Chirstmas Budget Building

Hubby and I planned out our budget this year like so...
We wanted to make this year alittle bigger (I know Dave would be screaming at me, but well, it is my money and I have every right to be stupid with it, and if I can own up to it, it is good... RIGHT?)
 My baby really doesn't need anything, but we like to make a big deal of Christmas.
My Liam, is GROWING so fast, and the things we wanted to get for him were more expensive so we planned to spend the bulk on him.

And Chris and I dont need much, so for the most part we get eachother the stuff that we want/need and go from there.

Ewan:  $50-100
-Bath Toys
-Stand up toys
-Clothes

Liam: $300-400
-3ds
-ps3 games
-Movies
-PJ's

Chris: $250
-Toys/Fun
-Games
-Needs (clothes etc)

Ashten: $250
-Whatever "santa" wants to bring me

That sad to say puts us at a Budget of close to $1,000.  YES that is alot for christmas, but this blog is about me being HONEST! and yes, that is a smaller budget for us.

However those arent the only people we shop for.  So we had a plan for that as well

Parents: $100 each (200 total)
Chris' siblings: $50
Lily's siblings: $50
Nieces and nephews: $100 (we have 6)
Close friends: $50
Other friends: $50
Employees: $100-$200 each (200-400 total)
This adds ANOTHER $800-1000.  Yes there we go a TRUE number of christmas.  And I am the FIRST to admit that is ALOT of money. 
However, going into it with this idea, makes things MUCH better

This is how we have kept track of the spending

Location	Price	Total	Person
Costco	80	80	Chris
Amazon	5.00	85.00	Ewan
Amazon	16.00	101.00	Chris
Amazon	35.00	136.00	Ewan
Amazon	5.00	141.00	Twins
Amazon	100.00	241.00	Parents
Amazon	40.00	281.00	Ewan
Amazon	69.42	350.42	Chris
Zuiliy	20.97	371.39	Ewan
Zuiliy	37.95	409.34	Liam
Zuiliy	23.00	432.34	Twins
Costco	30.00	462.34	Lily
Point	26.50	488.84	Friends
Amazon	11.47	500.31	Lily
Amazon	53.98	554.29	Lily
Amazon	100.00	654.29	Lily
Amazon	148.64	802.93	Liam
Amazon	307.63	1,110.56	Liam
Amazon	130.00	1,240.56	Chris
Amazon	22.99	1,263.55	??
Game Stop	213.19	1,476.74	Liam
Paypal	30.94	1,507.68	Lily
Game Stop	42.63	1,550.31	Liam
Amazon	33.48	1,583.79	Chris
Paypal	13.76	1,597.55	Chris
Castle	53.43	1,650.98	Chris
Dave	87.98	1,738.96	Sis & Lily
Tea	80.00	1,818.96	Friends

 I love google docs.  It is something that I can update ANYWHERE I go and I can see what is going on.

From this I also can look at what we are doing and how much is where.  When I look at the account every few days, I see what we have spent where and we can break it down.  I also can figure out where I have spent money.
We have spent OVER budget on a few people,.. Namely Liam! :) and we still have a few last min things ot get, however Telling your money where it is going is VERY helpful.

I feel that the MOST IMPORTANT thing about a christmas budget is to be HONEST.  That is what we have done this year, even though we SHOULD spend less, knowing we are spending less then last year, and getting better is the best we can hope for.

What are your plans to save during the christmas season?