When I mentioned on this post about whether or not WE should get a WE…I told you that WE usually don’t spend $200 on our boys for Christmas. Some of you were curious about what that meant exactly. How much do we spend on each boy, etc?
I decided it would be a great discussion with all of you here.
After giving it some thought, I came to the conclusion that every year has been different…we probably have spent $200 total on our four boys for Christmas. But definitely not on only one gift. I would say that we have probably averaged about $50 per child each year.
We usually get each boy one “bigger” thing each. By “bigger” I’m talking a $10-$25 gift. Especially when they’re little…the “big” gift is usually something as simple as a $10 sing-and-play-back microphone.
THEN…we spend the rest on things they need. Thankfully our boys don’t seem to mind getting socks and jammies for Christmas. It gives them more presents to open…and new jammies are FUN!
(Side note: Our Christmas spending budget is quite low overall. By buying jammies and such for the kids for Christmas, those costs actually come out of our clothing budget.)
We fill their stockings with things I’ve found on clearance throughout the year, and fun food treats I splurge on through Azure Standard.
Between grandparents and aunts and uncles…our boys have so many presents to open they always feel like they’ve hit the jack-pot (because they have)!
We haven’t felt badly about spending $50 each on the boys at Christmas because seriously…we hardly buy them ANYTHING throughout the year. Anything. We don’t need to. We have more hand-me-down clothes and toys than we know what to do with. What a blessing. So the $50 we spend on each boy seems pretty reasonable. AND it’s SO much fun for Matt and I to decide on a “splurge” type gift for the kids at Christmas since we never buy them during the year!
Now, what we spend on our extended family varies…but we usually try to make our gifts for others if we can (last year’s ideas here and more on this year’s ideas soon).
As far as what Matt and I spend on each other…we are sorta boring that way (and I seem like such an unhappy wife as a result, huh?!). Last year he bought me software that I could use for this website, and I bought him a new tool. And then our gifts were tax write-offs. Best Christmas presents ever. :) This year we may not exchange gifts unless we think of something we need. (Maybe I’ll ask for new kitchen towels?)
SO…how about you? I realize that some of you may spend much more on your kids than we do…some of you less. That’s okay with me. What have you found that works best for your family?
Jodi says
This year we are doing a totally homemade Christmas. I am really excited. Another idea our family has (a lot of our family has been laid-off) is to do service projects for each other. We will have a kind of work day at each family’s home and come together to get a big project done! Thanks for the homemade gift ideas!
Angie says
Last year was one of the first that we went into christmas spending mindfully. That sounds dumb but I am glad we finally figured it out. We had set a budget of sorts and I worked hard to find the best deals online on the gifts we wanted to get for the kids for the price we wanted to pay. They did get a Wii but it was for the whole family so that meant Jim and I didn’t get anything for each other, which was fine. This year we decided to tighten a little further and I am excited and looking forward to searching for my deals again. I didn’t pay full price for 1 item last year. Makes me giddy just remembering it.
Jennifer says
We usually spend $100. on our three children. This year it will probable be around $75. We also get what they need. For their stocking stuffers, we usually get new toothbrushes, toothpaste, snack goodies, pens/pencils or any other little trinket from the Dollar Tree. We would like to get 1 big present that WE would all share. But I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will keep going down from the $199. that it is around here. The kids get something for each other, again usually from the Dollar Tree. My kids would rather have many small priced items than a huge priced item. As far as me and hubs, we usually try to get something for each other, but since our anniversary is a week before, we count it as both.
I know that this is a long comment but I do have to mention the fact that Sissy’s birthday is 2 days before Christmas. We keep it totally separate. She receives her birthday presents wrapped in birthday paper. And we do celebrate it on her birthday, not a week before!
Jen B says
Well, last year, we decided that we’re only buying for the kids, no more aunts and uncles. That leaves four kids, besides my own two. Unless it’s something free, like a JCPenney gift card in the mail, you go buy a candle and it’s free, so you could give it to someone. Or you’re shopping for something for yourself and then recieve a free gift with it, you can give that as a gift. Worked out pretty cool. As for hubs and I, we get what we want throughout the year, so we don’t need to make a list, just to make a list. We have a saying in our family that we buy what we can, when we can, but don’t expect it, cuz it may not be there next year. So that being said, we spent about $150 on each of our kids. This year we bought everything from their lists and we were under $250, so that overflow will go for grandparents. I’d love to spend less, but all the things they like cost $$$. But while God is blessing us, we’re gonna bless our kids. Also, we’re buying for Toys for Tots. The kids are all about help other kids. My son is saving his money to give to the “poor kids”. They can’t believe some kids don’t get presents. It breaks their hearts.
Hallee says
We do one “big” gift. This year it will be the Veggie Tales Jonah ship for the 1-year-old, a Playschool garage for the 3-year-old, and something appropriately polka-dot for the 12-year-old. (So, less than $50 per kid?) These are left under the tree, unwrapped, for Christmas morning. After that, we don’t buy a lot of presents that get wrapped. Little things here and there.
My husband’s love language is gift-giving, so he buys things for people all year long and I just store them for Christmas. I’m often surprised at what we’ve stockpiled. With nieces and nephews and grandparents – every year I think we won’t buy for them but then discovered that we have already!
This year is different because my husband is in Afghanistan. So, I have NOTHING in my gift bin downstairs but a Star-Wars pez dispenser set that I don’t even know who he bought it for. So, this year we’re doing donations to Christian charities for our extended families (personally tailored per family), and presents for their children.
Hallee
Betsy says
Our daughter (a pastor’s wife) decided last year to do three gifts for her children. One clothing, one book, one toy, all because the Wisemen gave three gifts to Jesus. If that was good enough for Him, then it is good enough for her children.
When our budget was severely reduced last year due to the economy (my husband is president of a small, small company), we likewise decided to follow her lead, and did the same for our three grandchildren—her two plus our step-granddaughter. We are carrying on the tradition my parents also started 29 years ago to get “Paw-paw Nammers” (PJs) for the item of clothing we’d get the grandchildren. They will get one toy and one book also. Something that they need, rather than something expensive and over the top!
Jenni Carlisle says
We don’t have a budget necessarily, since we buy year round out of our normal budget. Such as clothing &/or overage from grocery budget (leftover). We’d love to budget Christmas, but it just isn’t there, so we buy what we can, when we can. This year we decided to do mostly homemade for extended family & will probably buy our family (4) TOMS shoes. We wanted to buy gifts that gave back and instill in our kids that Christmas is about Jesus, not gifts!
PS LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog!
Stacey says
We also try to keep it simple. We have bought a small table & chairs set that came with a matching shelf (all second hand but like new) for $40 that the kids will share. And then we will probably spend $20 or so for each of them after that. So we will keep it under $100 this year.
My question is, what do you do for gift exchanges? We’re spending more on those than on our own kids. I feel like if we say no, then we’re being rude (think Scrooge) and if we say yes, well, I sure hope we buy something that these people will actually like and use!
Juanita says
We also do three gifts for the kids. This year, we are making a “kitchen” for them to play in, I’m making some dress-up clothes, and then each child will get some sort of puzzle or blocks. For our two children, we’ll be spending less than $150.
I buy stocking stuffers year round at the Dollar Tree, Target, or knick-knack stores. That way, it comes out of our incidentals each month rather than adding up so quickly at Christmas.
For extended family, we try not to spend more than $25 per person, although sometimes grandparents may get a “bonus” from the children.
Someone asked about gift exchanges, and again, for that I use my gift stockpile that I accumulate throughout the year, so the gift was a deal (usually 90% off clearance) and doesn’t come out of our Christmas budget.
Sorry for the long post!
tami aka agodlyhomemaker says
we have 7 children and a very tight budget so we really think about christmas! lol i enter bloggy giveaways all the time and God has blessed me with many many wins and we are able to use a lot of these for christmas gifts.almost all the books and dvds i win go for christmas/birthdays. i have a gift box in my closet and collect things all year long also. i found craft kits originally marked $15 on sale for $3 so i bought those for my girls a long time ago. it takes planning but i spend about $200 on all 7 :)
Carmen says
Now that we have kids, my husband and I usually do not buy anything for each other for Christmas except maybe something small for stockings. One year my mother-in-law, with concern in her voice, asked me if I really didn’t mind that my husband didn’t get me anything for Christmas. I love that he and I agree that it isn’t necessary.
Kika says
I budget $100 per child (three gifts each) and up to $40 each/stocking. We do not exchange gifts with family (we do send money to my husbands family in Africa) nor do we budget for eachother (husband and myself) although if finances are ok we’ll use extra $ (from reffing) to get eachother something. My husband will usually just put $ in a card for me, so I can have some extra money for clothes or books, or whatever I desire. I start shopping for Christmas by July which means I often get great deals and underspend at least on the stocking budget. This leftover money tends to get allocated to other gifts (ex. baby showers) for the year.
Sarah says
Great discussion. We do a set Christmas budget around here too. Every year about June or even earlier I write a list of everyone we need to buy for so I have a feel for how much total we need to spend. Thankfully half of our extended family doesn’t really exchange gifts and my family understands that we are trying to live debt free. As I’ve grown older it really is just important to me to spend time with our family and make memories. That being said we do spend about a $100 on each of our kids. Right now there are just two, but as our family grows that might decrease. The reason we spend so much compared to some is that we really don’t buy toys and other things for the girls through out the year so I feel like this is our splurge for the year. :) We also buy them clothes and stuff with part of that money as well. It’s not all toys and crazy junk. :) They usually get books and a lot of craft supplies, and educational type things. So, far this year I’m almost done shopping for them and I’m under budget because I’ve found so many things on sale or clearance.
Sonja says
Betsy could have written my post for me, lol. We also do 3 gifts like the wisemen, one book, one clothing (usually pjs and socks or underwear) and one toy. The kids think the toy is from Santa and mom just leaves out wrapping paper for him to use that they pick. Sometimes gifts are played with by all kids, sometimes they are special to just the one. Last year WE bought a family gift, but I think we won’t do anything like that this year, nothing we really need.
Hubby and I usually get each other practical things, this year I need a new cutting board to replace my plastic one, and he needs waders.
Serenity says
WE are getting our kiddos a larger than normal group gift this year. To make up for it, they are each getting one gift plus their stocking. Typically we spend about 50-75 dollars per child (sometimes less!!). Hubby and I spend about 50 on eachother if its in the budget but it really hasn’t been for a couple of years. To be truthful, I spend more on extended family than I do my own. No one wants to look like a cheapskate so its hard to find balance :)
superfunmama says
I am not good at budgeting. I always say I will but then get into the Christmas spirit and about a week before Christmas put us in debt. I don’t like that I do that…but I do every year. I still haven’t paid off last years Christmas…
Susan says
My family and I did a White Elephant pasta party with my nieces and nephews last Christmas and it was a blast. I made a ton of pasta, a big pot of meat sauce, sliced bread, and some drinks, and through out a tray of cookies from our cookie stash. Everyone came a couple weeks before Christmas with a White Elephant gift (something you don’t want from your house anymore) and we exchanged them while they were wrapped. So much fun and so little cost, pasta and sauce are super cheap. I would love that to be their gift from us but they still expect another one on Christmas. I struggle with expectations. We will do it again as an early gift to our family.
Jennifer says
I have a $500 Christmas budget that goes towards the 5 in my family plus my mom, my brother and sis-in-law, my in-laws and my kids teachers. That’s 13 people total. It’s never very fun shopping when the budget per person is soo small.
karen says
About $75 per child–That includes Santa and under the tree gifts. Hubs and I sometimes fill a stocking for each other but we’re going to be spending $1200 on plane tickets in Feb so no stockings this year. Something homemade for grandparents and close friends.
My goal this year is to sell enough stuff on Ebay to finance all gift purchases. So the final budget is still up in the air. I like the idea of gift money being ‘found’ money.
Instead of purchasing for extending family (25 neices and nephews, all of whom have WAY to much stuff)–we purchase gifts for the local Angel Tree and women’s shelter. DD and I will write a letter telling everyone what we bought, etc and it will be read at the family gathering (we won’t be there). DD is four and she was just floored when I explained that not everyone has presents under their tree. Every time she sees a neat toy, she wants to buy it.
Shannon says
Great post! This is already on my mind this year as we are expecting our first child so pinching pennies everywhere we can. My husband says we aren’t doing Christmas at all this year for anyone (siblings, parents) or each other. I don’t mind that but wonder what to tell the other people in my family. They will probably still get us stuff, and too much! For example, our in-laws probably spend around $200 on each of us, if not more. How do I SERIOUSLY let them know that we don’t want that spent on us and that we can’t do that this year either? Tips? I am worried about hurting feelings but I just don’t need anything and can’t afford to spend like that anymore. Any ideas on what to make/give to grown men for homemade presents?
THANKS!
Lisa says
Great discussion! For Christmas presents for my kids, I go by the rhyme, ‘Something they want, something they need, something to play with and something to read.” It’s fun and a great way for me to not to go over-board.
I don’t have to buy for any of my extended family, instead we sponsor a lower-income family together and provide presents and a grocery store gift-card for them. And then the kids and I make home-made gifts for other friends. It’s fun!
Danielle says
This year we will be once again in Florida. Our children are still young. We go and spend Christmas w/my mother and brother at her home. She’s about 3 hours from Orlando, so we will be spending a week @ Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Universal we are staying at one of the resorts too so that’s even more money. Then we’ll spend a week w/my mom and brother. That’s our big present for the family. We’ll probably do 3 gifts and stockings while there. My mom will have plenty of gifts waiting for them anyways.
We don’t do Santa, so we don’t have to answer questions on will Santa find them etc lol.
Hubby and I exchange private gifts, stockings, in private lol. Then one or two gifts that we need or want w/the kids.
Wendy says
We spend $50-100 on each kid (2 girls) depending on my husbands bonus. My husband and I don’t usually exchange gifts, but we talked about doing it this year.
DeniseC says
Wow, usually we spend about 150 to 250 per child depending on what they ask for electronics are usually it. We go out black friday to get the cheapest we can find. I don’t like to plan earlier than Halloween otherwise why celebrate a holiday if you consume your whole or half year for it. It comes every year and most of the time we will never get at least one thing not done. We only spend on children in the family which is about 5 kids and grand parents and great grandparent which are gift cards. Hubby and I exchange clothing since we don’t buy for ourselves any time. If I get scrapbook pages done I usually give them out to aunts and uncles and brother/sister-in-law.
I would rather do less on the gifts and have more family entertainment time. DH doesn’t like visitors over after a bad day at work or when he is relaxing.
Katie says
We in years past have gone overboard on gifts. We don’t use credit or loans, but we have been known to cut ourselves short for the rest of Decembers finances. This year however we are going to do it a bit different. We are getting each of the kids (4) except our 9 mo. old a CD player and some Adventure in Oddessy CDs And maybe one other small gift. My husband and I just recently started exchanging gifts and we splurge if we can and spend about a hundred each. I know that sounds like a lot, but it is usually made up of things that we deny ourselves through out the year. Like my husband has only two pair of jeans and he has had them forever, and they look like it, and so he gets new jeans. Stuff like that.
We are also looking for ways that our kids can give this year. I love the Toms shoes Idea!
We have four sets of parents ( both have been divorced and remarried) so that leaves my kids with a mountain of Christmas gifts. We pick out our favorites and then leave the rest in a closet to have a stash to pull from later when we need to go to a kids birthday party. ( my kids get to shop in the closet, and I do feel like they are giving of themselves a bit because the gifts were originally given to them.)
Step says
We like to keep it simple and the focus on Jesus, so this year we’re going to do just 3 gifts for each of our 3 children. They are old enough now (12,10,8) to put some thought into what they REALLY want to have for Christmas. They know that they will be getting just 3 gifts. Their grandparents will get them gifts as well and we will fill their stockings. Our overall budget (includes the extended family) has been $500, but it will be less than that this year.
This will be the first year that we’ve decided not to buy for any of the adults and we’ve requested that they don’t buy for us either. Hubby and I will also probably not exchange with each other. We don’t really need anything and I prefer to do up a nice homemade basket of shortbread and jam for everyone anyway. It’s sort of my signature thing to make and everyone loves it.
Times are very tough here in Michigan and I feel that we are blessed to have all that we need. No need to over do it at Christmas-time.
jenne says
we have always gone pretty light in the spending for our kids on Christmas. They always get so much from others…they’re already blessed with so much. It seems silly to buy them even more, and despite our words that the holiday is about Christ, they also know fully that it’s a big present-fest. no need to make it worse. We haven’t given ourselves a strict number of gifts or amount to spend, but last year the only new thing we bought was a pair of PJs. That’s a yearly thing. Otherwise, everything was either something they needed (socks, undies, toothbrushes) or handmade, or from Goodwill. This year, I think we’ll stick to strictly handmade.
I definitely struggle more with our extended family. I’d like to abolish our name swapping and white elephant swap to do something more meaningful… perhaps giving just to those we can think of something wonderful for, or perhaps pooling a financial gift for a foodbank or shelter…but I’m in the minority.
Danielle says
More power to you! Last yr I went out, and nearly broke my leg, (badly bruised the bone) all I wanted was a new coat!!! I got a new coat, and returned it a week later lol. Found a coat I somewhat like on Ebay. I’ve only worn it once!
I told my hubby nothing is worth getting hurt over!
Julie says
We are going to give the men in our family, homemade applebutter
and homemade beef jerky.
Shannon says
You must live at my house… this is exactly how it is at our house. I think if I really wanted my kids to have the $200 combined gift and you have the money for it this year, then do it. You can talk to them about not always expecting such a thing and they will understand that it won’t happen every year. I think that when we talk to our kids about future expectations they can understand it and deal with it.