A post from ThreeBean asked this, so here is my long answer.

I don't use an exact price limit for each person, but I try to stay around a certain amount. My "control" comes with how I like to get 3 gifts for each member of my family. I'm not sure where this came from, but for some reason, 3 gifts has become the family tradition. We always get my mom, dad, sis and BIL 3 gifts each. My sis and BIL do the same for all of us. Mom and Dad always spoil the 4 of us (2 kids and our SO's).

That being said, sometimes is it 1 big gift and 2 small ones, or 3 small ones, or whatever. Sometimes it is even like this year: My sis technically has 5 gifts from me, but 3 are small and will be wrapped in one box under the tree. So, I guess it's not 3 gifts really, so much as it is 3 packages under the tree. Did I mentioned my whole family has OCD? LOL

Finished up a bunch of things yesterday. Finished for Dad, and also got all the stocking stuff done for the BF. Today I am hitting the bookstore with a 25% off coupon to pick up a grilling cookbook for my BIL. The just one more stop for my friend A. Of course, that would be the odd one. She wants a...ummmm...well, honestly, a toy resembling male genetalia. Ha! So, I get to go to the sex shop tongiht! Always a good time. LOL

But then I am done. Yay! Now if I go to the stores I can relax and not worry about finding the right things for people. Plus the un starts now: wrapping gifts! I love doing that. Put on a good holiday movie, have some hot chocolate, and wrap gifts (even better if it is snowing outside!).

Now's the time I start to enjoy the holidays.

Finished up some more shopping today. Mums is now done, and so is my friend L. I really would like to find one more small thing for Dads; maybe some Lindt candy; he loves that stuff. Then something small for my friend A (she is moving into her 1st house one Jan 1st so I want to get her something for the house) and I am done. I think me and the BF are going to skip presents for each other this year. We had a great vacation together and splurged a little there, so we are happy. Besides, all that matters is that we are together.

Old Total Holiday Gifts: $56.49
Spent this week: $64.99
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New Total Holiday Gifts: $121.48

While I was waitin to meet up with one of my friends last night, I was poking around in the bookstore. I found a book I think my sis will love. And it was on major sale! Originaly $14.99, marked down to $3.99, then an additional 50% off! After tax it came to $2.09 Yay.

Old Holiday Shopping Left: $359.20
Sis book: $2.09
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Holiday Shopping Left: $357.11

Well, I just won 3 items on eBay for my BIL for X-mas. He wanted tie tacks, and I found 3 really cool ones: a grim reaper, a skull and crossbones, and an iron cross made out of spiderwebs! Very cool! They all came from the same seller, and there was FREE s/h. I love that! Total spent: $18.25

Holiday Shopping Total: $377.45
Spent already: $18.25
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Holiday Shopping Remaining: $359.20

So, if everything works out the way it is supposed to, it looks like this freelance work will give me $377.45 for Holiday Shopping. I can so do this! My first cash-ever Christmas! I'm so excited! That added to the $36.15 I have already spent on gifts will give me an overall total of $413.60 for everyone. Here's who I am buying for:

Mums
Dad
Sis
Brother in Law
The Boy (aka my boyfriend)
Best Friend L
Best Friend A
Jazmin (Mums and Dads doggie)
Presley (Sis' cat)
Wolfie and Solstice (out cats)

and I think that is it. We don't exchange gifts with our extended family, and all my grandparents have passed away a while ago. And yes, we exchange gifts for the pets.

Holiday Shopping Total: $416.36
Spent already: $36.15
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Holiday Shopping Remaining: $377.45

Got my first of the 4 freelance payments this morning. Waiting for it to be transferred into my checking account. As soon as it is, I will then transfer it to my Vegas savings account.

One thing we decided to do is take whatever is left over from Vegas and put that towards holiday shopping. I'm sure there will be some left over, as we are going to try to be "good", and the leftovers plus the other freelance payments should be enough for the holidays. I'm so excited; this will be the first year EVER that I haven't used me CC for holiday shopping. Go me!

Yay! Everything for the 4 freelance jobs are finalized. Just sent of all 4 contracts to the buyer. I will be getting on project tonight to start, then 2 more this week, and one next week. After paying fees to the company that organizes all this for us, I will be making $638.75!!! I'm so happy! I won't get it all before Vegas, but I will get it all by the 1st week in December, which means I have money for Christmas Shopping. I can't tell you how much of a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I was stressing big time about $$ for the holidays.

And, now I don't feel guilty for not looking too hard for a FT job before Vegas. Ijust couldn't imagine getting a job then telling them I need the next week off for a trip. But now I have work to keep me going til the end of the month.

Happy happy!

Started my X-mas shopping this week. I usually do most of it on Black Friday, but this year we will be in Vegas, so I decided to start now.

My sis is done. I got her an Elvis pen, an Elvis keychain (that is covered in blue velvet!) and an Elvis bottlecap opener. All 3 of them have buttons you can press to hear Elvis say different things. They all match. It's a full set. She'll die for them. She's obsessed.

Also got a book for The Boy. Will get him some more, but it is a start.

Christmas Spendings Total: $36.15