Amount of money spent on christmas

ThyKingdomCome

I spend the most on food and drink over Christmas, about 4-500 pounds, what with the buffets at a moments notice etc.

DH and I are trialing a voucher scheme, instead of pressies this year. 10 vouchers each redeemable for say "washing up for a week", or "dinner for 2" (HM of course). We have to think them up ourselves. There is no guarantee that his won't be exclusively sex related though. I can see myself washing his car, whilst having had "exclusive access to the meat and 2" sigh.

Morglin

Lynn11 wrote: »

I wish to find out from other folk what amount that they spend on their kids for christmas. I have a daughter who is 2.5yrs at the moment and was thinking of spending £130-£140 which would a bit of underwear and pyjamas included in santa's present.

I know that she will not understand this but on speaking to friends they spend a lot more. What are people's preception on this.

I think it must depend on your budget - my daughter and SIL spend an eye watering amount on their 4 at Christmas, but they both earn well and choose to do this.:rolleyes:

Having got a large family, including 8 grandchildren, I try to keep a lid on what we spend to approx £60 per child and about half that for adults.

Lin

MarieAAP

Hi,

I am not a parent either, but my OH has 9 nieces and nephews. We are setting a budget for £5 for the under 6s, and £8 for the rest - which can be a CDs etc. His cousins are getting £10s.

We (especially him) did really well on the budgets for the familiy, but then he blew it on the gift he bought me! This time, I shall be giving him the cash (prob £50), instead of trusting him with the card

M

Kandipandi

We have four kids aged 10 - 14 and we spend £350 on each child, they got an increase this year.
If there is something they want up to that value we get it, if they are not sure what they want (the eldest ones) they can be given cash to save for later in the year to spend as they wish.
When they were younger it was much less, but then we had much less to give and now we have more it's not a problem.

I know this may seem excessive but I cut back all year to enable us to do this for them. We dont buy them stuff every week they dont get expensive clothes or computer games each month, they get a small amount of pocket money and christmas is when they get the things they want. If they want a new coat and the £10 coat I find is not good enough they can have an expensive coat for christmas - thats how we work it in our house and it has worked well. Plus we dont have spolied brats, we have well balanced grateful children who understand that things have to be worked for and saved up for and see the fruits of our labour at Christmas.

roses

I take my niece to the charity shop every birthday and ask her to pick one toy, anyone she likes (as I know it will not be expensive).

What's wrong with buying second hand when it's not a toy they will use forever?

Lunar_Eclipse

Kandipandi wrote: »

We have four kids aged 10 - 14 and we spend £350 on each child, they got an increase this year.
If there is something they want up to that value we get it, if they are not sure what they want (the eldest ones) they can be given cash to save for later in the year to spend as they wish.
When they were younger it was much less, but then we had much less to give and now we have more it's not a problem.

I know this may seem excessive but I cut back all year to enable us to do this for them. We dont buy them stuff every week they dont get expensive clothes or computer games each month, they get a small amount of pocket money and christmas is when they get the things they want. If they want a new coat and the £10 coat I find is not good enough they can have an expensive coat for christmas - thats how we work it in our house and it has worked well. Plus we dont have spolied brats, we have well balanced grateful children who understand that things have to be worked for and saved up for and see the fruits of our labour at Christmas.

I find it very interesting how differently people manage their respective family finances.

I spend a lot more than £10 on winter coats (I noticed how cheap and lacking in function all the girls coats were in Tesco's only yesterday), but would spend considerably less than £350 on each child at Christmas.

I would be tempted to budget £100-150 per child for Xmas, leaving £800-1000 to spend on treats and more expensive items throughout the year. I guess I'm just not a huge fan of a famine-feast approach, although like you we don't buy our children toys and the like throughout the year; they use their pocket money for that.

Buttonmoons

Will probably be around the £150 mark for DD (3) this year, was less last year. But have bought her a good quality wooden easel, and she's been harping on about rollerskates for the past 3months and I wouldnt dream of buying anything like that 2nd hand, could get verucas or something! The rest of her things will be little stocking filler type things, puzzles, books, a watch, some board games, sweets.

My 2 sisters have got £35 each this year (last year it was £50) my parents are just getting a token gift as we agreed Xmas is more for kids, OH's parents will get about £10 - £20 on them, as they always go a bit overboard on us and I don't want to look an utter cheapskate.

Xmas is dinner is at ours again and got OH's sister and her bf to feed this year too, I won't spend more than £50 on the meal.

DD gets presents and clothes throughout the year too, I don't think you should just give them at Xmas and birthdays only, but that's just me. If I see something like a book or something DD would like, then I'll buy it.

Lunar_Eclipse

RoxieW wrote: »

I dont know what he has bought me though.

Probably nothing yet!

Have you really done that much Christmas shopping already, or is that what you're planning to buy/spend? We haven't done our Halloween shopping yet (treats and food for party) and that's on Saturday!

I got started really early with Christmas this year and did a Book People and Amazon order yesterday. So out of character that I had the bank on the phone to check whether my credit card had been used fraudulently! I don't like to think about gifts and shopping until at least December, when I start to feel festive. The exception is DH's family and one good family friend, who are spread out around the world and thus I have shipping dates to make.

sassygirl_2

I usually spend about £200 on each child (4 children) but this year will be slightly different.
Ive bought most things from car boots and from grabbits posted on here. The most expensive items will be kitting out my youngest daughter dolls house ive bought. At £15 per room in it it works out about £105 so probably spend roughly £150-£160 on the girls each, youngest will get £100 spent on him (he''s only 1) and my son who lives with his dad will get about £80-£100 spent on him as he is not here enough to benefit from loads of stuff, so he'll get a mobile phone so we can keep in contact more

p.s i did start christmas shopping in march/april so not a huge lump all in one go

RoxieW

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

Probably nothing yet!

Have you really done that much Christmas shopping already, or is that what you're planning to buy/spend? We haven't done our Halloween shopping yet (treats and food for party) and that's on Saturday!

I got started really early with Christmas this year and did a Book People and Amazon order yesterday. So out of character that I had the bank on the phone to check whether my credit card had been used fraudulently! I don't like to think about gifts and shopping until at least December, when I start to feel festive. The exception is DH's family and one good family friend, who are spread out around the world and thus I have shipping dates to make.

Hi lunar Yes it is pretty much all bought and paid for, apart from a few bits like pj's (and bits that I put in a xmas eve hamper). Really glad as we have a trip away to pay for in November and Decembers wages wouldnt leave enough time. I think OH has bought mine as he's been dropping heavy hints about amazing gifts he has bought me. Although he did that once a couple of years ago and when it came to xmas morning he said it had been a 'joke'. :mad: I had in the meantime rushed out and blown the budget on things for him, worrying that what I'd bought originally wasnt good enough. Dont think he'll ever make that mistake again though, by my reaction.