How much do you spend on your kids at xmas?

kittiej

I am starting to think about the dreaded Christmas presents and were wondering if I'm being too generous or too tight by other people's standards?

My boys are 4 (5 on New Years Day) and 6 (will be 6 and 3/4) at xmas.

I thought about £200 each which is to include some new clothes.

So far they want a computer (a local computer has recon ones from £90) and one of those chunky digital cameras (Fisher Price?) for children.

Has anyone else given this any consideration yet?

Pee

I'll give you a vote for being about right, if you can comfortably afford that, taking into account it will include new clothes and a computer.

If that will be a struggle for you, then I think you could easily spend less without them missing out. No matter how much money you have, I don't see any need for it to be more.

Mini_Bear

We spend 100-150 on DS, he gets tonnes though as i make sure i get all the bargains through the yr!
Computers for a 5 and 6 yr old seems a bit too much. DS (9) wants a laptop like mine but when i asked why he just said to play games, when i explained they cost more than two nintendo wii's or 4 go karts he realises the cost!! he also gets a lot of money from generous family members so he has learnt to save if he REALLY wants something impractical like an ipod!

brians_daughter

Depends on
1. what they want
2. If its of any use ie educational, will it get used?
3. If we can afford it. We wouldnt go into debt for xmas.. last year we spent around £1000 on all 3 aged 12 to 20 months that included clothes etc for xmas day. The year before we couldnt afford it as i was on mat leave so we spent about £400 between them all

gonzo127

meh as stated if you can afford it then no problem, personally things are going to be much tighter for me this Christmas (unless i get one of the jobs i have recently applied for) so at the moment we are looking at about £50 per child ages 2, 13 and 18 last year when things where a bit easier it was £150 per child

kittiej

It should be OK, we get profit share payments the week before Christmas so that will go towards their presents.

I might get DH to pop into the computer shop to see if they 'lay-away' I can pay monthly then. It doesn't have to be anything flash, as long as they can get CBBC and CITV on the internet :rotfl:

My 6 yr old doesn't want anyhing else, he loves the computer as he's got Aspergers he finds it difficult to 'play'. He loves the local Council's Rhys Cycling website where you can find out about what materials can be re-used.

Just to edit - there aren't loads of relatives to spoil them so the £200 is going to be their lot.

Kimberley82

My dh will mst likly be out of work jan/feb time and I am out of work now. So this year will only be about £50 each. Normally is about £300

skylight

My kids will be getting about £50 - £70 each this year maximum and it will be toys/wanted stuff only. They already have what they need.

Thats for 5 aged from 2 - 16. Then there is SD on top of that who will get about £20 and 6 lots of relatives at around £10 tops each. I wont be buying nieces/nephews much, but I dont buy for all of them anyway.

tiff

We managed to get my son a BMX out of an insurance claim for something else (claim value much higher than expected so they said we could have two bikes.) So he will get that and some clothes.

DD10, not sure what she wants but will probably spend £100 max this year.

kittiej

The last few posts have made me wonder if £200 is too much now.

I forget that there are people struggling much more than us - I need to think about this.

tiff

I think £200 is fine, if you can afford it. I used to spend about that or maybe a bit more but we cant at the moment but also as my kids get older they dont seem to want as much, we have family who give them money for their birthdays and they buy expensive items out of that and save the rest.