It's just to hard to know how much worse our economy will get. I have known people who have even cut down their Christmas card list in the past years due to rising postage costs!

yes, it sounds stupid but i buy the same amount... Because it would disappoint the kids...
Otherwise - going for dinner and inviting parents is a good idea - food - we need to eat anyway and with that the kitchen stays cleaner...
Thank you Mom21kitty - VERY NICE QUESTIONS!!!

Same amount...

Contemplating whether or not my "best friend" is on my naughty or nice list. This may or may not determine whether or not I open my wallet for the sake of Christmas, otherwise, I don't plan on doing anything involving presents.

I am definitely staying on the safe side of things. There aren't many people for me to buy gifts for and everyone close to me knows that our friendship goes beyond a gift or two.

instead of buying everyone something, i only bought my family and close friends something and then made some snack stuuf for my other friends and gave them a card. no one has complained so far....

I'm a little bummed about christmas this year. we're spending the same amount (which isn't much) on family presents (we buy for 15 people!- I have lots of younger cousins and he has a lot of siblings). But my husband and I are exchanging one dvd for christmas to save money. boooo!

I got extremely frugal this year. It's only immediate family-- but I did spend about the same on my husband. He's worth every cent. I'd spend more on him if I could.

It is different every year, there are a lot of bargains out there right now. Another thing we do is to shop sales during the off season, and just put one thing at a time away so the cost of Christmas is spread out more.....

We cut down a few years ago when the gift giving got so filled with things none of us needed or wanted, and we all noted that we really didn't need those things to keep each other in our thoughts and hearts. So now we only give gifts to the kids, and the kids give something to the grandparents and their uncle who has no kids but has to lay out for all the kids!

Last year we cut down on loads of little gifts for our daughter. All three of us have birthdays within a month, beginning late Nov. making for a very expensive and hectic holiday season. My daughter's birthday is just before Xmas, and every year it got further out of control. Now she waits for a big gift for her birthday and one for xmas, which allows us to buy better quality and we don't have 12,513 little toys that she'll only play with once. We actually saved enough that we were able to take a lovely short holiday to Paris in Feb!

I only exchange gifts with one friend I don't get to see often, everyone else we make a point to get together with and enjoy good food, drink, company, and create more great memories.

So with common sense prevailing but without regard to the economic climate we've already cut back!

Less, definitely.

Less - hubby & I are not exchanging this year.
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"Enjoy life, it's ungrateful not to." - Ronald Reagan

less-we went on a trip for the hubby's bd and for chirstmas. better than lots of mindless gifts.

definitly less!! im trying to save! lol, i hope i can keep it up though
Dee

I spent more because last year I was on too tight of a budget, due to extraneous factors. Ironically, this year I just loosened up.

About the same amount.

same as Txredd , the same.

I'll spent less and my family and friends too.So no one will complain.

i think there is plenty of money for everyone! Just need to spread it around

Honestly, I dont plan on spending as much on the "cutesy" stuff..Ive left out shipping to my parents cookies and candy and stuff..just gifts this year. I sent my mom an adorable Dooney and Bourke purse and my dad a laptop "desk" for his lap that I got at Brookstones..I also ship from NC to Ohio and Michigan, so I actually shopped around for the cheapest shipper which Ive never done before.

I plan to spend less. No one really needs anything so it is crazy to go over board.

So far I've spend about the same as last year on gifts.