Christmas: reasonable spend per child.

*Louise*

I have 3 kids aged 9, 3 and 1

I aim for around £200 per child, sometimes a bit more for my eldest because you get less for your money as they get older and the items become smaller lol.

They are allowed to request one 'big' item from Santa, 2 small gifts and then I choose the rest as surprises.

I always remember the amazement when I was a child and found the living room festooned with presents on christmas morning (there was 4 of us so looked a lot) and I like to do the same for my kids. Only difference is that I learned when I was older that my mum used to get in debt every year doing that, and I no make sure I put money away every month for christmas so as not to end up in debt.

logan

My eldest 2 (7 and 9) will be having £200 each spent on them which includes a tv and dvd player each and a cheap mobile phone (we live away from half the family) and my youngest (2) is having £100 which will be made up of a 200 piece kitchen set and an 80 piece workbench set which I feel all of the kids (including the one on the way will get daily use of)
This is my first Xmas where I've budgeted because I've never actually ever kept track of my spendings (which were never too much) and I'm a huge bargain hunter so I'll never pay too much for anything lol

Butterfly_Brain

We are on a tight budget and can only afford £30 - £40 Each on our two. My husband was made redundant last month and has had to take a job that pays half of the salary that he earned in the old job. We sat them down and explained this to them, and bless them all they said was "Mum if we get a stocking and a few presents thats ok, we have had loads over the years and you have always done without, we know that you will do your best and we will have a good Christmas whatever"

buxtonrabbitgreen

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

We are on a tight budget and can only afford £30 - £40 Each on our two. My husband was made redundant last month and has had to take a job that pays half of the salary that he earned in the old job. We sat them down and explained this to them, and bless them all they said was "Mum if we get a stocking and a few presents thats ok, we have had loads over the years and you have always done without, we know that you will do your best and we will have a good Christmas whatever"

That made my eyes water.
My ds asked for a digital camera and I got him one in July in a sale so £65, my dd wants money for a convention she is going too so she will get equvelant in cash. I have probably spent another £20 each on stuff I have bought as bargains over the year. I also have several grown up children and thier patners and offspring and also several siblings and patners and offspring so I coudnt spend any more either.
I was even less well off when my older kids were teens and spent about £20 on each of them. I have a photo of one of my grown up sons at 13 absolutely beaming opening up a small musical keybord.
You get what you can afford out of the things they would really like.
I do think a lot of kids now have far too much and don't appreciate or look after thier presents.

jellyhead

My son told me he has everything he needs, so don't buy him anything! I said I want him to have a phone, and he said he can have my husband's old one that I was about to give to school for recycling! (it's rubbish, and a new battery would cost the same as buying a new phone anyway).

He did ask afterwards if he can have a board game because he loves playing with relatives on christmas day, bless him!

I'm going to get uno extreme, it's cheap at tesco direct and maybe i can find a code

niceday999

yummymummy888888 wrote: »

I have a completley different take on it! (2 girls 5 and 6):D

I buy them the must have toys they want, (the wow factor," look what Father Christmas has got me"), whether £20 or £100.00 it does not really matter. I then keep shopping till they have loads of parcels to open.

A week before xmas I have a quick tally up but I am kidding myself really. The "bargains" I have got in the year and in the pre xmas sales probably double what figure I have in my head!

For me it is all about a satisfying pile of prezzies for them to come down to and how long they are kept occupied opening them!

Oh, I tell hubby I spend about £150.00 each. Cough Cough:rotfl:

That is totally me...No matter how many times i say i am not going to get sucked into the Christmas frenzy every year. I look last minute and think he/she has more than he/she and rush out and buy a pile more.

niceday999

My "kids" are 15 almost 16 (nov) and 21 should i be cutting down now on the older one or both ?

doelani

Our kids are 20, 18, 15, 14, 11.......£100 each and £50 each for grandchildren. As older 2 work full time they have been told that after this year they will not be getting as much. youngest are my stepchildren so they also get at their other house lol Last year as we took kids on a BIG holiday in the August they only got £50 each for christmas, this was explained before we booked the holdiday and they were happy with that.


When we were younger mum always stopped buying once we started work except for a small gift.

hamish222

I dont have kids but my MIL still spends at least 600 quid on my hubby at xmas. As well main pressies she gets him a huge gift bag full of socks, one full of pants and one full of lynx deodarant. Enough to last him the whole year until next christmas. it's great means I don't have to buy them. But the present to top all presents my 17 year old Niece got a brand new mini for xmas last year, now why does Santa never bring me presents like that.

tori.k

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

Heres the thread with poll


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1134605

im another that feels really tight i used to spend a fourtune on my two teenage kids,but had no money last year and only got them one thing off their must have xmas lists, i padded christmas out with clothes that i had to get them anyway.... and bless the little darlings didnt even notice that they had half what they usually had,which proves i was spending to much in the first place,im going to do the same this year..then laugh when i hear people moan bout the cost in jan...£150 each and that there lot