We have a SS coz of the sheer size of my family. 12 adults and 25 kids. We'd all need a loan to buy presents if we didnt. At one point we toyed with the spending amount idea - $50 per person. It was a logistical nightmare in the end. Some people couldnt afford it and others found the most perfect present - for like $70. So we all ignore it, lmao. Its about what you get them in the end, not the cost. The way DH and I end up doing it is we work out how much we have to spend on it, then consider who we are buying for and what kind of thing will mean the most to them. its easier when you dont make it a per person deal because you find that for one person something for $20 is perfect, and for another, something for 30 is perfect. When you truly consider the person and what they really want - the amount of thought put into it shows so much that you could leave the price tag on the gift and they wont notice.