Gifts at Christmas

This has been a rough year for DH and I financially. Which of course has put a strain on our whole relationship. It just seems to be getting tougher. With Christmas coming around, you always feel the strain with all of the commercialism thrown at you.
I want to simplify things this year, which got me thinking about family and tradition, and when we have kids in the future.

How do you all handle presents? Are a buy lots and lots household? A 3 gift household? Or do you follow the Want, Need, Wear, Read household?
Thanks!

Re: Gifts at Christmas

DH and I have had a couple of tough years financially. Last year was pretty bad and we didn't really buy presents for many people.

This year money is still tight so we're making a very low limit on gifts. I'm trying to buy some gifts for my girls on craigslist and stuff so they'll get more presents but it isn't as expensive.

We've also discussed with our families that we may not be able to spend as much this year and everyone is in the same boat so they are all fine with it.

I've also started buying a gift a week now so it's not as much right before the holidays.

Re: Gifts at Christmas

We buy for our kids but for the past few years DH and I don't buy gifts for each other. We pick a charity together and make a donation instead. Neither of us needs anything and it feels nice to be able to give to someone who really does need.

Re: Gifts at Christmas

I don't have kids yet but I have a really large family, I am one of 4 with 2 nieces, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc and DH has a pretty big family as well. The last couple of years, my family decided to just do a secret santa amongst most of us. We only get my nieces gifts since they are younger, and we get our parents and grandparents. It's really helped alleviate some of the pressure of having to spend a ton of money. DH and I have also given each other a cap for our presents to each other. Last year, it was 50 bucks and part of the present had to be homeade. With the house, bills, vacations and what not, we don't necessarily need anything although, there are lots of things I would like!

Re: Gifts at Christmas

DH and I both agreed to not spend as much on each other and we pretty much told our families that $$ is tight this year and we're just buying for the kids.

We set a budget and start shopping as early as possible. Alot of people will be getting homemade gifts this year and I will try to shop sales as much as possible.

I think the biggest thing is to set a budget and stick to it. I also try to factor in the "other" costs of shopping (i.e. meals and wrapping paper and whatnot).

I found pinterest is a great resource for DIY gifts. A homemade ornament can go a long way for the people outside your immediate family. Check for coupons too!!

Re: Gifts at Christmas

We pretty much rely on our Christmas Club money.

We get for the kids and each other. Definitley more for the kids though (not a lot).

As for our siblings, we put our names in a hat, choose one name, set a limit (like $25) and buy for only that person.

I have 4 nephews and one niece. Each gets an outfit and a small toy.

Re: Gifts at Christmas

I used to be a lots and lots household.

This year with #2 on the way in early December and money being really tight- we are doing kids and parents only and opting out of all Secret Santa exchanges.

For eachother- DH will just make small improvements to the house (building out a linen closet, painting the baby's room and a new kitchen sink)

Re: Gifts at Christmas

Every year it seems to just get out of control with no budget in my house. This year we are finally sticking to a budget. Times are rough, even if people are doing well right now, it doesn't always mean that you will be that way this time next year. So we are saving our money and preparing for the worst.

Things we are doing to cut down.

Everyone brings one dish to the holiday table

Santa grab bag for the immediate familys. I am one of four siblings. We could also pick out of a hat and do names. Limit 25 bucks

Our parents: We will each chip in 20 dollars each and by them each something nice.

My DD has more then enough toys as it is. She will be getting a savings bond and a few toys, books and puzzles that I will be carefully selecting with coupons and sales. She will get gifts from everyone else anyway.

DH and I will be putting money aside in our Travel account ( : and we will each buy each other something little.

Re: Gifts at Christmas

A few years ago I decided that it was absolutely ridiculous. We were buying for everyone in our families and spending so much money (on credit cards no less!). We decided we would ONLY shop for the kids and our immediate family members going forward.

Our list of JUST kids is about 16 gifts
Then one each for our parents (4 gifts) and siblings.

It's still a ton of stuff to buy. I have 5 nieces and nephews, 2 godsons, 3 BFF kids, plus! Now that we have a son, he gets maybe 3 presents total lol. We definitely don't give to receive, but we always find it funny that we shop for 20+ gifts.

Re: Gifts at Christmas

I used to go crazy.

This year I will buy for DD. My two nieces and our parents will each get one thoughtful gift. For DD I have a list that I made out and will shop around and dole out to whoever asks what they should get her.

DH and I have not discussed yet what we'll be doing, but we are having our floors redone next week and plan to buy a dining room set, so I may just make that our gift to eachother.

Message edited 11/3/2011 3:33:48 PM.

Re: Gifts at Christmas

the last couple of years had been very hard on us financially. We only buy gifts for the kids of close family and friends. This year we have a lot of new baby girls so I am making hair accessories for the girls and the boys I got great deal at the semi annual toy sale at target (I didn't spend more than $8-$10 per kid). For us last year I need badly winter tops so that is what DH got for me, he didn't really need anything other than sneaker so I got a great deal at Nike outlet and with coupons and free outlet GC I won I got him a pair for like $20 and on cyber monday I got him the video game madden for $30. This year we decide we are not getting anything for each but if we can and get a good sale (less than <$100) will get a wifi DVD player. My theory is that I cant get more stress in our life because we went broke buying other people gift or even each other. I prefer to pay a bill than to have a new pair of shoes when I am stressing of how to pay for my phone bill

Re: Gifts at Christmas

Since it's all adults, we are doing Secret Santa. We're going to pick names out of a hat on Thanksgiving.

ETA: But for DH, I always get him one big present and a bunch of little, more thoughtful presents. I don't have a set amount that I spend or amount of presents that I buy.

Message edited 11/3/2011 4:15:51 PM.

Re: Gifts at Christmas

if you have a long list of people you need to buy presents for, the key isn't so much to sacrifice on quality, as it is to know where to shop and how to dig out the best deals... plenty of quality gifts are going at 30, 40, even 50% discounts at this time of year.

personally i've been using www.ohmychristmas.com .. it's got a ton of great ideas separated by age bracket, and it offers HUGE discounts to boot.. check it out, you cant go wrong.

Re: Gifts at Christmas

It's not for financial reasons...I just dont want stuff bc the calendar is at a specific day. DH and I don't really exchange. I get him something small anduseful...like last year he was complaining about our spatula...so he got a box of cooking utensils.

Re: Gifts at Christmas

There aren't a lot of children in my family. So I just exchange with my immediate family and buy for my friends children. I also do the JCP giving tree and buy for a child. This year my job is adopting a family so I have two more boys to shop for. I plan to shop sales and use coupons. I do set limits and budget. It's not worth the stress of how to pay for things. I'd rather not get anything than have someone feel obligated to buy me something and use a CC.

Re: Gifts at Christmas

The year we had DD was SO hard for us. she was supposed to be born on christmas and we bought her 1 stuffed animal and a glow worm.
DH and I bought each other a couple of things we both needed like shoes, etc.