Do you have a set amount to spend for Christmas?

[camellia0]

I hear that stores will have better prices this holiday season than last year and better sales in the store than online. Do you have a set amount you plan to spend on gifts or will you play it by ear with your purchases. I've already made my list and have a set amount that I will spend. I don't want to start 2016 with unnecessary debt.

[ivyparkgirl]

I am on a limited budget so I will buy a lot of gifts at the purple cow by my apartment which is a thrift store.

[vg7405]

Because people have so many crazy preferences for a Christmas gift, I generally give them money or a gift card.

[JaniceSW]

I hear that stores will have better prices this holiday season than last year and better sales in the store than online. Do you have a set amount you plan to spend on gifts or will you play it by ear with your purchases. I've already made my list and have a set amount that I will spend. I don't want to start 2016 with unnecessary debt.

I agree.  A budget is necessary unless you have a very good income.  Starting a new year with unnecessary debt is stressful.  You can only do what you can do.  If others don't understand, they are definitely family/friends not worth the extra money anyway.

[makeblessed]

Yes, I do and plan to stick to it! I only plan to pay cash and not use credit cards. I try and save during the year  to do my Christmas shopping, and so far that works best for me. I do not like to have Christmas bills after the holiday, so I spend what I have saved and when it's gone, I am done!!!

[tgreen20]

No, I don't plan it, I just shop for my four adult children and two grand children.....

[dreamyxo]

I don't celebrate so no.  I only buy my mother something even though she tells me not to buy her anything.

[patriciaeclevenger]

Yes, I have a budget. It's easy to want to buy everything for everyone but I have to stick to the budget. Also, my family and friends all do a gift exchange so each group I pick one person out of the hat and choose one item from their list of three.  It makes for a more enjoyable holiday season not stressing about gifts/money but being focused on quality time together. 

[linderlizzie]

Sure. Mine is approximately zero. 

I have 13 grandchildren so they only get birthday cards with birthday money from me ($1 per year in existence). They haven't complained, thank goodness. 

I do manage to get a few things for some others close to me, but they're usually inexpensive items.

[BATISTAGIRL663]

i do not have a set amount but i do start in January shopping --so by this time i am almost done --i have to get my kids gifts but i am done with the rest of the family and my co-workers--it makes it so much less stressful for me

[mardukblood2009]

I only have to buy for 2 people and I just buy small gifts. We pretty much have everything we need.

[KarenWitty]

I do not. It usually depends on how much extra cash I have saved up. We have depleted our emergency fund and trying to build it back up but it is hard to do that and save for Christmas. $6000 toward car repairs was way too much for us. Crossing my fingers we have better luck and are able to save a little for Christmas.

[articx]

Not really, but I do try to keep the amount I spend low when buying gifts for my young nephews.