how much do you spend on your kids at christmas?

claireac

I have 4 children to buy for: ds 20, ds 18, sd 11 and dd 3.

Plus my ds's girlfriends and it's my grand-daughters first Christmas.

My ds's don't get so much spent on them now - £50 max, I'll prob get a top, aftershave, socks things like that.

Sd is getting one present only as she wants a good mp3 player that will also play videos etc - £150 max but still looking around for that.

The person that gets the most spent on her is dd. Last year was lovely as all she asked for was pink presents - so cute!! This year we are pushing the boat out a bit and getting a Nintendo DSI, but it will be more of a family present (I'm dying for one!!), plus we'll get her a few toys & games. She'll also get new pj's and other small bits on Christmas Eve.

We have cut right down this year, apart from the DSI, and we're not having Christmas dinner at home this year so that will save us a fortune!!

On a slightly different subject, my parents have always done the same for my sister and I. Dad recently let her off some money, so gave me the same amount. This will be very useful, and will be used as Christmas present money. They've always done this......

terenze

Hehe, i would love my parents spending more on me!

shelovestobuystuff

Trying to cut back this year.I usually spend about £600 on the older one and £300 on the little one but as son is 18 this year and an adult we are cutting back to a £600 total for both of them,so £300 each.
Only spent £40 so far on one item for son,dont know what to buy him yet this year.
Spent about £120 so far on daughter and still to buy her a Nintendo ds(she has been asking for one for the last 3 years).
Adults,parents,aunties,siblings, get about £60 spent on each and for hubby I spend about £250.
Wow,it always looks like too much when I add it up on paper.

awesome2_2

Alikay wrote: »

About £60 on a main present (or cash towards if it they're saving for something expensive) and then a stocking which probably comes to another £10 or £15. They only get 2 or 3 other presents in total from other family members which are token gifts of £5-£10.

Seems stingy compared to some but they genuinely seem happy with it and always have done (age 15,18 and 20 now!). We always go and see a show, go out for a meal, play board games and watch films together and it's those things which are more a feature of our christmases than presents anyway.

I would like to say how lovely it is to read this post, it is what xmas is all about. I think with all the pressure parents are under these days to but the latest things for their children, all the constant adverts on the tv and
some people who like to "keep up with the Jones" syndrome we forget the real meaning of xmas. What a pleasreable day you must nave with no pressures and good relaxed family time

:xmastree::xmassign::snow_grin

bubblegumcola

My three kids will be getting a Wii which they will share. The only other things they are getting are movie hampers I'm making for them with cheap dvds, juice, popcorn, cups and sweets. They will get a few wee stocking fillers. So I'm probably spending well under £300 in total. They will get other small gifts from relatives. Been buying a few wee bits for the stockings from Home bargains, what a brill shops. All my relatives are getting movie hampers.

kegg_2

well i always go over the top every christmas and spend £400 -£500 on each of my boys (13 and nearly 12) and i refuse to feel guilty about one penny of it.

This doesn't mean my boys are spoilt or they dont know the true meaning of christmas. They probably know more than most and dont think it is just a day for presents and to play board games in front of the tv. It is more than a family day, it is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus and we like to do it in style.

Yes they will have some expensive presents but they will also attend mass with me without complaint and give a gift they have chosen and bought out of their own money to the christmas appeal for the children home. And it is their own money as i dont hand out free money to them. Anymore they get has to be earned with chores throughout the year.

Everyone has different ideas/beliefs on everything to do with christmas from how much to spend right through to if you should have custard or cream with your christmas pudding. I dont judge anyone who chooses to spend a little but it seems
some are willing to judge those who choose to spend more.

I say each to their own way and which ever camp you fall in have a very merry christmas with those you love best.

bkca1230

i have 2 girls aged 11 and 8 and we have spent £70 each on them. i think if you can afford things then its ok but if it goes on credit cards etc that is a different story. my husband and i have been together for 18 years and we have never had credit cards so we appreciate items that we have to save up for.

ubamother

I have a DS 9, DD 24 and do DS presents in categories, then choose the presents to match - something creative he can do on his own (animation station), something to read and listen to (books and audio CDs), game to play with friends (piranha panic), something I've made - camouflage quilt, then stocking fillers - torch for cub camp, Stig stuff etc..
For DD, she likes loverly smellies and has gorgeous blonde hair so she has soap and glory stuff and posh stuff for blondes, is a home bunny, so microwave heated slippers, pjs and loves coffee, hot chocolate and cooking (she lives with boyfriend about 7 miles away) so is getting coffee syrups, fair trade hot chocolate mug and stuff, and veggie cook book, and being 24, her homemade present is toffee vodka!
I've never worked out if the cash is 'even' as their age difference makes it pretty irrelevant and the money side of it doesn't even occur to them. I doubt this year either is getting £100 spent on them - other years with specific shared presents (Wii for example) have cost more. We also buy family games each year to play (can't recommend Tension and Pass the Bomb enough - everyone has fits of hysterical laughter playing these already)

linzi2301

i have 3 kids 9yrs, 4yrs & 7 months , my 7 month son is only getting a few presents just activity sets etc but that has came to about £100 already, my 9yr old hasn't asked for half as much this year but i've spent about £250 and still more to buy and my 4 yr old daughter turns 5 on christmas day arrggghhh so its double the money... often more than if her birthday was on a different day because i buy extra as i feel like she loses out so her is at about £400 so fa,r she got a ds and new bike so thats £200 alone but when i look at the pressies on xmas morning i wonder where the money went.

jorose

I started buying at the end of august and i have just totted up and i have spent about £300 on each of my two boys. i like to save up and spoil them at christmas my eldest is 8 and asked for a ps 2 as his big pressy but i have bought a second hand one off a friend so as a supprise big pressy i have got him a psp cant wait to see his face.