Author Topic: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?  (Read 14221 times)

kolorado

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What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« on: November 29, 2012, 10:06:00 AM »
I'm just curious what "super savers" spend on their kids during these times.
We don't celebrate the holidays but we have three family birthdays Christmas week. We haven't changed our budget for these in 10 years: $200 per person. In the case of an adult birthday, the other adult spends half on surprise gifts and the other half is spending cash to buy what we want. $100 is twice our normal monthly spending allowance so with a bit of savings from a regular allowance added in we can get something pretty cool with it. This year I told my hubby I was using my $100 towards my laptop replacement and he asked if I'd be ok with forgoing the surprise presents this year to put the money toward the laptop. He really hates shopping for me so I agreed to it. The kids will still be gifting something to me and my parents will be staying with us then so I know I'll still get a present or two on my birthday. ;)
With the kids, we can make $200 stretch pretty far. I aim for at least 25% of their gifts to be secondhand or homemade.

tooqk4u22

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2012, 10:54:23 AM »
Budget is $500 for three kids - mostly fun stuff but we throw in some clothes or stuff that we would otherwise buy for activities (think hockey stick, dance shoes)

gecko10x

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2012, 11:03:33 AM »
Our birthday budget is roughly $100/person for immediate family. Others get around $25.

Our xmas budget is $150 for wife and I, $100 each for the kids, and $25 each for everyone else. I think.

Mrs MM

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2012, 12:45:06 PM »
I buy one thing for my son.  It is usually $30 or less.  This year I got him a paper airplane book and a journal for our trip to Hawaii.

We usually send homemade cards out to family that includes a drawing from the little guy and some printed pictures.  Sometimes I do an e-mail instead - a long friendly e-mail.  For teachers, we give them drawings and a nice homemade thank you card.

We don't give store bought gifts to anyone except the one thing for Jr MM.

Over the years it has become less and less.  Honestly, I think friends and family are relieved that they don't have to shop for us.  We never formally announced anything, it just sort of worked out that way. 

We usually go away somewhere for xmas every year, so that's part of the "gift" I guess.  I used to be a huge gift giver, by the way, spending a lot of time and money on getting just the right thing...

LadyM

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2012, 01:20:27 PM »
We budget about $500 for the entire holiday, and that includes: printing and postage for homemade Christmas cards, any wrapping or decorations we guy (which is typically little to none), homemade cookie care packages for a few distant relatives, small gifts for our parents, $100 split between 6 nieces and nephews, $100 for each of our 2 kids, and $40 each for my husband and I.  It still seems extravagant, and of course if we had to we could reduce that further.  Last year we were tighter, and spent around $350 for the entire holiday, and all of the above things.  I think this year we’re in a better place, our kids are older, and we want to get them some more engaging toys (board games, legos, art supplies) than in the past.  And seeing as we’re in a better spot financially than we were a year ago, it feels nice to be able to expand the budget a bit.

All that being said, as our financial picture continues to improve, we probably won’t let the budget get much bigger than $500, because it does feel extravagant enough. 

TheDude

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2012, 01:25:23 PM »
I am such a bad Mustachian. I dont really have a budget. I often buy something big for all of use (last year we bought a computer) and then a 100-200 on my wife. Out child is only 2 so far we havent really spent anything. This year he will probably get some books (geared towards using the potty) and my wife is making him a play house out of cardboard. Thats probably what he will get the from us but the grandparents will certainly buy him some more.

LadyM

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2012, 01:51:54 PM »
For me, half the battle is tracking it.  I set up a spreadsheet and plug every little thing into it, down to the stocking stuffers.  It's too easy to go off the rails if you don't keep an eye on it, which I've learned from watching my parents over the years; typically they don't realize what they've spent until the credit card bills come.

chicagomeg

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2012, 03:09:33 PM »
I'm just curious what "super savers" spend on their kids during these times.
We don't celebrate the holidays but we have three family birthdays Christmas week. We haven't changed our budget for these in 10 years: $200 per person. In the case of an adult birthday, the other adult spends half on surprise gifts and the other half is spending cash to buy what we want. $100 is twice our normal monthly spending allowance so with a bit of savings from a regular allowance added in we can get something pretty cool with it. This year I told my hubby I was using my $100 towards my laptop replacement and he asked if I'd be ok with forgoing the surprise presents this year to put the money toward the laptop. He really hates shopping for me so I agreed to it. The kids will still be gifting something to me and my parents will be staying with us then so I know I'll still get a present or two on my birthday. ;)
With the kids, we can make $200 stretch pretty far. I aim for at least 25% of their gifts to be secondhand or homemade.

I budget $125/month for birthdays and Christmas. Basically, I buy whatever birthday presents are "due" that month, then put the rest aside for Christmas. The budget breaks down like this:
$50 for parents for Birthdays/Christmas and Mother's Day/Father's Day
$100 for each other (but $50 for Christmas this year as we just moved and had to trim a little from the budget)
$30 for each of our sisters
$20 for my friends (I buy 2 of them Christmas gifts and 2 of them birthday gifts to spread out the burden a little)
$15 for b-day gifts for my nieces, $30 for Christmas

I think next year once our debts are fully paid off, I might add a small amount to it as right now we have no budget for anniversary/Valentine's gifts for each other. Honestly though, it's kind of nice not having to stress about coming up with something.

ShavenLlama

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #8 on: November 29, 2012, 04:16:48 PM »
I usually spend about $25 on birthday gifts, and about the same on Christmas gifts. A few years ago my husband's family decided to pull names for the adults so we each only have to worry about 1 gift, and we get a gift for each nephew. I also do a couple of low-dollar white elephant exchanges for the friends and the neighbors.

This year I have told everyone that I am doing home-made gifts, and they should feel that it is OK to take that route as well should they choose to get me a gift. For the family, I pulled a crazy uncle out of the name hat and he will be getting some Packers themed cornhole beanbags and some bandannas for his dogs if I have leftover material.

Between my husband and I, it's a different story. We're really bad about spending a ton on each other (new iPad, fancy Dewalt router setup with fixed and plunge bases...).

kolorado

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #9 on: November 29, 2012, 05:20:17 PM »
I completely forgot to mention that last year's birthdays were the first time we actually spent to budget on our older two kids. They turned 9 and 7 within a couple days of each other so we bought them a trampoline as a joint gift along with a few other small things. That $160 was what did it. ;) We spent just $70 on our toddler's 2nd birthday this year. I put the unspent remainder of the budgeted money in their savings accounts.
I grew up without holiday gifts in a family of five kids. My parents really made our birthdays special. Unfortunately, learning how to manage all our "stuff" wasn't included in the gifting. I remember the bedroom I shared with my sister being wall-to-wall, 6 inches deep of toys and clothes and projects at all times. So I'm trying very hard to make our kids feel completely spoiled on their day but also capable of managing not only what they currently own but also whatever we gift to them. It's a really hard line to walk seeing how they are children and of course will mismanage their stuff in general. I just don't want to make it harder for them. We regularly sort their things and remove things to toss or donate. So far they aren't terribly interested or enthusiastic about doing it, nor are they upset so that's good I suppose.

gooki

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #10 on: November 30, 2012, 12:49:35 AM »
$40 per adult, and about $15 per child.

BPA

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2012, 10:19:29 AM »
$150/child, but my daughter was so ungrateful about her presents last year, that $100 of hers is going into her college fund.  Her only other present is a nice school sweatshirt with her last name stitched on the hood.

Usually $100 for my boyfriend.  $50 for my mother.  $25 for my boyfriend's parents as they are hosting Christmas dinner.

My boyfriend and I are currently on work to rule, so we may ditch the spending for each other.   The problem is that he's already bought my present.  Maybe he could hold off until my birthday though.  And I may need to speak to my mother.  She insists on buying presents even when we ask her not to. 

NumberJohnny5

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2013, 11:07:31 PM »
Don't have much of a budget.  Trying to not buy buy buy lots of crap...er...stuff.  Birthdays may be $10 or so in toys bought on clearance or at op-shops (thrift stores).  Christmas...can't remember, they got some stuff from us, but the big gift was from Nana (a $100 dollhouse, son got a $4 board game we picked out and the other $96 was put in the "save" category of his allowance, meaning he must want an item for at least a whole day before he can use that money).

Though if you include ALL holiday spending, then ours is quite a bit as we generally take a nice vacation during that time.  Usually a cruise, maybe some Disney World thrown in (not this year, we're just a wee bit too far away to do that).  Travel is really important to us, so I don't view it as wasted money.

tmac

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2013, 06:19:48 AM »
There are 5 of us -- 2 adults, 1 teenager, 2 school-age kids. Our budget is $100 per person per gift-giving event -- so $1k for the year. We tend to go a little under on DH, myself, and the kids, and a little over on the teenager. Our extended families have never done gifts, although my parents send a small check and I include presents from them in my shopping list. They'll occasionally add a larger check for me and DH, which we use on house renovations.

Last year I discovered that it's easier for me to stick to the budget if I do all of the regular gift shopping at once, on-line. I try to shop from just one vendor, unless there's something specific I can find cheaper elsewhere. Then I can tally the costs before hitting the buy button and reduce where I need to. I leave a few dollars out so I can shop for cheap stocking stuffers the week or two before the holiday itself.

Birthday parties for the kids are never expensive, but not because any sort of self-restraint. We just don't have many friends where we live (atheists in the Bible Belt), and no family, and entertaining stresses me out. So we pick an activity, invite a few school friends, bake a cake, and call it a day. I still don't enjoy it though, so I'm seriously considering offering a fun weekend trip instead. It would cost a little more, but would totally be worth it.

lauren_knows

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2013, 06:33:20 AM »
Typically, my wife and I don't exchange for our birthdays. We'll often just cook for eachother, and potentially go do something fun (bike ride, watch a movie, whatever).   For Christmas, in the past it has been $100/head limit (for eachother and family), but in the last few years we've majorly pared down. 

This year, we managed to get my side of the family to agree to not exchange gifts since they were all in financial trouble (underemployment, "forced" retirement, etc).  For that instance, we made each one of them a stocking full of no more than $50 in things, just to make it feel like the holidays.  It's funny, because my wife's side of the family heard about the no-gifts idea, and asked "Hey, why weren't we asked if we wanted in on that?".  If we hadn't already got them a group gift, we would have.

Things will be a little different for us, since we have a 9mo old (our first), but we're not ones to go overboard.


oldtoyota

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #15 on: May 07, 2013, 06:33:08 PM »
For my birthday this year, I am asking for $200 additional to be put toward the mortgage in my birthday month.

Thankfully, SIL and BIL want to cut back on xmas, which is great! Now, we have to get MIL on board. She shows her love via gifts. In the past, I've welcomed people to buy me used books. They can pickles and so on, so I've hinted that I'm fine with some pickles and jam.

I do not really need anything.

How would you handle a sibling who appears to spend quite a bit on you when you are trying to cut back? I thought I'd made it clear about cutting back. Should I ask her about setting a price limit? Or, maybe we could draw names?



BPA

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #16 on: May 08, 2013, 03:30:53 PM »
My boyfriend and I have decided not to buy presents for each other anymore and we don't buy for one another's kids either, only our own.  That's new this year and MMM inspired.

bevathome

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #17 on: May 23, 2013, 09:29:19 AM »
We budget $200/mo for gifts (down from $225/mo in 2012), with about half the spending occurring in December for Christmas and December family birthdays.  My husband and I both come from large families and everyone gives birthday gifts to each other.  For Christmas, the adults draw names on one side and started doing a hilarious white elephant exchange on the other side.  It all seems like way too much, but it has been difficult trying to get so many people to change their ways.

killingxspree

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #18 on: May 28, 2013, 09:38:24 AM »
I don't have a 'budget' because to be honest if I can't find buy them something they really want then I don't want to waste money on buying them just something 'in the budget' unless its in the budget and the thing they want (thats awesome but when was the last time that happened to you?)...
Often times I ask for nothing because I don't want to sound too greedy but then people take it upon themselves to get my something I don't want anyway which i find just wasteful. Then I have to pretend to me grateful to receive something useless like a diary or moisturiser that I will have to find a way to flog onto someone else (I don't like) who doesn't know the original person that gave it to me so I don't seem like an ungrateful brat. I feel bad the person went to the effort and spent money to show me they appreciate me by buying me something I don't/want need. (not saying I wouldn't be happy with $5 on the mortgage or something like that but usually I recieve a useless gift like a pretty notebook/diary. What am I supposed to do with that when I already have a phone that does that? recycle the paper?)
On the other hand I understand sometimes things are completely out of our budget. Like my little brother asked me for a trampoline because his old one is a deathtrap. (I dislocated my shoulder on it not too long ago...parents still maintain the trampoline was not at fault...) Well I shopped around hard but still couldn't find something I was comfortable paying for, I explained this to him gently so not to hurt his sweet feelings, so instead I bought him a jumping pass to a trampoline park. (now nagging parents for a new trampoline even more though =p) Not ideal but I think it was an exceptionally fun substitute. In general though I beg people not to buy me gifts. Usually its because I can't think of anything I would want or need and I find it socially unacceptable to just ask for money like pay for my groceries or eating out because people just expect eating out is already part of the deal and not a treat which is frustrating to say the least when the unexpectedly take you out to your favourite restaurant and try to flog perfume on you AND pay for your meal.

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #19 on: September 13, 2013, 08:20:06 AM »
Our gifts budget for the whole year is $1000 and that includes any weddings we are invited too, all birthdays (family and friends) and Christmas.

Our kids are still really little so we don't go too crazy. Usually a small toy for the birthday, and book/pajamas/small toy for Christmas.

kkbmustang

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #20 on: September 13, 2013, 10:24:18 PM »
My husband and I have two kids, ages 8 and 10. For their birthdays they get a budget of $250 which covers their party and gift. They plan their party, including entertainment, food, cake, party favors, etc. Whatever is left over they get to keep to spend on their birthday present. We track the budget and spending in a spreadsheet with them so they see where the money goes. We tried this for the first time last year and it worked so well the kids asked to do it again this year. We were more than happy to oblige.

For Christmas, it breaks down like this (per person):

Our parents: $40 each
Our grandmothers:$50
Our siblings:$25
Our nieces/nephews:$25
Each other:$50 (in the form of gifts the kids buy for us and a small gift we get each other)

For birthdays:
Our parents:$25
Our nieces/nephews:$15

We don't get birthday gifts for other family members.

For our birthdays, there is a family gift from the kids and the non-birthday parent:$15

Birthday gifts for our kids' friends for birthday parties:$15

elaine amj

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #21 on: October 17, 2013, 11:45:19 PM »
DH and I don't buy gifts for each other for any occasion. We didn't start buying ($20-$30) Christmas presents for the kids until they were 7/8 and old enough to notice. For the kids birthdays, they get to choose a family activity that we do together on their special day. For years, it was a day at Chuck E Cheese or something that cost me $20-$40 (with awesome coupons). It's getting more elaborate nowadays. This year, my DD combined it with her bday party - took her BFF and my son's friend camping for a weekend. I'm thinking of an overnight trip to Kalahari for his bday - although I will still throw him a separate party.

I kind of like the idea of a party/present budget that they get to plan and choose. Might go that route for my son. Although we've been wanting a trip to Kalahari anyway and I would kill two birds with one stone.

galliver

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #22 on: October 18, 2013, 12:25:20 AM »
For Christmas, it's...

About $20-40 for important people (parents, sisters, best friend since age 8, boyfriend, his family). Often combine parental/family presents--allows me to get better stuff, not junk. :)
Under $10 for advisor, planned to give something to dept staff last year but it was a food-related idea and I got sick during the week I was going to execute it, so no go.
Homemade treats for grad school friends. I'm famous for my oatmeal-raisin cookies. :D

I look for cute cards on mega-sale after Christmas and use them the next year. :)

For birthdays it's actually similar, but I don't (typically) give my parents, my bf's family, or department/work people birthday gifts. For friends/coworkers I either make treats or buy them a drink.

Don't have kids, but growing up we didn't get much for Christmas (actually New Year's, but the traditions stem from the same place); typically $10-50 in gifts per person depending on year. For our birthdays it varied widely; often this was a time for my parents to get us big-ticket items we needed anyway, it was just nominally attached to the  birthday.  One interesting factor, my parents rarely got us toys or games (most of those were from friends). We did get sports equipment, craft tools (new markers!), books... We were also raised not to give money or gift cards. As teenagers, our parents stopped picking out gifts on our (overseas) grandparents' behalf and relegated that task to us, but as younger kids we didn't ever get money or gift cards from family.

Norrie

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #23 on: October 18, 2013, 07:49:34 AM »
My friends and I gave each other the gift of no gifts years ago, and it's been wonderful to not have to worry about finding stuff for them, their kids, their husbands, etc.

We have a fairly small family, and this year we've budgeted $500. I forgot about the kids' teachers when coming up with that number, so it may go up a bit. My parents always go way, way overboard on our kids, and so we try to stay low-key about it. Dh and I often skip gifts for each other, or get things that are needed. For his birthday, he got a new pair of headphones for work, and a new backpack for tour. For my birthday, I really don't want or need anything.

I try to get most of our shopping done early (by about the middle to end of November), so I don't have any last second panicked gift buying.

SnackDog

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #24 on: October 18, 2013, 06:17:27 PM »
Zero! Zip! Zilch!

oldtoyota

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #25 on: October 18, 2013, 08:09:53 PM »
December: $150 for gifts for 12 people.

Birthdays: We buy each other mostly stuff we'd need to buy anyway. It's fun to have the items be gifts. For instance, my spouse's laptop bag was torn so I bought a new one as a gift.

We stopped exchanging with one segment of the family. I think they went the frugal way too. Yay for that!

For parents, we often make a gift--homemade granola, key lime pie--and maybe add a book or photos of the kidlet.



« Last Edit: October 18, 2013, 08:14:38 PM by oldtoyota »

cbgg

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #26 on: October 29, 2013, 05:00:51 PM »

We usually go away somewhere for xmas every year, so that's part of the "gift" I guess.  I used to be a huge gift giver, by the way, spending a lot of time and money on getting just the right thing...

It would be interesting to learn more about why/how you made the transition.  I come from a family of extremely generous gift givers and I feel like ungrateful/cheap if I don't reciprocate.  I honestly wish we could take all the gift giving out of these recurring occasions and just focus on enjoying time and experiences together. 

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #27 on: October 30, 2013, 07:08:19 AM »
We used to do about $100-200 per person for Christmas, but as our family grows this is getting hard.  My parents are really really generous gift givers.  It feels really excessive to open so many gifts.  This year we have really tightened up our spending so we will probably give mostly homemade/craigslist treasure gifts that are more useful and practical.  We have some homemade wine that needs bottled and cured ham and bacon from our pastured pigs that we could give to some people.  Our son is turning one right before Christmas but is still too young to really understand presents so we probably won't get much for him.  I am trying to get my family to limit their spending on each of us for gifts but I don't think they will.  Luckily, I convinced my mom to get us grocery or amazon gift cards, but she will still probably shower our son with new toys and clothes.

netskyblue

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #28 on: October 30, 2013, 07:18:40 AM »
I spend $200 on the BF for birthday and $200 for Christmas.

Parents and 2 sisters each get $100 worth of gifts for birthdays, $50 for Christmas. 

There's $50 for a gift for our extended family's gift exchange, $50 for each parent for Mother's/Father's day, and $20 more that I budget for the small things that come up at work (we usually chip in $10 for the boss for a gift card at Christmas, and there's usually a collection asking $5 or so if a co-worker has a death in the family).

So that's $1170, or $97.50/month.  I know it's high, but it does make me happy to do.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2013, 07:21:34 AM by netskyblue »

citrine

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Re: What is your budget for the holidays and birthdays?
« Reply #29 on: October 30, 2013, 08:38:23 AM »
$100 per kid/my parents.  DH and I will get something together, usually for the house or put it towards the mortgage.  Our budget is $1000 for Christmas...includes all gifts, food, Christmas cards, client gifts, and silly bouts of panicked gift giving which I am prone to :)  We also use the leftover to buy reduced decorations/cards/etc. for next year.