Amount of money spent on christmas

gizmo111

I do slightly differently, I save 100 per month all year for xmas, special occasions and birthdays, but the 1200 includes parties, my work do's and the extra food and booze these occasions seem to bring! So roughly I spend about 200 on each birthday (2 teenagers) and the split is their choice, if they want loads of friends for a bowling or pizza then the amount on presents is reduced same if they want a new outfit. 150 roughly goes on other peoples birthdays, leaves around 650 for xmas and this includes food, I usually buy somrthing to wear to a work thing and pay for a meal/dance etc in hotel - my night costs around 100 including taxis etc, leaving around 550, if girls go to a prty before xmas then they can have 1 new outfit each and whatever tickets cost - usually around £100 between them, now have around 450 left - extra xmas stuff for house about 100 and then grandparent and other gifts leaves about 350 between them for presents. Has always worked well and they get a main present and some other cheap stuff - PJ's, smellies, books etc. It also usually means I don't spend anything on groceries in Jan.
The only exception was the year my dad died and left some money and I bought them a laptop each from him - IYSWIM.
I love xmas and if I see something they like then I wouldn't not buy it because I have a budget, but the mix above has always worked for me.
When they were younger I used to buy birthday and xmas pressies all year long from woolies and asda sales, now they are more specific on what they like.

WolfSong2000

This makes for very interesting reading...I've just turned 23 and stopped requesting stuff from my parents after the age of 18 - I've even outright asked them just to get me a card for birthday/christmas as they do so much to help me out throughout the year with uni (they pay my accommodation fees for example), but it never works and the gifts just get weirder every year...I think last christmas when my dad had been hassling me about what I wanted, I muttered something about antiques (he loves them and I do too - used to have great fun trawling antiques fairs together) and on christmas day I ended up with a massive leather antique shield from Sudan, which is apparently made from hippopotamus. No idea what I'm going to do with it. lol.

Growing up my dad always did his best, but some of the gifts were bought because my parents wanted them. lol. Still remember one year as a kid being given a talking globe...my sister and I showed very little interest, but my parents loved it and spent hours messing around with it . I have very fond memories of that christmas .

For my 18th birthday they bought me driving lessons (or rather an IOU voucher), even though I'd made it very clear I didn't want to learn to drive at that time. Three years later I finally changed my mind (driving terrifies me. lol) only to have them say they'd changed their mind...fair enough, but over the next 6 months they kept on changing their mind - one minute saying yeah they would pay for it, then the next day they'd changed their mind again. Eventually I gave up and just paid myself, but that did annoy me.

Overall, though, my parents have been fantastic. Especially when I was a young kid, they made a lot of efforts with presents, and I have some great memories .

Now I just need to convince them not to keep buying me things I don't need, as I feel really guilty when they're helping me out throughout the year...still working on it .

shiningdove

Thanks for the nice comments regarding my post.

I didn't actually mention what we spend on xmas.
I'm working xmas day and will have a free xmas dinner there, oh will get himself whatever.
Boxing day however will be spend with my parents (another xmas dinner) and new years with his (more dinner).

With the presents we have to buy, we've already decided that we'll be getting our creative sides out, and make eachother presents. I'm making everything for my side of the family (i've been a shadow in the occasions section of this forum.. cookie in a jar etc). For his side.. well oh actually did all of his shopping online on the boots website the other day, they have good offers on atm. So i think we're done and its cost just under £60.

Roll on our holiday in october ... which strangley is finiancially safe too as we've been putting money in a pot all year.

minerva_windsong

flippin36 wrote: »

Does anyone elses kids only play with one thing Christmas day?

Not necessarily only play with one thing, but as a child I wasn't allowed to open a book first on my birthday or at Christmas, as I would just sit there and read it while my mum and dad were trying to get me to open the rest of my presents!

LonelyLil

dave4545454 wrote: »

i spend £0 at xmas as i have done for many years.

xmas is about spending quality time with family and friends, it costs nothing.

Glad you are not my dad! LOL

brians_daughter

well, in years gone by i have spent silly money £400 or so and he never knows what to play with. But this year things are different.. now i have 2 of them for a start and their birthdays are xmas eve for my eldest and boxing day for my youngest! So they will be getting the stocking fillers and bits xmas day and then £50 on a main present that will be given to them on their birthday.

This year i will have less money but more time and thats what i am looking forward to, i no longer buy out of guilt for being at work all the time. Money is tight but i can actually play with them this year which to me, and them is priceless

dave4545454

LonelyLil wrote: »

Glad you are not my dad! LOL

why? the best things in life really are free

berniesmaster

when my youngest was tiny, we went mad spending and buying everything, now i have 2 (nearly 3) kids, and my wage has gone, and i have that much more life experience, i will spend maybe £120 on kids, but newborn will just have a cuddly ted, same for the next couple of years, why waste money???

lolababy

I say every christmas that I wont buy lots of toys but every year I do. I buy most from ebay and if a toy that they want is in used but good condition Ill buy. Most children are not interested in the box and it makes sense to buy second hand
My tip would be to look first for any toys that are in good condition before buying new,swop with friends children, look in charity shops, people get rid of toys just before christmas ,look on freecycle and car boot sales.
As soon as a toy is out of the box its second hand so why spend lots of money.

LonelyLil

dave4545454 wrote: »

why? the best things in life really are free

Yes, but a new handbag would go down a treat! And there is nothing like seeing the looks on your kids faces Christmas morning (even your big kids)