How much do you spend on your child's Christmas?

stumpycat

It's such a personal thing - priorities in spending and how it's done. We only have 1 child and probably spend around £150 - £200 once everything's taken into account - but they're probably worth at least double that 'cos of my moneysaving ways :rotfl:. We don't make such a big deal out of Christmas and he gets books and toys throughout the year.

The important things to me are:

That I actually get things that he likes (I've also volunteered to buy presents for relatives who weren't sure what to buy) 'cos I hate the thought of waste. Saying that he's a very easy going child (age 7 ) and I'm so pleased that he's resisting peer pressure - though I know it will get harder!

Presents are spread out - we give some on Christmas Eve, some on Christmas Day and then visit the rest of the family on Boxing day.

He always gets, and is involved in choosing, presents from Oxfam/Good Gifts/Greenpeace - chickens are favourite, since we have ex-battery chookies.

MrsE_2

Dora2010 wrote: »

I am feeling so fed up and a bit crap. I could use my credit card to buy the boots but this would incur more costs as I am being charged for purchases.

My point from the begining is that a lot of posts are adding essential items in as presents & making it sound like they spend much more.

Don't feel bad, you are buying the roof over your head & paying for childcare, two huge expenses.

JC9297

I think the thing about clothes that some people think they shouldn't be seen as a present is when they are being given to a small child or baby who couldn't care less about clothes. If an older child is being given clothes with e.g. characters on that they like or a footie strip, or teenagers are getting fashion or particular brands that they like then they will appreciate them and see it as a treat. Even if you buy a baby a more expensive outfit than usual they won't know or care, therefore it is for the parent's pleasure not the child's. When a child expresses preferences in what they wear is when it is OK to give them clothing as gifts.

digitalphase

Just wanted to add my twopennith, as I found this thread interesting.

I remember getting my bedroom decorated when I was a teenager, can't remember how old but maybe 14 or 15. This was for my birthday, and funnily enough, I remember this over whatever else I was bought that year! Those of you who think it's 'stingy' to include furniture as a present should bare that in mind. If a child asks for their room to be decorated as a present, why not get it done. It will last for years, and the child will get every day enjoyment from it. Better than other frivolous gifts.

However, I am shocked that on a money saving forum, some people spend as much as they do on their kids :eek: Whether things are bought from grabbits or not, it sounds as if their kids are getting well and truly spoilt I do not think it the monetary value of things that matter. And am shocked at teenagers getting the latest mobile phones, numerous consoles, flat screen TVs etc. Maybe it's partly due to these not being around in the last 10 or so years since I was a teenager, but it seems seriously excessive. I remember getting a PS1 for Xmas when they came out and it was great, I don't think I got a lot else, but was totally happy with this.

My OH's nephew is now 10 and is regularly spoilt. His birthday and Xmas are not too far apart, and he has had a lot spent on him already. It wouldn't be so bad if he actually appreciated it, but he doesn't respect his presents, and playing on his games console makes him wingy and antisocial.

I am going to be a parent next year, and am already of the mind that my child will not be getting spoilt. The presents you'd buy for a baby are different to a teenager, of course, and I understand things cost more as they get older.

Personally I don't think a highchair should be classed a present, but see nothing wrong with gifting clothes for presents. I work in a supermarket over Xmas, and believe me a LOT of people buy clothes as presents, so it is definitely not weird or unusual!

I think one main 'big' present and several other little ones, and maybe a small stocking are sufficient for a younger child certainly. When the child gets older, maybe they'd rather have one large present and a few smaller ones, or a few medium presents :rotfl: As long as they are grateful for the presents, that is the key. No point spending money unnecessarily, and certainly no point getting into debt.

kegg_2

digitalphase wrote: »

Just wanted to add my twopennith, as I found this thread interesting.


However, I am shocked that on a money saving forum, some people spend as much as they do on their kids :eek: Whether things are bought from grabbits or not, it sounds as if their kids are getting well and truly spoilt


I think it would be a sorry old world if you cant spoil your children once a year.
It doesn't mean that they will turn into whinney brats or you will somehow ruin them for life.

I find it odd on this who thread no one who spends alot of christmas has called anyone mean or somehow lacking as a parent for not spending and yet those who prefer to spendless think it is ok to cast comments about spoiling children and not being very MSE or even just :eek: faces at the amount spent.

liney

I have spent £200 on my DS6. £100 is on a lego set that he has had his heart set on for the last 3 months. Extra's like PJ's, socks and pants, outfit to wear Christmas Day, dressing gown, and a hot water bottle, will be added over the next week, but they don't come out of his Christmas budget although they will be wrapped up and under the tree. Well apart from the PJ's because the elves bring those on Christmas Eve

My view is, he's my son and i'll spoil him if I like, twice a year. It's new toys arriving constantly throughout the year that causes me to raise an eyebrow, because I don't think they are appreciated by children if it becomes the norm to receive new things.

SingleSue

Not quite Kegg...I am one of those who doesn't spend much but have not said anything about children being spoilt if more is spent, hell, me and now ex hubby used to really go to town (£500 on each other etc).

Yes, I do find some of the amounts :eek: but (and a big but), that is probably because I don't have that sort of money. If I had, I would probably spend similar amounts...who knows.

I remember my eldest's first Christmas....10 weeks old and the pile of presents in front of him on Christmas day was a sight to behold, I also remember our last Christmas as a married couple, hubby had spent around £600 on me and I had so many presents it took me most the morning to open them, the boys had 4 sacks each (big sacks) and we were ultra generous to the extended family too.

Did I feel guilty about spending so much? Not on your nelly! We could afford it, we didn't need credit to do it, we both worked hard for it and we were frugal in other areas, so it was our chance to live a little and treat the ones we loved. Christmas was an absolutely huge family celebration for us and we really pulled all the stops out..unfortunately, now divorced, Christmas is a time of sadness and depression for me because of all those memories of what Christmas used to be.

My total Christmas spend this year will be just a tad over the £100, probably around £120 and that is for my boys, my parents, my siblings and my nieces and nephews (did all 5 nieces and nephews for £10).....we didn't think anything of blowing twice that on one person before!

flea72

KiKi wrote: »

Hi Shellsuit, I could be wrong, but I interpreted their post not as a criticism of the furniture-buying, but the fact that your kids already had so many things, that there were no 'treats' left to buy them, and so the only things left are practical things

hit the nail on the head!

to have the long list of electrical items that your kids already have at their age, means you will hit that brickwall of gift options, at quite an early age. your DD has asked FC for Uggs and a blackberry, now as a canny parent with a child whos bday is so close to xmas, i would have split those gifts over the two occasions

yes, i have the money to buy both in one hit, but to make things easier for myself, i would just eek things out. espec as on xmas day they might have been a bit 'oh i didnt get the phone i really wanted', then come their birthday 'whoop whoop i got the phone'

i understand, that the only way for your dd to understand the cost of things is to make her choose between a normal birthday present and the furniture she wants, but doesnt need. but i think as a parent i would have just discouraged them from thinking that the furniture was an option in the first place

F

mum2twinsx2

MrsE wrote: »

My point from the begining is that a lot of posts are adding essential items in as presents & making it sound like they spend much more.

Don't feel bad, you are buying the roof over your head & paying for childcare, two huge expenses.

Ive brought my children highchair, i did NOT under any circumstances do it to `beef` up what i had brought. it just happens to fall on xmas the time they need a highchair. They have other gifts for xmas day, but as i think ive said they have enough toys as it is. There at the age where they are really difficult to buy for.
If you have any suggestions MrsE what you would buy 6month old children for xmas who dont need anymore noisy flashy light toys, im open to listen to your suggestions.

Both my girls who may i add are only four have asked for specific items of clothing theyve seen, and a mountain of toys. They have also got new pyjamas [also a tradition] knickers and vest... you can never have to many.

I dont care aslong as they have a nice time:D:D
Peace on earth and all that.

shellsuit

flea72 wrote: »

hit the nail on the head!

to have the long list of electrical items that your kids already have at their age, means you will hit that brickwall of gift options, at quite an early age. your DD has asked FC for Uggs and a blackberry, now as a canny parent with a child whos bday is so close to xmas, i would have split those gifts over the two occasions

yes, i have the money to buy both in one hit, but to make things easier for myself, i would just eek things out. espec as on xmas day they might have been a bit 'oh i didnt get the phone i really wanted', then come their birthday 'whoop whoop i got the phone'

i understand, that the only way for your dd to understand the cost of things is to make her choose between a normal birthday present and the furniture she wants, but doesnt need. but i think as a parent i would have just discouraged them from thinking that the furniture was an option in the first place

F

The long list of electrical items, didn't just come from me and OH.

One games console was bought by me, OH and my Dad. The other was bought by my son with all the Christmas money he had received that year.

The laptops were bought by me, OH and my Dad. One was for DD last Christmas and sons was bought for his 13th bday.

Daughter this year wanted a Blackberry for Christmas. We didn't even shell out for it as OH was due for an upgrade on his contract.

The TVs they have were Christmas presents.

I'd rather buy the big stuff they would like for Christmas and birthdays as they use them all year round.

There was nothing else DD wanted for her bday, apart from her room kitting out with furniture. Oh she would have loved to have got even more clothes and 17 different perfumes, but she has loads of clothes (that's all she spends her pocket money on) and how many perfumes can she use before they go off? She also likes the Pandora type bracelets, but I know if she had one, she would hardly wear it, so what's the point in wasting money?

I don't understand your point of stretching the presents out. She was chuffed to bits with her furniture for her room and I know she will be chuffed with her phone and boots.

She's not stupid either, she knows what things cost, she knows her phone for Christmas wasn't outright paid for and she isn't bothered at all. (And that's £150 less spent on presents anyway!)

If you have a problem with what I buy my kids, it's exactly that, your problem, not mine.

ETA : She hasn't asked FC for anything. She's almost 13, not 3.