I think we usually spend about $500 for Christmas. This year, I didn't pay much attention, but we ended just about dead on at $500.
$60 Teachers, etc. (cash/gift cards)
$0 Scholastic ($230 worth of books for teachers)
$50 Boss gift
$20 Work gift exchange
$75 In-laws gifts (went in with sister/cousins)
$3.50 (for $207 worth of books/games at Scholastic).
$17 Bday/Xmas mom
$35 Bday/Xmas dad
$8 game for sister
$35 treated parents to lunch for bday
$4 Dollar Tree (stocking stuffers)
$50 easel/art set for LM
$15 Marie Callendar pie for birthday
$127 Other gifts for each other (dh, kids, moi)
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$500
As usual, we got far more cash than we spent. Worked out pretty well!
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We've got games coming out of or ears, here. Board games (LOTS), video games, etc., etc. I think the kids will find plenty to do this next week off of school. (Not that I was worried about it before Christmas!)
Oh - the big gift from my folks (for BM) was the Lego MindStorm. It's basically a robot building/programming set. It is SO COOL! Very expensive, and we all kind of thought it might be a bit over BM's head. In the end, it looks like it is right up his alley and he will learn a lot. Definitely a big score there. I am just pleased it turned out so well and am awed by how educational it is. That thing will keep him busy all year (there is so much complexity you can add to it).
Christmas Numbers
December 26th, 2010 at 04:20 pm
December 26th, 2010 at 06:35 pm 1293388528
December 26th, 2010 at 06:45 pm 1293389136
If there is a Scholastic warehouse near you - you can look into it. Not sure what the odds would be.
December 26th, 2010 at 08:03 pm 1293393813