Insane Christmas spending

[Mounds]

Yesterday, I read this article: 20 Gifts for the Guy Who Has Everything | Wise Bread.

I found a major incongruence here. Wise Bread is (apparently) a blog based on being frugal and somewhat intelligent with your money. Why is this article suggesting that I spend money on someone who has everything? It just seems so... wasteful.

Another thing that floors me is that smart phones and iPod Touch's are being advertised as stocking stuffers. When I was a kid (back in the mid '80s ), stocking stuffers consisted of candy and a couple small toys. Are people these days really packing $400-$700 gadgets into stockings?

I read on this website that the average person will spend $646 on the holidays. The meaning of Christmas is truly lost in those numbers.

This year, my wife and I decided on a spending plan that worked for both of us: $15 per person, immediate family only. The bill came out to around $140, give or take a few dollars.

It felt SO good, not to spend a lot, that I don't think we'll ever go back. Next year might even consist of homemade gifts (like Dutch and Bosnian treats).

What are your experiences with Christmas spending? Are you a chronic over-spender or do you keep things modest?

-Tim

[Angelique]

Modest. $15-20 sounds about right, if not less than that. Occasionally, it's a bit more, but always well under $100.

Last year, the money I spent went to canvasses and paint - I gave away paintings.

[Mounds]

Originally Posted by Angelique

Last year, the money I spent went to canvasses and paint - I gave away paintings.

That's an excellent idea!

I'm not much of an artist, but I'm a good cook. I have a feeling next year will consist of edible goodness.

-Tim

[CoolBee]

Originally Posted by Mounds

When I was a kid (back in the mid '80s ), stocking stuffers consisted of candy and a couple small toys.

Toys? You were rich Back in the 60s we used to get a couple of walnuts (pecans) and an orange LOL.

I gave up Christmas after 1995. Took about 3 years to get it into the folks head that I really meant it, and then every Christmas time I had to gently push off well-meaning friends who invited me to spend Christmas with them and their families - I spent Christmas alone because I wanted to and enjoyed it (just me and my kitties ). I can't imagine doing a New Years Eve alone though. Guess it will come in time.

[GregD]

I agree, people should remember what Christmas is about and it is not about spending tons of money on gifts to impress people....

Don't have kids at the moment, but if and when I do I will make sure to teach them at least 3 things they can create themselves from stuff in the house. For sure woodworking, the 21st century version of painting = graphic design and something else.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Mounds

I read on this website that the average person will spend $646 on the holidays. The meaning of Christmas is truly lost in those numbers.

I can't access the site for some reason. But is that amount just for presents, or for overall spendings resulting from the holiday season?

I don't spend much on gifts. My partner and I swap little gifts throughout December (he grew up celebrating Sinterklaas on December 6 and me Christmas, so that works for us). So far the amount is under $100. I like to give away baked goods as Christmas presents - it's actually quite the treat here as so few people have ovens.

My big spending on Christmas is the food. I usually do a Christmas Eve dinner and a Christmas day lunch, and if I am the host, $300~$400 on the whole meal is not unusual. For drinks I typically supply Gluwein + one wine, the bill would definitely be higher if I didn't ask my guests to contribute the liquor.

That said, I am in the camp that says that as long as you meet your saving target and can pay your bills, you can do whatever crazy thing you want with the rest of your money. These $400 come out of my regular monthly budget - I will simply eat out less that month. To some it may look like a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a meal, but I don't find out-frugaling myself particularly enjoyable, and I still put a grant in the bank in December, so I feel reasonable about it.

[Mounds]

I'm actually not too sure if that $646 is on holiday spending or on just gifts. I'm leaning towards just gifts, since I've read other sites suggesting that the average American will spend $1200 throughout the holidays ().

Sounds like you're pulling a page from Ramit Sethi's book I guess the important thing is that it's a conscious decision, not an obligation.

-Tim

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Mounds

Sounds like you're pulling a page from Ramit Sethi's book I guess the important thing is that it's a conscious decision, not an obligation.

Yep I've been working on my feelings on this these past few months, and found it surprisingly more difficult to allow myself to spend where it makes me happy, than to save money. It's been an interesting process to identify the (sometimes atypical) things that make me happy and allow myself to spend guilt-free money and time on them. Maybe I run in strange circles, but the general discourse around me seems to be more "why on earth would you spend money on something unnecessary if you could save it for a rainy day instead?"

Of course I doubt that most people who spend $600+ on presents only do it reasonably (with money they budgeted and saved over several months, or that can be taken straight out of their December budget), or consciously (because it makes them truly happy). I fear there is a lot of feelings of social obligations, and out-doing your peers or something. These are motivations worth exploring if they make you leak money you don't have.

[Mariana Trench]

I don't really buy gifts. I used to think that was out of selfishness, but honestly, I just don't really see the point. I can't remember the last traditional Christmas gift I received that added to my life in the way that something I consciously bought would. I do give truly special gifts to people who are truly special to me: last year, I made my brother a pipe, for instance. The only other ways I'd really give gifts is making people meals. I do love doing that.

But the traditional "think up some retail item that'll pass for a gift for each person I'm socially expected to give something to" shtick? Boring and wasteful, in my opinion.

[garentee]

I try to make good food for my presents...Usually something that came from my farm.. For the kids in my life I will buy things and I have bought some gifts for my girlfriend, but its all modest..It blows me away to think of an I-phone as a stocking stuffer...seriously WTF?

[CoolBee]

A relative was a minister in a poor area of the UK for several years. There was extreme unemployment, single-parent families trying to make ends meet, but all this pressure to get the kids lots of toys.

They would mail order lots of things so the kids had heaps of presents on Xmas Day to open, then most of the people would send them all back after Xmas and the rest would still be paying for them 'on tick' a year later when the next Xmas rolled around.

[Angela]

$0 spending for me this holiday season -- all my gifts this year will be services.

[thehawkman]

In the words of American comic George Carlin: "leave greed alone, it's what keeps the economy going". If people stopped buying stuff, everything would go to hell.