I'm really curious to know what everyone spends on gifts during the holiday season, particularly gifts for in-laws, significant others of in-laws, etc. because with all of the added gifts we're expected to buy this year it seems that our budget is getting blown out the window - especially if we spend the same on everyone across the board.
In years past, we have assigned $30 to siblings and $50 to parents. However, we now have 3 additional nephews to buy for and one sibling has a nasty habit of picking up a new love interest every so often that we never really get to know and never really want to spend a lot of money on because they will just be leaving in the not-so-distant future.
Add on to that the fact that the husband's parents have now split-up and are both involved in other relationships and we now have 2 additional "parents" to buy gifts for. My father-in-law's girlfriend also comes with 2 kids plus a grandchild that lives with her, so the divorce basically added on 5 more people to shop for, none of which we know very well. Then to make things even more awkward, my mother-in-law announced that she expects us to buy gifts for her boyfriend's grandchildren because they will be at the Christmas gathering as well.
In total between the two of us we're looking at 7 siblings, 6 parent figures and 9 children as a minimum not counting our immediate family (my husband, myself and our 2.5 children). In the past, my sister has decided to not exchange gifts with anyone outside of her immediate family, except for the kids, so that would take the number down to 5 siblings.
Realistically, that number will probably be higher. My husband likes to get gifts for his grandparents and his father's new girlfriend isn't exactly the hostess with the mostess so last year we celebrated at his aunts house, which meant adding on a gift for her, her husband and their two kids.
It just never ends and my husband isn't OK with giving cheaper gifts even though I keep telling him that people are doing that with us and our family because nobody can afford to spend $20 or $30 per person when you have 20 or more people to buy for. He doesn't get it, so I'm wondering if I'm the one that is being unrealistic here, especially since I know the number will only increase as the years go on.
What do you think? How much do you typically spend on people during the holidays?
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