how much are we spending on our kids?

prophecy_grrl

I would echo the views of others before me that Christmas is about spending quality time together and having fun. Having said that, I love all the decorations, nice food and presents lots too, but like most others amd trying to do it as frugally as possible. I estimate we'll have spent £100 - £150 on DS by the time I've got everything, he'll be 2 by Christmas. I've been saving all year at work for it, so everything we spend is saved for not on credit (hangs head in shame remembering the old pre MSE days when Christmas went on a credit card...)

mum26

We are spending between £40 - £60 each on our 6 this year, they have had their bedrooms redecorated and we bought Merlin passes this year instead of a holiday so we've had some wonderful days out with lots more to come next year and made some fab memories (going to alton towers fireworks next week too, think I am the most excited,lol). We used to spend silly amounts, then last year cut right back by sheer neccessity and had the best christmas ever! They were not overwhelemed by piles of stuff, had time to look at each thing and i spent more time thinking what they would really really like so they loved what they got, we do a tea party on christmas eve after we've been to the park and that is the thing they are most concerned about to be honest, because that feels like the start of christmas to them properly, then we watch a film all together afterwards then it's bath time and staple them into bed
So dd3 has a sylvanian "type" house from ebay which will be made up ready to play with plus extension, a half price sylvanian car from sainsbury's (other family members have got sylvanian meerkats, postman and pram set from sains sale too and have just said sylvanians to everyone who has asked,lol), I will get her a furniture set or a disney ragdoll as she collects those.
Dd1 is turning 15 next month so she wants perfume, shakeaway / costa vouchers, momiji, that sort of stuff which is easy
dd2 is football mad and wants new trainers and an away top
ds1 has asperger's and just wants anything xbox 360 related,lol
ds2 - hagrid's hut lego when i find a deal, he has a star wars lego ship £12,50 half price sains and will get match attacks too
ds3 - lego, again thanks to sains he has more than he would have got - will get him power miner's lavatraz and he is done too, simplez!

I have a stack of disney offer dvd's and will get beauty and the beast with my nectar points, I know they'll be after toy story 3, new shrek etc so I have some quidco saved to use then.

familyfitz

yummymummy1987 wrote: »

Just out of intrest! quantity v price!
My dp has got tons of dirt cheap toys in tesco sale in the last few days. Kids have a bin liner full each. Im also getting them a train table as their joint table which my nan has given me the money for.

Soooo my question is if you have money left in the budget do you buy more bits or do you go by the amount of presents they already have?

I have about £50/£60 left if not more in the kids xmas budget and am planning on spending it in the sainsburys sale! but it seems like a lot of toys but ive barely spent anything!

I personally am my own worst enemy...reduced budget for each child to £150 this year and still think that is too much BUT more often than not, what I buy isn't at full price. The problem I make for myself is that I SHOULD take the full price out of my budget but can't help myself using the reduced price, hence kids get more.
Have done same this year when, due to our (& many others in same boat) much reduced income, I should stick to full price.

maisiescamp

I have so far spent £280 on my DD1 who is 4 and £150 on my DD2 who is 2, however they have their birthdays in Jan & Feb so the present pile will be split between the two. I still have a few bits to get for DD2 and although the amount spent on them differs quite a bit, it looks the same in quantity!

I have been buying since may though and have not paid full price for anything. I spend about £15 per child on my nieces and nephews (4) and then we don't buy for their parents, and then £30 on my sister and her husband each as they are yet to have children. I don't set a limit on what I spend on DH but this year, money is a little tighter and to be honest, there is nothing he really wants or needs!

themull1

I have added mine up properly and it comes to just over 330 each child, about the same as last year, they haven't got a really big present as such, younder one's biggest present is a sylvanian family caravan and car, and older ones is a digital camera. I like them to have a lot of presents to open.!! Like i did as a child.

Rummer

We don't spend a huge amount on our DD as I spend months hunting for bargain toys and gifts. Usually about £60 I think?

bluenose1

The older mine get the more I spend

DS age 17
Ipod touch £189 (I have told him he has got no chance of getting one as so expensive so should be good surprise)
Lacoste aftershave £30
Socks and undies £20
Retro sweets £5
Lynx £4
Chocolates £2

DS age 14
ipod touch docking station (FREE WITH IPOD) Should be £40
Itunes voucher £50 (going to get with Tesco vouchers)
Lacoste aftershave £32
socks and undies £20
Lynx £4
Chocolates £2

DS age 7
nintendo wii and super mario £129 (hopefully something all the family will enjoy.)
Kickmaster footy bag with ball etc £15
Balloopia football £4.99 Home Bargains
sweets £3
chocolate £2
jigsaw £2 (car boot sale)

Spent far too much - as usual. They are thoroughly spoiled, though maybe not as much as I thought after reading how much some peple spend.
Up until they were 5 I don't think I spent more than £50 -£60 each on them.

Threebabes

Another one that spends quite a lot, but we account for it so no debt :-)

Son (15 in Nov)
BMX which was £300 then hes got a load of dvds, calvin klein boxers, couple of posters, couple of book/manuals on his ps3 games, a few dvd boxsets, a couple of dvd films, a ringspun hoody, a tommy hilfiger tshirt (got in sale), going to get him a ps3 game and some trainers and hes done

got DD who is 10 a new mobile £25, then dvd boxsets, pjs, cds, dvds, jeggings, 2 tops, underwear etc, spent about £300 so far

DD who will be 7 by Christmas is getting a new bike £100, toys etc, a doll, spent about £320. Cant think what else.

Ive especially found with DS that has hes gotten older his stuff is dearer, a ps3 game is £40.

compingqueen_2

I think that most people are going to spend about half as much as last year due to the money problems in the country.

maisiescamp

jamsandwhich wrote: »

Hi jollymummy:wave:
that is exactly as us really! We will be taking the girls on the Grosmont to Pickering Santa's Steam Express - have chosen the late afternoon one so it will be dark when we get back and hopefully a bit more magical! We also have fish and chips on christmas eve and have a run around on the beach and a walk along the pier too to get them tired out. We try and make it all as exciting as possible for them - probably for my benefit as much as theirs:rotfl:

Thomasland is fantastic - our girls loved it and can't wait to go back - they keep asking if it is 'next year' yet !

We have had the girls slightly late on (both in mid 30's) so lots of In-laws, Grandparents and other family members haven't had kids to buy for for a few years! Two new babies in the family this christmas though - Niece and Nephew both due Nov and Dec so all very exciting!!!

Hope you all have a lovley christmas XX

Your Christmas Eve sounds idealic!