How much do you spend on your kids at xmas?

skylight

kittiej wrote: »

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.

Don't think that way! View it as an overall picture. Can you afford it (easily)? Would they really, truely notice if it were £200 or £100? Not everyone is struggling, but you could be mean and tell your kids that you are then spend the difference on yourself!! :A


Actually, your post was refreshing. This sort of thread comes round a lot over the years and it mainly constists of people complaining "You're only spending how much? Evil parent." type comments.

mum26

Same as Skylight really, we've done mega expensive christmasses in the past but last year we trimmed it right down to one thing they really really wanted, a stocking and few little bits like a book, dvd etc, they always have new pj's for christmas eve too. And last year was our best ever christmas! They really appreciated and enjoyed what they had rather than being surrounded by tat. We do have lots of rellies though although in recent years i've tried to get them to do things such as buy a really good video game or board game between the whole lot of kids rather than spend £5-£10 on each on, well rubbish really tbh! I think the pc and chunky camera are a great idea, they'll have tons of fun with those

kittiej

"Actually, your post was refreshing. This sort of thread comes round a lot over the years and it mainly constists of people complaining "You're only spending how much? Evil parent." type comments."

Thanks skylight and mum26.

They ask for loads of other things - mainly when they see something on those dreadful ads on childrens tv channels, but they are just whims.

I don't want them to grow up expecting things just because they pester.

I'm just trying to gauge what is reasonable.

I know my youngest wants some chocolate because he keeps telling me that when he gets his chocolate for Christmas he's going to share it with me , bless him

pigpen

I aim for around £150-£200 for each of mine.. £20 in my niece and about £50 on GS.. This year I am strictly limiting my spend on my sisters to about £20-£30.. I usually get them loads of nicnacs but this year they are getting a couple of limited spend items. (I buy for only 2 of my sisters.. the other forfeit her pressie when she had her daughter and my other sis is a barrister so doesn't need anything!)

PC is a great idea.. educational software is readily available in the poundshops here so might be worth checking out for stocking fillers.
Clothes are boring presents.. I would buy them but not wrap them and just put them in their wardrobes unless it is something they will especially love... One of mine wanted a party dress so that got wrapped last year.. and dressing gowns etc are wrapped.. so they can unwrap and put them on!
Check out the reviews of those cameras I am sure I heard not too good things about them and how it was better to buy a cheap proper camera as they worked so much better etc..

Mine get a main large present (a few had DS lites last year) and a pile of books, some toiletries, dressing up stuff for the little ones and clothes/shoes for the bigger ones and some sweets..

My mother used to spend about £100 on each of mine.. but I have forced her to reduce it to about £40-£50 now.. inc a pair of pj's, a book, some sweets and a small toy/game eg

kittiej

Thanks pigpen, I will have to look into the reviews about those cameras, I thought they might be a bit more robust tho.

They love stuff like torches and magnifying glasses as well, I once considered walkie-talkies but they'll keep each other awake at night.

I must make sure DH doesn't but them any more remote controlled cars or car tracks, the boys don't play with them properly, my youngest just likes to make the cars derail.

Actually he really enjoys playing at 'shops' so I could look out for a cheap till and tins and boxes.

[Deleted User]

I must be really tight then cos my two will probably get about £50 spent for BOTH of them and £10ish for their stocking (£20). Money is really tight this year and with other family to buy for its needs must. But at 2 & 3 they don't know any different so i can get away with low expectations. Neither DH or I are buying presents for each other. I think it would be much harder though if i had older kids who had experienced lavish christmas's.

lauhen

I spend probably too much on my two, but I never have a set budget. My son who is 3 got the camera last Christmas and it is adequate for him, it is robust, don't expect it to be anything like a real digital camera as it is aimed at kids, but it is good and it takes pictures, I would wait until shops have sales though, like last year sainsburys had half price on toys etc, don't pay full price for it, look around. My daughter got a netbook when she was almost 7 for Christmas a couple of years ago and a great buy, we still have it now, I use it also, and son uses it to, we even got rid of main computer at home as we never used it after she got this.

hollyh

My 4 year old son had a Kidizoom plus camera last year and it's one of the best presents he's had. I bought him one as he kept taking my camera to take pictures :cool: and i was worried he'd break it. He still plays with it everyday almost 8 months on, it comes everywhere with us and is great for keeping him occupied on long car journeys. As well as taking pictures you can record videos and play games on it. It even plugs into the tv so you can see the pictures or play games on there. It holds loads of pictures without a memory card, when my camera had run out of space on holiday his kept on going.:cool: The only problem is when i'm uploading the pictures to the pc and have to try and work out what some of the more random pictures are.:rotfl:

As for how much to spend, i think £200 is about right. Thats about how much i'll be spending on my boys. I have in the past spent a lot more but i think the more they have the less they appreciate.

kittiej

Lauhen, I find this is one good thing about the youngest having his birthday on New Year's Day, I can always get him something cheap in the sales.

I've just remembered he's been after a skateboard for months, I might get him a scooter instead but he can have that for his birthday.

thanks for the info re the camera btw. - and holly - thanks

clumsymoo

I probably spend £150-£200 each on my kids, but they are older now. 17 and 14 and not so easily pleased, when you consider an X box game is £40-45 a throw now.
They get a main present and a stocking.
The stocking is easy, I pick up bits and pieces in sales or as and when I see them. I have started already.
I do budget for it through the year, putting £30 a month away which adds up nicely £330 by Nov.
Still they won't be getting that laptop or i phone anytime soon.
I am trying to scale it back a bit now they are a bit older.