Reply #22: counting food and everything...

[jbm]

about 600.00. I was trying to keep it below 500.00, but I had one of those "what the hell was I THINKING??" days where I bought some really dumb gifts and wound up having to rebuy when I came back to my senses. Most years I spent 1,500.00 at least, and I've often spent as much as 4,000.00 so this was a huge cutback for me. I really feel like I was able to cut back without depriving anyone, and I think no one will even know that I spent less. Other years I'd head off to a mall and somehow spend a ton of money on junk that wasn't 'the exact right gift' anyway. This year I thought instead of shopped, and except for that one day where I lost my mind, I really believe I wound up with gifts that really do match the people..and for much less money.