As of now, how much do you plan on spending this holiday?

[Brad]

Realizing that BF is 20 weeks away, compared to previous years, how much do you plan on spending for the holidays this year?

 

Feel free to reply with any comments as well. The results we get for polls like this will be used when making our official BF predictions and possibly for media interviews as well, so your comments could appear in a news story

[jbdinos]

I voted approximately the same. However, I have gotten a lot of good deals on video games already so my kids and the grandbabies are actually going to get more gifts to open but without breaking the bank.

[freesia39]

Still a bit early for me, I can probably make a more accurate guess in October, when I see how the economy shapes up.

[mgmckny]

Probably about the same but it might be more as last year was very tight for us and we have some improvement (at least if dh stays well, etc). Would like to upgrade the boys computers, etc.

[pogiporkchop]

Copy that.... I have a strong feeling that I'll be spending a lot less after all the things I ended up returning last year because DH raised a big stink after telling me to go out and shop!

[sweetdiggity]

In the past, I've usually only spent a couple of hundred on BF, but this year I will be spending a little more. Not too much, but at least $100-$200 more.

 

The reason is - I've started saving earlier. Like last year, I didn't even start thinking of BF until sometime in October, which didn't give me much time to save. lol Then BF came and I wished I had a little more money!

But, this year I've been putting a little money away each month, and 20 weeks is still plenty of time. so, I planned ahead this year.

[persse3]

I am planning slightly less because I plan on doing more shopping on BF and getting better deals. Although last year at Walmart was crazy.

[berry1014]

We will be spending less because we will have less money.

[biomajor]

My car is paid off this year, so I'll spend about what I planned last year and didn't have to spend LOL

 

Last year wasn't a good Christmas for me. I got stiffed on a job that I was going to use to help with Christmas money.

[julz0420]

I voted for around the same.

 

I always say I'm not going to go crazy and I always end up spending around 1000 on Madison (dd) and then between dh and I we spend another 500-1000. Then nieces and nephews (total of 12) plus my parents, inlaws.

 

Total all in all we spend around 2500 or so on Christmas. (eek! LOL)

[speeddiva]

I voted for the same. We just spend what we put in our Christmas Club account & that amount doesn't change.

[stacy0479]

I voted less. I am not working but getting unemployment so it is hard to save money this year.

[msdunning1986]

Slightly more here. As my boys get older thier preferance of toys gets more expensive!

[Great Dane Mom]

I said slightly more as we are going to Disney World on January 1. I'm including the costs associated with the trip as Christmas expenses.

[samisma]

I've already done a lot of my shopping, so it'll be slightly less this year. last year i got quite a few big ticket items. i'm going to be getting two big items this year though (hopefully, if there is a good deal on what I want) so I've been saving for them.

 

I also already have two holiday jobs lined up in addition to my normal one so I'll have extra shopping money.

[Bingy828]

I voted significantly less due to being laid off in April and planning a trip to Florida in Spring 2010. Plus, I already have quite a bit done due to starting my shopping on December 26.

 

Shelly

[abentley]

I have a lot finished already, leaving only my boys to shop for. One wants a plane ticket home, the other 2 want new desktop computers( for their new loft beds that just came). My budget is already screwed because I will be throwing a baby shower for my daughter in December, a wedding later this fall, and a trip to Disneyland for my boys in October. I am spending more than ever, but it might not be under the tree.

[JohnnyLaRue]

Significantly less based on that I am moving and last thing I need is more stuff. That and since I am moving before X-mas no point in getting my friends that live here holiday gifts.

[Gporter34]

I voted "slightly more" because I just got a promotion at work, but who knows? That could change before BF. I am just praying that it doesn't.

[harrispizza4]

We always do christmas big here but this year and next year will be "slightly less" because were saving for a new house.

[jeninpa]

I said slightly more as we are going to Disney World on January 1. I'm including the costs associated with the trip as Christmas expenses.

Oh how I wish!! I would take the kids on a Disney Cruise every year for Christmas if I didn't still have 2 that believed in Santa!! Every 2yrs just isn't enough,lmao.

 

 

 

I voted slightly more because DH's Christmas Bonus goes up every year by around $500 and that is what I use.....although I went way overboard last year and didn't even attempt to add up what I bought. After getting one laptop for $300 I HAD to get the other 2 older kids one and I didn't get a deal on theirs.....they were $419 & $459. I need to shop earlier this year,lol.

[eve]

approximately the same as previous years

[fluresentcrayon]

I voted slightly less than last year because I already found a fantastic deal on a 55" Blu-Ray player and 55" LCDtv that I had my eye on and I have it hidden from my kids till Christmas. HAHA. So I will be looking for the smaller items that are on my list

[chrisjuvers]

I voted the same as last year. Last year all 3 boys got new Nintendo DS's and a bunch of games. They got a ton of Wii games as well. This year 2 of them will get laptops and not as many games. I was going to get DS13 an ipod touch but he just used hisown money that he saved up and bought one. Who knows.

[angelbabymommy]

I voted the same as last year. Im not going overboard this year as Ive done before, well at least Im gonna try... My dd7 is to the point where she's more vocal and specific about what she wants; so far this year that is a DS, so thats #1 on my list for her right now. And then I have a dd1, who will be easy to shop for. Sooooo, I'll be spending about $800-$900 on BF this year.

[LainieB]

I voted for about the same. Although, if I find a lot in the ads it will definitely be more. I'm sure my friend I shop with will spend more. She recently adopted a 2 year old boy and I know she will want to spoil him!

[elena_398]

Probably the same.. Just fewer items. Kids are older and want electronics. DD is 9 and DS is 15. She wants an Ipod and my son wants an Ipod Touch

[cassgurlie04]

about the same unless there is something that my kids or hubby have been wanting thats on a good sale, but it seems like each year pretty much balances out with all the others.

[siczlo]

I voted the same. My dh gets paid bi-weekly, so twice a year, it's like an extra check. One of those checks is exclusively for Black Friday, the other, towards vacation.

[luckynutmeg]

Much, much less as I now have to pay for a wedding. Probably going to buy little toys for the 3 nieces and nephew and get gift cards for their parents and mine. Homemade gifts/food for everyone else. No extraneous gifts (coworkers, etc).