Parents,how much do you spend on christmas presents for your kids?

Beki

Well, we were on £21k a year, but now on around £14k max hence the new budget!

TBH though, i think that this year i'm feeling a lot more 'xmas spirity' lol, so would have tried to go down the thrifty route anyway!

Mandymull

i aim to spend no more than £300.00 each on my two girls one aged 16 the other 15...it may sound like a huge amount and yes it is, but when you consider that they 'toys' i buy them cost so much more due to their profound disabilites...EG simple handled one piece puzzle has set me back £25.99..suitable games for their touch screen computer are £54.99 each...so the totoal of 300.00 WONT go very far...
Love
Mandyx

Lunar_Eclipse

RoxieW wrote: »

well, i had good intentions of £100 - £150 each budget but adding it all up I've spent about £400 between the two of them, plus little stocking fillers. they've definitely done and dusted now!

lunar - i'd be surprised if there was any correlation with family income. We have income around 40K whereas i have relatives on benefits who spend £500 per child. All on catalogues etc, and most of its broken/discarded by new year but they never learn!

So what have you bought them Roxie? Is there something like a DS eating into your spend?

And I agree about the lack of income correlation, as ridiculous as that is. Most of our friends earn around the 100k mark and would spend around £100 on their children for Xmas.

I have opted for the quantity option this year, yet it all fits in a carrier bag (each) which doesn't sound that much from us & Santa does it? My most expensive purchases have been a Fuzz Luvz, HSM 3 CD & latest Barbie DVD. Can you tell I have girls?:rotfl:

jellyhead

We are poor this year, but our lower christmas spend than usual isn't really due to not having the money to spend - it's an awareness that our children have everything already and don't NEED anything.

If my 3 year old wasn't too big for his bike then I'd be spending less than £50 I think, and my 12 year old has only had £30 spent on him but he needs a mobile phone really - it won't be expensive though.

He did a christmas list last week, because his friends are doing them. Apart from a few books he is only asking for a chocolate orange and a box of chocs. He has asked both grandmas to buy a wii game though. The chocolate treats, new pyjamas and a new book and game are enough for him to feel like it's christmas and he has been made to feel special with treats he doesn't usually get (I do buy him pyjamas actually lol!).

wit40iwtwan

Reading through the replies I am feeling a tad stingy. My partner and I have 3 teenagers between us, my 2 only receive gifts from me as family and ex husband do not really bother much. My partner's child is quite spoilt but then he does have more family and a father who give a damn.

I set a budget of £600 for the whole of Christmas - that is to include additional food of £100 and £100 per person. While we do earn in excess of £70K between us, we are saving towards a deposit for a house.

I am wondering if I should up the budget in view of the facts but at the end of the day it is JUST ONE DAY... I do however like the idea of buying stuff in the sale in January... perhaps I will look at that.

I am not a big fan of birthdays and Christmas perhaps due to being on my own for so long with 2 boys to bring up - food on the table and clothing for growing boys always took prescedence (sp)... I also only spend £50 on each for birthdays and over and above the gift they can also choose to either eat out at a restuarant or we do a BBQ for friends.

Next year they turn 16 and 18 and I turn 40 - perhaps I need to start saving for a massive party to make up for my conservative spending to date!
:think:

RoxieW

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

So what have you bought them Roxie? Is there something like a DS eating into your spend?

And I agree about the lack of income correlation, as ridiculous as that is. Most of our friends earn around the 100k mark and would spend around £100 on their children for Xmas.

I have opted for the quantity option this year, yet it all fits in a carrier bag (each) which doesn't sound that much from us & Santa does it? My most expensive purchases have been a Fuzz Luvz, HSM 3 CD & latest Barbie DVD. Can you tell I have girls?:rotfl:

Yes - theres a DS on the list that is a 'family' present for us to share. They've each got a game at £15 a throw. Rest goes as DS1 age 6 - meccano box, ben 10 scooter, ben 10 figure set, walle, transformer, omnitrix, warm ted, game, science set and some books/dvds. DS2 age 4 - ben 10 scooter, ben 10 figure set, omnitrix, warm ted, walle, bath toys, game, power rangers vehicle, books/dvds.

Most expensive after the ds was the power rangers vehicle and the scooters. Most gifts are £20 or £10. Then they'll have pj's and stocking fillers.

moneysavingmumofone

We have spent about £100 on our DS this year, he's 3. Last year it was about £250.:eek: Went way overboard! Still think ive gone overboard this year! I havent paid full price for a single thing though.:p

Lunar_Eclipse

RoxieW wrote: »

Yes - theres a DS on the list that is a 'family' present for us to share.

Good luck. Do you do much driving or days out? Because if you do, I'll put money on you buying a second, purely because they have to be the best car entertainment ever!:D

Our girls are expected to share most things, but we do have two DS's. Eldest got one for her birthday last year, following which I rapidly put my request in for one for my birthday just 10 days later. Not that I play with it much now, but Braintraining and Boggle have killed a few hours.

It all soon adds up doesn't it?

RoxieW

yes, we're waiting to see how ds2 takes to it - he might be abit young yet. if he's not interested then we'll get him a portable dvd player for car journeys. if he is then maybe we'll get another ds with the xmas money that they get from various relatives.

Lunar_Eclipse

RoxieW wrote: »

we'll get him a portable dvd player for car journeys.

oo yes, they're good too. The girls got one for Xmas from FIL 3 years ago, for their first trip to New Zealand. 33 hours there; 41 back - nice! (They were four and five at the time).

Hence the iPod request by eldest this year for a repeat of this in just two and a half weeks time. Hooray!