OK, I think many of us parents are afraid of being 'shamed' for our very non mustachian christmas plans with our kids. Not many of us on this forum have posted yet...
I will go first with the extravagance. Our Family income this year spiked up to just $200k. We really noticed the extra cash and after maxing everything out, the money is still more than we are used to. We (and especially DH) thinks that Christmas is the time to go big. Birthdays, not much around here...so... splash at Christmas, with people screeching in fun from stocking stuffers all day and chasing each other is what it is about...
2 Teenagers, husband.... (doesn't include nieces)
Skipants, matress foam topper, ski goggles, sailing PFD, sailing gloves, a new video game (what is that hot one out with a "4" in it?, 3d digital pen, Cycle Analyst V3 (for the new electical bike DH is building), leather belt... and a whole ton of stocking stuffers from "Wish" on-line (chinese buy site). Fun, cheap, disposable items that will hit the trash in a year.... e.g costume jewelery, fake tattoo sleeves, digital star projector, journal, cell phone power pack, t-shirt, waterproof bags for cellphones, flipflops,etc. Most wish items are $2-$5 each plus shipping and take 4+ weeks to arrive. This is my DH's dream of a Christmas.
For our parents, we simply are donated a good sum to their chosen charity, with the kids helping to select which programs the funds would be directed too. We have also bought the whole family tickets to the Pops symphony for their 50th wedding anniversay next week. Mostly it is about time together... but 50 years married deserved a bit more acknowledgement, we think.
Merry Christmas.