I have banked at least $100+ — I figured housing would be $400+ a month and it was $0. Food I was hoping I could keep to $5 a day, so there is another $25+ Probably a bit more since I really had no other expenses and I knew I would be traveling and have car/gas expenses as well. Of course, I’m sure that there will be weeks when I go above those amounts as well, but it’s nice to have that banked when those times come.

1. I dont blame you. I have 22 nieces and nephews, and a few grand-niece/nephews (whatever they are called – boy that makes me feel old) so I would go broke gifting them.

2. What did you set for a weekly budget? How much do you feel you “banked” this week?

We don’t buy a lot of gifts. These are all very normal things that people do on a budget. & I am not sure if my parents have ever particularly bought my kids gifts – they don’t notice. (This decision made because my in-laws go totally insane with the gifts – we call them gift hogs. The point seems so futile to everyone else. Though again, my parents have gotten them very special things when the opportunity has arose). Meh. I doubt your nieces notice or care. We also don’t buy gifts for any of our nieces or nephews. Up to age 10, it has never been an issue in the least. Heck, we really don’t buy presents for our own kids. They’ve never asked us why we get them a couple of small things, no one else gives them anything, and why Grandma gives them 100 gifts every Christmas. To them, it is just the way it is.