How much do you spend and what do you get for your childrens Birthday presents???

mrcow

princessl84 wrote: »

I dont see what the problem or how it is a waste if there is 3 game consoles in the one house. Growing up we had 3 or more at my parents. In our house (myself and my h2b) have a ps3, wii and 2 ds lites. Also we both have laptops, a pc and an ipod each. So i take it must be wasting money then?

And that is your opinion.

My opinion is that it is pretty pointless.

It's called a difference of opinon. It has nothing to do what I personally can or can't afford. To state so just makes you sound silly.

Threebabes

We spend about £150-£200 on birthdays. My DS was 14 in Nov and he got a mobile phone, game and some money. DD2 got some sylvanian toys and fisher price camera for hers and DD is 10 in April she wants a ipod nano. Im at SAHM, DH has a good job, I save each month for xmas, we spend between £400-£500 each on the 3 of them. They get pocket money monthly so save up for things they want during the year, they get the odd treat, a cd or a dvd.

My older two know about santa and were fine about it.

My kids are lovely, if I do say so myself lol, arent spolit brats. I often get complimented on their behaviour and the school reports are always good as well as their timing keeping and theyre very rarely off school sick.

mr_and_mrs_ts

SingleSue wrote: »

We didn't have any consoles when I was growing up....but then that is because I am 39 years and 10 months and they hadn't really been invented/affordable to the normal people.:rotfl:

We do have consoles now....eldest saved his pocket money and birthday money and got himself an Xbox 360 elite, middle son saved his pocket money, birthday money and Christmas money and got himself a Wii...I refuse to pay out for expensive items like that, they want it, they blooming well save for it and buy it themselves! All 3 also have DS's, middle son got his passed onto him from his dad and me (ex had got bored of it and because it was as we were going through the divorce with joint monies frozen, money was a little tight), eldest got his for his birthday from Ex and I got youngest sons one for half price due to a damaged box (ok, I had a little help from my parents with this one).

Well you sound like me - my eldest had to save for her ds.....lol

mr_and_mrs_ts

I'm seriously struggling to spend £25 on eldest child so far for her birthday. She told me there's nothing she wants so am scooting around for bits and bobs to buy her. So far got: pamper girly set (reduced from boots - was £15 now £3.75) , a maplins toy £9.99, fancy dress : £3.00 and a box of sweeties for her lunch box as and when she fancies £5.00 oh and a toothbrush from boots was £10 now £5.00.

I seriously think it's too competitive for us parents and shouldn't be that way with the parties and all....As long as each parent and child is happy it doesn't matter. My eldest wants to go to the cinema on her 'day' and is inviting 4 mates for a Sat morning performance and then in mcdonalds for a mcdonalds icecream and that's it done.

Please tell me all those who spend £150.00 + out of curiosity what your children ask for as mine seem to want nothing LOL.(not that I'm grumbling lol ) ....they get swimming lessons and bits and bobs throughout the year but i don't spend loads on them it's generally £1.00 shop treats and if they have been exceptional at school.

Christmas we went overboard so i thought and spent roughly £75 each. But maybe that makes me look tight after reading this thread lol.... As long as we are happy / content with our own spending as parents doesn't matter what we spend ( as on this website)

mr_and_mrs_ts

M_A_R_I_E wrote: »

I think the main point here is to live within your means. Interesting that some people who spent little on their children have debts while some who spent more don't!!? Maybe everyone needs to think about what else people are spending their money on? Everyone priorities are different - smoking, going out, etc.

Personally I spent a reasonalbe amount on my children and enjoy this site to make my money go further. I don't have any debts other than my mortgage. My husnand and I earn our own money. I work part time. Dont' smoke. Don't go out socialising often. It's eveyones individual choice.

well said - totally agree

JBD

iamana1ias wrote: »

No, but I still remember the utter disappointment at discovering that my parents had lied to me for 9 years, and that I was then forced to be part of the lie for another 3 years just so that my little brother would still believe.

No, I didn't feel disappointment that my parents had 'lied' to me either. Neither did my children. We were also able to handle the 'disappointment' of discovering there is no tooth fairy, easter bunny, mickey mouse, finding out that people in films and dramas are actors rather than real characters and wrestling is fixed. It's just part of life really. You know, you can pretend things are real. It's called 'having fun'.

sarahs999

mrcow wrote: »

When my children were 4, I got them bikes or scooters for birthdays.

Ebay - for under £20. They loved them.

For Christmas, they get one present - about £30 or so (although my son had more spent as there was a present he really wanted which was more) plus a stocking with fun bits and pieces in.

Anything more is ridiculous.
.

Frankly though, you get what you pay for. I've bought a scooter on ebay (Spiderman) for about £20, and it was plastic rubbish. The back wheel cover sheared off almost immediately and it quickly faded over the summer.

WE then bought a proper microsprite.Which cost a lot more, but whichwill last til he's grown up. Seriously, I sometimes use it when I'm late and it's brilliant! I think you have to think very carefully about buying cheap. For some things it's fine, for others it's false economy.

mrcow

sarahs999 wrote: »

Frankly though, you get what you pay for. I've bought a scooter on ebay (Spiderman) for about £20, and it was plastic rubbish. The back wheel cover sheared off almost immediately and it quickly faded over the summer.

WE then bought a proper microsprite.Which cost a lot more, but whichwill last til he's grown up. Seriously, I sometimes use it when I'm late and it's brilliant! I think you have to think very carefully about buying cheap. For some things it's fine, for others it's false economy.

The bike I bought for my son off Ebay was a barely used £180 Saracen bike - I bought it for £35. What I was trying to say is that for something like a bike, I wouldn't buy it new if he's only going to ram it down a hill the next day.

I don't tend to buy cheapy stuff as - as you rightly say - it's not going to last more than 10 minutes.

RoxieW

We spend alot at birthdays - probably about £300 usually but it has been more and it has been less. The birthday child will usually have a big party and a family day trip out somewhere - but on occassions we have done other things. My middle son had his 3rd birthday party at Disneyland for example which obviously cost alot more but it was a family holiday which we coincided with his birthday. Last year we went to legoland for the weekend. Eldest had a big party which cost about £350. He then got a ds and a couple of other bits for presents so that was about £500.
So the answer is that we probably spend abit too much but the bulk of the cost is usually spent on a on a big family outing and/or party. On presents I would normally say under £100 but as my eldest is getting older I can see this increasing and the cost of parties etc decreasing IYSWIM.
Last Xmas we spent about £1000 split between our 3 children - the baby had much less - about £100 worth.
I probably go alittle OTT because I never got much in the way of presents or parties or days out as a child.
That said - I think you can still make a childs day special and make them feel special no matter what your budget - unfortunately my parents didnt bother with that either

rachfriar78

JBD wrote: »

No, I didn't feel disappointment that my parents had 'lied' to me either. Neither did my children. We were also able to handle the 'disappointment' of discovering there is no tooth fairy, easter bunny, mickey mouse, finding out that people in films and dramas are actors rather than real characters and wrestling is fixed. It's just part of life really. You know, you can pretend things are real. It's called 'having fun'.

Now i am sorely disappointed as Mickey Mouse is real!!! He lives at Disney TUT!!! :rotfl:

This thread is unbelieveable, the amount of people critisizing others for the amount they spend or don't spend. Everybody is different and everybodies spending power is different, some people who spend less on their children than others might have the ability to spend more but that is their choice. Again some of the people who can't afford to spend !!! much might wish to spend more but refuse to get into debt for it.Who are we to judge what anyone spends. The OP only asked how much people spend and what they buy.

I personally spend a fair bit on my two boys and admit I have done ever since they were born. I will also spent the same amount on the new baby. My youngest was 8 the other day and got about £250 then we went out for tea again and that was nearly £50. For xmas I spend about £500 but again thats my choice. They do get things through the year as well.