A Spending We Will Go..Or Not
Photo from firstindy This post is linked to Frugal Friday
My Twitter friend Jesse Leigh from Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles and I got into a neat discussion the other day on what the average American spends on Christmas. I couldn’t find any real solid figure, but most of what I did find was in the range of $750-1000. Yikes!
We keep Christmas pretty simple now, but it’s only because we have learned the hard way. We used to go all out, even though we couldn’t afford it because we thought that was how it was supposed to be done. After a year or two of going broke, we realized that it didn’t have to be that way. Thank goodness!
I have never fought in a store over the “toy of the season” and I very rarely hit any black Friday sales. Usually our children have “the one gift” they really want, we do one or two fillers and that’s it. As my children are getting older, they are wanting more electronics which are a bit more expensive but we can still keep the gift giving reasonable and affordable! For extended family we do a Yankee Swap. All totaled, our Christmas comes way below the national average figures I found the other day. And you know, my kids are just as happy as can be on Christmas morning!
I believe Christmas can be meaningful without spending lots of money, but I also feel there is a balance in getting our children a really special gift if we can afford it. (Key word: if we can afford it!)
How about you? Do you find you fall way below the $750-$1000 average for Christmas? Or do you go all out?
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33 Responses to “A Spending We Will Go..Or Not”
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I enjoyed tweeting with you about this subject- I find it simply fascinating (and, admittedly, a bit appalling, too.)
Our family spends well below the national average as well and, now that we live in a rather affluent community, I find that most of the mommies around me spend far MORE than the figures you listed above. It’s not uncommon for them to hire $600/hr decorators to decorate for a preschool birthday party.
Sometimes I feel like I’m shielded from that because of all my online friends who share a more frugal mindset with me.
JessieLeigh´s last blog: I Admit It- I’ve Had Some Work Done
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:03 am
I guess you should start a preschool party business then
That is amazing!
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ok, I just gawked at the $750…wow…we fall well below that…i don’t think we even have $750 extra a year, much less to spend on gifts @ Christmas…I guess being in Seminary & strapped just to buy groceries most weeks, we can’t justify spending that much on “stuff”. Thankfully our family is understanding of that & understands…
terra jones´s last blog: Running Man
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Having an understanding family definitely takes the pressure off!
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Oh what a great topic. Our family spends more time playing board games so they are the hot item in our home for less than $10. I only buy the kids three gifts each because I don’t want them to focus on gifts and they aren’t expensive either. I normally do Black Friday shopping for items that I couldn’t afford that we need, like a vacuum(can’t wait for that one).
Buildeth her house´s last blog: Feminine Friday
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:05 am
I have not found black friday sales to be all that wonderful but this year I am paying more attention to the online sales. I really don’t like shopping in a crowded store! And the three gift rule, I think that is great!
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We fall way below that limit! My daughter’s first birthday is Dec. 6th so we are just trying to get through that first. We are only buying her one gift and for each other we will do some kind of act of service. Our wedding anniversary is December 31st! So I don’t think we will ever be spending $750 on Christmas!
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:05 am
We have a Dec 1 birthday, mine on Dec 19 and my oldest on Jan 2. Lots of holiday birthdays so I know exactly what you mean!
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I’m astounded at that figure! We certainly don’t spend that at Christmas or anytime for that matter.
Hubby and I decided a long time ago we weren’t going to exchange gifts. Most of the gifts we do give are handmade and if we spend any money at all, it’s no more than say $50- $75 total. This year will be a little different because we are buying my daughter some gifts, but it’ll be little things like color wonder markers, books, thomas the tank sheets and maybe a baby doll. That still won’t break our budget.
WOW…$750-1000…I can’t even imagine.
Kelli´s last blog: Another Award?? My Gracious!!
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:06 am
When they are little it is so easy to do a simple Christmas. That is a great budget!
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When I was unemployed two years ago, we FINALLY came to the realization that we don’t need to spend all of that money to make it a blessed holiday. Now our kids get four gifts: one to share, one to wear, one to play with and one to read (we only spend about $120 total for them). These has made our lives so much more stress free. I sneak away a little from each paycheck and use whatever I’ve saved for their christmas.
Now….have a competition to spend $750 of someone else’s money?? I’m there!
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Oh I am with you…I would love to spend someone else’s $750! I like your four gift set up, that is very nice! I may steal that, if you don’t mind!
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WOW! Nope, we don’t spend that much. In fact, we don’t buy gifts. We spend much less. Perhaps somewhere around $250, but that’s on giving gifts to others…which I plan to outline on my blog next week!!
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:08 am
That is a great budget limit, but with two young adults who both want a higher ticket item I think we will go over what we normally buy but we scale back on birthdays or combine the larger gift with birthdays. We buy very little for extended family!
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I used to use my credit card every year and try to pay it off in February with my income tax return. I fell into that range and then some. Then I smartened up. Now my extended family calls me the gift police because I won’t allow them to buy for me and we no longer buy for them. The important thing is to just be together, right?
Sunny´s last blog: Day 1 of the "30 Day Shred"
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:09 am
That is important but often forgotten! It is harder when family wants to go all out still. It took a few years to get ours to scale back and now we only have 2 gifts to buy for a yankee swap. Very nice!
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we dont buy for adults. I usually take a picture of the kids, put it on a photo card(found cheap or free on the internet)for family/friends, then spend about $300 on 3 kids. This year I do plan on giving goody baskets to about 5 relatives/friends.
april´s last blog: Super Savings Saturday
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:09 am
So do you make up your own goodie baskets? I’d love to see what you put together!
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We fall way below the average and always have. I can’t imagine sending that much money on Christmas presents.
stacy´s last blog: Fasting
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:10 am
It is a lot and I think that figure is pretty conservative. I know people who spend that on one child!
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UGH!! I am unfortunately the national average if not more! I actually went Christmas shopping today. I felt a sad about how big the pull and trap is from the stores and society. I actually want to change but I feel trapped to live up to last years feat. Oh, how to change and what to do? Any ideas of how to change.
Kim ´s last blog: Disney!
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Gail Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 6:17 pm
kim, we started downsizing our giving several years ago. The most resistance was from adults! We started by drawing names from the hat – so my dh, me and adult children and their spouses. This was the hardest year for me because I love to buy my kids presents, but I toughed it out. We set a limit of $50. And we did a gift for “secret santa” – Each person gets a number and chooses a gift – the next person can get a gift or take from anyone else. That caused some hurt feelings because favorite gifts got taken – so we don’t do that anymore. (LOL) Everyone still bought for the grandkids.
The next year we drew names but you had to buy gifts that went with the 1st 4 letters of that person’s name – (limit $50)
so for Wendi – Winter tea towels, expensive coin purse from coach, novelty hand towels and a dollar ! That was fun and a challenge
We are only buying for grandkids this year – no adults at all ! And with the money now available we are making Christmas dinner for my dh’s co-workers that have no family or money.
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Thank you Gail for this excellent reply!
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Kim Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 6:00 am
I like the idea of drawing names for adult children. I do believe it is a lot of pressure I put on myself. Thanks for the ideas. I am pondering and soul searching.
Blessings,
Kim
Kim´s last blog: Thankful
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Stephanie Reply:
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Kim it is probably something you are going to have to gradually do. Make small changes this year, a few more next year and before you know it you will have what you are seeking
Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:11 am
I think it your case it is better to gradually do a little less each year. Why do you feel so much pressure? Is it your own doing or what your family makes you feel like you have to do?
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Gail Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Kim, this is the 1st year that i’m totally not putting pressure on myself for gift giving. It has taken 4 years of downsizing to get there! The 1st step is the hardest and will probably cause the most resistance but stand strong with your decision. Another thing that helped me was asking the adult children what I had gotten them last Christmas – not one of them could remember that they had received Coach purses ! I have started a tradition box for each of my children. 1st year they got the box and a “glass pickle” (you hide it on the tree and 1st person to find gets a special gift, the next year i got them gingerbread men cookie cutters, next was the game spoons, and last year I typed all their favorite recipes and put them in sheet protectors into a binder (that didn’t fit in the box though!), havent’ decided this year what to get.
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A few years ago my husband came across an idea that has really influenced how we do things. It’s the “$100 Christmas”. All gifts for everyone you give to adds up to less than $100 total. I agree that the pull of nostalgia and society can be pretty strong but it’s worth the fight. What have we gained by trying to move more towards this goal and away from the national average? A more Christ centered Christmas. We’re still not at $100 but we no longer feel like cheapskates for paring things down.
Cindy´s last blog: Having an attitude of gratitude
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:12 am
I have found that by scaling back the gift giving it is a much more Christ centered Christmas and much more enjoyable, too!
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We spend way less than the average. We only have one child which helps but we still try to be frugal and not concentrate so much on the gifts. Great post & comments!
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Stephanie Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:14 am
We spend below that with 3 kids! We also try to keep the focus off the gifts, but honestly the kids struggle more with that! No matter how you slice it, they love the gifts
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Gifts are precious, it can be put as “thought that counts” but then, if you have a spare for special occasions, I think the essence of giving gift will do just fine. If getting the gift that your kids want make them happy and make you happy when you fulfill their hearts desire, that sure is a win-win. Its not how much you spend that matters, its how much it meant to you and to the one you gave the gift/s to that makes the difference.
Ella´s last blog: What To Buy For A Couple Who Is Celebrating An Anniversary
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I think Gift giving is more on what you can provide and at the same time, how happy you can make someone with your simple gift. Happy holidays!
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