I need to ask .. because this has been a hot topic of debate today in my household ..
What is a fair amount to spend on Christmas gifts for family???
I know this is a wide open question .. but here's the story .. DH is taking offense that I would prefer not spending $100 on a gift for his brother & SIL .. my reasoning .. I simply don't see how we have the money to spend that amount for everyone we need to buy for .. and if we can't do it for all, I can't justify doing it for one.
This makes me so angry .. because I know there are so many nice things that can be purchased for less than $100.
But he's got this hangup that it can not be anything less than $100.
All of a sudden, my husband thinks he's Rockefeller!
Sunny
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
Dh and I have the opposite argument every year- I want to spend a lot on my family and he gets mad.
I don;t really blame him- most of my family is wealthy and we are not, but they buy us nice gifts so I feel like I have to return them.
Kel
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
Let me just add .. I may be losing my job this year for Christmas.
meghanmetz
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
If you can't afford it, don't do it. Maybe he you have to sit him down and show him a budget OR show him the nice things you can get for under $100.
My DH and I fight over money fairly often, (I am the one who doesnt want to save EVERY penny) so I know how awful it is to have these fights. However, if it is a question of financial resources and not having the money to buy that large a gift, he has to understand and more importantly they have to understand that. This is after all Christmas, and is supposed to be about spending time with family not spending a certain amount of money ona gift. You have valid points, especially if you may be losing a job. Explain to him that $100 today may balloon into even more if you put it on a credit card and can't pay it off in the near future. Good luck.
Kel
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
That's exactly what I don't understand about him .. he knows the money situation for me .. he knows how good I am at finding great things for unexpected prices .. he has said several times he likes the way I've decorated the house while being very strict with money .. he acknowledges that certain things in the house were great buys .. but despite all that .. he still has these hang-ups .. that if something doesn't cost X amount of dollars, it's no good. And this is one of those cases.
matron
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
My sisters and I don't even exchange anymore bc it gets so out of control. We buy for the kids (I have 6 nieces and nephews) and then we each spend like $30 - $40 on each of my parents. My inlaws are CRAZY! They spend literally, like, $5,000 per person. It's an all day event to open the presents and RIDICULOUS! Then I hand them their presents, which is like a shirt for DH's sister, computer disks for Dad, and an ornament for Mom. They probably hate me. I love getting the gifts but it's so much!!!
When I made a lot of money, I used to spend tons on everyone. Unfortunately, I am not in the same position today. I would rather spend tons of money on my nieces and nephews. Children, to me, are what the holidays are all about anyway.
Needless to say, I feel your pain. I, too, feel like an idiot when the inlaws go so overboard.
swags1016
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
My parents would kill me if we spent a lot on them!!! My in-laws seem to expect that though. But as far as siblings, we do not purchase for each other. Dh has 10 nieces and nephews so we buy for the kids.
Kate07
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
Wow. $100 seems kind of steep (no I'm not cheap). I know I will sound corny but I enjoy the gift when I can tell soimebody put some thought into it and it is something I like. Whereas somebody can buy me something that costs more but its something I might not like as much and would rather return and get something I like.
I would probablly spend $100 max for my parents (well maybe more if it was something I really thought they would love and I was one of those Rockefellers!!) and FH. That's the max. I'm trying to stick to some sort of budget and have some money saved.
I'm not even that big of a fan of Christmas sometimes anymore. Its so material now. A lot of people just thing its a time for presents. It's Jesus's birthday (I'm not getting all religious on you all) and it is really a time to be with and enjoy family and cherish each other.
So don't worry about spending money. Its about spending time.
Dooodles
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
When FI and I got engaged, we kinda let everyone know we are only spending on our nieces, nephews and parents and still sticking to a budget. We are paying for the wedding ourselves and just cannot afford to do too much
nferrandi
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
We've struggled with this as well, but we actually both agree that this year's spending must be limited. Last year we spent a bit too much. I think we're aiming to spend aout $50 on our siblings, $100 on my niece and aout $150 for each set of parents.
jenny2penny
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.
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christy
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
Ok, I spend different amounts of different people in the family.
For example, my brother and sister never get a lot, so I spend a ton on them. But DH's brother gets alot from others, so we spend less on him.
Xelindrya
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
For us it's the 'gift' not the cost.
A friend of ours is a MAJOR horror flick, sci-fi, gaming gal! For her a new release PS2 game that she's been dying for is a GREAT gift! It's definately less than $100.
His grandmother is the hardest. Last year it was scarf and slippers. She likes simple things. This was NOT expensive.
We really don't look at the price of things as much as does the gift match the person.
*shrug*
$100 though is a bit much in my world.
This year it's gonna be slim pickings as well.
Kel
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Re: Christmas Spending (Question/Rant/Vent)
Thank You!
We are a married couple with 3 incomes between us .. but we are having a hard time getting by .. this year has not been kind to us .. so it just blew my mind that he would insist on spending so much. I guess maybe he's afraid of putting out this image that we're 'cheap' since we have the 3 incomes between us. I have no idea .. I just know I can't do it!
