We don't have a set amount. With only one child, we have the luxory of not having to make things 'come out even' so to speak.

Generally, we ask her what she wants--and she usually tells us something in the 100-300 range. Varies from year to year. One year we got her a digital camera and printer, for example. One year she needed (and wanted) new tires. This year, she hasn't yet made her final decision, but I think she's leaning toward a printer for her laptop.

We generally just get her something we know she will get use out of--and some years we spend more, some less. Oh, and then we still do a stocking for her (and she does one for each of us).

After our children reached 30 years old, we
stopped buying presents, and just spend more, on
the grandkids.

Well, I'm in my 40's and repeatedly told my Mom we don't need anything anymore. I'm grateful for the xmas sentiments and having time with her. Depending upon your children's situation, my Mom puts the emphasis on grandchildren and we pick up movie coupons/vouchers for her to give to my siblings for a night out. We all agree just focus on the grandchildren. It's not about the commercialism, it's really from the heart and spirit of Christmas. As for price - it all depends on the individual situations. What have you done in the past? What are you comfortable with? DH and I are at the point it's all in the family being together and sharing the time, enjoying dinner, sitting and yakking.
I don't know if I helped at all.
Ho Ho Ho!

I all depends on what I find, or what I think they need. One Christmas Lori got a under $10.00 gift.

I truly believe and do the "it's not the cost that matters" thing.

Moni

I am in a need to cut down year too. Kids are 28, 26, 24 with 2 gk's under 6.
I am thinking 30-50$ in clothing or gifts, and then each will get a $50 gift cert to their fav store. I hope to keep it under $100 each including stocking stuffers. I will have to shop smart, and stretch it out. The gk's about 50$ each in toys and other stuff.
I have finally got it now so we just meet for lunch for birthdays. whew!

trin

I shop there - you can find some really nice stuff, in many instances as good as new and often new. Bakeware / cooking items usually just need a good scrub, take your time if looking for clothing - I OFTEN find new sweaters with no piling. I'm checking there this week to help fill up a gift basket theme. You don't have to shop expensively. If you haven't tried this before I highly recommend it. It's the thought that counts, not the value of the gift. And there's nothing wrong with offering your time as a present either.
I'm happy to receive what I get. Sometimes the true present is how it is received and not the gift all all.

Thanks for all the great ideas. My problem is that I havw four adult children, two married with children, one married without children and one single. I am really tired of all the commercialiam of Christmas and would like to do something different this year.

Have only one son, and GS, and now extended family of new DIL. No other family, so I tend to give what I want to, generally lots of little things and one big gift. So that's what I'm doing this year.

And I am FINISHED tah dah!!!

Its hard for us this year and I hate cutting back. But the money is just not there this time!
We have spent anywhere from $150-$200 on each of our 3 kids when they were growing up.
They have not had grandparents for about 18 years now and I always wanted them to have a "good" Christmas.
Now one DD does have a BF that I know will get her something. The other DD and DS are not seeing anyone and if they don't have something under the tree from us there won't be a gift at all. A cpuple years ago I just got $100Gift Cards for my kids with a shirt or something to open.
We are spending about $75 on each child and grown child, the BF has always gotten a shirt and a gag gift or something from us, but after 3 or 4 years I think we'd better include him as a member of the family. I'd been biten in the butt before treating a GF and a BF like family and learned from that. The adults will get a $75 GC and the little ones will all get clothes and toys to the same amount.
It tough to stay on track and not buy something I see and think they'd like. We also have a GB's birthday this month and DS's birthday too, so more added on to the amount I planned on spending. The GB's I always spend more on for their birthdays than I do the adult kids.
DH and I will not exchange gifts this year and I don't care as long as my kids have something under the tree.

It's hard, because I think they keep running totals..3 are married, so they get a shared gift, 2 are single and they get something more. It's all dependent on what they have, the marrieds already have everything and the singles are new homeowners..probably $100 for couples, $100 for the singles..Kathy

I try to spend around $100-150 on my kids (40-27-23). And $50-75 on the g kids. I give the g-kids 50$ GC's and then something to open. I really try to keep my kids at 100$~~,my DD's BF I give a 50$ William Sonoma card and he gets a Hallmark ornie like my kids all get. I have several extra people I give small gifts to but I shop at the end of Christmas for most of it and through the year at sales.

I cut way back several years ago and will cut back again when each of my two kids that are not married do get married and we have more g-kids. By then we will be well into retirement and not having as much $$.

I feel very comfortable about the amount I spend now and none of my kids really ever want much.

If you want to skip the commercialism, how about giving to a charity in their names?
mcpeg-- I think that is such a nice thing that you do for your mother, so she can still feel she's giving her children something. My mom had heart surgery a few months ago and isn't able to go out shopping, and it's worrying her. We keep telling her not to worry about gifts this year, but old habits are hard to break...

When my extended family hit a total of 16 people, it was way to costly to buy everyone something, so we switched over to the lottery system, drawing names for adults, with a cap of $30 each. Everyone would buy for kids under 12. Getting together for the holidays was more important than an exchange of gifts.

Additionally each little family unit would still do Christmas at home. This way parents can over indulge as all parents do. Ha!

Now that we are older with established lives, we do a simple token gift exchange. Simple small gifts like earphones, DVDs, puzzles, chocolates, food treats (usually an individuals favorite), slippers. We enjoy the exchange, but it does not have to be expensive.

Yikes! This is a year we're splurging on both our adult kids, their spouses and the grandchildren. We're taking all of them with us on a cruise in June, we got the 4 children's passports, and got all 8 of them sets of luggage for Christmas. Stocking stuffers will be little lock sets and travel size grooming things, etc. This is a one-time thing while we can do it, and they're all extremely excited! The kids will be 11, 12, 14 & 15 by next summer....pretty soon they won't want to go anywhere with us. :)

Eva...can i go too?
Suzan J

evatx, fantastic gift!

For the last few years my parents have given us a unique gift. There are 6 kids and all are out of the house. My folks take 2 of their cows into the butcher and we all get the gift of beef for Christmas:) I am just about out of last years and am looking foreward to new meat:) I am not sure what the cost is, but with hamburger going for 3 dollars a pound, and we get 50 pounds of hamburger, besides t-bones, sirloin, roasts and filet, it is worth a lot to all of us. Plus it helps all year long in all our grocery bills.

Stacie