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

UnderPressure

gingin wrote: »

I'm genuinely interested, did your children notice a drastic drop in spends and how did they react?


In answer to the main question, my children get one main present from us and a nice stocking from Santa. I probably spend a distinctly average amount every year.

Hello

They did notice a difference and to be honest we explained there was going to be a differnece it was hard as I did not want to burden them with our financial worries this was important to me I think it hard enough today being a child as it is without worrying about your parents financial situation and how it impacts on them.

At the time they were learning at school about the children in Africa and other third world countries so that year and every year since we organised a shoe box appeal at 5 of the local schools and made a big deal out of this, we also told them that as a result of their hard work Santa had decided to sned these children a little extra as well which meant that the lucky children in the western world would get a few things less but they agreed it was a great idea :cool:

Luckily for us although we start out with a 300 pound budget per child it always ends up more like 4-500 hundred by the time we have finshed so there was still room for the desirable presents it was just the "fillers" there were less of.

Also it resulted in a much happier christmas day, as I said in an earlier post when we spent loads on them they generally ended up in tears a couple of hours after being out of bed simply because they were so overwhelmed and did not know what to do or what to play with first, this has now stopped it is a much more controlled day with the major present taking the limelight rather than 3 or 4 major presents just confusing them.

Best wishes

custardy

UnderPressure wrote: »

Hello

They did notice a difference and to be honest we explained there was going to be a differnece it was hard as I did not want to burden them with our financial worries this was important to me I think it hard enough today being a child as it is without worrying about your parents financial situation and how it impacts on them.

At the time they were learning at school about the children in Africa and other third world countries so that year and every year since we organised a shoe box appeal at 5 of the local schools and made a big deal out of this, we also told them that as a result of their hard work Santa had decided to sned these children a little extra as well which meant that the lucky children in the western world would get a few things less but they agreed it was a great idea :cool:

Luckily for us although we start out with a 300 pound budget per child it always ends up more like 4-500 hundred by the time we have finshed so there was still room for the desirable presents it was just the "fillers" there were less of.

Also it resulted in a much happier christmas day, as I said in an earlier post when we spent loads on them they generally ended up in tears a couple of hours after being out of bed simply because they were so overwhelmed and did not know what to do or what to play with first, this has now stopped it is a much more controlled day with the major present taking the limelight rather than 3 or 4 major presents just confusing them.

Best wishes

thats exactly what happened for us last year.

UnderPressure

custardy wrote: »

thats exactly what happened for us last year.

Im sorry to hear that I know as someone who has experienced that it can also be heartbreaking for you and takes a bit of time to figure out why they are crying as well! I remember a couple of years thinking crikey what was all that about and as a parent the last thing you want on Christmas day is the kids in tears.

I was a bit of a slow learner with this and it was only when we were forced to cut back a bit it all made sense

Best wishes

brighthair

My favourite present I get every year is perfume. Sounds a bit odd, but then I always wear it on Christmas Day, and then every time I smell it, it reminds me of Christmas :-)

I'm 26 now - and still write a christmas list! I do one with loads of stuff on it from socks to dvds, and then Mum picks a few things off it. Works because I get a surprise, but I also get things that are useful to me
I spent this year about £70 each on Mum and Dad and they've each got a main pressie and some little ones.

sunday_girl

Under Pressure

Maybe other people don't place so much emphasis on material items as do? Maybe they don't place such huge importance on one day of the year? Maybe they don't want to build up their children's expectations to a level each year that may one day become unachievable (as it did for you)? Maybe they don't want their children overwhelmed with the quantity of presents on Christmas day? You are calling people foolish and miserly for spending less than what you consider to be an acceptable amount, yet you have openly admitted that you have made mistakes with the amount you have spent in the past. Why not live and let live? You choose to spend x amount on Christmas, someone else chooses to spend y - you are implying that people who have the means to spend x, but choose to spend y, are failing as parents which is wrong IMO.

Morty_007

I don't recall B1tching about anyone or how much money they spend actually! No, thats right, I didn't. I answered the question in the OP and then got slated for it. I don't want to spend 15 years saving to send my boy to Uni but its a reality with the economic climate the way it is. I am very fulfilled thanks. I even know when to use the correct version of the words your/you're if you want to be picky!

UnderPressure wrote: »

You invited me to so OK YOUR A MISER!!!

My boy will want for nothing. He will be equal to his peers but he will not be in debt from feeling like he has to "keep up with the Jones' " He will learn the value of working hard, saving and will appreciate what he gets and how he gets it...I already explained this but i'll try and simplify it if you need me to? He will enjoy Christmas as he does every day. Aside from anything else, why would I want to repeat your mistakes as you seem to be urging people to do!?!?!

UnderPressure wrote:

we spent loads on them they generally ended up in tears a couple of hours after being out of bed simply because they were so overwhelmed and did not know what to do or what to play with first

I'm a little confused about what you seem to be suggesting in your posts, they are a little contradictory...in fact I think you may have confused yourself!
In fact I think your entire contribution to this thread is for your own enjoyment. I may go so far as to suggest you may be trolling to wind people up....

Kimitatsu

Can I just say that I am amazed at why anyone would want to talk about how much they spend on their kids at Christmas! We are all different and all have differing incomes and idea.........

For me as a money adviser, I dont advocate that anyone gets into debt to keep up with the Joneses, but there are lots of ways to make Christmas itself special, and isnt it really about family more than anything else?

I buy both of my boys clothes for Christmas, as part of their present, a stocking really wouldnt be the same without socks and boxers! They also get pj's and hoodies, but I also buy them stuff in the sales, they know that they can get good deals in the sales and are happy to wait.

They are the most deprived children in the world because they are the ONNNNLY children in the school not to have tv's in their bedrooms (so they tell me) and have to play the wii downstairs with the rest of us. Strange because one of their best friends doesnt have one either....

But for them they have the best present this year beacuse Daddy is home for Christmas day for the first time in three years and any other presents whilst cool are just things

Why are you all bickering on here about who does what? Surely as long as you all have a great day, your kids are happy and are allowed to OD on chocolate (only day of the year its allowed you know) then anything else is immaterial? My kids have always loved Christmas because they can potter around in the pj's or clothes or whatever, build lego/watch a christmas movie and have all of us together with no interruptions (no family or friends on the day just us) and no rules about what "should" be done. Money is just money but memories last forever.

UnderPressure

brighthair wrote: »

My favourite present I get every year is perfume. Sounds a bit odd, but then I always wear it on Christmas Day, and then every time I smell it, it reminds me of Christmas :-)

I'm 26 now - and still write a christmas list! I do one with loads of stuff on it from socks to dvds, and then Mum picks a few things off it. Works because I get a surprise, but I also get things that are useful to me
I spent this year about £70 each on Mum and Dad and they've each got a main pressie and some little ones.

Awww thats really nice and no doubt really nice for your parents as well

Loulou2010

wow - i've just spent probably the best part of an hour reading this thread from start to finish :eek:

tbh what other people spend on the kids doesnt bother me. what business is it of mine? if they go mad and spend too much and get themselves into debt, how does that effect me? if they chose to spend little and save money for something else, how does that effect me? its their lives and money and what they chose to do with it is entirely up to them.

we have hardly spent a thing on our ds this year. a few little toys/books that he will enjoy. a few clothes (:eek:). the oh's family have spoilt him rotten. he is the first grandchild. they wanted to spoil him so we let them. we didnt feel the need to spoil him as well.

just one other question.... since when did christmas become about presents?

vik6525

Under Pressure.
I 'get' what you're saying.
I contributed to this thread initially, because Im really pleased that Ive been able to save up enough to treat my son beyond his wildest dreams this year.
But reading the rest of this thread has made me feel pretty yukky, because the implication from certain posters seems to be that if you spend a lot on your kids at Christmas, you're 'spoiling' them and raising little brats. Which is SOOO far from my situation its unreal.