For xmas how much to spend on a 4 year old

Rachie_B

Edinburghlass wrote:

Wouldn't dream of calling you tight or anyone extravagant come to that, each to their own depending on their budget.

Neither would I suggest that someone who spends more is spoiling their child nor would I think that a child is made "greedy" simply because their present cost more than £50 especially as the question was about 4 year olds although I did digress myself.

My own memories of Christmas were always of sitting on the floor reading my annual and eating my way through a box of sweets

:rotfl: me too ,my great aunt owned a newsagents and we would always order our annuals from here,it was our xmas gift from our nan

and i do the same with my 2 boys now too

2 annuals for £8 (or was it £6 ??) in tesco :beer:

amanda_5

It's difficult to say how much i spend because I buy bits and pieces as the year goes by , usually in the sales or special offers. I do leave a little money foe extra bits nearer to christmas when i have an idea of what they really want. I did ask my 8 year old little questions about his leapster ( which he got 2 years ago) as I thought he might like an nintendo like his friends but he wasn't interested ... saves me a small fortune... . I choose to spend as much or as little as i do which is every parents choice but I wouldn't put myself in debt to provide more .

Chocmonster7

Rachie_B wrote:

most the above i already do, but for their stockings ! not "proper" presents. £20 wouldnt buy much in the terms of larger "proper" (for want of a better word) gifts

Every present whatever the cost is a "proper" present. If we teach kids that then they wouldnt expect to get stuff costing hundreds of pounds that frankly they don't need. It's all about getting things back into perspective.

Rachie_B

Chocmonster7 wrote:

Every present whatever the cost is a "proper" present. If we teach kids that then they wouldnt expect to get stuff costing hundreds of pounds that frankly they don't need. It's all about getting things back into perspective.

like i stated before my kids dont EXPECT nor ASK for the stuff we buy

they may say they like it etc but never are greedy and ask for things all the time

and we never buy things they dont "need" well i mean of course kids can live without a bike ,scooter ,leap pad etc but if we (my husband and i ) can afford it why the heck shouldnt we buy these things for our sons ?

like i said the word proper prob not the best to use

but IKWIM anyway :rotfl:

Katyag

We dont have a set amount either. I shop for Xmas throughout the year in sales, bargains, freebies anything i can find i can use.

This year DS will be 5 (and its his birthday 6 days before xmas) he is getting a junior set of golf clubs, at the request of his father, so they can spend time together doing this. Have seen the set we want for £35 in the sports shop, trolly is £10 so will prob get that too since he wont be strong enough to carry a set of golf clubs around.

Then he has loads of little toys from us, a big (ish) present from santa and a stocking.

I think if there comes a time when there is more than one to buy for i will have to set a budget each.

Chocmonster7

Rachie_B wrote:

and we never buy things they dont "need" well i mean of course kids can live without a bike ,scooter ,leap pad etc but if we (my husband and i ) can afford it why the heck shouldnt we buy these things for our sons ?

Sorry RachieB didn't mean to make it sound as if I was having a go at you. Of course if you can afford it then treat them but a lot of these posts have shown that people have lost a sense of proportion about the amount of money spent on presents these days. They seem to think that something small isn't classed as a real present, just as a diversion until the 'big one' is unwrapped. If this is how the adults are behaving then how will the kids ever learn the value of items?

dora37

OMG at some of the amounts!!

I would class ourselves as OK off in the financial stakes and Christmas is not put on a credit card, however even though we could afford to spend loads on loads on presents we don't.

We don't because our emphasis is on the whole experience and fun....if I found it necessary to spend huge amounts of money for my chidren to enjoy Christmas, then frankly I would feel that as parents we were going wrong somewhere.

I have 3 children (5,12 & 15) and all are bought according to their interests. The older two have similar spent, but for the youngest it isn't necessary.

Incidentally, DD was 5 last week and we had a traditional kiddie party for 9 of her friends - good old fashion fun (disco and party games in the dining room and decorated party tea table in the kitchen)....everybody (including me & OH) had loads of fun, it didn't cost very much at all. It was planning, time and effort that made it a success not vast amounts of money!

So, even though we could spend loads on the children and stay within our means......we don't.

PS DD presents that she received from friends are still piled up, unplayed with in the Living Room - at the moment she's more interested in putting her wellies on a playing in the garden!

billyblack

Chocmonster7 wrote:

Every present whatever the cost is a "proper" present. If we teach kids that then they wouldnt expect to get stuff costing hundreds of pounds that frankly they don't need. It's all about getting things back into perspective.

I can't agree with you more. You should pick a present that the child will not be bored of after two hours - and that's not as easy as it sounds!

Edinburghlass_2

So I guess billyblack you suggest we all look on your website that you are advertising on here

dora37 I haven't read anywhere that users have said they find it necessary to spend huge amounts but if you are buying a bike, games console or something similar of course it will cost more than £20.

I dare say when I was bought a bike for my Christmas many moons ago it cost, comparatively, a lot of money but I certainly wasn't either a greedy child nor did I think my parents were going wrong somewhere.

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