Who All Do You Buy for at Christmas Time?? How Much per Person?

Updated on December 11, 2010
S.T. asks from Kansas City, KS
15 answers

OK I have not bought for my mom,stepdad or sister and her hubby in a few years now and they do so much for us through out the whole year but just thinking about buying all those gifts next year and the amount I have to save is going way up and I just can't see spending that much money at Christmas each of my kids amount will probably go up to $300 each next year since they are getting older and more expensive and then I have 4 nieces that I spend $20 to $50 on. Just wondering how everybody else does it at this time of year? THank you for your time and Merry Christmas to you all!

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So What Happened?

well thank you everybody! My husband wants to keep it at $300 for next year so that is what it will be we do start saving January 1st and save all year so that is good. The kids got to buy a few gifts on their own this year and loved it so we will be keeping that tradition going! Next year we will also be adopting a family and letting each kid spend $25 I raised my amount for my 3 nieces from my husbands brother.

Featured Answers

B.F.

answers from Kansas City on

I don't really put a limit on how much I buy my kids, although this year with adding a 4th child and the income not very high we are cutting down. We don't buy for other adults, only kids. We draw names on my side so how many kids I have is how many presents I buy for my niece and nephews. generally 20 to 30 a child.
I do fill my husbands stocking though.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My hubby saves all year in a credit union account. It's close to 2K at the end of the year. We spend every penny of that. That includes almost everything.
We buy for his mom, dad, his sister & BIL, their two kids, our son, my mom and we do two grab bay gifts at a $75 limit each for my side--plus the O. child on that side. Add coworkers for both of us, teacher gift, neighbors & friends and I think it goes a long way.

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K.I.

answers from Seattle on

I buy for my kids and my nephews...then we group the adults by couples, so we buy one gift for my in-laws, one gift for my sister & BIL, one gift for my Hubby's brother & wife. My Dad passed away so it's just my Mom and we always get her gifts "from" the (mine and my sister's) kids, so this year she is getting hand print ornaments and a Hoodies from my oldest nephews High School because he plays football and wrestling, so my sister gets her a Hoodie from each sport! ~I think when my kids get older I will do this too, it's a neat way for her to feel involved because she doesn't live in the same state as us and we always include pictures!!

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J.F.

answers from Philadelphia on

My husband and I just buy for each other and our 3 kids. We haven't yet talked about how much we are spending though.

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K.M.

answers from Oklahoma City on

My husband and I both have parents and step-parents, siblings, half-siblings, step-siblings, etc. In other words, large families. In the last few years we have taken to drawing names on one side of the family, and this year for another side we are doing a white elephant gift exchange. That way no one has to feel bad if they didn't buy a gift for everyone, because everyone only has to buy one gift this way. Typically everyone still gets something small for all the kids, but even that is not expected. That frees up money to spend on your immediate family. Maybe you could invite the fam over and do a white elephant party? That would be a way to give of yourself without having to spend a lot of money. And if your family has never done it before, it could be the beginning of a new tradition and a lot of good times.

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L.M.

answers from New York on

oldest daughter $1,000
youngest daughter $1,500
hubby $100
SIL $125
SIL $8 (we rarely see her and she doesn't do anything for kids)
FIL $75
my husband's nanny who was my children's nanny $100
friend's kids -around $25 each
my BFF $50
co-workers - $5 each
my boss - $25
my daughters' friends $50 to $75

During the year, I buy little for b-days and such. My daughters play in the band and are getting instruments. I also include a lot of items I would buy anyway.. personal items (body wash, lotion, etc), clothing, pj's, and socks.

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S.O.

answers from Chicago on

2 daughters about $200.00 each
2 nieces and 3 nephews $50.00 each (Since we don't see them for their birthdays I have combined the gifts so they get one nice gift each year.Now that they are older it is $50.00 all in ones tuck in a purse, t'shirt or something they can use after they have found all the money.)
Grandparents $25-$30
We do not buy for our siblings once they have children but I do make cinnamon pecans and fudge for everyone.
Close friends children about $10.00 each
I have a close friend who I have known since highschool who's has always been wonderful to my children and I spend around $100.00 on her because she means so much to our family.
I use a lot of coupons and watch sales. This year I was able to get my father's wife beautiful earrings for 18 cents so I had plenty of money to buy her more.
I order my friend a Chicago Bears bracelet which I am paying monthly payments for without being charged interest.
Also I am getting my husband a membership to a Beer of the Month club so it will not be one big payment either. It helps when it is spread out over the year.

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C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

usually around $100 for our son, and i don't anticipate it going up too much. i just don't believe that more is necessary. my family has started drawing names (except for the kids) so that is just three gifts from us for that side. there is a $50 limit. it was getting ridiculous buying for siblings, inlaws, and kiddos. for my husbands family, his brothers don't send us or my son anything, so we usually do like a family gift, my son's latest pictures, or baked goods, and something small $20 or so, for his parents. my husband and i may spend anywhere from $30 to $100 on each other, depending on budget and what we have on our christmas lists. yikes it sounds like so much putting it out like that. how depressing. i am definitely cheap, and believe in NOT spending a ton of money on my son. he usually has three or four decent gifts, and lots of little stuff. i like to have one bigger item, but the bigger item last year was a sleeping bag with buzz lightyear on it. he was in heaven.

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M.R.

answers from Rochester on

I think my husband and I agreed on about $40 or 50 max for each other (I was pushing for $25 to $30, but he really likes gift shopping and receiving). I think our total for our kids (2 boys, 2 and 4 years old) is around $40 or so. We found things early on sale and I'm probably going to wrap up some boring things too that they need, like socks. We get something for my husband's only sister and his parents since we spend Christmas with them, and originally wanted to spend more this year, but we just had to upgrade to a van (and higher car payments) so we're just going with inexpensive and thoughtful instead. We get a few gifts for very close friends, but rarely spend more than $20 or $30 on them, sometimes just giving a gift card someplace they like but can't always afford to shop. We're all struggling this year, so I can't imagine people having high expectations for monetary value for gifts. I haven't been able to afford to send more than a framed family photo to my mom or dad in a few years. I think if you keep your families actual needs first and budget in accordance to what makes sense, you should be fine. Nobody should feel they need to go into debt around the holidays. Worst case, if you're feeling you don't have a lot and other people don't need much, a lot more people are donating to charities in people's names around the holidays and getting a card or something from the charity about the gift.

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H.H.

answers from Kansas City on

wow 300.00 each on your kids? that is a lot especially if they are getting gifts from other family members.

We spend 75-100 each on our 3 kids and they are ages 18,15, and 10. We increased that amount from 50.00 a few years ago.

On my side of the family we buy for the kids and grandparents and the adult siblings don't buy for each other but that was an agreement we made several years ago and there are 9 kids to buy for. We spend 15-20.00 each on the kids and 30.00 on the grandparents. The kids and I usually make baked goods and candy and give to the adult siblings instead of buying gifts. They enjoy having a night of baking and we usually play monopoly or board games while the food is baking. Gives us something to do as a family and also teaches them the joy of giving.

On hubby's side our kids are the only grandkids and he has a small family--mom, sister, aunt, and uncle. We spend 25-30.00 each on his side. They spend a lot more but they feel like our kids are their pride and joy and they have the money to spend so our kids get more from his side than mine but they are happy and content with the gifts they get from everyone.

They probably get around $400-500 each if we added all the gifts they receive from us and all the family on both sides.

We also get involved in the gift giving for needy families at church and pick a few kids to buy a gift for.

Christmas is more about giving to others and not receiving. If you aren't teaching your kids to buy for other family members, how are they going to know about the blessing of giving to others?

Our kids feel like they get a lot and are very thankful and content with their gifts. They don't seem to be disappointed that their friends get more than they do.

Merry Christmas!

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S.G.

answers from Oklahoma City on

due to the economy, i personally focus on my children and husband, how much i spend all depends, i've always tried to make sure the # of presents is even, but because they are getting older and reqs are getting more expensive.....1 may be all they get (plus stocking stuffers) it all just depends for me

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S.R.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Hi S.

I spend quite a bit, but I save all year long, I start putting aside money in Jan, so when I am shopping, also throughout the year, I am paying cash.
So here goes, hubby~ about $500, more this year as I am getting him a 40 inch flat screen tv (surprise for him!)
3 kids (ages 16,13 and 8) about $400 each (this includes clothes and other practical things like pj/robe/slippers, bedding, along with toys/games/electronics)
my parents~ about $200
sister and her hubby~ $150 2 nieces~ $35 each
1 neice on hubbys side~$20
2 godchildren~ $20 each
and I have a home daycare with 9 children $15-25 each child and then about $10-15 per parents (this year I am making a scrapbook for each child, and that is almost $20 with the scrapbook and photo developing) plus I make fudge and other goodies for them.

So I spend a lot but some is definitely practical and useful such as gift cards that I know they will use.I also live in an area that isn't really affected by the economy, in fact, my income is higher than the previous 2 years in my daycare.

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T.M.

answers from St. Louis on

My two boys: $100 each

My siblings/parents: $25 each--This used to be around $50 before we had kids...we decided to cut back on the 30-year olds to give the babes more! Next year we are planning to "opt out" (no kids on this side except my two) and buy for some of the charity opportunities through our church instead.

My husband's siblings and parents: no gifts, just buy for the kids $25 each

Teachers: this is our first year buying for preschool teachers, so probably about $10-15 each (2 teachers)

Hubby and I don't usually buy for each other, and we don't buy for anyone else (friends, coworkers, the mailman, etc.).

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B.C.

answers from Dallas on

We buy for our 2 kids, two siblings on his side, 2 siblings on my side, 2 nieces, 4 parents.
On our kids, about $200/each, siblings is $20-30, nieces and nephews is $20/each and about $40/each on our parents.

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J.S.

answers from St. Louis on

We buy for: My 3 year old son--$200
Our parents--$50 per parent
Nieces and nephews--$10 - $20 each
My son's preschool teachers--$20 each
The teachers' assistants--$15 each
My husband and I do buy for each other too. Usually only spend around $50 on each other. Sometimes a little more.

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