i used to be REALLY tame at christmas - i was the only one not working, full time student on bugger all income... First year i had a job, i decided to splurge on my family - and now, every three or four years, when money is good for me, i'll do it again. DH and I were pretty much broke last Christmas, so everyone got small presents - this year, we've splurged again! we don't have kids ourselves, so it's just the nieces and nephew, my bro and SIL, my folks, and one aunt (who has an intellectual disability). in all honesty, i think we've spent about $70 on each of the five kids, maybe a little more - but we haven't paid full price for any of it, so value wise, it's heaps more!

for two of our nieces (who are also DH's god daughters) - it's very unusual for us to see them due to family issues, so we do tend to spend more on them now than we would have a couple of years back when we got to buy things through the year as well...

Bro and SIL were about $350 each (but this also included birthday - and it only happens every few years - will be different once we have kids...)

we've all chipped in for my aunt - she's getting a DVD player and a few DVD's - probably about $100 in total

DH and I have spent heaps on each other - but that's cos we got concert tix for Elton John, including a night of accommodation... there will be some clothes and things under the tree but that's more for the kids that will be there Christmas morning...

i had most of our christmas shopping finished and picked up by August - except my parents! still not sure what (if anything) to get my folks...