Xmas and Birthdays - how much?

youngmum_2

I wonder if you all wouldn't mind sharing with me how much you allocate each person for their xmas/birthday present.

I'm trying to get the balance right you see but am a bit unsure of how much is a reasonable amount?

I have myself and my husband, my 2 sons, both sets of parents, SIL and BIL and their 2 girls and my nephew to buy for.

Thanks in advance.

Mrs_Arkwright

I try and stick to a tenner for everyone else, and this Christmas trying to stick to 50 each for the kids - which is a massive reduction on previous years when they've had about 250 on them. Madness I know.

Unfortunately my brother and sister quite inconsiderately have 7 kids between them, so I can't afford to spend much more than a tenner each nowadays.

I suppose it depends how much leeway you have in your budget.

loobyloo1980

I now allocate brothers & sister in law £10 each
Parents £10 each
In laws £10 each
Friend's daughter £5
Nanna £10
Hubby and I - depends what we can afford
Our kids £50 each
cousin's kids £5 each

That was drastically cut back from about £20 per person a year or so ago, and £150 for each of my kids!!! I am now really good at sticking to the above budgets and often find gifts worth more, but in the sale so cost less.

lynsayjane

i guess other than the kids it's just really a 'token' pressie. i guess whatever fits in with your budget, though probably no more than £30 for the adults. your neice and nephew can probably get away with that too. i'm not a mother myself so there are folk better qualified to advise on your own kids xmas.

jessicamb

I dont have a large family so I can spend a bit more as it doesnt have to go as far.

parents/brother up to £20 each
granparents up to £15 each (but preferably £10ish)
anybody else (secret santa etc) £10 very max.

I dont have kids/lots of people to buy for though so I can spend that bit more.

justanothermuppet_2

We don't have any kids, but I do have a rather large family so I try to stick to somewhere between £5 & £10 each (maybe stretching up to £15 for my parents).

I thought I did really well last Christmas and the most expensive present I bought was £6!

I guess it all depends on your circumstances really. Our parents always used to spend £100 on us at Christmas & £20 at birthdays. I know some people prefer to spend more on birthdays rather than Christmas, as it usually spreads the costs over the year.

Josie64

it will be £0 for son this xmas due to the fact that the tightfisted teenager has'nt bothered to get me or hubby or his nan even a 50p card for our birthdays this year - but it will be £10 on hubby and my mum.

last xmas we got 24 pressies for son and spent approx 150.00, 50p/1.00 boxes of chocs, cheap dvd's/music cd's from supermarket bargains boxes, ben sherman shirts from ebay approx fiver each, the usual socks & smellies etc , the 'main' present is no 24 , he opens a pressies every half hour , that way xmas lasts all day...

me and my mum find it a challenge to see how many presents we can get for £10 (getting 10 pressies from poundland doesn't count!)

in the past I have made craft items as xmas/birthday presents which my mum still has years later , padded covered coathanger/tissue box covers/peg bag/lavender bags.

But its just cards to aunties/uncles/other family members for xmas and same for birthdays.

Boomdocker

I tend to stick to £5-10 for aunt/uncles/grandparents. More for parents and sisters of course.

However, I am a canny shopper and maximise special offers and sales thru the year. For Christmas last year M&S had a 3 for 2 offer on a really nice range of boxed hand creams/body lotions that were £5 each that I knew they would appreciate. I got three for a tenner. Meaning their gift last year was under budget at around £3.33 each!

The important thing to remember in all of this is you got someone a lovley, thoughtful gift BUT they don't know what you paid for it.

poppy_f1

my mum only really buys for my cousins kids but what she does is buy bits and pieces throughout the year, so if in the next sale she sees a nice tshirt then she buys it for one birthday then if she sees something esle it will do for christmas

shes has gotten some decent bargains by doing this and the 2 kids are right girly girls she can get away with clothes kids makeup etc

livinginhope

Is all this present buying really necessary? I'm not a hard faced person ,but if you have any money problems,you can't buy presents,it really is that simple.If people understand your financial position I don't think they would really feel comfortable accepting gifts knowing you can't afford them.As already said if you HAVE to buy presents,the challenge of finding as many presents for a tenner is probably the best way to go.
My idea of the perfect present is not something I need,or want or costs a lot,it is something that has been thought out and unexpected,a torch and a pair of knickers really doesn't fit that criteria :rolleyes:

K9cuddles

I used to splash the cash at xmas and birthdays about £20-£30 on close family and £15 on friends.

But this year I've been saving monthly for bonus bonds to spend at Christmas. I plan to do all my xmas on £135 for everyone!! And then another £135 in Jan Sales for everyones birthday pressies for that year! I have a whole box already collected a few bargain's this year suitable for people. I agree.. buying pointless pressies isn't worth the effort, but you can get a balance! I'm hoping not to spend £135 in the sales, cause then I can treat myself to something!