how much do you spend on your kids at christmas?

freyasmum

I don't really have a budget to work with for Christmas, though I only have one child. I pick things up throughout the year - just things that I know she'd love. I've ended up with about £400 worth of gifts, but have only actually spent about £80.

She's asked santa for a blue car, a baby and pram and lego. I had already gotten a little pack of cars, a pram set (got that before last christmas But it was £1.70 - no way I couldn't get it!!) and had ordered some pink megabloks to be picked up just after I'd asked her :T Was well chuffed, even if I do say so myself

She also has lots of books, games, various other little toys and stocking fillers.

I don't buy her lots of things throughout the year, but at Christmas I like to buy stuff that will do her - like lots of jammies, pants, comfy socks, slippers, etc, she also has lots of little smellies and lipbalms - cos she keeps nicking mine! :rotfl:

pennypinchingmum

Well reading what you all spend i feel awful that i'm only spending £50 on each of my kiddies and i thought i was being extravagant. I have 3 children and not only do i not have the money for spending lots on each i don't have a big enough house. I guess i prefer spending less on each of them and more on food which is something we can all share. Having said that i do still feel really tight!

jetty

pennypinchingmum wrote: »

Well reading what you all spend i feel awful that i'm only spending £50 on each of my kiddies and i thought i was being extravagant. I have 3 children and not only do i not have the money for spending lots on each i don't have a big enough house. I guess i prefer spending less on each of them and more on food which is something we can all share. Having said that i do still feel really tight!

You shouldn't feel tight and you shouldn't feel you need to spend lots of money just because other people do. It's the family time and doing things together that counts, and if your kids are happy, then it doesn't matter how much you spend on them

tentpole_2

ya, a ds lite would be great

llc22

mrcow wrote: »

Just playing devil's advocate here......

You say in one post that your children "don't act like brats"

But then in the very next post, you've stated that your 9 year old son actually wrote a list of things that he wanted you to buy him for Christmas? And that these things included an expensive train set, a laptop :eek:, a £100 transformer toy :eek: a digital camera (!!!!!!?) and a games console of his own (as presumably a family owned one isn't good enough?). And that you're feeling under pressure to buy more stuff as their faces will drop if their present pile is smaller than last year?!!! I'd be lying bed in a cold sweat with that Christmas list to supply lol.

So which is true?


Can you see how it reads?

Yes I can now, the kids like many others sat with the faithful old argos book & wrote everything they would have liked. However they are never under any illusion that santa brings everything, its more to give him choice ! As for was he's actually getting well the train set is the main thing & the bumble bee is actually because this is the 3rd year its been on the list & something we've never got round to getting. He's not getting a games console & its not something he ever asks for throughout the year.. more of a whim at the time I think, also with the cost of everything else he's not getting the camera & I dont actually believe theres any need for a primary school child to own their own laptop so thats not happening either & I know my son will be delighted santa has brought some of the things on his list (as will my daughter).


Sorry I probably didnt write it very well in the first place but by saying they arent brats I mean they dont throw tantrums or continually ask for things & that they appreciate & respect their belongings & they are both sympathetic to needy children (and animals) & like to do their bit to contribute, yes they mention things they might like but dont automatically expect they'll get them.

My parents were quite poor but we always had huge piles of pressies from santa each xmas & I still remember the excitement I felt with butterflys in my stomach on xmas eve & morning so i guess I'm just keen to make sure my kids have the same memories as i have now & xmas now is when all 4 of us take the time to play games together like twister, charades & spongebob monopoly etc & this year we'll have fun setting up the train set together.

3_cheeky_princesses

llc22 wrote: »

Yes I can now, the kids like many others sat with the faithful old argos book & wrote everything they would have liked. However they are never under any illusion that santa brings everything, its more to give him choice ! As for was he's actually getting well the train set is the main thing & the bumble bee is actually because this is the 3rd year its been on the list & something we've never got round to getting. He's not getting a games console & its not something he ever asks for throughout the year.. more of a whim at the time I think, also with the cost of everything else he's not getting the camera & I dont actually believe theres any need for a primary school child to own their own laptop so thats not happening either & I know my son will be delighted santa has brought some of the things on his list (as will my daughter).


Sorry I probably didnt write it very well in the first place but by saying they arent brats I mean they dont throw tantrums or continually ask for things & that they appreciate & respect their belongings & they are both sympathetic to needy children (and animals) & like to do their bit to contribute, yes they mention things they might like but dont automatically expect they'll get them.

My parents were quite poor but we always had huge piles of pressies from santa each xmas & I still remember the excitement I felt with butterflys in my stomach on xmas eve & morning so i guess I'm just keen to make sure my kids have the same memories as i have now & xmas now is when all 4 of us take the time to play games together like twister, charades & spongebob monopoly etc & this year we'll have fun setting up the train set together.

I understood what you meant. My children do the same write a "dream" list but they know they wont be getting everything on the list just a selection "Father Christmas" chooses for them. It better they write more items on the list then what you will actually get them as then they dont know every item they will be getting as they wont know which ones you will choose but also if a relative asks what to get them you can pick a couple bits of the list.

llc22

Yes agreed :-)

I had never any intentions of getting the like of spongebob crabby patty lego thingy but these items are useful for suggestions to other family members when they ask, also as they always have a selection on the dream list they are never actually sure what santa will bring so its more of a surprise. (i'm getting excited just picturing the WOW faces when they rip off the wrapping paper)

RoxieW

Hi I think wanting the sight of huge piles of pressies is a factor for many people. I love to see a huge pile of pressies BUT I try to remember that when they are all unwrapped thats a huge piles of toys and packaging that we have to find space for. My boys wants are getting smaller -mostly DS games so the pressie pile is smaller too. not going to just buy for the sake of having a bigger pile. In fact, I'm thinking of telling my Dad to just buy them one and two gifts each as he always goes overboard and gives them mountains of absolute tat - literally - he will buy 50 things from the pound shop so that it looks impressive when he hands over their gifts but its definateyl quantity over quality which is what I want to avoid this year.
My boys have got a wii to share with games, lego, ds games, dvd's - plus little stocking fillers and xmas eve hampers inc new pj's, socks etc. I'll estimate they'll have had £200 each. The baby will have about £100 - have bought him a few leapfrog/lamaze toys and couple of cuddly ones - plus xmassy sleepsuit etc. It's a lot of money but it doesnt really look alot. As a family Xmas costs us about £1000. I can see it getting more expensive as the boys get older and want things like phones, ipods, laptops etc - at the moment they're at a bit of an awkward stage where they're growing out of 'toys' but not yet into gadgets or designer labels etc.
I dont buy clothes or anything like that for xmas as they wouldnt be excited for it - clothes are clothes to a 6 year old boy lol. They get all their clothes/trainers etc bought through out the year and I spend a fair bit on quality items - £30 trainers, £50 coats etc so when they are older they will get trainers etc for xmas so hopefully that will save a bit through the year and be swings and roundabouts IKSWIM.
I'm just really excited about xmas - I love everything about it - not just the gifts but other traditions. Kids do make xmas though and it's all about them in our house

RoxieW

llc22 - my 7 yr old also wants a transformers toy - the £100 devestator. I've told him it's too expensive at £100 and to save any money he gets for xmas and buy it when (hopefully) it is in the sale after xmas. Overpriced (IMO) toys like that are often reduced to about 50% in the sales. He's old enough to understand that and is very happy to do it that way. He still believes in santa by the way but I've told my kids that mum and dad (or granny or whoever) buys the gifts then they go to santa to be delivered (or not, if you are naughty lol). So they aren't under the illusion that money is no object.

jetty

I got my 11 year old (nearly 12) DD Her own camcorder and camera as her main present, she's just started secondary school and it specialises in performing arts and stuff and she's obsessed with my OH's one! My 8 year old DD Has the large Homersapian and a Telescope as she is mad on stars and my one year old DS has a rocking reindeer and an Elmo live, he loves Elmo, but i think i love him more! lol. They have some stocking fillers that i got throughout the year and the xmas eve hampers as well. I do buy mine clothes, they get just as excited about them as they do anything else, lol, but then, i guess it's a girl thing lol