We always spent around $200-300 on each child but every family is in a different position. I do always make the gift from Santa a small one as it’s not fair to other kids hearing that Santa got someone a playstation and them a matchbox car. Family members is usually $50 each.

I think the trick is to buy stuff all year round when you see things on sale or happen to find that perfect something. That way it doesn’t hit as hard at the end of the year. I try to limit it to $100 per child. Sometimes hubby and I get more expensive gifts for each other. It’s no more than $50ea for my in-laws and my parents get $30ea as they don’t spend much on us.

With Christmas being such an expensive time of year our family, like everyone else I’m sure, have really tried to reduce the amount we’re spending on presents the last few years. We’ve moved to a Secret Santa for the adults with a budget of $50 and then as there are so many kids in the family now we are going to do a version of secret Santa for the kids this year too. We are trying to spend more time with each other too instead of just buying ‘things’ for each other.

We have always been very clear that we make a bigger fuss over birthdays (because they’re special and individual) than over Christmas. Which accidentally helps with budgeting too… Our rule is that small presents (eg sibling to sibling) are around $25 each. Each child gets one big present from the parents, usually around $100. Christmas stocking is tiny, lots of small things, I try to keep the total under $40.

We try and keep it to $150-$200 per child but it never stays that way! We too try and buy early to get the best prices and lots of stocking stuffers etc but I always find the kids don’t really want anything until the week before Christmas and then all of a sudden they get these magical ideas about what they are getting lol

We try and keep Christmas gift giving to just the kids. Us adults don’t really need anything, it is more about the kids. I save throughout the year so I can buy one bigger gift and then some smaller gifts. I do find I spend way more every year but that is likely because there are so many awesome things out there or living has gone up.

We always keep a budget of around $200 per person for gifts. Last year we traveled to Europe (the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Switzerland) over the summer holidays and didn’t do Christmas presents or decorations; the trips was the Christmas gift. We just decided we will travel again to Europe so again no Christmas gifts; yay !

A couple of other techniques we use to budget for Christmas is to reduce the number of people that we purchase for at Christmas. It was agreed many years ago with families to reduce the amount and this has worked well. We also use reward schemes to build up points throughout the year and then use them at Christmas.

I try to get organised early. For my family we have a secret Santa set up, and I always hassle my sister to divvy the names out early so I can hunt sales in advance. It’s easier for our toddler right now, he doesn’t understand Christmas yet and is stoked on what he gets. For Christmas groceries I bank all my points as the year goes by. I have over $300 at Woolies and over $400 at Coles rn. That has been a game changer for me

We have always had a budget for Christmas and we have different buckets for the costs. We have a bucket for food and drink, a bucket for gifts and a bucket for activities around Christmas. We do stick to the budget and it really is important for us to not overspend at Christmas.