Hope this is not to personnal

I don't have any kids, but I do spend a bit on my niece and nephew. DH doesn't mind if I do, which I really appreciate. I try to get them things that I know they will use, and that aren't cheap plastic. For instance, DN is all about Harry Potter, and desperately wants to be a wizard, so I got him this gorgeous book called Wizardology. Also a metal detector (for kids) and soccer stuff. My sweet niece gets art supplies, board games, and Harry Potter stuff. My sister and her DH are a bit strapped for money right now too, so I've bought boots, coats, PJs, jeans and sweaters as well. I sometimes feel a little guilty but then I remember that Christmas is once a year. I never charge anything, and try not to buy junk, so, I guess that's ok. I just love this time of year and can't help myself!!

Sorry so long!

Sparrow

___________________
www.scifichics.com
 
>I don't have any kids, but I do spend a bit on my niece and
>nephew. DH doesn't mind if I do, which I really appreciate.
>I try to get them things that I know they will use, and that
>aren't cheap plastic. For instance, DN is all about Harry
>Potter, and desperately wants to be a wizard, so I got him
>this gorgeous book called Wizardology. Also a metal detector
>(for kids) and soccer stuff. My sweet niece gets art
>supplies, board games, and Harry Potter stuff. My sister and
>her DH are a bit strapped for money right now too, so I've
>bought boots, coats, PJs, jeans and sweaters as well. I
>sometimes feel a little guilty but then I remember that
>Christmas is once a year. I never charge anything, and try
>not to buy junk, so, I guess that's ok. I just love this time
>of year and can't help myself!!
>
>Sorry so long!
>
>Sparrow
>
>___________________
>www.scifichics.com




Sparrow,

What a good aunt you are!! I know I must sound like a real scrooge--LOL! Let me take a moment and try to redeem myself a little bit:eek:. Instead of a lot of gift giving within my own family (my niece and nephews have parents that can well afford to indulge them) I make several charitable donations to people that truly are needy.

Michele
 
I have 3 little kids and I spend $100 each on them, I suspect it will not change as they get older (7,4 and 2). They are happy kids, they don't know the difference. What else do I need to say? I suspect I could get away with spending even less. I think if you can afford to spend $$$ I have no problem with that, good for you! Truly!! but most people can't...but still spend it anyway, who knows why, maybe it equals love to them... which is why so many people are in so much debt and are overburdened and stressed out. Just my observation. As I am able to afford to spend more in coming years I hope it will be through Toys for Tots or something....this year I am for some reason (maybe it is Katrina or something) even more appalled that with all of the wealth in this country we can't eliminate poverty/hunger/need in our own country much less other parts of the world.

Jen
 
Well, I just got done telling a co-worker that DH and I don't usually spend too much on each other, then I turned around and bought him a special headlight for his motorcycle to the tune of $550! Yikes! Yikes again! and Tripple Yikes! I usually like to buy him one special present, then just little things, so he has things to unwrap. We like to see the presents under the tree and it so fun trying to guess what is in there. We don't have kids, so Christmas is just the two of us. We also don't have a large extended family to buy for. I guess the big question is, can you afford what you are spending? If so, who cares how much you spend? if not, then maybe there is a problem. Just my $.02.
 
I spent $400 on clothes for my granddaughter. We make an event of it, going shopping with my daughter, mother, she and I.

I will probably spend $500 on DD and SIL.
Probably $150 on mother. We go to the same stylist so I'm going to buy her a years worth of hair cuts. He's very reasonable.
Neice and nephew get $50 cash.
DB and SIL will probably get $50 cash.

I do not buy gifts for my dogs because they don't know the difference. I just give them extra hugs that day, more for me than them I guess.

I do not buy gifts for people at work.

DH and I may or may not buy gifts for one another. We really don't need or want anything. We are actually buying a house so I guess that's a gift to each other.

I save approximately $1000 in Christmas Club every year to cover it.
 
>Well, I just got done telling a co-worker that DH and I don't
>usually spend too much on each other, then I turned around and
>bought him a special headlight for his motorcycle to the tune
>of $550! Yikes! Yikes again! and Tripple Yikes! I usually
>like to buy him one special present, then just little things,
>so he has things to unwrap. We like to see the presents under
>the tree and it so fun trying to guess what is in there. We
>don't have kids, so Christmas is just the two of us. We also
>don't have a large extended family to buy for. I guess the
>big question is, can you afford what you are spending? If so,
>who cares how much you spend? if not, then maybe there is a
>problem. Just my $.02.

I agree! I give to charity and spend on my loved ones, but within my budget. I don't go into debt over it. Plus, I am insane and start buying in the summer, last year's overstocks, that sort of thing. Also do a ton of trading on ebay, and get alot of new stuff there for cheap. I do feel bad for people when I hear them say they will paying for Xmas for the next 6 months. If I had to do that I would be buying a lot less, trust me! I live in horror of debt.

Sparrow

__________________
www.scifichics.com
 
"For instance, DN is all about Harry Potter, and desperately wants to be a wizard, so I got him this gorgeous book called Wizardology."

Sparrow, I got this book for my daughter and she LOVES it! So for Christmas I got her Dragonology.:) They really are beautiful books, aren't they?
 
>>I don't have any kids, but I do spend a bit on my niece and
>>nephew. DH doesn't mind if I do, which I really appreciate.
>
>>I try to get them things that I know they will use, and that
>>aren't cheap plastic. For instance, DN is all about Harry
>>Potter, and desperately wants to be a wizard, so I got him
>>this gorgeous book called Wizardology. Also a metal
>detector
>>(for kids) and soccer stuff. My sweet niece gets art
>>supplies, board games, and Harry Potter stuff. My sister
>and
>>her DH are a bit strapped for money right now too, so I've
>>bought boots, coats, PJs, jeans and sweaters as well. I
>>sometimes feel a little guilty but then I remember that
>>Christmas is once a year. I never charge anything, and try
>>not to buy junk, so, I guess that's ok. I just love this
>time
>>of year and can't help myself!!
>>
>>Sorry so long!
>>
>>Sparrow
>>
>>___________________
>>www.scifichics.com
>
>
>
>
>Sparrow,
>
>What a good aunt you are!! I know I must sound like a real
>scrooge--LOL! Let me take a moment and try to redeem myself a
>little bit:eek:. Instead of a lot of gift giving within my own
>family (my niece and nephews have parents that can well afford
>to indulge them) I make several charitable donations to people
>that truly are needy.
>
>Michele

Michele,

I'm not that great :p. If I spent a million bucks on the two of them it wouldn't come close to matching the joy they've brought into my life. And, if I had 6 or 7 of them, I would have to cut back considerably, all joy aside! :D

Sparrow
___________________
www.scifichics.com
 
We have two kids, 2 and 4. I will probably spend 100-125 on each. My daughter may be less, because she doesn't know if she opens one or 5 gifts. Also, I think the older they get, it will be hard not to spend more money because older kids "toys" seem more costly. Melissa
 
>"For instance, DN is all about Harry Potter, and desperately
>wants to be a wizard, so I got him this gorgeous book called
>Wizardology."
>
>Sparrow, I got this book for my daughter and she LOVES it! So
>for Christmas I got her Dragonology.:) They really are
>beautiful books, aren't they?

Shelley, I'm so excited to give it to him!! He has Egyptology as well. I never saw Dragonology. There's a new beautiful Fairyology one as well but my niece is a little young for it. They are fantastic books!

Sparrow

__________________
www.scifichics.com
 
Well I obviously spend way too much on my own kids, ages 17, 15 and 9. I try to get my kids one big item that they want as well as some cheaper items that they asked for. My oldest son wants a camcorder so he will have less gifts to open than his brothers because it is much more expensive than anything his brothers have asked for.
On my side of the family we draw names with the adults and then the kids draw names as well. It works out great since we all have 3 kids, we only end up buying for 3 kids and the gifts come from their cousins. I also have my kids do the shopping for the cousing whose name they've drawn. On DH's side of the family we buy for everyone. He just has one sister, her husband and 2 daughters as well as his mom.

Merry Christmas!!

Diana
 
>>"For instance, DN is all about Harry Potter, and
>desperately
>>wants to be a wizard, so I got him this gorgeous book called
>>Wizardology."
>>
>>Sparrow, I got this book for my daughter and she LOVES it!
>So
>>for Christmas I got her Dragonology.:) They really are
>>beautiful books, aren't they?
>
>Shelley, I'm so excited to give it to him!! He has Egyptology
>as well. I never saw Dragonology. There's a new beautiful
>Fairyology one as well but my niece is a little young for it.
>They are fantastic books!
>
>Sparrow
>
>__________________
>www.scifichics.com


I used to do stuff like that when my niece and nephews were little. My sister's kids were very appreciative--my brother's kids--not so much. I think it's more an issue with SIL though. When DH and I were first married and we asked what the kids would like for Christmas, she promptly gave us a list that included items costing in excess of $100. DH was still in school and I was supporting us on a nurses salary-- $9.15/hour at the time. Then she made us feel like the gifts we gave were inferior. I think experiences like that have jaded my feelings about the whole Christmas gift giving thing.

As I read my post I feel like I must be some sort of monster, but really, I love my niece and nephews very much and I think they know it. They often call me just to chat. I try to give where I think the benefit is most keenly needed and felt.

Michele
 
I have spent $700 total for everyone, including work gifts, and relatives. I have bought for 19 people. DH & I normally don't buy each other gifts. We will either buy one big together gift or nothing because we buy things for ourselves throughout the year. For us Christmas is all about everyone else. DS, who is only 3, got to pick out 5 things from the Toys R Us toy ad for Santa to bring to him, 4 of the 5 things are small inexpensive items. However I make sure to buy him at least 1 big item for Christmas and 1 for his birthday because he only gets small things throughout the year. DD, who is only 3 months, is getting clothes. She already has so many toys. I do set a limit for each person I buy for. DS's limit was $150 and DD was $75. I'm sure the limit will increase a little as they get older, but I try to keep the dollar amount under control and not go overboard. It is really easy to do. :)
 
Looking at this thread I KNOW I spend way to much on my son-but he is the only child I have and 13 years old.1300.00 is what I spent on him that's including a early gift of a cell phone.The sad thing is I was going to buy him a laptop also (somehow I didn't feel he got everything he wanted)but dh put the breaks on that and we agreed it would be his birthday present this year(june).I always go overboard with him it's christmas year round-but despite being spoiled rotten by me he is a great kid.Dh and I spend 300.00 on each other-nieces-nephews 30.00-parents 100.00 a piece- grandparents 30.00.And we always adoped a Angel so that gift is usually 100.00 also.way to much cash.:eek:
 
Least I sound like Scrooge, I may not get anything for my DH, my family or my co-workers, but I do pony up a total of about $600 for my super, porter, doormen and housekeeper. So I'm not that bad. Bah Humbug.
 
LOL Nancy,

What's a Porter? I thought a porter WAS a doorman.

I am my own super, porter, doorman, and housekeeper--that's why I spent about $500 on myself yesterday--LOL!

Michele
 
>LOL Nancy,
>
>What's a Porter? I thought a porter WAS a doorman.
>
>I am my own super, porter, doorman, and housekeeper--that's
>why I spent about $500 on myself yesterday--LOL!
>
>Michele
$500! wow i felt guilty about getting a book for $5 off of half.com. get yourself anything good LOL

kassia



When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be
disappointed to discover they are not it -- Bernard Bailey
 
Kassia,

I didn't technically spend all of that on myself. I bought some things for the house that I've been wanting and needing but have put off until now. I got 5 DVD's, an antique wooden bowel and a bunch of artificial fruit to make a table arrangement, some new holiday wreaths for my house, and I got some work done on my car. I don't have to buy gifts for family so I justify it by saying that that's how much I saved by not having to shop for others.

Michele
 
Kassia, I think that moms deserve way more than $5 purchases! Let's see, we are:
cooks
maids
judges
cops
mediators
nurses
teachers
chauffers
accountants
laundromats
groomers
servers
detectives
motivators
entertainers
protectors
gardeners

did I leave anything out? I am sure that I did. I think that they say the average housewife, if paid, would earn around 85,000 a year, and that was in 2000. So, you earned that five dollars in the time it took me to write this post! :)

Missy
 
Well I have three daughter and they are not asking for that much, plus they have been very good girls and have made the honor roll. So I will probably spend about 500-600$ on all three. Thats about what they asked for comes out to be. The only thing is that two of my daughters have birthdays in December so that also makes things alittle tight.
 
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