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

babyblooz

I think we shouldn't lose sight of what the spirit of Christmas is all about! I am conscious of the fact that there are lots of kids who don't get a lot of money spent on them at christmas, and there are some kids who get hundreds and hundreds. Kids talk, and kids compare.

I work with kids and what they talk about is the things they have done together, and especially the things they have done 'as a family'. It seems to be the run up, the little preparations and the family traditions that they enjoy so much. It might be interesting to ask your own kids what they remember about Christmas from when they were tiny. It might surprise you.

Another thing to consider is, if you spend loads every single year, by the time the kids are about five, there really isn't much left to get them that they haven't already got.

I worry about young kids having TV's in their bedrooms, because by the time they have been out at school all day, then had something to eat, what time is there left for them to come together as a family if they are all in their own bedrooms gazing at the telly seperately!

I think if we concentrate of the 'spiritual side', the togetherness and the family times, the actual gifts seem to fade from memory pretty quickly especially with younger children. So, if you can spend lots, fair enough, but don't ever let it be at the expense of spending time!

MrsE_2

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

So I'm really really curious. Perhaps it's partly because you don't spend much on other people (as well as obviously having the income to afford it)?

I spend "silly" amounts on my DD, but shes an only child & we don't have many others to buy anyway, just a few small ones.

I've spent £300 sp far, she asked for a 32 inch LCD & a sky+ box for her bedroom:eek:
We bought her a 21" LCD a year or so ago & she has her own sky box, but its just the regular one, not the plus:rolleyes:

Anyway I think she was kinda joking:cool:

LouBlue

Well I am an Aunty that spends about £30 each on her niece and nephew. But my sis spends around £80-£100 each on niece and nephew. They are 16 and 13. They always get something they like, sis has the money to spend more, but she thinks that amount is plenty and the kids are always happy with whatever they get.

jellyhead

babyblooz wrote: »

I work with kids and what they talk about is the things they have done together, and especially the things they have done 'as a family'.

True, my boy always remembers the board games we've played, and how it's so much more fun at christmas because there are lots of people to play with all gathered for lunch at granny's house (where there's no internet or wii so people interact more).

I don't know which year it was, but he also remembers one year when it started to snow on christmas day just after lunch and everyone ran outside to play

My youngest was 2.5 last christmas, and he doesn't remember christmas or presents but he remembers going ice skating at warwick castle.

zekepes

Very much depends on what my son 'needs'.

One birthday we bought him a house for the garden which cost £300, his last birthday (4) we bought him a bike which cost £80. This Christmas, as there are no big ticket items 'needed' I will probably spend about £75 and more than likely much less.

Lunar_Eclipse

MrsE wrote: »

Anyway I think she was kinda joking:cool:

It doesn't really matter whether she was joking or not, what matters is your reaction. I would guess that your DD possibly couldn't think of anything else she really would like.

I have told my daughter that her request for the £299 dinosaur soft toy chair is ridiculous and out of question. So thankfully she didn't put it on her wish list. We could afford it easily, but that is besides the point. Mainly due to size if I'm honest. (Who on Earth wants things like that in their home?) I explained that a £40 gift was more the sort of thing we would have in mind for a main present. Obviously we don't have teenagers, but we would also be more likely to give more expensive items like Nintendos or a new bike for birthdays.

I also try my best to ensure that they realise that Christmas is not about presents.:rolleyes: The shoe boxes for Operation Xmas Child are a fantastic aid for this. Not only do the children love wrapping and filling them, but they also get a massive reality hit when they realise that this is all the "lucky" recipients of these boxes would get for Christmas.

skylight

skylight wrote: »

Its between £50-£100 per child. This depends on the age - baby gets about £20 and oldest £130ish, so it averages out. Includes main pressies, stockings and sweets. We have 4 kids (and one on the way) so silly money is not affordable.

Its a waste of money. Too much stuff is just not appreciated anyway and I have nowhere to put it!

Well, since posting this things have changed! OH is about to lose his job and despite best efforts has not been successful in securing another one.

So, I have spent £200 in total on 5 kids. We have 4 kids between us and OH has an elder daughter from his first marriage (she now lives with MIL and not us, but still on the list). I do have a few more stocking fillers to do, but this is likely to be mainly sweets now (small stockings!). OH may or may not get anything depending on whether Quidco payout for me before Xmas. And thats it!

DD2 (who is 6) has been telling me not to worry about not affording Xmas cos Father Christmas will bring it anyway. Which is cute but trying to tell her that Mr FC cannot afford anything either!

belle2008

God, reading this thread has made me feel so tight. I only spend about £30 on my 5 yr old at christmas! I also feel a bit old fashioned (I am only 26!!!) He has all the toys he wants already, and that does not include such things as Nintendo Wiis, playstations, LCD tvs etc!!!

His favourite things from past Christmases/birthdays include a box of lego (from grandparents), a cheapy scalextric-type racing track (£10 from Argos sale) and a £2 snakes and ladders game!

I am not judging anybody who spends £100s on their kids, children are special and it's great to spoil them. But as others have mentioned, the things kids enjoy and remember most are having attention from adults and doing fun family things together. My son is not interested in expensive high-tech toys, he just loves building stuff out of lego with his dad!

I hope it doesn't sound like I'm being judgemental, that's not my intention and I really don't want to offend anyone, but I am just a bit shocked at how much some people spend - I thought this was a moneysaving forum after all?! Either we are much poorer than most, or a lot of people are borrowing money for one day in the year.

LouBlue

belle2008 wrote: »

God, reading this thread has made me feel so tight. I only spend about £30 on my 5 yr old at christmas! I also feel a bit old fashioned (I am only 26!!!)

You shouldn't feel tight. People spend what they can afford (hopefully, and not put themselves into debt). I agree with not spending a lot on a small child, I was happy with a plastic kettle and a Jackie album.:rotfl: I know times change, but other children my age had a lot more money spent on them at the time, but we didn't have the money and I don't remember feeling put out at all, I was happy with whatever I got.

GeordieJim_2

We have a 13 year old son, who, unfortunately, goes to a school where there are lots of rich kids who have everything top of the range. This means that most stuff he would really like is way beyond our Christmas budget (about £100 for him - we have a huge wider family, so the total for Christmas is about £800). However, in the last couple of years, he's realised that he ain't gonna get the really expensive stuff, so he no longer asks for it. If there's something branded or really pricey that he wants, he's wise enough to ask grandparents, aunts etc for cash (at least in part) for Christmas, and he'll buy it himself second hand in a few months time when it may be cheaper anyway. He seems to have accepted that Christmas isn't about getting everything you want, and now just enjoys what he receives (or maybe I'm just hoping).