Spinoff: How much do you spend on gifts? - Page 3

penelope · 04-05-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happymom

Am I the only one who does not have set amounts to spend? I get a nice gift as cheap as I possibly can. Sometimes it is $2 other times it is $30. I do spend more on my kids than anyone else though.

I know I said 20, but if it is someone that I think I know what they would like, and can find good things on clearance, I might only have to spend 10 dollars. But since it is a gift card for teens and up, I usually buy a 20 dollar gift card.
I reuse the bags we get too, or go to the dollar tree. They have awesome gift bags for a dollar. I make most of our cards. Or they are 50 cents at the dollar store.

skimommy · 04-05-2008, 08:19 PM

I try to spend $10-15 on birthday parties.

I fix a dinner and dessert for my parents and the nlaws. They really don't NEED anything.

We don't exchange gifts w/siblings.

It is hard to say for the rest... it varies!

allgirls · 04-06-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happymom

It would be extremely odd for me to spend more then $20 on a gift for someone besides my kids. Actually I would rarely spend more than $10. I still get nice things, though, I just shop the clearances.

I was thinking man those numbers are high. I am close to a max price of $10. I also shop the clearance and year round for appropriate gifts. My current example is: I have leapster L max games for my neice and nephew that I paid $4 for.

We don't buy gifts for adults unless it is a special bday or other special event. I have a wedding coming up so I have already printed out the wedding registry and have been scouring my local Tuesday Morning.

allgirls · 04-06-2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathrynHannah

In the past year I separated out gifts as a separate column in my budget. I was shocked to learn that I spend more than twice as much on gifts in a year then we do all year on clothing for all 4 of us.. and that doesn't count gifts for for the kids (I have that under the 'kids' category) or Christmas! (another category)

Both dh and I come from very large extended families. It seems every week we're out buying another wedding gift or baby gift or birthday gift. And then there the the kid's birthday parties and friend's babies and birthdays. I spend about $20- $25 a gift and we're buying at least one gift a week for someone (on average). It surprises me but I don't plan on changing. One of our family values is generosity and I'd rather spend it on someone else. I like giving. I just had no idea it added up to so much over time.

we are the same way but I don't spend alot of money. I do stockpile gifts whenever I can.

Cindy J · 04-10-2008, 02:45 PM

I did a finanicial plan type paper a few months ago that you has to figure out what you spend in gifts and put them in your monthly budget. What I am supposed to spend was scarey. Keep in mind I do home daycare so I can deduct it but it is still spent. What I actually spent last year was insane fright. This year I have already adjusted that. Last year I goave each of my daycare kids an easter basket (home made cost about $40 each X 10 kids + crazy $400. FOR EASTER!! that isn't including the other basket I gave them to put their eggs in and the candy/goodies in the eggs. I won't tell you what i spent for Christmas) This year for Easter each daycare kids got a chocolate bunny in a bag that they collected thier easter eggs in. ($1 per bunny $.25 each bag and $20 in eggs and goodies total $32.50 for Easter) Next year I plan to ask the parents to each bring a bag of candy/goodies so I can cut it back even more.

I am going to try to spend $50.00 per child all the holidays combined if not less.