Christmas: reasonable spend per child.

kettlefish

My parents used to spend about £30 on a "Big" present up until secondary school, then it was around £50 each, and then a stocking for each of us (I have 2 brothers) The stockings used to be a can of pop, some sweets, a chocolate santa, magazine, lottery scratchcard, toothbrush and a pair of socks or flannel, I always feel a bit perplexed when £20 dolls, board games (or worse PC/PS3 games!!) and CDs are described as "stocking fillers" in magazines!! These would have been major and much wanted gifts for us, and I would never consider my parents mean, the gifts we wanted were always well chosen and well loved.

minxtress

JoJoArmani wrote: »

If you can afford it then that's great. People I know can't really afford it but do it anyway like it is some competition and then give the kids earache when they need new shoes in April.

I totally understand that, but its not a competition with me, Im a bit of a loner and never discuss with people what my children get, and if I couldnt afford it I wouldnt do it but I work hard all year and this is my one extravagance. Kids get whatever they need clothes, shoes and school wise throughout the year.
If I couldnt afford it one year, then I couldnt afford it simple as I wouldnt stress myself over it, Id explain the situation to them.

JoJoArmani

minxtress wrote: »

I totally understand that, but its not a competition with me, Im a bit of a loner and never discuss with people what my children get, and if I couldnt afford it I wouldnt do it but I work hard all year and this is my one extravagance. Kids get whatever they need clothes, shoes and school wise throughout the year.
If I couldnt afford it one year, then I couldnt afford it simple as I wouldnt stress myself over it, Id explain the situation to them.

You sound a very nice sensible Mum! Wish you were in my extended family ha ha ha!

minxtress

JoJoArmani wrote: »

You sound a very nice sensible Mum! Wish you were in my extended family ha ha ha!

That would be nice, If I had an extended family I wouldnt spend as much, but its just us 4 really so i like to splash out.

roosterbean

I'm with you too, I save a little every week to put towards giving my boys what they want at xmas. I grew up with a very big family and always remember the sight of so many pressies under the tree. I try to replicate that but my family is a lot smaller these days!!

I am a self-confessed "Christmas-ite" and I do it purely for the pleasure of seeing their faces - this is the present that I give to myself.:j

RustyFlange

Sorry I haven't read all of the thread but have quickly browsed ...

Last year I spent £300 each on both of my children, then I also spent that amount on OH.
This year I decided that as I got some bargains back in January and also picked up bits and pieces throughout the year and even some handmade goodies that I would spend £150 on each child then try to budget the same on OH. So far I have nearly all of my sons upstairs. I have part of my daughters but stil lots to get and have OH's stocking fillers. I also spend an extra £20 on stocking fillers.

arthur_dent_2

well, to answer my own thread, hubby was thiunking of spending about £30 each on them (5 + 7). I am thinking more along the lines of about £50 - £60. This is because I wish to buy my youngest a dolls house for keeps. From what I am reading, I think that this is not as extravagant as hubby would have me believe.

jellyhead

let your husband read the thread lol!

I think buying a dolls house is a lovely idea, and worth the extra expense as a one-off. It will last a long time and be played with often. I loved getting a dolls house when I was little (grandad made it for me, and the furniture was made with lolly sticks!) and I still remember it. I bought the peppa pig house for my son because he loves dolls houses.

Some years I spend more than others - a bike for example, lasts for years so I would spend on it one year then the next couple of years I wouldn't spend so much.

Do you feel that if you spend extra on the youngest you have to on the eldest too?

bride_on_a_budget

hi all,

usually i spend about £150 on my 9yr old son , but this year he is getting the usual £150 spent and a ps3 console, he has been saving half of his pocket money since january to go towards the ps3, at the mo he has £86 saved up and he is going to sell his ps2 and games on ebay to make al ittle extra. my husband and i will put the rest towards it for him.

my ex (Sons Dad) spends about £20 on him which i think is pathetic.
last year he got him a psp which i thought was great, but i later found out he got it off a friend for £20 as it was found in the back of a rental car.

i remember getting about £30 spent on me at christmas and one year i asked for a barbie house and i got my older sisters 2nd hand sindy house....

bride on a budget

DeeDee74

I must say i hate counting what i spend on mine every year..
i dont have a set amount i spend. but i alway's spend the same on them both there's only a years between them and i think it's fair thay get the same .

even though we are a large family we dont buy for each other we all have kids and i find once you start buying the list of people you buy for just get's bigger and more expensive..

cause it's only me buying i do tend to go o.t.t but i'm trying to be a little more sensible this year i still have unopened toys from last year, and yes these are the we must have one's too ...