What's Your 2009 Holiday Budget?

I always have a hard time coming up with a Christmas budget because there are so many variables for us. If we travel back to dh’s parents that costs way more than if we just stay home. They live over 400 miles away, we’ll have to spend a night or two in a motel etc. and eating out on the way there and back home again. I’m putting our budget at the $500-1000 mark because of the travel. If it wasn’t for that we would be below the $500. We’ve traveled back to Wisconsin for almost every Christmas since dh’s been in the army (24 years). I think we’ve missed about 5 in all.

My list is down to almost nothing this year. Movie tickets or a dinner gift cert for my parents. I am thinking making “treasure soap” for my young nieces. Plus my holiday houseguest and I are doing a gift exchange with a $10 limit.

My husband and I stopped buying for each other when we had kids. Up until last year, we used to exchange gifts with each and every family member that lived by us (about ten people in all). Last year we drew names and did a Secret Santa where each family member bought for just one other person with a $30 limit. This year, half our family is out of work so we probably won’t even do that. I’m planning to buy for my two kids and my three nieces and the Salvation Army Angel Child I “adopted” for the holidays and that will probably be it for me. I’m hoping to stay under $500 which is less than half what I used to spend.