Do you and DH set a limit....

getitdone

on your gifts to each other? DH and I always say we are not going to do much. Typically we agree to get each other Christmas pjs (which we have done for 11 years). Then about Thanksgiving, DH will say - how about we still fill our stockings. Then by December - we are out buying each other gifts. I would like this year to be different and make a decision about what we are going to do by Thanksgiving. How do you decide what the limit is or do you even set a limit?

Shepherdjel

DH & I tend to talk about how much we want to spend, but don't set a definite amount, the rough amount changes every year depending on what we can afford. We usually buy one big gift, fill each others stockings and buy little things to fill under the tree like candy, cereal things we like and would buy anyway lol it's fun! I guess it is your preference, it's hard to set a definite limit, that's why we just talk about what we can afford and go from there. Good Luck :-)

MrsLynch0516

I always say we have a limit of x dollar amount. I stick to it, he never does. Works out good for me , but really, I wish he would stick to the limit.  Usually we each kind find a few things that we would never just go out and buy, and base the limit around that. Last year, I got a James Avery charm braclet...I can't remember what he got?  PS 3 maybe???/  We only have to buy for parents, and my sister, and usually get an angel from the angel tree. So we don't have a lot to buy for.  Oh... and we buy for the dogs of course

KPSimon

Nope 

kcgrl

DH and I do not get each other gifts. Our first Christmas together as BF/GF we did but after that we decided to spend our money on our family.

schuette2

We always say we will, but never do. I think I've spent close to $80 on  him this year.

MrsT0522

We don't set a limit, but most years we end up buying something big for the both of us a few weeks before Christmas, and then realize we spent too much, so then just make that big purchase our joint Christmas gift

WA1215

This year we arent doing gifts because we dont have much money...but I will buy a few small things for his stocking- mostly food.

In years past, we have never really set a limit. 

NikiLynn

We set a limit but usually always go over it.  It at least gives us a ballpark.  Unless I give H cash and threaten to hurt him if he uses the credit card (or bank card) then there is no way around it.  I go over but I stay VERY close to the amt we agreed upon.  We determine the amt by our financial situation at the time and what we have planned or have done over the year.  If we're going on a trip or plan to make a big purchase then the amount is MUCH lower.  If we haven't bought anything or planned any trips then we might spend a little more.  I try to aim for $150 each.

victoria0993

We always set a dollar limit. I think it's going to be around $150 each this year. We normally do one nice gift for each other, some smaller things and stocking stuffers. 

Ally

We do talk about an amount to spend - if one of us goes over we let the other one know so that the plan can be adjusted.  Some years we buy a large item for both of us/the house, so it is a small amount for individual gifts.  Some years we want to be more indulgent and set a higher amount.  Talking about it keeps us on the same page and makes Christmas morning fun.

Temp6313048411121614

DH and I rarely buy one another gifts, sometimes we'll do a joint gift.  For the years that we do exchange gifts we set a limit depending on how much "extra" money we have at the time.

flowerpower3

DH and I are insane about Christmas and about buying Christmas gifts for each other, so we have to set a limit; we'd be incredibly poor if we didn't.  We just discuss it when we're about to start our shopping and decide how much we'd like to spend and how much we can afford to do. 

chardonnay24

We set a limit - usually small, like $25 - for individual gifts and then decide together on a big gift. This year we got a camera.

I think when the kiddo is older we are going to switch to setting a limit and filling each other's stocking instead of doing individual gifts.

KettyW

This is our first Christmas together being married.  When we were hashing out how to budget and spend out money, we decided that every paycheck we would each get to take out a certain $ amount and put it in our personal accounts.  The rest goes into our joint account to pay for household things or purchases that are agreed upon, but not necessary.  The money in our personal accounts is ours to do with whatever we want without answering to each other.  This is the money that we use to buy each other gifts, therefore, it does not affect our family budget.  We individually decided what we want to spend and what we want to get each other (although this year we have each mentioned one thing we really wanted but wouldn't buy for ourselves - and that's what we'll probably get each other). 

So yeah, whatever we have in our personal accounts pretty well sets the limit right there!

Ready4theParty

We set a limit because we get excited about buying gifts for each other during birthday and christmas.  Also DH is cheap, which is fine, but we learned after our first christmas, that he's ok being cheap when he buys the gift, but when he gives it he feels guilty that he didn't spend enough or it's not nice enough, which is the other reason our limit is set.