My children really don't get a lot of "extras" throughout the year. Toys and such are pretty much given at Christmas and Birthdays, only. So, that being said, we tend to go a little overboard when it comes to Santa. I shop throughout the year and put things in the attic to save for Christmas. I'm in big trouble if they ever discover my spot! I can't really say how much I spend, but I would guess that 80% of it is bought at a good discount so there is a lot of bang for my buck, so to speak. Our kids understand the real meaning of Christmas, so the years when things have been a bit leaner, they were OK about it.