We are only doing $50 per child due to hubby being sick so long and no real funds. That is enough and the kids know they are blessed to be getting that with dad out 30 months.
The amount of gifts we give depends on our income for the year. We also give more gifts to Ems since she is the only child left. The older girls usually receive one nice gift since they are adults and will be receiving their share of gifts in their own homes.
This year we are spending more than we have in the past. Part of it is that I have been sick around Christmas the last couple of years. I had a hysterectomy last year on December 19th. With my illnesses, I was not able to do much of the shopping that I wanted to. Also, we are debt free this year and I have been bargain shopping and buying presents all year to spread things out. Kate is getting an American Girl doll and some furniture and accessories to go with it. I also made her a coach and coffee table for her doll. The two oldest boys are mainly getting wii and ds games. The oldest is also getting a gaming chair and pocket knife. The youngest boy is mainly getting Star wars items. We also made the younger two boys two playmats and a mountain for setting up their Star Wars stuff. I am working on making the oldest a denim wallet and gaming bag. For extended family I buy each of my 12 nieces and a nephews a $15-$25 gift. I buy all year for them so I can get great deals. I got my 6 year old nephew a $25 Transformer set for $5 and my 4 year old nephew a $20 Playdoh set for $4. I was able to find a $40 Speedo swimsuit for $4 for my almost 11 year old niece. I made my 8 year old niece a doll quilt and matching pillows which only cost me the scraps and batting that I already had. Two of my nephews and a niece are receiving $15 Disney fleece blankets that I got for under $5. My husband and I each have three siblings who are all married. We usually spend around $25 for a couples gift for his three brothers. Even though they choose to ignore our family. However, this is going to be the last year we buy for his three brothers. For my siblings and their spouses we usually spend around $50 per couple. I buy stuff on super clearance that I know that they will love so that I can buy them more items. This year I was able to get my BIL a nice tall coat for $6 and the regular price was $50. I also got my sister a set of vacuum sealed canisters for $4 and they were regularly $35. I also got my sister, brother, and SIL all cast iron pans for 60% off. For our parents we usually spend around $100 but we buy them what they really want even if it cost less or more. This year each of our mom's are getting a $90 Vera Bradley tote filled with goodies- movie night stuff for MIL and bath stuff for my mom. The bags cost $25 each and I am filling them with items I find here and there on clearance. My FIL is getting a pack of gourmet popcorn kernels and a microwave popcorn popper. He is also getting Ironman and I will be bringing them some meals since he is having knee surgery this Friday. My dad is getting seasons 1-4 of JAG (which I am splitting with my sister) and an Itunes gift card. I am also sending him an Elvis cd that he has been looking for. My husband and I will be spending around $150-$200 on each other. I am getting some kitchen items and he is getting tools and a game. We usually participate in the Angel Tree program at our church and donate toys and gifts to various programs around town. I love Christmastime and buying gifts for others. I know that we go overboard but it really gives me so much joy to give gifts to others. I try to use cash whenever I go to a store. When shopping online I use Paypal whenever possible or a rewards credit card that I pay off each month. Next year will probably be a much smaller Christmas since we will be moving this summer but each year is different and that is what makes it so great.
Rebecca........ can I go shopping with you..... man I thought I was good with bargain shopping....... I just don't have the space to shop all year.
There is a website called Fishing For Deals where people post all of the deals that they have found both online and at storefronts. I have found great deals there.
Every year is different for us because I shop for Christmas all year round. The only things I buy near Christmas time is the clothing and some stocking stuffers. This year my children have 3 shirts and 2 pants each, one pair of pj's, 4-5 main toys (we don't get huge gifts because they are still young), then 3-6 smaller toys, and enough "junk" (dollar store stuff mostly) to fill each stocking.
We set down at the start of a year and plan out our Christmas budget. We decide on a set amount per person and when that amount is gone, we are done shopping. We also plan out money for buying our tree, postage, cards, parties, etc. This year we did wanted to focus on giving to others so we scaled back on much we spent on each other and family and used that money to for charities/organizations/people in need.
I forgot stockings! Every year we put socks in the stockings. I don't know why but it just became a tradition. In years past my dh has put tickets to disneyland in them after I've gone to bed so I didn't even know and I've put in dvd's, brushes, hair bands...I generally buy things that they can use as opposed to junk I know I'll throw away.
We are scaling back this year a lot. We are doing four gifts per child: something they want, need, wear and read. We do stocking stuffers starting five days before Christmas. Everyone, including dh and I get a small stocking stuffer each day. We are also trying to keep the spending below $150 per child. We only have two. Dh and I do not exchange at all for anything (birthdays, anniversary or Christmas).
We decided to spend $100 per child on gifts plus about $20 on stockings. This year my older kids got 7 gifts each, my toddler got 8 gifts and my baby got 6 gifts plus stockings. I spend $20 or $30 on stockings because I include pjs, socks, underwear, hair stuff or something of that nature and then the fun stuff. Hey, I have to buy that junk anyway why not make it fun and put it in a stocking..LOL. I overspent on my two older kids but underspent on my two younger ones so I stayed on budget for the most part. I am too much like a kid at Christmas! I love buying kid stuff. So, I have to limit myself. lol. I have to remind myself what the purpose of Christmas is and stick to it..lol. Oh and we pay cash! We didn't always...but now we do. For family...I buy my parents gift certificates to a favorite restaurant and my brother gets one to his favorite bookstore. They love that. My mil and fil varies. I also spend about $10 on each of my three nephews. Now when money is tight like this year...we scale back even more. Then instead of gifts and baked goods it is only baked goods. I also bake tons of cookies with bible verses and pass it out to the neighbors.
I went to a toy store in July and bought lots of crafts and things for my girls for $1 each. And I hid them so well I cannot find them. lol Most of my things are bought through the year, but I did just buy a toy for my 2 nephews that is normally $25, I paid 98 cents and the refill is $15, I paid 49 cents. For my niece I will choose from the things I have bought on sale. Anyone have an idea where I hid those presents? lol Check out Toys R Us if you have one nearby. The clearance prices are amazing. Pennies on the dollar.
Every year is a bit different for us. Last year our financial situation was a lot different, this year we are able to splurge a tiny bit, but not over splurge. We actually decided that myself and DH are not going to exchange gifts this year. We both get a $75 gift card from work, so we are going to use those to buy things that we may need. Troy needs new work shoes, I need some new dress pants. The kids, we spent about $100 on each of them, excluding stockings. I usually do get one bigger gift, then the rest are small, but I could not for the life of me find anything "big" that they each would want this year. They both actually have 10 presents under the tree this year, BUT I make my dollar stretch a lot! So, I really am not spending a lot of money, IMO, but it "looks" like we did. Haha! The only other gifts we buy for are neices (we don't have nephews), moms and dads, and my grandfather and brother. I also buy a small gift card for Tanner's teacher and I usually donate to a couple causes as well. This year our church is collecting new hats and scarves so I will buy a few for that, and Tanner's school is having a food-drive.
We also buy gifts for the nieces and nephews. My sister, their spouses, Handsome, and I all draw names. This way we only have one couple to buy for. We enjoy the exchange.
At last count, the kids had 17 gifts each + stockings + gifts from the grandparents. My husband currently has 3 gifts & I know of one other item he wants --- will probably go get it this week. We also buy a couple of things for my parents... and I made my BFF a calendar. I've requested $$ to go to my "summer stalk fund", so I don't anticipate any gifts under the tree this year... just an envelope full of cash. I have been wanting to get my leg tattoo worked on for a long time, though, & want it done before summer .... so maybe I'll do that & call it my Christmas.
We don't do a certain amount of gifts but do try to keep it close I do a monetary amount which is $150 per kid (this is from us AND Santa) I shop all year...catching sales/clearance and just keep stocking them in the back of our closet. When Birthdays/Christmas come around I pull everything out and pick. I also start in Sept on each of my hubby's paychecks (bi monthly) and I get one present for each kid from my list of ideas that I keep in my daytimer all year. As for the family I have been making things this year...crayon rolls/embroidered art smocks for my nieces/nephews. All my generation my sisters/BILs/SIL decided since we are all tight on money we would not get each other stuff and just spoil the kids since we usually wind up exchanging gift certificates anyway
So far, my older kids are done. They got some new bmx stuff for racing that they wanted and Rock Band for the wii. Their done other than their stockings which I have yet to get the stuff. My ds is getting a new race bike and what stuff I got on black friday. Oh, and a new helmet. My dh is getting..I have no idea, because he doesn't even know what he wants. I for sure thought we were going small this Christmas but the kids needed the race gear to race.
We've really varied over the years - depending on what I find that they would enjoy. I think we've decided to simply get them a gift card for WalMart this year - and let them choose! It's really hard for us to buy them something right now because we can't carry much. This way, they'll have control over what they get, and might decide to get lots of small things spread out over time - which makes a lot more sense right now than a bunch of things at once (that we can't carry!)
We have always gone way out on gifts that it got tireing to open them all. Last year we have decided on each person getting 3 gifts just like the 3 gifts that Jesus got from the Wise Men. Then we get one big family gift plus stockings. Extending family (my parents, his BIL and GMa and 1 aunt and uncle) and close friends have gotten fleece blankets that I made, cookies in a jar. This year I am making Navy fleece blankets for 3 of our friends who of course are in the Navy and the others are going to get homemade cookies/fudge. I will send his side of the family gift package things fro mL.L. Beans since I get free shipping right now from them. Are we doing the 3 thing this year? Nope I will be at my parents and its also homecomming, it will be an all outer from my parents and hubby and I are getting the kids 1 gift each from both of us.
How much we spend depends on our money situation each year. This year with hubby changing jobs we decided to spend $150 to $200 per child (I have 2). This includes stocking stuffers and Santa. These are the only gifts they usually receive other than from my mom. My hubby's family doesn't exchange gifts. My dd only wanted a DS game and stuff for her American Girl doll. My ds wanted PSP and PS2 games, plus clothes. My hubby and I exchange gifts most of the years, but this year the kids are buying each of us a gift and that is it. They love to go shopping for our little gifts. It has become a tradition. What I love about it is that these little inexpensive gifts tend to be the ones that stay with you for years. For example, my dd bought me a cheap little $6 watch at Wally World a few years ago and I am still wearing it. Everytime she notices it she reminds me that she is so happy I liked her present.
