Holiday Spending

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Holiday spending is troublesome for me because I could easily compile a list of 100 people I'd like to get a gift for and let say I only spent $10 per person, that is still $1,000, not including any shipping costs, wrapping paper, etc.

How do you decide who to get a gift for?

Edited November 11, 2007 by Mister Fancypants

[JODO 2]

never, ballpark, family and close friends. I already know what I am getting my husband. My mom and sister always tell me what they want so the only real unknown I have to think about is what to get my father. The rest will either get gift cards or if they specifically say I would like "xyz".

[Welshcookie 17]

We don't buy each other gifts, we usually decide on something that will benefit us both, this year it is a new surround system. We buy gifts for my young son and my parents...the older children (18yrs+...2 of his and 2 of mine) get cash, maybe $100 or so....and that is it really. If my brother and wife are around on christmas day we buy gifts for them but otherwise not.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Never- no holiday is worth going into debt for.

Ballpark- The pets will get some treat food, I'll buy about 100 dollars worth of stuff for charity, and I have a rough idea what to spend for close family, but if I find through research a more expensive present is much better quality, I'll get it.

Close family (which is only my husband), charity (see above) and pets (2 cats, 2 gerbils, 2 tanks of fish). In my family it was always agreed that anyone over the age of 1/ not a student doesn't get presents, as things so easily get out of hand otherwise. My granny is the only one who broke the rule, she always knitted socks for the men and gave chocolates to the ladies We might be doing Kirskringle in my bookclub, but that would only be 20 dollars or some such.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Must be a cultural thing - parents and siblings are what I consider part of my immediate family.

Anyway, as for the answers:

Never

I have a ballpark amount, but it will depend on the gifts.

Immediate Family (spouse only) and Extended Family (Parents, siblings only)

My ballpark is higher this year. I spent a good part of 2007 being unhappy with my work situation but financially it's been my best year yet. So I plan to splurge a little this time.

[Alex+R 0]

Being a student is like being a kid again: I don't have any of my own money. So "Rey and I" will probably buy gifts for our siblings and parents. I consider my family of origin to be immediate family, more immediate than a spouse.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Being a student is like being a kid again: I don't have any of my own money. So "Rey and I" will probably buy gifts for our siblings and parents. I consider my family of origin to be immediate family, more immediate than a spouse.

That's interesting. I have 4 brothers and I can't remember the last time I bought them a gift.

[Mary Lou 681]

Never

Ballpark

Immediate Family, Extended Family, Friends, Charity and Pets

I do set an amount and surprisingly i keep quite close to that amount.

It's just my husband and myself here, we post gifts to his parents and sister and neice.

I have 3 close friends i exchange gifts with, always have, so that wont change.

Charity of my choice gets a check.

Pets get gifts too!

[Marilyn. 340]

I usually try and get something for all the nieces and nephews and my brothers and sister and hubby's brothers and sister and my mom and dad and the in-laws....

I try and only spend about $10 a person... but that still addds about to over 200 dollars

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Never. I have a set limit on what i spend. I'm only buying for my kids, my hubby, my parents and my inlaws.

I don't buy for my nieces n nephews anymore, since my sister never bothers to buy for my kids!!

Edited November 12, 2007 by Maria~n~Dane

[chri'stina 190]

Won't go into debt for Christmas shopping. I probably did use some credit cards for shopping a few years ago while I was a student but won't again.

Ballpark amount

Will buy for immediate fam, extended fam, and some friends. Though some of our friends had kids last year and with things getting more expensive many of us have decided to stop buying each other gifts and just have dinner together. How grown up. I buy for their kids though.

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

I'm sorry but this whole buying everyone-and-their-dog-a-present thing is pure #######.

Let Xmas be for kids. I'll buy our two little nephews something and our cats need a new tree.

That's it. If hubby wants something, he buys it or he lets me know and I'll wrap it but it's not usually a big surprise.

I would NEVER buy gifts on credit.

[Jamie76 0]

Where did the year go??? I don't even want to think about this already. My favorite things in the whole world this time of year are gift cards. It really helps when you have a general idea what people like, but don't want to try and narrow it down. That is what I am going to do for the most part. For my fiancee...that is a different story. I wish she would drop me a few hints.

[JODO 2]

Where did the year go???.

The year has flown huh?

[Jasman0717 9]

I charged Claudeth's laptop but everything else will be cash