Christmas Overspending...

I think that is a LOT of money to spend on any holiday BUT the thing is toys and such have gone up a ton! Let me explain, one gift now a days in a store like family dollar is between $10-$15!! So for one child alone if you only get them 8 gifts for under the tree that is $80-$120! If you have 2 or 3 children that amount doubles or triples! When I was a kid I got about 10 things under the tree. It is a LOT of money now a days if you have children. It is crazy! The stores definitely make their money... I don't have the money to spend that much, never have and never will. If the kids are older like pre-teen to teen years they start to want electronics and such which is a TON more money! It is a rip off now a days...

Aww, I never thought that that amount is already over spending. Well, in the Philippines we spent a lot, christmas gifts or tokens, and food.. lavish food, for the two occasions, christmas and new year. so.... maybe we are overspending :( but people come and so we must be prepared for them we usually have generic gifts for kids and adults. so if unexpected visitor come, we don't need to worry about if this will be okay for the person.. because it is generic anyway

I have a budget each year. This year, it is a bit higher, but I don't use credit cards and I'm careful. We're still saving money, etc. The money we use for presents I set aside each month throughout the year. I have budgeted about $700 for gifts this year. (Some of this will be aided by the free amazon gift cards I got through swagbucks, and that kind of thing, so I'll come in under budget). It is a lot of money. I do enjoy it though, and I try very hard to buy or make people things they will enjoy or things that will be very useful.

Most people really do tend to overspend during Christmas season. It is the time of the year where there are so many people to give presents to unlike other occasions. I think it has been a tradition too that kids should have new clothes and shoes to wear, some adults even buy something new for themselves for Christmas. One factor also that affects our spending habit during this season is because people have bonuses which means there is really money to spend. I think despite overspending it is not a regretful feeling to make your loved ones happy by giving presents. Have a Happy Holidays!

That is sick - $750! Just a reminder of how commercial Christmas has become. People want to buy the most, the best. I think this is distorting the meaning of Christmas a little bit. I have only spent about $50 so far and I only have 3 more people to shop for, all of which I am going to spend a respective $20 on each. Me and my family put caps on what we are going to spend. None of us need more credit card debt or to spend that much.

Woah! what a big money to waste. well i am not actually spending that much during chrismas because in the first place i dont have that much money.haha but i admit that i spend more on christmas than what i usually spend on every other season.

we don't have credit cards and while i am a little behind in my gift buying, i only have a few left to get. i tend to buy them all through the year so that it doesn't hurt as much right now. i think that $750 is pretty excessive. really, who needs that much stuff?

Christmas is the season that majority of us give and spends a massive amount of money. this money that average families used came from either their year long savings or funds specially for the season. it is not overspending, like what you read in the article, it's the average. they choose to buy expensive gifts for this season and as before the year ends. it's like saving for the last..and they save this money to spend it for too many gifts or high valued item

Most Americans are spending too much on holidays. They want to celevrate during holidays. I hope Americans can learn how to save there money than overspending.

I'm not sure that's crazy. It really depends on the number of people in your family and also whether you also shop for extended family - such as parents, in laws, siblings, their families, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. If you have a large family and you shop for extended family, it's likely you actually spend more than that. Add to that the way some people shop anyway - I purchase things all year long, especially things like clothes or items on clearance. If I added in all THAT stuff, I probably have spent over that $750 or so over the course of a year just on ONE person. However, I don't buy random toys and other things throughout the year. Some people buy all sorts of stuff for their kids whenever, when the kids want or ask. I don't. This is why my daughter usually gets a LOT of things for Christmas and her birthday, which is about a month after Christmas. In terms of actual shopping during the season, I spent roughly 200 on black friday and around the same in online orders because there really wasn't much out there - when you don't need electronics, a lot of the special deals are worthless. On another note - specialty items can be costly - things like garmin watches or running gear - and I don't mean bargain basement stuff you buy from a random mall shop. Most people I know budget a certain amount they may spend during Christmas and then they look for deals to purchase the items they know their loved ones would really appreciate. I shop on ebay a lot too because it's a great way to get deals.

I would think that too many presents twist the idea of what a Christmas present is about. Presents (only for little children) should teach them about love, not about having lots of material things. I only buy small toys for the smaller children, an envelope with around $15 for each old grandchild and jams and reliches made by me to the rest of the family inluding my daughters. This year, my present to my youngest daughter will be to take care of making diner to take to her house. She will hand me the money for the ingrefient though. I hope I will have enough with US $200 to make an awesome Christmas diner for 12 people which will include a bought cake.

Well my friend, there's no harm in overspending, if you really have so much money to spend . However, if it will be just charged to those credit cards which when the billing comes would give you a headache, because you don't have enough money to pay it., then forget it. Just spend within your limit. WHat is important is that the family is gathered to share the joyous occasion.

Hi Arieles! Well, for me, since it is a once in a lifetime event and I would only want to give the best for my family and love ones, it doesn't matter if I would be spending that much provided that I could really afford it and it is not way beyond my earning capability. Have a nice day!

I dont spend that much here in Mexico... i do spend alot on my only son. We are alone here, and I like to treat him well.

that happens and we need to maintain a cap on the budget all the time

Christmas Season is going on and every one is ready for their Christmas Celebration. People are spending a lot of money for their Christmas shopping. Since Christmas will come once in a year, so people don't care about the money and spend a lot in Christmas arrangements, purchases as well as gift. Most of the American families spend more than 700 dollars for their Christmas celebration. Gifts playing an important role in Christmas celebration, so people are interested in buying an unique gift for their friends and beloved persons to show their real affection. They don't bother about the cost of the gift and wish to give an unique and special gift to their dear ones to remember them forever. In my opinion preparing the Christmas gift by our own and giving it to our beloved persons will make them more happy than buying an expensive gift for them. Most of the time i will prepare cute Christmas cards by my own and give it to my friends to show my creativity as well as my real affection and care. This kind of cute gift and cards will stay with them forever and our dear ones remember about us. There is nothing wrong in spending a lot of money for Christmas if we have it. But some persons will borrow money from their friends to celebrate the Christmas. We must avoid borrowing a great amount as debt for our celebration. Celebrate Christmas from your own money and have fun and enjoyment with your activities. Spending a lot don't increase our enjoyment, if we spend our time with our real friends and beloved persons and celebrate our festival with them. We will get more enjoyment any great amount don't have the ability to give this happiness to us. We can celebrate our Christmas in a short and sweet manner without spending a lot of money. Organize your spending and enjoy your festival with your friends and beloved persons along with your family. Advance Christmas wishes to all.

Today I priced a small Christmas tree planted in a pot. The shop wanted 120 euros for it. This is a tree that will be in the house for no more than 4 weeks. I could plant it in the garden afterwards but I already have one from the year before. So a real Christmas tree is too expensive, a plastic one costs more, looks half as good and costs around 60 euros for the same size. So this year I will be without a tree. I live on a pretty tight budget and my spending this Christmas will be kept to a minimum. I remember when we made our own decorations, had homemade presents and were satisfied with a lot less. This hunger for more of everything is taking the pleasure out of giving and getting. A simple Christas with just a few extras would be one to remember afterwards with pleasure and the worry of how to pay for it would not occur.

That is quite a huge amount anyway they can afford it. They want to be generous in a way. I spend for Christmas on things that I can only give. I allot certain budget for it. I won't spend for something I don't have. What count is the thought of giving gifts from your heart. Have a Blessed Christmas to come!

every Christmas i see to it that i have something to give to my family during that season.. i have a limited budget for the gifts that i will give so i really look patiently for something which costs less but will be like by my family.. i believe that no matter how much the costs of the gifts what is important behind is the thought that someone remembers you.. but if you do have a budget then go buy expensive one.. after all that is your money..

It is amazing to hear that your American spend about 750dollars on Christmas gifts. IN RMB it is about 4500. It is a big sum money for me. Anyway, Christmas is the time to enjoy ourselves. just to be more happy. On Christmas, people can totally relax and visit relatives and friends Merry Christmas.