How much do you budget for Christmas/Hanukkah gifts?

I'm not good at budgeting for this at all. It always kind of hits me out of nowhere in the new year, when the credit card bill comes lol.

We don't buy for many people, DH & I pick out some things for each other or for us as a couple, otherwise just our parents & siblings, no kids in our families. I don't exchange with friends, but have to get a few small gifts for certain coworkers I work closely with.

I wanted to get an idea of how much you expect to spend overall on gifts as a family (including for your spouse), and who do you get gifts for, if you don't mind sharing?

I'm also kind of wondering if I'm being too "cheap" with my gifts for my IL's. They are always very generous with us & I feel like our gifts don't measure up.

Re: How much do you budget for Christmas/Hanukkah gifts?

The answer I gave does not include gifts that DH and I exchange.

Re: How much do you budget for Christmas/Hanukkah gifts?

It varies but we make it a point to not overspend or run up credit card debt.
Our kids are older, I get them each a few things- clothes and such and they get money put into accounts they aren't allowed to touch.
Last year we spent a lot on my Dad, he had just survived cancer and we wanted to do something special for him. Other years we get him something really small because he's a PITA to buy for.
I usually spend a couple of hundred each on my mom and my MIL.
We don't exchange with other adults in our families. We have 4 nieces in Florida that we buy for.
DH and I either buy something for our house or we just do little funny gifts.
I spend more on the families we adopt than on or entire family combined.

Re: How much do you budget for Christmas/Hanukkah gifts?

We only buy for children under 18 in our family - and I try to keep each child under 50 bucks. The kids get so much and dont remember a thing, it's just 'another toy' so I don't go all out.

We also get 2 letters from NYCares Winter Wishes.

We don't exchange with any adults or between ourselves. (We'll usually go out to dinner or go away for the weekend later/earlier in the year.)