what's your Christmas budget?

This question is really only intended to 'average' households. If you're on the considerably wealthy end, or if you're having a lot of financial difficulties then disregard. This is more for the people who fall in the middle. Those of us who don't have a ton of extra money just lying around to spend on fun, extravagant things. But also do have enough that we can shop more than usual this time of year without it putting us into bankruptcy. lol.

How much do you usually budget for each child? I've always tried to limit the amount I've spent on DD and just basically get her what I feel like she'd really love and enjoy. I don't want Christmas to be all about the gifts, but rather the time TOGETHER so even though I do feel like I can bless her with a decent amount of stuff, I try to focus more on what the holiday actually is (Jesus' birth, family, etc).

That said, I don't usually tell DH what I spend (lol), but this year he asked since I'm beginning and finishing all shopping this month. (With DS due early Dec, I know this is my only real time to do it). I feel like I'm keeping it VERY reasonable, but he seems to think it's too much. So I'm going to set up a poll so you can keep it private if you'd prefer and ask if you could tell me what you usually spend on each child. I'd really like to know what other average households think is reasonable this time of year.

what's your Christmas budget?

I think $100 to $300 per child is a pretty wide choice. I mean there's a huge difference if a family with 3 kids spends $300 or $900 total. That said, I spend about $150 per kid. I am an only child and they get some big ticket gifts from my side of the family, and they're young enough (3 & 5) that they still don't really know that much about cost. As they get older I'll probably spend more but get less items.

what's your Christmas budget?

My poor son, he shares my birthday... 11/7. When your birthday falls so closely behind Christmas, you usually get big gifts for the holiday and smaller for birthday. In general, my family typically would do $50-100 for the birthday then around $200-300 for Christmas. That's probably how we will work things as we go along, at least, that's how I envision things going.

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

Agree about $100-300 being a huge range.
We also spend about $150 per kid.
We do a big present from Santa (train table, playhouse, kitchen) for the both of them together. Then smaller presents (dolls, action figures) for each. We have 2 sets of grandparents so they get more stuff that way.
They are young... But We try to really limit our "stuff"... Even if we could afford more.

what's your Christmas budget?

Since DS is still young, we get him 1-2 toys so definitely under $100. As he gets older and he "wants" things, we'll probably keep it between $140-200. I get nervous for when he wants big things like gaming systems, I-pads, etc.

what's your Christmas budget?

No budget. We buy what we can afford at the time and also depends on what DS wants.

what's your Christmas budget?

About $100-$150 per kid, but they're both under 4.5 so don't really want anything extravagant. We're still at the point where there's a lot under the tree for not too much money.

what's your Christmas budget?

I'm really trying to keep it at $100, maybe $150, this year. I have one kid.

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

What budget? Santa brings all the gifts.

what's your Christmas budget?

For my 3yo I aim for 100 and end up closer to 150. My has her first birthday next month and needs nothing as it is so I'll just get her a few little things.

what's your Christmas budget?

Dd will be 17 months at Christmas this year and I'll probably spend around 150? As she gets older I'm sure it will be more, but dh and I don't buy her any toys unless it's a holiday-so everything kind of gets saved up for Christmas and her birthday

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

I honestly don't really budget for my kids, I try not to go too crazy but I don't have a set amount in my mind each year for them. I would say that on average I probably spend around $300-400 for each of them but I also make sure to shop sales, use coupons, etc so I get a good deal and stretch my dollar.

This past January I began putting away money every month for my Xmas shopping, something I never did before. It feels really nice going into the holiday season with a good chunk of money set aside for my holiday shopping. Also, although I don't really budget for my kids I do keep a strict budget for everyone else I have to buy for............nieces, nephews, cousins, parents, etc.

ETA - I feel like I spent less when they were younger but especially now with my DD who is 7, a lot of what she likes and wants costs more than the toddler toys for my DS.

Message edited 10/5/2015 8:35:56 AM.

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

Posted by Lara&Aidansmommy

What budget? Santa brings all the gifts.

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

I don't have one.
I just buy until i am done.

what's your Christmas budget?

We try to budget but it just never works out because I just keep buying. However, this year I have $400-450 total to spend for 3 kids. The past couple of years I spent about 500 total on the kids and I have learned how to stretch a dollar around Christmas and get all the best deals I can. My kids each get 1 big gift and then a bunch of smaller things. As they get older and want more expensive things I have no idea how we'll work it.

what's your Christmas budget?

$100

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

About 150 per kid, but since mine are getting older, and they want more expensive gifts, I give one more pricy gift and a few less expensive gifts.

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

We try to budget $300 per child, this year it's 3 kids, and next we will have 4 kids. I feel like the majority of things cost about $50 at least, so it really adds up fast. The only hard part is that we have 2 December babies, and #4 has a feb due date, so it's just a lot all at once lol.

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

My budget is based on who I have to buy gifts for: parents, siblings, boyfriend. That's about it. And that's usually $800-$1,000 for everyone. Two parents, two siblings, a nephew, and a boyfriend plus the boyfriend's two kids. Oh shoot I also have my sister's fiance this year! LOL! But yeah that's it...

For my son, he gets so many gifts from his father's side, from my side - relatives and such that I usually don't get him much in terms of physical gifts. It's just SO much. Maybe part of it has to do with the fact that he's only two years old.

But, last year, I bought him a pretty stocking with his name on it and put some little musical toys in it because he loves those. And I gave him a nice winter coat. For his birthday, I bought him a custom growth chart last year, just to have something special. I do, usually, one special and meaningful gift or a useful one (IE the coat, lol) and leave the toys and such to family because he ends up getting so much from them. My parents even told me this year - DON'T buy him Elmo, DON'T buy him... whatever because they want things to buy him. Otherwise, they feel like all the good stuff he will love is already taken

This year, I'll probably get him one special toy like maybe a Radio Flyer for Spring. But that's it. Oh God, I sound like Scrooge

what's your Christmas budget?

don't have a strict budget but it usually works out to be about 200/kid - it will be more this year as we are getting mikayla a laptop

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

my kids will be 19 months and almost 3yo this holiday season and I plan on spending about $100 each child (if I can get away with $150 combined that would be ideal). When they are older and can "ask" for certain things, I will spend more but for now, save while i can

what's your Christmas budget?

around $150.00

what's your Christmas budget?

I don't really set a budget. we pick out one big gift for each (which I shop around and get the best deal I can) and then a few smaller gifts. But I would say it fits into the $100-$300 range. they are both under 5, so we can get away with that range for now. for me, it's that one time of year to splurge (if we can) and get that one big gift we know they will love.

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

I only plan on spending $100-150 on DS this year. He is still young and since he is the only child/baby in the family right now everyone loves to buy him gifts.

Re: what's your Christmas budget?

Thanks for your responses. That helps.

I do mostly online shopping, so beforehand I set up a 'wishlist' for DD (who is 4yrs old) and then continue to go through it until I finally place any orders (deleting stuff & adding others to make sure I'm at a responsible price). Right now I'm down to my final list and it comes out to $300, but that's only because I'm getting her a doll house and that with all of the accessories (to make it worth playing with) are pricey! I don't want that to be her only gift though so I feel like that's very reasonable. I did go over the budget a bit though because of some books I found that I thought she'd love. But my way of thinking is that when you're an only child, you just get more. The more kids there are, the less they'll most likely receive. DS is due in December so I feel like next year the budget will go down per child. But this year, I feel like it will be especially nice to give her as much as I can since she'll be dealing with new baby brother, etc. In all, my gifts for DD will probably be between $350-400 total. Next year I'd probably want that budget for two kids. I don't know, maybe DH is right, that that's too much to spend.

Message edited 10/5/2015 3:24:56 PM.