jerica388 Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 I do. In early October I start an Excel spreadsheet with a tab for each of my children and one shared tab for everyone else. On the kids' tab I have all of the items on their Christmas lists, the best price I can find on each item, and where I found that price. I look through the list and highlight the items in yellow that I intend to buy from me & DH or Santa. Once I buy and item I change the color to green and put in the actual price paid (if it is different than what I had listed previously). If I find the item on sale and go back and do a price match I update the price then too. It is really handy because I can look at the green items and see what I have already purchased and the yellow items to see what I still have left to buy. A copy of this list goes to my MIL after BF, and she knows that any items that are not highlighted are the ones I am not planning to purchase and she concentrates on those (so I usually try to leave 1 or 2 good items per kid for her to get). I pretty much use the same system for everyone else who is listed on the shared tab. I also keep a binder with hard copies of the lists and all receipts in my car, in case I need to check the list or need a receipt for a price adjustment while I am out in town. I really like to be organized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelashly Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 I have to. I make a budget and do my best to stick to it. I spend 30 on everyone. If it is between 30-35 then it is ok, but I don't do much more than that. I will be using excel this year. I usually do a list of who/what I want to buy first. Then as I buy I put what I bought and the amount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanni Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 Not usually, but we are cutting way back this year. We have gotten ridiculous... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshi'sdad Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I just read an article that this year according to the gallup poll, Americans will spend around $740.00 on Christmas this year. I have no idea how many people they buy for. I know this year My spending will be less. I have tweens now who want the higher end electronics. I plan on getting my family one expensive item and a few cheapo presents. How about you all. I have to purchase for 6 people this year, my budget is higher than the average but I will be spending about half as much last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racerfan Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I will also be spending less this year. So far I have gotten some really good deals on the gifts for my two tweens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjncmj Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I already have most of my gifts that I either bought too much of last year or found on sale throughout the year. Except for a few new presents, the main thing I'm buying this x-mas is Zhu Zhu Pets and accessories. Total I'll probably spend under $300 and that's for 4 kids and small items for husband, brother, Sister-in-law and mother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgmckny Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I am spending a little more than that this year since I am getting the boys laptops, but that is pretty much their entire Christmas, dh and I are not doing much for each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bugsette Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 that would be interesting to know how many people that would involve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacya Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 we are spending less than usual...we are doing $10 Christmas with my BIL and SIL's kids and our kids (she got a great deal on Target clearance, and it was a challenge to me to meet it...DONE!)...my other nieces and nephew that I buy for, it's $30 each...dh and I don't buy for each other because we'd rather buy for our kids...we have a third child this year, but since it's her first Christmas, and she doesn't need much, she won't be getting much (she will only be 6 months)...I overbuy for my oldest, but save many things for his birthday that falls about 4 weeks after Christmas, so that's how I justify that...we buy for each set of parents, and other than that, no one else...this year, I've gotten 90% certificates from restaurant.com, getting free photoboooks, and used my $15 Kodak gift to get photo mugs, and that's it for all of them, too...must.be.frugal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffkin79 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 We are buying for 33 poeple, including 6 teacher gifts. It looks like we will be spending around $500. We have already spent about $275 and have more than half of the gifts taken care of. It really helped that we got a bunch of stuff at clearance sale prices throughout the year, otherwise we could easily go over that $740. Way over. That only includes gifts, though. We will be spending a couple hundred more on food, a christmas party, and trips to Grandmas' houses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elena_398 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I blew that $750 out of the water. My 15 yr old son has already gotten: Ipod touch 16gb and black leather case X-box 360: Borderlands, left 4 dead 2 (preorder), Modern Warfare (picking this up tonight at midnight! They are having a release party) and another game He already is playing, but knows its one of his "christmas" gifts. 13 month XBox live card, Clothes, Cologne, New Fusion Giftset w/ replacement cartridges for the razor, Silk boxers and pajama pants... Some DS games (mario)... Theres more but I can't think of them now- all hidden. Total for him is around $600. I also have a 9 year old daughter. I won't go into detail what I've gotten her, but I know I bought too much. I have spent around $500-600 on her too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeddiva Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I think that $740 is way low...we are very conservative for Christmas, only buying for about 15 people and we still spend around $1000. The breakdown: Kids: $150 (X3) DH: $150 Me: $150 MIL: $50 Mom: $50 InLaws: $100 and that leaves $50 for things like wrapping paper, tape, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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