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

savingholmes

I am amazed by what other people spend however I am lucky enough to be part of a big family who also spend on my children so I know that even if I can't afford to spend much on them they will still get loads (too much).

£100 for a first Christmas personally I think is way too much. I probably spent less than £30 on my kids first Christmas - they can't remember it and if you buy too much they are almost frightened and over-whelmed. I would recommend that you pace the pressie giving over a few days to avoid this... I'm amazed that anyone spends £500 which just seems astronomical to me, although if I was the only one buying pressies for my kids I might spend more...

My DD I've spent £35 on her so far and that fills two decent sized gift bags. I should probably stop there but will probably be tempted to buy more closer to the time. Even my MIL will probably put money in the bank for her rather than buy her much as she thinks she has so much already. We do accept second hand toys from friends etc and I've happily wrapped these up before now and presented them. Sometimes they even came still boxed and tagged. If we spend more on her it will probably be due to clothes inclusion.

My DS will be getting a wii sport, some £1.50 T shirts and some wrap ups. (I already had £50 in vouchers). I don't feel guilty about the disparity in spend as it is his birthday shortly after Christmas and he will get less for that plus others will use the wii fit. I will aim to spend no more than about £30-40 on his birthday - hopefully earned through the £10 a day challenge. My DS thanks to kind relatives already has most of what a kid could wish for and I have no desire to set too high an expectation going into the future. If I spend more than planned on him it would be for a Christmas outfit - probably costing less than £20 - that he will get use of the rest of the year too.

My kids do get pocket money during the year however which they earn through chores. Hope someone finds that helpful. Hope I come across as genuinely shocked rather than judgmental - if you can afford it great - but I know I can't.

debidoodle

DD has asked for new GHD's for her main pressie her old ones have had it, her stocking will consist of new pj's, undies, socks and toiletries/cosmetics. we will then give her £100.00 to purchase some new clothes in the sales. She is at UNI so only has a part time job so we help out as much as possible and finances allow.

SuziQ

I am pleased I found this thread,as I have often felt I spent too much and last year when I cut down in a big way I was so anxious in case they were all dissapointed. My eldest boy was a pit miffed when he opened his stocking quickly and then had to watch the other 2 open theirs (we always have the tree presents after breakfast) but I think he was more than happy once he found all his Wii games etc under the tree!
This year I am on benefit only,and have to be even more careful. I bought my youngests preesies from the Argos summer sale-just need to get him the major thing off his list. The older boy will once again want games for his psp,Wii etc,which works out very expensive,but I also want to get him an electronic chess game. My daughter will probably come back from Uni a very different girl to the one who went and I am at a loss to what I will get her.

I'm so relieved that so many others seem to go through the same angst as me on this subject!

SuziQ

Purple-sparkles,although I am a Christian your pagan Christmas sounds lovely to me!

shirlgirl2004

I spend whatever it takes to get the children whatever they'd like. My DSs are 22 and 19 so it's usually something computer orienatated.

My DDs are 4 and 18 months. The 18 month old won't get much as we have pretty much everything she could want so it will be a few token gifts so DD1 doesn't ask why Santa left DD2 out. I'm sure DD1 will have a long list but I know what she is likely to play with. I guess it will probaly be £150 worth but until I start buying who knows. The most I spent was about £1,500 but that was on a beautiful rocking horse for DD1's 2nd birthday and it will last her until she has children and beyond.

We have the money to buy gifts and wouldn't go into debt to do it. It is an expensive timeof year though as we have about 35 people to buy for. The perils of large families

wendywitch

To be honest it depends what they want for Christmas and what I find to buy them. I don't have a set amount that I spend. This year DD1 is having a ipod nano - which I won DD2 a nintendo ds and we're hopefully going to see an ice show but I'm refusing to buy lots of crap that doesn't get used so I'll spend less this year.

Just realised that sounds like they're getting nothing else. They are, just not the stuff I use to buy.

RoxieW

I've got 2 boys age 4 and 5. This year they'll be getting a Nintendo DS to share (bad idea getting one to share I know but its a compromise with tight hubby!). That with a couple of games will be £150. Then prob £100 ish each. So £175 total.
They're also having their bedroom done which will cost about £500 so not quite the frugal xmas I'd hoped for!

big_gay_kirk

keeping the budget down is easy.. just use the word "no".... its difficult at first, but gets easier.... lets be honest, we live in a world where people are starting to think that if someone loves them they'll give them stuff.. lots of it.... and unless we stop the rot soon, we'll end up with a world full of spoilt brats.... when treats become the norm, there are no treats.... when i was young, getting a Matchbox car was a great treat... or even getting a bar of chocolate... people are just coming to expect too much...

Tigger888

Great thread - lots of interesting points of view which have made me think.

I am definitely cutting back this year - DD1 is getting a Nintendo DS for her birthday - that has been the most expensive present she has ever had and she understands that there will be nothing else on the day.

For Christmas, I usually spend about £30 - 40 on a 'main' present and then perhaps up to £80 each on extras.

It annoys me when the Christmas adverts seem to imply that a present worth £20 - £30 would 'make a great stocking filler'!!

georgina_fenwick

I am amazed at this thread, it has made me realise that i go TOTALLY overboard on my 2 boys (now aged 14 and 15) last year we spent £1800 between them. :eek:

This year i have already got them a xbox 360 each, i have got £900 worth of high street vouchers to buy them a 32" lcd tv each, and thats as well as the 105 games i have bought (made up of a mix of ps2, xbox, xbox 360, psp, and wii).

That is without all the bits and bobs and any clothes.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Can i just add that i buy throughout the year and NEVER go into debt for christmas, and other family (18 altogether) that we give all just get £5 cash and a bottle of alcohol for the adults and £5 cash and a large selection box for the kids, except for my mam and hubbys nanna they get a few extra gifts.

Be nice.