This month, the OnMilwaukee.com Parent Posse talks about holiday finances. Are people spending less this season because of the economy? What are they doing to curb costs this year?

Here's the low-down from the posse:

Our Christmas is definitely going to be light on the gifts this year, but that's OK, because the kids always get too much anyway, and I feel that takes away from the spirit of the holidays.  I took up online shopping for kids’ toys.  It's easy to find great online deals and free shipping, especially at Amazon.com.  I actually save money online even if I don't buy things on sale because I am the kind of person that walks into a store for toilet paper and walks out with five bags.  I also knit a lot of my gifts.

Melissa Tempel
Riverwest

I am probably not the right person to ask when it comes to comparing this year to previous years because my daughter is turning one next week.  Last year, she was just home from the hospital and she wasn’t very eager to open gifts.  But in general, I don’t save all year and I am not good at setting a Christmas budget.  I imagine in my head the amount of money that would be appropriate to spend on each of my family members, but I never stay within that amount.  I envy the people that pick up a few gifts throughout the year whenever something catches their attention.  My goal is to become one of these people, but every year I end up buying all my Christmas presents generally a week before the big day.  In one sense, it really gets me in the Christmas spirit to do all the shopping at once and I enjoy the "wrapping party" that follows (and is always accompanied by a Christmas cocktail.)
Kate Borders
East Side

Yes, this year will definitely be leaner due to the economy.  As far as planning for the holiday spending, we have set limits in the past (usually to go over them) but pretty much stay close to that.  This year we are doing the same, but the budget will be smaller.
Rick Stieghorst
Brookfield

I'll be honest.  I'm a horrible saver.  Typically, my husband and I use our holiday bonuses to pay for most of our gifts and expenses, with the rest coming out of our regular paychecks.  We don't really set limits, but we try to keep things even, like spending the same amount on each of our parents.  We're not planning to cut back this year, but it may be a different story next year.  We are bracing ourselves for delayed effects from the recession.
Robin Mindt
West Allis

We are taking advantage of the fact that our one child is still too young to understand what is going on. She is 15-months-old and won't really care that she will probably get presents from Mom and Dad after the holidays. By doing a bit of shopping after Christmas, we'll spread out the financial hit, take advantage of post-holiday sales and spread out celebrating.
Elizabeth Moen
Bay View