How much do you spend on your gf/bf/wife/husband for gifts and how much do they spend on gifts for you? (boyfriend, couple)
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Whew! I've been married twice before, and it's varied widely with all three wives.
My first wife was really into gifts, giving and ESPECIALLY receiving. Even in our younger years when we couldn't afford much, I gave until it hurt -- at least a couple weeks' salary. As my income grew so did the gifts. The last ten years we were together I probably gave her $10K a year in gifts, and the most expensive were probably jewelry. She was still a shrew. She'd probably spend $300 a year on me.
Second wife mostly just liked little things -- like little cars and little rings. No, seriously, birthdays and holidays were important to her, but we didn't buy each other large gifts. Instead she'd ask if we could give her kids money, which we did -- maybe $1K or $2 each at the most. For each other, we might spend $200 or $300 per year.
Current wife just doesn't really care for gifts. The last gift of any real value was a ring that I gave her a couple years ago, and she hasn't had it sized yet (IOW, never worn it). I buy her a pair of $50 slippers each year. LOL And that's $50 more than she spends on me.
My husband is far more extravagant than I am in gift giving. Me very once in a while I will come up with a great gift for him, but that doesn't always translate into expensive.
I handle all the finances in our relationship, so while I am not a giver of expensive gifts, hubby generally gets whatever he asks for: computer, large television, expensive hobby equipment.
However, he gives me pretty expensive gifts, like jewelry that costs $2000.00 etc. he doesn't do this all the time, and if I tell him money is tight he won't, but he is definitely an extravagant giver.
Thought I would revive this thread, since the one on how much we spend on our kids was so interesting, at least to me.
My husband and I are now 60-ish, and we buy about three predictable gifts for each other for a total of about $150 each, on average. However, for the past 20 years, the gifts have been the LEAST important part of Christmas for us. For us, enjoying the lights of the Christmas tree while sipping a hot drink and enjoying home-baked cookies and either listening to instrumental carols or watching a traditional holiday movie is MUCH more enjoyable than opening gifts.
I initially set a budget for $150-200/each this year, but I went over on his and spent $230ish (several items). We got an early joint gift, a special edition Battlefront/Star Wars PS4 ($433), and I'm doing another joint gift that's around $150ish.
It depends on the year and what our finances are like. Last year I spent around the same for his gifts alone.
I would say I generally spend between $250 and $500 for each major gift event (birthday and Christmas). Valentines Day and our anniversary are much smaller affairs--typically under $50 each. We have been together just under 4 years and we got engaged this past summer.
I LOVE giving gifts. I love the thrill of seeking out just the right thing that I know the recipient will love. It's a fun challenge for me and it feels good to make someone happy. I typically give several smaller gifts, so the most expensive single thing was probably a watch for about $150.
He, on the other hand, is much less into gift buying. He tends to get me one present worth about $75-$150 for Christmas and something a bit smaller for my birthday. It doesn't feel inequitable, though, since he does other thoughtful things throughout the year.
Depends on what's going on. This year, we are closing on a house right around Christmas. That is essentially our gift to one another. Probably get a couple of small keepsake type gifts, but we both decided that there's no need to spend much this year, and we set a specific dollar amount not to exceed, so neither person feels guilty.
We enjoy giving one another meaningful gifts, but that doesn't always mean big ticket items. My spouse is a big gift giver...not just for holidays, but thoughtful things year round to let people know he was thinking of them. I'm that way in my heart, but most of my life, I've had a pretty modest income, so I didn't have the means to always be picking up random gifts for all the people I care about. Consequently, that's not a big behavioral pattern for me. But I do enjoy gift-giving. I just spent so long in the mindframe where I couldn't afford it.
Overall, with my spouse,I'd prefer to spend money on experiences, versus stuff. Take the money you'd have spent on a gift and put it into a weekend road trip instead, etc. Good memories and less to worry about storing. Maybe I've just moved to much, LOL.
When I was married, we didn't give each other gifts - we went on a lot of trips instead.
Now I have a bf since a year. For his birthday we went stock car racing ($300 for a groupon) and he was totally into it and I got a cell phone for my bday ($280).
We agreed not to give gifts on Christmas but go on a 3 day trip instead and pay each 50%.
Every now and then he buys me something he thinks I need (car cover, motorcycle parts) or I buy some stuff for him if I come across it (car stuff). So I would say it balances out, and maybe costs us $300 each throughout the year.
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Even in our younger years when we couldn't afford much, I gave until it hurt -- at least a couple weeks' salary. As my income grew so did the gifts. The last ten years we were together I probably gave her $10K a year in gifts, and the most expensive were probably jewelry. She was still a shrew. She'd probably spend $300 a year on me. 
