how much do you spend on your kids at christmas?

~~Diane~~

I've spent around £500 on my 8 yr old his brother has bought him a new bike, and around £300 on my grown up son. I don't go into debt, I save all the money earned from cashback, survey sites also consumer pulse and shop & scan.


I also save Morrisons stamps so that helps with the food.

We don't have any family so what the kids get from me is all they get.

Morporkian

Growing up we never really had a lot of money. Mum has always said that she would be worried each year that she wouldn't have enough to get us presents at Christmas, but she manage it each year (saving small amounts etc I assume. Didn't really ask) and we had GREAT christmas presents.
I say "GREAT" because they were usually things that we wanted and they were enjoyed. They didn't ever really cost a lot, but that's not the point, is it? I remember getting a shopping till w/accessories one year and it was fab! Sis and I had fun playing with it. I also had an A La Carte Kitchen, but that was probably about 4 yrs after they came out and wouldn't have been brand new, but again, it was wonderful! Much fun.
I also remember one year I really wanted a CD Player (one of those table-top ones that are now about £10) but thought it was too much, so asked for a double cassette one instead. Was annoyed when brother got a CD Player! He got less over all though.
Then another year I wanted a phone a found the cheapest one I could for my list. That lasted me about 4-5 years! Same "big" item as everyone else, but cost a lot less.

Mum has told me that she usually spends about £50 on each of us (and there are 4) each year for Christmas and to be honest, I have never noticed a huge difference, even as we got older.
I think growing up as the youngest and knowing that Mum didn't have a lot of money, I learnt from my siblings. I would see them ask for something and not get that, but maybe something similar that cost less money. So each year I started with a HUGE list (done in October to give Santa time to get it all together!) and would whittle it down by placing things in the order that I would prefer them (most wanted, to not mind) and price would factor into this. If I REALLY wanted something and it cost a lot, then I would stress that and understood that I probably wouldn't get much/anything else. Although our lists were for everyone, not just Mum. We still do them now and once it's on the Christmas List, it cannot be bought other than for Christmas (or Birthday in Mum and her other half's case! lol) so as someone else said about their Child(ren) it teaches patience means we usually don't have things added on a whim. I had never thought of it that way though, until now.

As for my daughter, who has recently turned 3, I am trying to do the same as Mum. Not spend a great deal on her (and we did go a bit mad for her Birthday, but I bought those over about 3 months, a lot being in sales for only a few £s and OH used £60 he saves each month anyway to get her a Play Kitchen that she ADORES and will last! So money well spent there) but because I love birthdays and Christmas and love finding perfect presents (or fun, joke, or whatever) for people and enjoy opening and watching people open gifts, I do try to have lots - or rather not just one :P
So my daughter will have quite a few gifts this year, but they were all quite cheap and things that she will enjoy. Like a book, that she is probably a bit old for but that she loves. Its one of those cardboard ones with a sound button and it plays "Twinkle Star" which she loves singing. She saw it though and I had to say it was for Santa
She is also getting a "big box" as my brother put it from them this year and it is something that I wanted to get her anyway. It's a dolls set, so pram etc, but SIL got it in the sales a few months ago, so it's a nice big set (which she will love) but didn't really cost much at all.

I think that for my Christmas shopping, I can usually do it for about £250 - £300 for everyone - 2 brothers, their ladies and the 5 kids in total; about 5 friends including 3 kids; Mum and OH; 3 Nans, 1 Grandad; Cousin and OH; MIL, SIL and Nan-IL and then OH and Daughter. Even managed my 4 cousins that I rarely see this year as we had seen them recently and found something in my box of goodies for the girl, so had to do the brothers :P. Usually it is less than that, what with 3for2 or sales, second hand etc.
This year though, I am being even better this year though, as I shall be baking goodies for people, bought more during the year in sales etc, cutting out people that I haven't seen all year and/or did a gift for last year and didn't see them to give it to, using points from various shops' schemes to do some. I have also cut back on the wrapping/cards as I found all the left over bits from previous years (I am particular and usually want all the paper to match with different for adults/kids). Got a good quality 8M roll from BHS Christmas shop for £1.68.
I got a lot of bits done just this week with only £60 and still have £13 left of it. Got bits for me (was OHs money, I get mine this week. Eeeek!) for £10 and on the day, managed to save just over £40 with sales, offers etc Also, Mum bought OH an XBox 360, as the game he wanted is available on the PS2 and not worth buying a PS3 :K, and got two games with it. One is the one he wanted, other is another car one. So, she offered the games to Bro and I for £10 each, saving me £28.97!! Brilliant!
I feel quite bad this year though, as people haven't got as much on their lists and as I said earlier, I like to see/do the opening, but never mind, as long as everyone has a good day. Usually ends in cards games at the table, which is highly entertaining once it is just us young'uns left and we get a bit silly with poker and not playing it seriously! Haha.

As for myself, I couldn't think of a great deal and everything I have thought of I sort of thought, "but I wouldn't use/watch it a lot" or "it'll be cheaper later" etc, so OH isn't impressed. His words were "but I want to get you something nice/special", bless him. So I told him to get me a lot of smaller bits (that I would want, so undies, socks, scarves etc) and then give me the money and I'll find the bigger bits for less after Christmas He didn't like that idea though - Mum did! haha.

Just as a side, I have to say that the best present I have ever had in my life was back in 1989. It was a big red book of Christmas Stories (first being 'Twas The Night Before Christmas). I adored it and still have it today. This year, with my daughter being old enough really, it shall be coming out and hopefully it will last throughout her childhood too. My Nan always has the best presents!! (Gloves with £1 coins were brilliant too, I felt so rich! *love*)

I personally try to to spend too much, but as long as the thought is put into the presents and the children are brought up the right way, then it shouldn't matter. I do drop my jaw each time I read people talking of £100s as if it were nothing, but I cannot judge their children, as I haven't met them. I think one year people should try and do each child in under £100 and see what impact it has though because you could find it's just the same, but you save more money for doing something else together instead

Anyway, far too much rambling should probably stop now.

victory

Interesting ramble though;)

culpepper

My kids didn't make lists, I didn't mind them showing an interest in things and mentioning it, we used to make mental notes but say nothing.
The problem with a list is, it is limitless, it is a bit like saying what do you want in all the world? On the one hand you want to know what they would like to receive but on the other hand, you don't want to feel forced into buying things because they are on the list. It shouldn't be a shopping list after all, it should be a wish list and with wishes, some don't come true because they are just a bit too unrealistic
My father used to get the three of us, one nice thing each from his cigarette coupon catalogue.
He always had piles of the coupons as he was a chain smoker.
We were allowed to look through the catalogue and could choose one thing each. If he didn't like the choice, we had to think again. It was always a bit of a strained decision as no one wanted to be the greedy person.
My nephew is 18 and still asks for big ticket items, mostly because his mother gives it to him by hook or by crook.
This year My sons presents cost me about £20 and my daughters were about £16 ,we will probably give them some money too but they are both over 18 and adults and cant expect heaps of goods to be bestowed upon them forever.
I don't think either feels deprived.

tanmu

I'm speechless at the amounts of money being spent on kids at Christmas!!! I mean £300 on an almost three year old??? I haven't spent that on my entire family. Out of principal. It's not a matter of what you got cheaper or how long you've saved for....where does it end? If it's £300 at 3yrs, what about when they're 16? I don't mean to sound like a miser, but it's like the world goes into a mad buying frenzy at Christmas.....'must buy, must buy, must buy'. 'Not enough, Not enough, must buy'. And then most of the tat that is bought for kids at Christmas ends up on Ebay in the New Year.
This year I've made the kids their own quilts, bought them some books and art 'n' craft supplies, and a big box of lego to share (DS is 6 and DD is 5). Friends and family will have a variety of homemade goodies to eat. For me, the important thing at Christmas is to spend time with family and loved ones and have fun. You don't need to spend a lot to do that, and that's the value I want to instill in them, not that of mass consumerism.

bigblackdog

its hard not to keep buying more stuff for them , but i will probably spend about 200 each , of that £250 is covered by a smyths toy voucher i won earlier in the year , mine ar 9 and 3 ,

legio11

i have spent £35 on my 2.5 year old for xmas all second hand except for couple comp wins and he has over £130 worth of ben 10 figures alone in that x
family and friends we have spent £30 with enough to put back for couple birthdays next year as well

sassyblue

I feel better reading through this thread, my little one is 3 and we've spent around £200 (although a decent first bike took up most of that, it's usually around £100). He has a bike and another largish present, the rest (and there's probably around 25 other presents) are toothbrushes, jigsaws, books, pants, socks, selection boxes, all little things as he just likes opening presents at his age.

I may go over the top a little (we will never spoil him, perhaps just overindulge a little) but l feel l'm allowed to after trying to get him for several years and alot of heartache along the way - he brings us so much joy. Children make Christmas.

chaosweddings

Hi, ive spent around £300 on my 10yr son, i always spend the same, some friends think i spend too much on him but i dont, i dont go into debt and i enjoying seeing my sons face on xmas morning,

as for " it will all go on ebay in the new year " it wont, i buy dvds, pjs, clothes and a main present for my son which this year is a laptop, my son asked for a laptop in feb and has saved up £100 towards it.

i fully understand that some people cant afford to spend this sort of money or dont want to spend it on xmas presents for their kids but i can and i will,
i have already had a arguement with a friend who said i spoil my son, i nearly pointed out to her that her poor son wears clothes that are too small and have holes in and has one sandwich and thats it for lunch as she spends too much money on having her hair done monthly and nails done weekly and wears expensive clothes while her kids have nothing !

right rant over lol
have a lovley xmas everybody

tanmu

Refusing to spend huge amounts of cash on our kids doesn't mean they have to go around in rags. And spending in the hundreds doesn't make you a better parent somehow. My point is that I think it's important as parents that we instill values into our children, especially when it comes to money considering the mess the economy has gotten into. It's about teaching our children to value things. How can they appreciate their gifts if the pile is bigger than they are, or they're even too young to care? How can they value their presents if they know that come their next birthday and Christmas after that, they'll get more on top? Most kids don't NEED half the stuff we buy them. We buy it because it makes US feel good. I'm not saying that we can't indulge them ever, just that in my opinion, at this time of year we take that to the very extreme.