Presents? How Much Do You Spend?
What’s the most expensive present you ever received from or bought for someone not your parents? What about from/for your significant other?
Sometimes I’m surprised when people say they bought their boyfriend or girlfriend a video game console or cellphone. I honestly cannot imagine spending $300-400 on a single gift for anyone. Well, ok, I can. My parents, but I think of that as a totally different league of gifting since they spent truckloads of money raising me and paying for my education. I cannot repay them enough for their 30+ years of slaving in their businesses, but that’s another blog post.
One time, I spent about $300 on a wedding present, but that’s because I was following the rule of spending as much on registry presents as was being spent for each person. The bride had the courtesy to allow me to bring a date, so I estimated and doubled what she spent for each guest. I’ve never spent that much again, short of flying myself to a destination wedding, but a slightly different scenario there.
I got a set of books once from a crazy ex-boyfriend of mine. The boxed set was about $200, but I know he spent about $150 and I was decidedly uncomfortable about the gift for two reasons, 1. It was one of the most expensive things I’d ever received in my life. 2. He was engaged to someone else. (That’s always weird. Like how does a guy justify spending $150 on a set of very esoteric geek books for an ex-girlfriend to his financee? Beyond me what the hell he was thinking.)
I think I spent $200 on yarn once for a gift I was making for one of my best friends. It was a beautiful Italian merino wool scarf in navy and crimson to keep him warm while he was doing his PhD in Boston. He tells me he still wears it and it’s been at least 10 years since I gave it to him. I think he’s lost it by now, but I don’t really want to know if he did.
I am unlimited in my gift giving, meaning I like to buy lots of gifts. But I have to restrain myself. Each single gift might be only be $50 or less. I truly cannot remember the last time I bought something for someone that was more than $100 unless it was a wedding or baby shower present.
So tell me, do you buy expensive gifts for other people, or do you also have a de facto limit as well?
p.s. This post was inspired by a friend’s smartphone. Her boyfriend gave it to her for Christmas. I was a bit shocked. If my significant other is spending that kind of money on me, we’d have to have a talk about what I was receiving. As it is, I know my boyfriend bought my last present on eBay for $20, but that Les Halles dinner was expensive. Somehow food doesn’t count in my mind.
Vixen wrote:
I’m really big on looking for ultra-personal gifts. I try not to spend more than $50 on anyone’s gifts, but I’ll put man hours in. For my boyfriend’s birthday next month, I’m going to plant him an herb garden and a few tomato pots on the patio. He’s been talking about how we should plant a little garden for months now. I don’t think it will cost more than thirty or forty, but I know the emotional value is a lot higher.
The most expensive thing I ever bought someone had to have been a bottle of perfume for my best friend who collects perfumes.
OH! And I’m not actually a vegan. I’ve had that email since I was 15 or 16. I was a vegan for a little over a year and vegetarian for the following five years. About six months ago I stopped being a vegetarian.
Posted on 28-Mar-08 at 11:52 am | Permalink
Chuck wrote:
At our wedding some close family members gave us $500+ as gifts. Other than that, I think my wife gave me a pair of $150 ski boots and I gave her If we are counting her engagement ring as a gift then the number shoots up quite a bit
Non immediate family… I typically spend no more than $25-$30 on gifts. I have given some expensive wedding gifts as a result of your mentioned rule of giving the value of the meal in the $200-$300 range.
Posted on 28-Mar-08 at 12:19 pm | Permalink
McRae wrote:
As embarrassing as it is — I believe I once spent about a grand on a bike for an ex. This was way before I had any semblance of sense about minding my finances. In my defense, it was over some 15 years ago.
These days — I’d say the max I’d spend is around $100 for any of my immediate family members.
Posted on 28-Mar-08 at 6:44 pm | Permalink
Karma wrote:
My most expensive gift was a riding lawnmower for my brother for $1400. He was experiencing back problems trying to maintain his lawn and I felt that I was saving him some pain.
Posted on 28-Mar-08 at 7:08 pm | Permalink
lpkitten wrote:
lately my family and close friends have cut back a lot on gifts, especially for christmas. last year we decided to not even give gifts because it was just getting so stressful to buy and wrap for everyone. it was a lot nicer and we could just enjoy spending time with each other and relax.
Posted on 28-Mar-08 at 9:29 pm | Permalink
ctmom96 wrote:
When Hubby and I were dating, we used to spend a lot on each other. Our first Christmas, I bought him a set of skis and boots, and he was pretty generous with jewelry and other gifts. Fast forward 15 years, 2 kids, a house and a dog later - we are more restrained, but still generous within a budget. As for other gifts, I try to set a limit, as my family has grown plus adding in the never-ending kid birthday parties my daughters attend.
Posted on 28-Mar-08 at 10:36 pm | Permalink
HerMoney wrote:
For weddings: If I go to the wedding I spend about $100, if I bring someone with me to the wedding then about $150. If I’m not going to the wedding then about $50. For friends and family’s birthdays I really try to buy things that would be great gifts when I see them on sale. This allows me to bring that down to around $15-20 for a gift that would normally be about$40-50. In recent years my friends and I have really just cut out the Christmas gift exchange and have all gone out to dinner together instead. It saves money which none of us really have to spare and we all get to enjoy a night out and eat some great food which is more valuable to us.
Posted on 29-Mar-08 at 9:17 am | Permalink
Athena wrote:
$1000 cash for my sister’s wedding gift, $500 for close friends, $200 for acquaintances. We always give cash at weddings here, and then actual gifts from a registry at the shower.
For birthday and xmas gifts, I spend approx. $50 for friends, $100+ for family.
Posted on 29-Mar-08 at 7:27 pm | Permalink
Mrs. Micah wrote:
Wow, I’m not sure if I’m really cheap or really poor or both. I’ve occasionally put more than $50 of effort into a present, like I made a friend her wedding dress though she bought the materials. But I don’t give expensive gifts. And I don’t expect them either.
Posted on 29-Mar-08 at 10:18 pm | Permalink
Dean J wrote:
It depends on how much money I have floating about. I’ve spent $300 or so on my brother, as a housewarming present when he bought his house last year. (We went to target, and stocked the kitchen with pots, pans, containers, bowls, silverware, utensils, tupperware, plus some towels for the bathroom and kitchen.) Family members generally get $20-200. They don’t want for much, and their bills are paid.
When folks get married, they get $50-100.
I prefer not to get or give ritzy gifts, especially not on the Hallmark Holidays.
Posted on 10-Apr-08 at 8:29 am | Permalink