Our Christmas and birthdays budget is around the $100 mark, preferably less.
When laybying at the Kmart toysale recently I was in disbelief at how high with toys some people had their trolleys piled with - Where do they put them all??? LOL That is actually one of the reasons I wont get Aidyn more stuff, and he already has so much due to grandparents/relatives etc, and I dont even have room for what he does have!
We will probably blow out his Christmas budget this year, only because we are getting him a big boy bed and quilt cover set & the works, and he will get a couple of toys on top of that. But that is just a once off.
No doubt as he gets older Christmas will become more expensive for us...
I like your idea of having special outings instead Christy... we are planning to do that for Aidyn too from next year...

ETA: just wanted to add that I dont disagree with spending heaps on money on presents for Christmas. I love buying presents for people, and if we had more money I would be spending more on everyone, but have to keep it within reason atm! For family that is not DP or Aidyn, I will spend $20-$30 on each person (this is a set rule that me and my 4 sisters have with each other anyway!) and DP will spend up to $100 on his mother and brother.