Gift Budget Planner

Use this free gift budget planner and calculator to split your Christmas, birthday or wedding gift budget across everyone on your list.

How to Use the Gift Budget Planner

1. Enter your total gift budget and choose the occasion.
2. Add everyone on your list and pick your relationship to each person.
3. Move a person’s weight slider up or down if the suggested share doesn’t feel right. Everyone else adjusts automatically.
4. Tick “Lock this amount” to type in a price you have already decided.
5. Choose a buffer if you want money set aside for wrapping, shipping and surprises.
6. Print the plan or copy it to your notes.

How the Budget Is Split

Each relationship starts with a default weight. Partners and children get the biggest shares, then parents and siblings, then friends, with teachers and coworkers getting the smallest. Your budget is divided in proportion to those weights, to the cent, so the amounts always add up to your total.

For example, say you have $500 and keep a 10% buffer. That leaves $450 to spend. Split between a partner, a parent and a friend, the planner suggests $195.65, $156.52 and $97.83.

Locked amounts are taken out first. The rest of the money is shared among everyone who isn’t locked.

How Much to Spend on Gifts by Relationship

There is no right number, so treat these as general ranges and adjust them for your own budget:

• Partner: $75 to $250
• Child: $40 to $150 each
• Parent: $40 to $120
• Sibling: $25 to $75
• In-law: $25 to $60
• Close friend: $20 to $50
• Teacher: $10 to $25
• Coworker: $10 to $25, or a group gift
• Boss: $15 to $30, ideally a group gift

Gift Budget FAQ

How much should I spend on Christmas gifts?

Start with an amount you can pay for without using credit, not with what you feel you should spend. Enter that total in the planner and let it divide the money by relationship.

How do I divide a gift budget among family and friends?

Give closer people a larger share and everyone else a smaller one. The planner does this with relationship weights, and you can change any weight.

What does the buffer do?

It sets aside 5 to 15 percent of your total for wrapping paper, shipping, tax and last-minute extras. That money is taken out before the rest is split.

What if the gifts I want cost more than my budget?

Lower a locked amount, raise your total, or switch some gifts to a shared group gift. If locked amounts are more than your budget, the planner shows you where they were capped.

Is the planner free, and is my information saved?

It’s free. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored or sent anywhere, so print or copy your plan before you close the page.