For xmas how much to spend on a 4 year old

sallyalley

I am so truly shocked at the amounts people spend on a 4 year old that I've just spent ages trying to join the chat forum! I aim for £20-30 for my 3 children and that sounds a lot to me. I worked out what Christmas cost me a couple of years ago and for one day in the year, I'd spent over £500. I thought never again. (That was everything from cake ingredients to stockings and Christmas stamps.)
I don't think I'm tight but how does everyone afford it?? I think I get my children what they want but I love getting a bargain and pick up things in the year. Mainly in the January sales.
For example, my 5 year old is getting
a faux fur coat - Woolies sale £5, Barbie boots _Shoezone £8
Dora explorer books -£3, Art and craft pack - £2.50
Fairy purse- £2 ish, Barbie doll clothes- £6. for 3 outfits
Socks - 5 pack from ebay £4, makeup/ body glitter stuff from Boots - free, with help from Martyn!
Oh and chocolate coins, her favorite. Isn't that enough? They also have 3 aunts, 2 uncles, cousins, grandparents, a great aunt and friends buying for them. Our presents take over half the lounge by Christmas day.

annie-c

sallyalley wrote:

I am so truly shocked at the amounts people spend on a 4 year old that I've just spent ages trying to join the chat forum!

Fantastic first post - welcome!!!

scraptrap

Here here! :T

Chocmonster7

sallyalley wrote:

For example, my 5 year old is getting
a faux fur coat - Woolies sale £5, Barbie boots _Shoezone £8
Dora explorer books -£3, Art and craft pack - £2.50
Fairy purse- £2 ish, Barbie doll clothes- £6. for 3 outfits
Socks - 5 pack from ebay £4, makeup/ body glitter stuff from Boots - free, with help from Martyn!

After reading that lot I'm glad you mentioned the child was a girl.
Welcome to the forums!

lisa_75

sallyalley wrote:

I
I don't think I'm tight but how does everyone afford it??

You just do. Even when my husband was on the dole we spent at least £70 - £100 on each of the kids. Now we are more comfortable and the £150 each we plan to spend is less a day’s overtime for my husband, so it is not that much for us when we think of it in those terms.

Everyone thinks of money differently. For me £20 is not a lot of money and I would feel tight spending so little on my kids at Christmas as we can afford much more. I appreciate that is not the same for everybody, but you must also realise that for some people £20 is not a lot of money.

cottoncandy76

Hmm I notice that it is the people without children who think it is bad to spend more than £25! 'The latest toy for £25' - they obviously do not know that the latest toy is likely to be £40 min! I have only just become a parent and it is going to be our 2nd xmas - I have set a budget of £50 becuase her birthday closely follows 3 weeks later! However Zapf baby dolls cost £35ish and there outfits and accessories are a foutune - though I have got some bargins on ebay. Those without children should not be so quick to judge - I would also spend more if we had more.....you just do and that doesn't mean they don't appreciate it or learn about money.
:eek:

Sarahsaver

I would not buy a toy that was expensive if I was on a restricted budget. I searched and searched one year when dd wanted a pink teddy bear and finally found one - in wilkinsons - for £3.99. The time and effort I put into it and the fact she really wanted it make it more valuable than the price tag.
I have kids and I intend to start as I mean to go on, if they are overloaded at a young age with expensive stuff then of course they will expect more and more when they get older.

morganb

We don't spend more than £50 total for our two boys, 2 and 4; and we're not tight, I just don't believe in spending a fortune on toys which are only going to interest them for a couple of days, plus they get inundated with presents from other people. I have bought all my Christmas presents already, in various sales throughout the year, and keep a record of what I have bought. Yesterday Tesco's were selling boomerangs for 22pence (which my 4 1/2 year old will think is fantastic) and a skip stick for 24 pence (which my 4 year old niece is going to love).
And, on top of that, the 2 year old is only allowed two things on his Christmas list and the 4 year old (who is nearly five) is allowed 5 things; so they have to think VERY carefully and can therefore be VERY easily guided!!
And as for birthday presents, I am proud to say that I have asked people NOT to bring presents for my two year old but to bring a plate of food for the party instead.
Having said that, Christmas is very important in this house! We decorate the house from top to toe and the children always have a Christmas party (where everyone brings some food) and we make paper chains, christmas crackers, play Christmas pass the parcel, etc.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!!!!

dlb

I did post earlier on in the thread, but have to post againe to say, i would rather spend more on good quailty gifts than spend £10 on 10 things from the pound shop, i used to do this and 2 days later they were in the bin.

Yes xmas will cost me around £1000 includes gifts for all 4 kids and step son, all family members (homemade gifts) food drink and one hell of a new years eve party, but it is worth it.
The kids faces ,the atmosphere, the love and togetherness, you cant put a price on that. Yes xmas could be made cheaper for us but i dont want to make it so, i feel xmas it a time for treats and things which i dont get my kids throughout the year. My kids look forwrd to xmas, not just the next trip to town when they will get £20 quid spent on them!! This is what happens to alot of their friends and our step-son. They know the one time of year they will propably get what they ask for is xmas.

We just love xmas!!!

SuperSaverSue_2

My DD is 2 1/2 and will be spending about £100 on her.

I think this is a good amount, most of the toys she likes are about £20 each so will be getting around 5-6 gifts from me.