How much do you spend on Christmas?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
How much do you spend on Christmas?
36
Wed, 11-25-2009 - 9:56am
Just for your kids? How much per kid are you planning to spend? I will probably not answer this question myself, as I am rather embarassed to say.
Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2008
Wed, 11-25-2009 - 8:05pm
I agree that nobody should feel bad about what they spend on Christmas or feel that they need to defend it. I put away $25 per weeks so my budget for the holiday season is $1250. We spend a lot.
8 year old daughter -camera $70, clothes $100, toys and books $40
4 year old daughter -skates $60, clothes $40, toys and books $80.
Abut $15.00 on each for stocking stuffers.
On top of that we buy a famiy gift, which is a week-end at Great Wolf Lodge. It costs about $400.
DH and I don't usually get each other much. But this year we are hoping to splurge on a camera.

For us it is not much about how much we spend (as long as it is in cash), but that we are getting gifts that they like/need. The only thing my eldest daughter asked for was a camera, so we purchased that. As well, she needs clothes for the next size.
Youngest daughter needs skates, so it makes sense to buy her those. As they get older, if they want, and we can afford more expensive stuff, they will probably get it.





iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2009
Wed, 11-25-2009 - 10:08pm
I think christmas is not a time for greed, we personally don't get the kids to make lists, and rarely have they asked for anything. My son asked for paint from the dollar store, last year another son asked for a watch as he was learning to tell time. We keep christmas simple and leave santa out, sure my family hated us for it but it's our choice, we are religous and the reason behind christmas is more important. In all honesty no santa items are in our house, we do have a snow man candle holder holding a cake that says"happy birthday Jesus".
Photobucket Photobucket Photobucket
Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2006
Thu, 11-26-2009 - 8:26pm

Well, I personally don't think that having "Santa" means that you are not celebrating the true meaning of Christmas!

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2009
Thu, 11-26-2009 - 11:58pm

Santa is really a tough lie, how do you explain to a kid that they need to donate toys for a toy drive W/O telling them that santa isn't real and that the parents couldn't afford gifts? Santa would bring all good kids a gift right? Santa doesn't install any

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Fri, 11-27-2009 - 7:56am

I don't think you'll get an argument for anybody on the board.

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Fri, 11-27-2009 - 11:25am

In all honesty no santa items are in our house, we do have a snow man candle holder holding a cake that says"happy birthday Jesus".


That's neat.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Fri, 11-27-2009 - 11:35am

Kate thats awesome that you volunteer at SGH. I am organizing our departments Christmas Hamper Drive through SGH. We "Adopted" two families and are raising donations for a food hamper and small gifts for the family members! Its a great organization!!!


So for spending I don't have children so I can't speak. However, this year I have significantly cut back my list. I am staying in Ottawa and not going home so that helps a lot. My mom is the one I spend the most on, mainly because she doesn't have anyone else except for me and my sister to buy her gifts. This year between the two of us, we will probably spend about $200 on her.



Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Fri, 11-27-2009 - 12:42pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Fri, 11-27-2009 - 12:45pm

Yeh, SGH is a good organization.

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Fri, 11-27-2009 - 12:52pm

I'm more concerned with the lesson of materialism and consumerism that

Kate


empty purse