I have this one already figured...For the first time since I can remember we will not be using  credit cards...woohoo.  DH sold a week of vacation and I got a substantial raise last month so were able to set aside the entire $1000.00 Christmas budget last month. This will include our portion of the check for the family restaurant dinner that we go to on the evening of the 26th.  DH and I pick up the tab for our 2 sons, 1 DIL and 2 granddaughters.  DH and I have already exchanged gifts this year so I didn't include that. 

Our prices are generally a lot higher than the US so we won't be comparing apples with apples.   I can tell you that there is NO WAY I could keep my budget down to the equivalent of $250.

At the last count, there were about 30 people on our gift list including godchildren, nieces, nephews, sis, 2 BIL's, my parents, the in-laws, DH's uncles (very close to our kids), the shoebox project, a gift for another children's charity and DD's swim coach.   That figure does not include our own 4 kids, ages 11 to 19.

So far, I have already spent US $250, and I anticipate spending at least another $100 to complete our shopping for the gifts for the friends and family outside of our household.   Thanks to my bargain hunting prowess, I have actually spent less than I budgeted, by taking advantage of deals in my year round shopping.

Gifts for our kids, now that's another matter entirely.  Youngest DD wants a cell phone, which I might be able to get free with the reward points we've accumulated on our cell phone plan.  The Fashionista DD17 has been asking for a large handbag - surprisinlgy, the options she's considered are NOT outrageously expensive.   DSD17 wants tech toys - camera, iPod etc.   I have no intention of buying her any tech toys - she is incredibly careless - every tech toy she ever had has been damaged or stolen due to negligence.   DSS will probably get something for hir car.

mommatothree:

My goal this year is to obliterate my holiday gift "stash".  I want to use ALL of it, for pretty much all of my gift giving.  I will buy seperately for my kids, two members of my family (we draw names), my nephews and something small for hubby.  I want to try my hardest to buy all of those gifts for under $250, I think I can do it

I am thinking $250-$300 for ds 1&2, and dh. $20 each for each friend that I mentioned. I don't want to go over $500, Id like to keep the total under $400. I need to ask the boys if they want one large present or several inexpensive ones.

Back when they were babies dh and I had a $125 limit for everyone, including my parents when they were alive. babies are cheap to buy for and the grandparents did most of that buying anyway. Dh and I bought stuff from the thrift store for each other. That was fun, Id like to do that again, but I know he wants a new bar for his Huskvarna chainsaw and that's about $100.

wow great deals Cinnamon!  a nice feeling to get such deals for the inlaws! without spending a lot.  

I have a bunch of gifts already. just need to sort them out.   which will be dd birthday gifts or xmas.   have my friends granddaughters birthday and xmas gifts.  have teachers gifts too.  also gifts for the salvation army box too.   plus the kids gifts to the grandparents, sil and great aunt.

think I have to get more teachers gifts though.  I had got partylite mini barrels but nana, sil, neighbour, and great aunt love candles too so think I have to get more.  some good sales in november. 

As I said I need a couple of hours to purge that closet when no one is around and sort things out.  everything kinda gets stuffed in bags in there.

I think I will just get the xmas bags out and group things in each one for each person.  stuff the kids stocking early

sigh dh just came out saying do know about dd volunteering to bring someone to brownies halloween party..lucky there is extra lollipops from the treat bags.  up to 5 partys.

We have cut our gift exchange list WAY down this year. DH has been unemployed since January and I was afraid we would have no budget for Christmas, but my mother sent me a $300 check last week and I have saved $150 so all our spending will be cash this year. We have set our budget at $450.  That is for DS 1 & 2, DH, me, and  gifts for 2 of my friends. We will also do a family gift for DH's best friend.  We don't exchange gifts with my side of the family.  DH's parents are gone and we stopped exchanging gifts with his brother & sister last year.  DS"s are past the age of having to purchase teacher gifts and the only other person I can think of that we might need to buy for would be DS#1's girlfriend.  Will ask DS#1 what he thinks I should do.  Oh and we will need a small gift for DS#2 to take to his Boy Scout dirty Santa gift exchange but they  usually keep that to $10 and under.   My birthday is also 2 weeks before Christmas so not sure what DH & DS's will be doing for that. 

I've already gotten several gifts for DS's and I have one of DH's gifts.  I found my best friends M's gift at the book store early in the spring so that one is taken care of.  Not sure what DH wants to do for his best friend W and his family.  Maybe a "movie night" basket.  Will talk to DH about it and see what he wants to do.  

Shellia

 Martha, I have a couple of boxes stuffed full and no idea what is in the bottom of them. Need a day alone to work on that box. I need a list of people and gifts. I have a check coming for $600. I am going to start with that and see how far it will go. We have 22 in family. 8 are grandkids. I have most of their gifts. Need to buy for the 14 yr old boy. He is a hard one but likes cash. 

DH wants small gifts for his church Elders and Deacons. I have lotfof jelly . They will get small bags with jelly and card.  I have 3 women that help with Keepers at Home girls group( like girl scouts but church group). They will get jelly too. I have a lot of powdered milk so may make up hot cocca mix too.

DH, I have no idea. His wants are all computer or electronic. DD and Ds living at home think that Santa should still come for them. DS is engaged so have to buy for the girl too. They are registered at Target so will pick out a gift from the list. Have some candy and nuts hid.

Also have 6 boxes of cereal, gold fish, prezel and nuts for Chex mix I have one friend that always want a bag for her gift. 

Thats all so far. Babs 

I have been trying to figure this out.  Would like to keep it to $1000, but may go over that and be more like $1200 or so.

Like Martha, we have several birthdays right before the holidays too.  And DS's is right after.  Expensive time of year!

Our list includes the kids, my family (parents, Brother, SIL, their kids), DH's family (parents, SIL, BIL, their kids), and then something small for extended family (my grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins and their families, DH's aunt and maybe cousins, some friends, neighbors, etc) plus teacher gifts and DH usually likes to give small gifts to his employees.

The main gift I'm doing/making this year (and really excited about!) is holiday cookie bouquets.  I think they are going to be really cute.  Will give those to the extended family, friends, neighbors, etc.  I have most of the baking ingredients already.  I will likely do some kind of baked goods tray for DH's work too.

I have a few things already but not much.  I've been keeping an eye out and making lists so far.

Ya'll got me motivated to get started.  I had to run by WM for milk and went back to the toy dept and picked up the gifts for my two nieces, under budget too.  My SIL is going to love me.  I got my 4 yr old niece a Polly Pocket set with 50 small accessories.  I consider it pay back for the drums she got my oldest when he was 6.  I did warn her at the time that it would come back to haunt her.  LOL. 

Shoot!  I definitely have to increase my gift budget - I forgot about the December birthdays (my sister and my goddaughter) as well as my own wedding anniversary! I also forgot to factor in the hostess gifts for a couple of holiday gathering that are in the works.  

It's apparently time for me to refer to the Gifts Under $10 thread - I'm going to need to come up with some inexpensive gifts!

I forgot about a december birthday too...MIL...which won't be much, I think last year i sent her an silver and crystal angel ornament with her name on it, it was $9 at target.

Target has some things tis week that you can get a $5 or $10 gift card with purchase. Like dog food, if I am going to buy it anyway I might as well buy it now and get the gift card, then I can use it as a stocking stuffer or send it in the mail.