how much do you spend on your kids at christmas?

savingmummy

This year i have approx £30 on both, bought things in cheap shops and started in July - really feeling like scrooge

Lunar_Eclipse

Two consoles for Christmas doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever. It would be like buying your husband two sports cars or your wife two diamond rings. Sadly this would not have the positive, desired effect on most children either.

There aren't many millionaires that would be that excessive with their children, so it's nothing to do with money.

Too much can be worse than too little.

In answer to the question, £100-150 total on each child, although I don't buy according to a budget. We buy them two or three gifts. They also get a main present from Santa and a stocking.

Eldest is getting jewellery making supplies (beads) at £25 from Santa, plus a bundle of second hand dolls, and some books from us. Youngest is getting a guitar from Santa for £40, books and some Playmobil. Their stockings will contain a DVD bought on sale (Amazon 70% off), little things and a second hand Wii/DS game.

We are lucky that we don't have to save for Christmas but just pay for it out of our normal monthly income, but I still think it's excessive. Obviously not.

emmell

After 26 years of having only one son to buy for (among other family), he now has a live in partner. We have always bought him lovely expensive presents now we have to buy for his girlfriend as well, so the £20 a week I save for 10 months every year has run out a lot quicker. As for buying clothes for kids for christmas, my nana wouldn't let my mum buy us clothes as presents because we had to have clothes anyway, so that has passed down the generations.
ML.

nic2075

We have 2 under 5 years old and have spent £70 on them last year and will be less this year as we are both out of work. I have picked up good bargains so the value of stuff might be more than £50. We agreed from when the first one was born to keep Christmas simple but special, so we put a lot of effort getting the toys they would be most suprised and get the most enjoyment out of. My dd loves her stocking the best with all the little things in it. We also have loads of other family members getting them plenty. If we went mad as well we wouldnt be able to fit it all in the house.

boo666

This year I have decided to refresh the kids playroom.
Old tv unit is being split down to make a built in kitchen for them (pretend) with a likk od paint and some hobs etc painted on it wil look great.
Some funky colour paints on the wall, new tv on the wall, table and chairs, bean bags etc.
Some pretend kitchen items and a couple of main toys each I would have to say around 400 pound between a 2, 3 and 5 year old.
Its all stuff that I would need to buy anyway so thought I would sort it for crimbo.
Only thing is I will have a very late night crimbo eve painting and sorting it all out for crimbo morning.

Aytoun27

savingmummy wrote: »

This year i have approx £30 on both, bought things in cheap shops and started in July - really feeling like scrooge

Don't feel bad about it, it isn't the money that matters.

Many, many years ago when I was a little girl I fell madly in love with a doll that was on sale in the local market. It was 3 shillings and 11 pence, old money (about 20p!) and my auntie promised to buy it for me for Christmas.

She then brought me a much more expensive present instead. I don't even remember what it was, but I do remember being in tears on Christmas day because I hadn't got my doll. (My mum went and brought it for me as soon as the market re opened after Xmas).

It's the love and the care that you put into choosing presents for your children that matters far more than the price tag.

Kandipandi

At what stage do you start to spend less on the children.

Is it when they are 18, or is it when they get a job or leave home or does this cost never decrease?

My eldest are almost 15 now and we are finding that the things they would like are getting more and more expensive, and we are looking forward to a time when this changes.

I guess it depends on the individual, I just know I will feel tight when the time comes and I announce that the budget has been dramatically slashed!

ubamother

Interesting questoin Kandipandi. In my case I would say the type and number of presents changes. As they get older and appreciate the monetary value of things, the idea of one expensive present compared to 6 that add up to the same total is understood by them. When they leave home you will find your bills are so much lower - food, energy, mum's taxi etc. and the general raids on the parental purse, you will probably be quite happy to spend a fair amount. If you can bear to look that far ahead - when they have kids, you'll probably buy them more of a token or practical gift as the grandkids will cost you so much! (I have a 9 yr old at home and a 24yr old in her own flat so have been through this one and will be going through it again)

clairelg88

my daughter is 4 in a month and i have spent around £150 on her...but i have got things she needs aswell like pjs, dressing gown and slippers. Aswell as her main presents..

jorose

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Two consoles for Christmas doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever. It would be like buying your husband two sports cars or your wife two diamond rings. Sadly this would not have the positive, desired effect on most children either.QUOTE]

I think the fact that he only asked for a ps2 and not a top of the range ps3 or xbox shows that he is far from spoilt
They are totally different one is hand held and one is for the bedroom so not like buying to sports cars