Holiday budget

How much do you spend/budget(?) for the holiday season, soup to nuts?

We have gifts for the kids, gifts for each other, gifts to send to family and friends and their kids, extra gifts for any family coming into town to spend Christmas with us, gifts for the friends and family that live near.

We have all the meals and the appetizers and desserts.

I have a holiday party in my home for my colleagues.

I have gifts for my directs.

I have a gift for my boss.

Then there are the day care teachers, floaters , the director, the receptionist.

The newspaper person.

Then we get outfits for the kids for Christmas and Christmas eve.

Then there are the Christmas pictures of the adorable kids in their new outfits.

Then those pictures get turned into cards.

Oh-and then there is postage for everything.

And then I see something sparkly for the tree or the mantle.
I try to budget but I blow it every year!

Message edited 11/22/2010 1:36:50 PM.

Re: Holiday budget

I said 500-1000 because that is what I normally do. This year is a bit different b/c I got DH an $1,800 hunting rifle as a combo gift for a major promotion at work, anniversary and Christmas. Next year will be back to a normal year.

Re: Holiday budget

Re: Holiday budget

I clicked $1001 - $2000

But that includes gifts for DS & DH
All the other kids (nieces, nephews, friends kids)
Parent gifts
Gifts for my hair & nail ladies
Christmas stuff for the new house
Outfits for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day for all of us
Christmas Cards & postage
Tips for mailman, garbage man, newspaper
All food for Christmas Day
All baking stuff

And then something extra for that cute holiday stuff I happen to see! I never budget correctly!

Re: Holiday budget

We do about $1500 probably. Thats gifts for DS and DH, parents, grandparents, siblings....gifts to siblings from DS also. Then the Kris Kringle, coworkers, boss, tipping hair dresser/mailman etc, christmas outfits, DS christmas pics, christmas cards, wrapping supplies, shipping, and anything else I missed.

Re: Holiday budget

$350 tops we don't exchange with siblings, my parents don't want anything so typically we spend $50 and we keep things min. The only way we would spend more is if we ever have kids and even then i refuse to allow it to turn into a circus.

Re: Holiday budget

Going to try and keep it under 1k for DH, parents, siblings, and misc.

Re: Holiday budget

I am trying to keep it between $500 & $1,000 this year for everyone I have to buy for.
With the wedding this past April, I have some credit cards that I need to pay off so I am doing that instead of going crazy on Christmas gifts. My family & friends fully understand.

Re: Holiday budget

I'll try not to go crazy. I have no huge toys for the kids, plus we have a large family (my side) so they'll have more than we have room for

Message edited 11/22/2010 3:51:51 PM.

Re: Holiday budget

I spent $400 on DD already- but half that was from MIL. And DD is also done-those were big ticket things and I won't get her too much more and nothing pricey. We don't go crazy otherwise, and no longer buy for siblings, just nieces/nephews. Hope to keep it under $1,000. Though we have to factor in hotels because we are OOT.

Re: Holiday budget

I said $501- $1k.

I expect it will be very close to $502.

We've been buying gifts for DD since August and just putting them away, since i have a bad habit of buying somethng for her when I buy for another child. At least this year I was smart enough not to give them to her. I really only have 1 gift that I want to get her at this point.

DS will be 5 months old tomorrow. He just discovered his feet... he doesn't know the first thing about Christmas. I may buy a token gift but I'm not about to go crazy for him until he's aware.

Re: Holiday budget

$500-$700 id say

we are doing Kris Kringle with family so between DH and myself, that will only be $250. We will spend no more than $150 on DS, first Christmas and he will only be 7.5 months. We also have to buy for our parents and my neice and nephew.

Message edited 11/22/2010 4:01:51 PM.

Re: Holiday budget

i checked $500-1000.....

DW an I dont really exchange gifts, if anything its something joint we both agree on and most likely something for the house...

most parts of my fam do Kris Kringle.. one has a cap of $100 and the other i think is $50.... it makes everything easier and keeps the kids spoiled (they have no limit and are not involved)

other then that we dont host anyone at our house....

we send out about ... 50-75 xmas cards (postage)

no gifts for bosses or co-workers....no kids, no newspapers, no teachers, no xmas outfits (maybe for the cats LOL)

Re: Holiday budget

$1600 -1800 max

4 kids
2 mothers
5 siblings
1 nephew
1 secret santa
dh's boss and 4 co workers
handful of teachers
2 giving tree gifts

Re: Holiday budget

Too much. I never intend it to be that much.. but it always is.
My kids are close to $500 each. I never think it's going to be that much.. but it is. The older they get the more expensive it is.
Other kids (15 nieces/nephews and friends of kids ranging from 1-36 years old) will tap me for at least another $500
Sisters and parents are another $300.

Then I've got Christmas Eve Dinner to host.. figure $500.

Plus work gifts, teacher gifts and miscellaneous expenses that just seem to pop up and I'm at 2000 from the top.

Message edited 11/22/2010 5:25:16 PM.

Re: Holiday budget

Re: Holiday budget

Posted by carolyns4cupcakes

hey are you going into town saturday?

Re: Holiday budget

I voted $1-2000 but I wouldn't be surprised if it is more. That number doesn't include me hosting Christmas Day dinner either.

Re: Holiday budget

I have NO clue.

Re: Holiday budget

About $600. But then add food for Christmas Day and that's another $200. Cards and postage are another $50.

Re: Holiday budget

I refuse to add it all up.

I will not.

Re: Holiday budget

I have no budget yet cuz we are broke this year!

But not much, that's for sure! Is it okay to give out I-O-U's?

Re: Holiday budget

I said 501-1K. I hope to spend around $750 tho.

Re: Holiday budget

I think we end up right around $1k...but I am a queen of bargain hunting, so I really hope to do well this year. We have no set limits for anthing/anyone, but I always try to keep it in reason.

Re: Holiday budget

16 kids gifts to buy
4 parents
2 siblings
2 friends
Holiday pics & cards/postage
Hosting Christmas Eve

All adds up to a LOT of money