How Much Have You Spent
By discodaisy
@discodaisy (168)
United States
5 responses
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
23 Dec 06
Ugh... my gut response to the question is always "too much!" ... LOL But that's not really true. I guess I've spent around $1000-1200 or so (if it's more than that, I don't really want to know!), for 3 adults and 3 kids (age range is 8-16 years old).
I don't set a specific limit per child, no. What I usually do is wait and see if they will have a Christmas list (and I try to encourage them to write one because it sure helps!). Then I compare the lists (for my own two daughters) and I see how things line up. I try to get them each one larger / special gift that they are wishing for and try to keep those in the same price range. Then I work my way down from that, buying less expensive things. Mainly, my goal is to spend the same overall amount on each child to keep things really fair.
I don't buy much for the girls, my husband or other family during the year... I'm really not a shopper (it's not something I like doing) so they get gifts for their birthdays and at Christmas, with mostly just necessities the rest of the time. So, I save my money and try to make Christmas really special. That's why I don't begrudge spending more money than I probably should. It's my one time to really spoil them :)
@discodaisy (168)
• United States
23 Dec 06
I have four children to buy for, they range in age from 6-16. I have found as they get older that their wants are more along the lines of Electronics and well, that's just expensive. I have three who wanted electronics this year. I try to limit it to about $200.00 per child IF we can afford it. I usually try to pick up an extra little side job or way of making money come October to start earning for Christmas. I don't like to dip into our regular living money or savings for Christmas. We try to get them one major thing they've asked for and then stream down from that.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
23 Dec 06
You sound a lot like me! I don't like to take money from other places (you know that "robbing Peter to pay Paul" thing?) for Christmas. That's why I try hard to save separately for the holidays, putting away what I can. I also don't do credit for Christmas. The only reason I'll use credit cards for Christmas shopping is if I order items online -- something I did more of this year just for the plain convenience of it! But I only spend what I know I can pay off... I see no logic or worth in still paying off Christmas by the following July!
Oh boy, I hear ya on the electronics!!! My 13 year old, all she asked for is the Nintendo DS Lite (PINK, of course) and a game for that, plus games for the PS2 (including EyeToy games, which are beyond impossible to find where we live!!). I kept asking if there might not be something else she wanted... and she said, "but I LIKE the games." Fortunately, she isn't fussy on which ones she gets... she doesn't have to have the newest ones out and she's just as happy with some that have been around for awhile. I was able to pick up a couple of older games for around $18 apiece. That really helped with the overall expense for her.
The comparable item for her sister is a digital camera this year. I shopped and shopped and shopped, waiting to find one at a decent price. When I finally found one I liked, the same store had the memory cards at half price, which worked out great. I'm such a sales hound LOL I don't think I ever pay full price for anything unless I'm forced to! ;)
@tanaclark (570)
• United States
2 Jan 07
I went way over budget this year. The price of gifts this year are just way overpriced. I bought for alot of people and spent nearly $3000.00 about $1500.00 more than I had budgeted for. I guess next year I will be pricing things before I set my budget. Thank you for this subject.
