How much do you spend on Christmas presents?

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...?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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.

My husband and I spend nothing on each other (we don't need anything), but give the children and grandchildren around £2000 in total.

Lillyflower I certainly wouldn't spend a fortune on your sister. Just buy a token present and explain that it's all you can afford.

My total allowance (from H) is £200.Ive four children.their partners,9 grandchildren and also have to post parcel to son&family in Australia..worrying myself silly!!?

Whereas it may be interesting to find out how much other families spend, it really means nothing. If the question was asked, how much proportion of annual income is then spent on gifts, it would come out quite differently. One persons five pound gift is so much more than another persons hundred pound one.

It doesn’t matter what you spend . A thoughtful gift is the key.
We don’t buy for siblings now and nieces and nephews stop at 18 as do their children. Agreed to not buy friends years ago.
3 DDs, SSIL, get a good gift of choice as do DGSs. They also love the fun of a Stocking which we supply for the adults and add some to the children’s. DD and I tend to book a theatre treat for ourselves or something similar with a couple of small treats.
We all spend Christmas together and that is priceless to me.

farview it's no good worrying - just buy for the children, give the Australian family some money so that they can buy for the children or something nice for Christmas Day.

I am sure that everyone will understand.

ps I didn't realise that husbands doled out allowances these days, hope you do this amicably.

Thank you Jalima1108hood advice!

well, I have (nearly) given up on posting presents to Australia although I was tempted to buy something tiny today which I now have to post.

Cagsy. What an obcene amount to spend. I hate the way christmas is so commercialised. It should be a magic time for children while they actually believe in father christmas. Nowadays, ask children what they think Christmas is about, they say "presents" ask them about the meaning of easter, they say easter eggs. They haven't a clue about the true meaning of these celebrations. Now it's all about, over eating, overspending and over indulged children. For many however, it's a sad time of worry, hardship, guilt that they can't buy for their children. They can barely afford a loaf of bread never mind a turkey. No, we live in a very unjust society. Miserable? Maybe I am, I just can't help thinking of the many who find Christmas an utter nightmare and it so shouldn't be, if it's true meaning was upheld and the greed and gluttony stopped.

I think we are better keeping our thoughts to ourselves grannygrunt it is personal and not in the spirit of GN.

So what do you suggest Grannygrunt123? That we all live like paupers, regardless of our household income, because some families don't have the same spending ability?

I have been in that position, have fought to get out of it, and now live very comfortably. I will be damned if I am going to deny my family a nice Christmas or nice presents because some people disapprove of my choices and think spending anything more than absolute minimum is "obscene"

Have we slipped through a time warp and landed in the 60's?
Kettle or pressure cooker as a present ? Allowance from husband?
I sincerely hope these posts are windups - if not, get a grip and get into 2017!

Well mcem time warp or not

that's how it is...I don't like it.
but cannot change it..sick of rowing&being upset..dont have joint a/c..

So apart from accepting that you'll remain downtrodden for the rest of your life, what are you doing about it?
You've a big family. Are they aware of this?

annsixty. Not personal, just an opinion. You give yours often enough