I have tried to cut back on the excessive spending at Christmas. My wife has a huge family. They refuse to do a gift drawing where you buy a gift for one person and buy them a nice gift instead of spending 20-30 bucks each on 16 people. Well one family member has held out and the rest capitulated. I think I am going to throw out an idea for homemade christmas gifts next year. Maybe they will bite. 500+ bucks out the door is crazy.