Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

I brought the idea up to my SIL this year and I think she was taken back. They have 3 kids and I normally go $100 a kid but it's getting hard. Is $50 a child reasonable or am I being cheap??

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

Holy Smokes. $50 a kid is NOT cheap. Unless you are Bill Gates.. then it might be cheap-ish. I spend between 30 and 40 on my nieces and nephews.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

I use to do $50 all the time, but within the last year the family decided $25 was enough. Our family just keeps growing.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

I think that's perfectly fine. I have 6 nieces and nephews and usually do about $35 to $40 a gift... really depending on what they want. My sister and I know we don't want to spend a ton. If my nephew just wants a video game then that's what he gets and he's so happy anyway. Nothing to do with the cost.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

I think its more than reasonable. There are 9 kids on DH's side of the family and we decided to do a secret santa and only set a $30 price limit. 6 of the 9 kids are under the age of 3 so we felt that $30 was plenty!

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

when I was married...we started out doing $100 for neices and newphews - It got to be too much. We reduced it to $75 and then everyone finally agreed on $50 a few years down the line. I think $50 is fine.

My sister spends A LOT on DD for bdays and Xmas but thats because she is the only child on our side of the family. Im sure once she has her own children, thatll change.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

That is how much I spend on each of them.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

I have 2 nieces & 1 nephew. I have always limited what I purchased for them to cost under $50. If you think of it in the grand sceme of things, I purchase 5 gifts (my brother, SIL & three kids) that comes to $250. Not to send ungrateful to my brother but he doesn't spend $250 on DH & I for Christmas.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

$50 is definitely not being cheap. When I met DH, he used to give about $100. After a while we went down to $50, now it is even less, we do have 11 nieces and nephews though

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

We have 2 nieces and a nephew...$50 limit for each. Last year SIL did buy a gift for DD that was close to $150 which is what we spent total on their kids, but honestly i dont expect her to spend the $150, i think she should stick to the $50 but its her choice.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

There are 8 nieces & nephews on DHs side of the family. A couple of years ago it was decided that just the children would exchange by picking a name out of a hat. The budget is ~$75.

For my side, I have 2 nieces and I spend $100 minimum on each of them...~$75 for my BFF daughter.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

I only have 2 - 1 niece/1 nephew. I am sticking to $50-$60 each. I have a 6-yr sister/goddaughter. I'll do $60-$75 for her.

I think you're being totally reasonable. $25-$40 seems reasonable to me too. Honestly, these holidays get totally out of hand!

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

We do $50 on my one nephew b/c that is what SIL does for my children in return. Other nephew is about $25 b/c that is in their budget.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

$300 for 1 family of kids???!!? Can I be an adopted niece?

I must have a very cool family bc everyone seems to "get" the concept of setting a limit.

I do set a limit. I mean, I have 3 kids and my one BIL & SIL have 1 so I always get a larger gift for that nephew. I spend a little more on my side of the family bc there are 3 other kids vs DH's where there are 15 kids.

$50 a child seems quite reasonable to me. That's what I spend on each of my brother's 2 kids. I spend about $25-30 per kid for other family members with more kids on DH's side. IMO there is PLENTY to find for any age for $25. I never got gifts from aunts & uncles growing up so I don't even think it's a must. But even older kids - we still give gifts on DH's side to the older ones - I give Itunes cards.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

I do $40 each for my nieces or 2 gifts each girl. They are also our god daughters so we spend more on them.


On DH side, we do $25 for the 2 older niece and nephew and $20 on his other niece. He has another niece and nephew but they don't celebrate Christmas but we always buy them something. We never know what since they can't make list so it's always something small. I know it's their religion but I feel bad not getting them something. I always give it to them a week or so after xmas.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

we used to do100 each kid ( theres 7 neices and nephews) so we went down to 50 a kid last year.. this year im not working, expecting #2 so i said im giving them 25 each.. they can add it to the other cash they get and get themselves something...

some family members see no issue dropping 2-300 bucks a kid - if they want to spend that much on the kids thats up to them ---- im in no competition.. i cant afford to spend all that $$

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

We don't have any direct neices and nephews yet - But I think $50 is MORE than enough.

For my cousin's / close friends' kids we spend $20/$25 each .......

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

Yes we do...but between DH and I we have 13 nieces and nephews. We cap them at $40 each kid.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

I have 3 on my side - 50 each
I have 11 on DH's side - 50 each

anyone that thinks 50 is too cheap - yikes!!!

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

I have 8 nieces and nephews on my side. We would go broke if we spent $100 on their holiday gifts! I think $50 is generous. We try to stick to $30.

Message edited 11/22/2010 4:20:31 PM.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

We do about $50, and currently have only 1 niece

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

I'm the opposite. I have 4 kids and my SIL has 1. I want her spending $25 on a kid and she better listen to me b/c she's gotta stop going over board.
I don't think it's fair if she spends $$$ on 4 kids.

why would your sil be taken back? Makes sense to me.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

$50 a child is generous..you are not being cheap!

I go through the same thing each year. The family is getting bigger and bigger and my budget can only go so far. I think it's the quality of the present...more specifically the gesture and love in giving one than the price tag.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

We never did before, but this year we did.

Message edited 1/16/2011 11:27:45 PM.

Re: Do you set a $ for nieces/nephews for the holiday?

We usually do $40-$50 for the brothers girls(3 of them) and $75-$100 for DH's brothers kids(2 of them) DH's brother and wife are way more generous to my kids then my brother.