How much are you budgeting for holiday gifts in 2022?
November 14, 2022 5:44 AM Subscribe
I basically missed the holiday season for the last two years. Between underemployment and federal stimuli, I have no sense of where my personal finances are. Between inflation, supply chain issues, and being totally out of the loop for two years, I have no sense of what a reasonable price is for things to buy. How are you deciding your holiday budget this year?
In previous years, it was very easy. Around 2015, I'd say, I budgeted $30 per single recipient and $50 per couple.
This one-size-fits-all budget never really satisfies, but it was a good target.
However, now I wonder if there might be a better way to think about it. Maybe I should consider budgeting based on carbon impact. Maybe I should just give cash? Maybe I should calculate $30 x # gifts, use that cash to buy something bulk, and divvy it up?
I have plenty of money to spend - but I don't have a sense of what is the *right amount* to spend. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts on how you decide this!
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In previous years, it was very easy. Around 2015, I'd say, I budgeted $30 per single recipient and $50 per couple.
This one-size-fits-all budget never really satisfies, but it was a good target.
However, now I wonder if there might be a better way to think about it. Maybe I should consider budgeting based on carbon impact. Maybe I should just give cash? Maybe I should calculate $30 x # gifts, use that cash to buy something bulk, and divvy it up?
I have plenty of money to spend - but I don't have a sense of what is the *right amount* to spend. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts on how you decide this!
A note about MeFiGiftGuide2022: These next two weeks, we are collecting questions on ask.metafilter.com that help people find fantastic holiday gifts that show love for friend, family, nature, and our global community. These questions, tagged with #MeFiGiftGuide2022, will be collected into an FPP on Nov 24, the night before Black Friday, to spread our community’s love and wisdom across the universe (or at least to the hearts of our future MeFi members).
If you’re new to MetaFilter, why don’t you join? It’s $5 for a lifetime membership, and that $5 is mostly to keep the spammers out. If you end up buying something based on what you read, why not donate to MetaFilter as part of our November Fundraiser Drive.
I am not a very fun person when it comes to this sort of thing...basically, with everyone important in my life, we decided to simply stop giving gifts. It makes everything so, so, so much easier. I realize this is impractical for many people, but it worked out for me and my friends/family.
posted by wooh at 6:23 AM on November 14, 2022 [16 favorites]
posted by wooh at 6:23 AM on November 14, 2022 [16 favorites]
I'm a very haphazard gift-giver beyond my immediate family and spouse. And I live in the UK so all my numbers are in £.
Typically I budget in the £50-70 range each for my mother and sister. For my spouse I'm usually willing to go up to £200. My immediate family is very small these days and I don't exchange gifts with any extended family members.
I usually send something to maybe three other friends and often try to get something for the person I manage at work, with a rough budget of £10-20 per head.
posted by terretu at 7:13 AM on November 14, 2022
Typically I budget in the £50-70 range each for my mother and sister. For my spouse I'm usually willing to go up to £200. My immediate family is very small these days and I don't exchange gifts with any extended family members.
I usually send something to maybe three other friends and often try to get something for the person I manage at work, with a rough budget of £10-20 per head.
posted by terretu at 7:13 AM on November 14, 2022
$50 to $75-ish for Mr. Terrier, when he lets me know what he’s craving.
No other present-recipients. My siblings and I are all about Buy Nothing holidays.
posted by BostonTerrier at 8:17 AM on November 14, 2022
No other present-recipients. My siblings and I are all about Buy Nothing holidays.
posted by BostonTerrier at 8:17 AM on November 14, 2022
If I have something to send someone at some other point in the year, I don't hold onto it, I just give or send it to them when I find it. $20 for the metafilter gift swap, $3 thrift shop puzzles for my partner's mom, I already have stamps for anyone else.
posted by aniola at 8:34 AM on November 14, 2022
posted by aniola at 8:34 AM on November 14, 2022
Best answer: It really depends on how many people you are buying for. Me and my friends seldom do gifts, we just try to go out together. My family does a holiday gift swap game with a dollar limit (highly recommend and it's fun). The only person I spend serious money on is my kid (and formerly my partner). And my parents when they were alive, but they didn't want much stuff.
If I still got gifts for lots of people, it would be around 200 for kid/spouse limit, 50-100 for parents, and 40-50 max for siblings/their spouses. For friends, small/edible things because I wouldn't want them to feel obligated. For acquaintances 25 or less.
(Could vary a little if you were getting one gift per couple or buying something large for someone and going in with other people on it).
posted by emjaybee at 11:42 AM on November 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
If I still got gifts for lots of people, it would be around 200 for kid/spouse limit, 50-100 for parents, and 40-50 max for siblings/their spouses. For friends, small/edible things because I wouldn't want them to feel obligated. For acquaintances 25 or less.
(Could vary a little if you were getting one gift per couple or buying something large for someone and going in with other people on it).
posted by emjaybee at 11:42 AM on November 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Fun question, easy-peasy! I don't do holiday gifts. I love getting people gifts and often do but for me it's completely separate from holidays. I like receiving gifts too but also prefer to avoid holidays because I want people to feel pressured to spend time or money -- or for me to feel pressure to reciprocate. A note, message, phone call (or even a visit if we're getting really fancy!) is more than enough!
posted by smorgasbord at 2:02 PM on November 14, 2022
posted by smorgasbord at 2:02 PM on November 14, 2022
All that said, knowing you in person too: you are such a creative person and so talented with arts and crafts! A homemade gift from you -- a drawing or food or something else -- would surely be incredibly appreciated by many if not most. Some people hate homemade stuff but you probably already know who those are and can go the cash or present or gift card route!
posted by smorgasbord at 2:07 PM on November 14, 2022
posted by smorgasbord at 2:07 PM on November 14, 2022
I’ve basically stopped giving bought gifts other than a bottle of wine for the neighbors when they invite us over for dinner.
I do make stuff, and give said made stuff to various friends who appreciate it. And I try to do so outside the normal gift-giving periods. “Happy international honk a duck day!” or whatever comes to mind. People seem to like getting weird handmade presents at unexpected times.
posted by DaveP at 8:07 PM on November 14, 2022
I do make stuff, and give said made stuff to various friends who appreciate it. And I try to do so outside the normal gift-giving periods. “Happy international honk a duck day!” or whatever comes to mind. People seem to like getting weird handmade presents at unexpected times.
posted by DaveP at 8:07 PM on November 14, 2022
Well, I am an outlier. I spend around $100 each for my dad and sister (small family). Maybe more if I add stocking stuffers.
posted by NotLost at 11:10 AM on November 20, 2022
posted by NotLost at 11:10 AM on November 20, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
Speaking for myself, I really don't care much about the cost of gifts. I'm happy with some kind of homemade vegan cookies, or a $10 bottle of craft hot sauce (I'm a huge hot-sauce aficionado). In most cases, I don't need any gift at all. What does irk me is when people who should know better give me some non-vegan item, like wool socks or a dessert made with eggs/butter.
posted by alex1965 at 6:22 AM on November 14, 2022 [3 favorites]