips for the postal carrier, etc.)

It was soooo much easier, and I honestly enjoyed the holiday season much more, not running around to stores, etc. So did my family, in fact we're doing the same again. No one missed it. You could also do a Secret Santa thing with your family if not giving gifts isn't an option.

Message edited 11/18/2008 7:47:34 PM.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

15 people, and thats cutting back since we dont see one side of dh's family......

use to be 21 people

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

each other-2
kids -including ours and 2 charity ones 10
other family members 7-10

about 25 i think....plus I make gits for others in DH's family

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

13 and if we go to dh's cousins xmas party then we have to get 5 more presents.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

OVER 100!!!!!!!!

We exchange with DH's entire family- aunts uncles cousins and their children as well.

On my side we exchange with my mothers entire side as well
AND I have a step family and I purchase for the kids only( 11), plus stepmom and step grandma too.

its nuts, always spend over 2k every christmas

oh and the 2k is split so its really around 4k! my brother and I or DH and I split the costs. we are very generous with our parents and grandparents.

Message edited 11/19/2008 10:23:21 AM.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

11, plus each other.

FIL
MIL
Mom
Dad
Brother
2 teen cousins
2 coworkers
2 kids of friends

So far we only have an idea for DH's parents, and maybe one of my co-workers.

I have DH's birthday in December too.

It used to be tons, because we'd exchange with friends & aunts & uncles & adult cousins too.

Message edited 11/19/2008 10:30:03 AM.

Re: How many people do you buy holiday gifts for?

we are just doing kids, my parents, both our grandparents, i do a grab bag with my girlfriends and we go out to dinner, our kitties and dh and I will get something small for each other and buy a new tv for our bed room.. so luckly i dont have to do much shopping!!