How much do you spend on Christmas presents?

We haven't bought for siblings for years(since we all had children). Now nephews/nieces all grown up no longer buy for them either. So approx £40 on grandchildren(6), parents and my aunt all get theatre tickets(cheap seats usually about £30). No more than £20 combined on Dd's and their husbands. In total about £370-£400.

Lilyflower - I agree with your attitude to Christmas - for me it is about goodwill & being with family & friends. Presents are symbols of that goodwill - whether individual or secret Santa, no matter how little or how much they cost.
It's a shame your sister doesn't understand that.

Feeling a bit mean looking at how many presents and how much most of you spend. We gave up long ago buying for friends,(reciprocal) and our siblings. Our son, his wife and three children in Spain get sent money for presents and also some money to spend on the Christmas food treats. Nephews, nieces, and great nephews and great nieces get money as well until they are 18.All live away and we don’t know what they are in to. Two six year old DGC who live near us still believe in Father Christmas so we buy presents but this year their mum has a stock of sale bargains so we are helping buy new bikes for them. Might get a silly present for said daughter as twins comment if Father Christmas has not given the adults presents. DH. buys lots of hardbacks he would like and I wrap these up for him. Similarly, we do something similar for me, but something needed. When I add it up it probably comes close to £900 so on second thoughts we do spend a lot, but... we don’t have to do much actual present buying!!

There are 4 of us - DH, MIL, DS and me and DH, DS and I usually buy a "household present" - maybe a kitchen gadget, maybe something like a games console. Then we swap a list of presents we each want, with items from £5 or £10 up to about £50. Then the other 3 get together to agree who is buying what for who. This year we'll probably go for either a pressure cooker or a new kettle, I've paid for an Indiegogo puzzle for DH and a pug pendant for MIL. Normally DH wants books and DS computer games, books, maybe DVD. For me, computer games, books and CDs. That way there are lots of small gifts, all much wanted, as well as some unexpected and a bigger much-needed family essential. No-one tends to spend more than £250 at the outside.

Oh dear, this reminds me that I need to get calendars etc to send to the other side of the world for DH s family. He only emails one brother but I suppose in most families it's the women that keep in touch.
How much do we spend? £100 on each of the children £50 each on the grandchildren I suppose £600 in total. I work on the theory that it's better to help out through the year with clothes, shoes, music lesson fees, etc than spend at Christmas. Someone once said for half his life he didn't like Christmas because he was a Christian and for the second half because he was an atheist. I can understand that.

Last Easter time I met a lady carrying two full bags of unwanted gifts she had been given at Xmas.and she was taking all to the charity shop as she thought they might be sold And do good. , she has all she needs or wants, She had told her family and friends that , no gifts necessary their presence would be enough!
Money can be given and exchanged. But Where is the !oving Christmas spirit.

We agreed as a family that we don’t buy for nephews and nieces any more or for siblings.Just buy for my husband ,two daughters and their husbands and two grandchildren .That is likely to come to £ 350-£400.May try to reduce that this year as I find the spend spend spend ridiculous and obscene . I will make some home made sweets /buscuits for neighbors ,friends.

As far as my presents for DH and his for me are concerned we make a note of anything a bit pricey we need or would really like during the year and 'save' it for a Christmas present. For example if I've really needed a new coat for a while I'll say 'you can buy it for my Christmas present perhaps' instead of just going out to get it. He does the same. So we choose our presents really.

Thanks, Jalima1108, I had a feeling it would be difficult to send to Australia...might have to be delayed until they come home in a couple of years. Grannyben, I would love to know what presents you get for your two lucky chickens...?

Usually spend about £100 on each of my grandchildren and two daughters and about £50 on my two sons in law.

Oh, I love my bubble and squeak on Boxing Day, HillyN!

I did a rough calculation based on last year's Christmas spreadsheet and it came to about £520 on presents for others. DH and I don't buy presents for each other but we do fill each other's stocking which can rack up a bit. No idea about food but as we went to DD2's last year it probably wasn't much more than usual. However it's my turn this year, so we will need to dig a bit deeper, but we will have the leftovers- I really missed the cold turkey and bubble and squeak last year!

When my dear OH and I wear both earning Christmas rarely came in under a £grand. We gave the two children £100 each and spent £30 on my sister and her DH and the same on her three children. We spent £80 odd on the mothers who had no one else to buy for them and then the holidays, Christmas week and New Year’s celebrations and other smaller presents topped up the sum. Also my DH’s birthday is on the 27th so we had to make a fuss of that. The OH and I have not bought each other anything for years as when the children were young we couldn’t afford it and we got out of the habit.

I have retired, one child has moved out and a week or so ago the DH was made redundant so we have gone from being solvent to living on my pension. When I told the children we had to cut the spend they were really nice about it but my sister has had a hissy fit, refused to do a Secret Santa
and now we have to spend a fortune on her when she and her DH have very well paid jobs. It’s all a bit cheek sucking.

I don’t much care as Christmas to me is all about goodwill and being with my lovely family.

We are both only children so we only have each other the two children and partners and the three grandchildren to buy for. I aim for between £20 and £50 each and keep a note of spending so I don't spend twice as much for one as I do for the others. I also have 3 old friends I meet up with before Christmas and we spend about £10 on each other. DH has no idea how much I spend, but he'd be perfectly happy if Christmas never happened at all!

Lbc, well done for being sensible. You have worked out what you can afford to spend and you are buying your gifts with thought and love. It is surprising what lovely things you can pick up for half price throughout the year and that always helps.
I spend £50 on each of my two daughters and £50 each on my two grandchildren, £30 on my mother and £25 on each sil. There's about £25 between my auntie and uncle plus £10 for a friend who doesn't have any family. £5 each for 5 dogs and £5 between the two chickens. Total spend approximately £350 but I do put into a savings scheme all year or I would have to cut down

No shame in buying smaller presents. I'm not keen though on only buying for children. I don't like giving the message that they ae somehow more important than adults. To me all my family are important irrespective of age.

I have a large family plus 20+ GGC and GG. Years ago it was decided present giving would stop after age 16 for GC and nephews and nieces. I still bought small presents for DC as well although they decided not to buy presents for each other anymore. We retired abroad taking my DM. Come Christmas not one of my DC sent a present. I did not expect a present but did feel strongly about them not sending anything to their DGM who had done a lot for them all over the years. So no presents now except DGC and DGGC under 16. As we only see them once or twice a year I put £20 in each of their bank accounts (same for birthdays). Plus I do the same for my late DBs two DGD. So around £240. We just have a quiet day doing what we like on Christmas day. I have bought DH a couple of presents and he has asked what would I like. Erm.... nothing really. I have all I want.

A gift of time is often the best you can give someone. So vouchers to take someone out are nice - particularly the very old and immobile.

As always I take charge of Christmas. DDs and I agree that we have a limit of £20 for each person that is: DH, 2 GDs and 2DD/SiLs (a joint DD/SiL present for £20). So, not much. We all have enough already. DH would get carried away if I didn't put my foot down and insist that DDs and I had agreed a sum. I bought all my presents recently at a craft fair, all made locally.

This year I have set a total limit of £500 for gifts. This has to cover 2DD's, 1 SIL,1 SO, 2 GDD'S, 2 GDS & 2 GGC + DH and my lovely hairdresser.
No posted Christmas cards as that money set aside for local food bank.
Will probably allow £150 - £200 for food and drink.
I don't usually start on Christmas until mid November after DH's birthday.

Friends decided a few years ago that we'd prefer to do something instead of swapping more "stuff" - so we have a nice day out in January - different place each year - & have a great time.
I buy presents for 12 adults & 8 children - all family members - I did suggest a few years ago to dispense with the adult presents but it went down like the proverbial lead balloon - so I'm going through the annual mental stress of "what on earth do I buy for xxx?" And any ideas on what is light, unbreakable and small enough to send abroad would be gratefully received - I've sent enough socks, scarves & gloves to last their lifetimes
The money is not an issue because I put aside £50 each month and I stick to this budget to pay for the presents.

This year I've suggested buying for children only gifts for cousins - not adults. Buy for daughter son and spouses but get carried away with 5 grandchildren! Probably £100 each. This is apart from trip to Australia to buy there and stay! I've told them all there will no inheritance left - we're enjoying it now!

Wow, I'm just amazed at how much some of you spend. I'll probably spend about £20-30 on my daughter and that's it! Don't have any siblings or grandchildren or any friends close enough to buy for.

lbc, nothing to be ashamed of. I rather admire your resilience and ability to stick to such a rigid budget. Shame you have that necessity but great achievement in my opinion.

Don't be ashamed lovebc1955 - you have to cut your coat according to the cloth as the saying goes and a small gift given with love is priceless.