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

SingleSue

Underpressure - believe me, middle son will be the envy of his peers with his present..mind you, not every child is into drums and ultra cool drum sticks but the lads my son goes round with are. Blimey, his mates went goo eyed at some special edition guitar picks which cost less than a fiver!

Youngest son is by the by...he doesn't like people anyway, so won't talk to anyone else about presents.:D

Eldest has similarly minded and financially restrained friends...they actually have contests to see who can save for an item first (weird weird child) :rotfl:

BigBlackcat

UnderPressure wrote: »

Dont let them get you down you have done well for your child and from the sounds of it have saved ahrd to ensure you can give them what you want I say a big well done to you :T

The other posters seem to get some comfort from poking at people who believe children should be provided for and be given things they want, as a parent it is the most natural thing in thre world to want to provide the very best you can for your children, these misers spouting their usual nasty garbage feel the need to try and justify their own inadquecies and failures because they choose to not provide the best they can for their children. Sad really but hey ho they are not my mum and dad thank god

These are the children that in turn probaly also get bullied at school and dont have a lot of friends and find themselves constantly envying what their friend have sad place for a child to be me thinks

Then to make things worst their children hide their disappointment and hurt so mum and dad dont get upset an absolute shame really what must go through these poor children heads

You spend what you want and dont let anyone tell you any different children may not NEED material things but believe me they really like them

Merry Christmas to you and yours

Being a good parent and provider goes way beyond spending excessive amounts of money on your children at Christmas.

I am quite shocked by the amount of emphasis you put on material posessions. Particularly when it comes to stating that children that do not have all the latest gadgets will be bullied and have no friends.:(

SingleSue

vik6525 wrote: »

Despite being on of the 'big spenders' on this thread, my son isnt materialistic in the slightest. When I asked him all those months ago what he actually wanted for Christmas, he couldnt think of a single thing. NOT because hes 'spoilt' and has everything, but because he genuinely couldnt think of anything. So do you know something? Ive bought him the absolute world. Im SOOO excited to see his face this Christmas morning, I really am, because Ive gone stupidly OTT, and bought him things he wouldnt DREAM of even asking for, simply because it wouldnt dawn on him that 'santa' (;)) would bring them for him.

Sorry, I wasn't digging at others with my comment (probably my fault and my brain not thinking before typing), I was just trying to explain why my children don't seem to be fazed by it all.

We did a similar thing when the boys were younger (not as a Christmas present), we knew they had been excited seeing adverts on the television for Disneyland Paris but never thought they would be able to go....until one morning we said we were going on a magical mystery tour on a train. Their faces when they realised we were on the Disney Express, was an absolute picture and a memory I will treasure for ever. Cost us and arm and a blooming leg though!:rotfl:

UnderPressure

Poly,put_the_kettle_on wrote: »

Underpressure, thankfully not everyone puts the same value on "stuff" as you do. This "stuff" that your kids have so much of that it gets stuffed in a shed unwanted and unused & then taken to the dumps.

Exactly as I have now said many many times spending huge amounts causes it own damage but in different ways.

This "stuff" that is now adding to the mountain of waste...this "stuff" that cost valuable resources to make & transport. I'm not an evangelical tree hugger, but I do have the mental capacity to understand that the planet has finite resources. I'd rather keep a slightly healthier planet than keep on consuming in order to "keep up with the times."

yawn yawn stop the press latest headline DONT SPOIL YOUR KIDS YOUR SPILING THE PLANET errrr I have seen some excuses in this thread but this one by far take 1st prize :cool:

You say it's about that rather than keeping up with the Joneses...but do you not realise that it's the Joneses that make the times?

No sorry my simpleton mind does not understand your method of thinking here, please dont bother trying to explain......

It's the fact that people get involved with this tit for tat inflationary giving that's gotten us into the situation we're in now. If people had the strength of will & common sense to not get involved with it, it wouldn't be an issue.

Again what mess? The birth of technology? Our kids aspirations and dreams rising above an apply, orange and a doll or a car? Dont see your "mess" here.

I simply cannot understand why you feel that children are "meant to be spoilt" or words to that effect. Really? The first dictionary hit for the word "spoil" brings up this- just in case you're unclear "To do harm to the character, nature, or attitude of by oversolicitude, overindulgence, or excessive praise." And you think that's ok?

As said I think it is important that children dont think that santa or mum and dad love them less because little johnny doen the road got a bmx bike and they did not, nothing to do with dictionaries more about equality really.

I could easily double the amount we spend on our kids without too much hardship. Feel free to call me a miser. I'm giving them something better than "stuff"- they're being bought up to understand that they can't have everything they want all the time. Hopefully, this will help equip them for a life without incurring debts in order to "keep up with the Joneses"- sorry, I mean "times."

As all you are doing is reigning in your kids hopes, aspirations and dreams effectively saying dont chase dreams just accept the hand you have been dealt. I you think this is fine then who am I to say different. Many jobs going at your local McDonalds?? So far as Jones's and times they are completely different if you cannot see something as simple as this I really cannot be bothered trying to explain it to you.

There are so many flaws in your diatribe I don't know where to start. The obvious one is that you, by your own mark, are an irresponsble loser for having lavished amounts of money on your kids that you couldn't sustain- and then pulling the rug out from under them. Didn't you save for unfortunate financial circumstances? Shock horror. How can you live with yourself? Letting them get used to a lifestyle like that & then taking it away. Here's a thought- if you'd spent half the amount on them at xmas and saved the other half, they would still have had lots of presents- but you might not have hit on hard times...and they'd never have felt the difference.

The only difference in lifestyle my kids have noticed is a slightly smaller pile of desirable presents at christmas than they used to get, this was done quite well and with their agreement in the end bearing in mind we still spend around the 4-500 pound mark per child its hardly a hardhsip is it?

So far as savings yes we had lots over 50k's worth actually when my business failed rather than have a string of local small businesses go out of business dues to monies I owed them I sent every single penny to creditors and cleared as much as possible, sure I could have took the easy way and "laundered" the money then gone bakrupt but hey I did not think it was very sporting so I threw all my savings and more into the pot to resolve the situation, This left al shortfall of around 20k all in all which after some debacles this year is now all paid off

So your point AGAIN is tosh savigs I had, savings I now have again ups downs it all part of life..............

We should all be doing what we, in our own minds believe is best for our children. If you can afford lavish gifts, fair play to you- but I beseech you to see that your kids know the value, and the true costs of the disposable stuff they get through. However, getting caught up like herded sheep is ludicrous. It's a day. One day. If you're celebrating the birth of baby Jesus, then it's not about the "stuff" anyway, surely?

Oh, and as a "christian," I'm sure you know it's Rosary Beads.

Sorry about that I stand corrected Rosary beads and holy water that will cure the world :cool:

I hope that answers most of your meaningless points..................

vik6525

SingleSue wrote: »

Sorry, I wasn't digging at others with my comment (probably my fault and my brain not thinking before typing), I was just trying to explain why my children don't seem to be fazed by it all.

We did a similar thing when the boys were younger (not as a Christmas present), we knew they had been excited seeing adverts on the television for Disneyland Paris but never thought they would be able to go....until one morning we said we were going on a magical mystery tour on a train. Their faces when they realised we were on the Disney Express, was an absolute picture and a memory I will treasure for ever. Cost us and arm and a blooming leg though!:rotfl:

Ive done that (though not to Disneyland!)
Told my young un we couldnt afford a holiday that particualr year, packed all the stuff in my brothers car when he was asleep. Morning of the holiday, got him up and dressed for school, told him Uncle Marty was going to give us a lift there, drove straight past the school, and to Glastonbury for the weekend.
His face was a PICTURE! Though it did take him an age to work it out...
Hes a bit dim sometimes!


(Would like to point out that it was prearranged with the school, just incase anyone thinks Im a scumbag!!)

BigBlackcat

As said I think it is important that children dont think that santa or mum and dad love them less because little johnny doen the road got a bmx bike and they did not, nothing to do with dictionaries more about equality really.

So the only way to express love for your child is to shower them with extravagant purchases??

UnderPressure

Morty_007 wrote: »

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!


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!?!?!





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....

A little defensive there I dont recall once even mentioning your name in any of my posts........................

I am not explaining my thoughts again simpe re-read for yourself.

I am not urging anybody to do anything the choice is ultimately down to them I am simply sharing my thoughts the same as you, I have not picked on 1 single person in any of my posts, your defense mechanism seems a bit mmmmmm out of sync, you dont have to justify yourself to me far from it, they are your children you do what you think is right I am simply balancing the conversation a little as I dont see why the people who do spend money on their children should be looked down upon by the people that dont either trhough miserly choice or through need.

Oh thanks for the grammar correction I hope it made you feel better :rotfl:

Morty_007

UnderPressure wrote: »

I hope that answers most of your meaningless points..................

you really ARE that rude This person (and yes, they ARE a person remember) has spent ages typing this out to take part in a discussion which to be honest, isn't worth taking part in any more because you are really being totally vile. How rude you really are....and you clearly think you are the only one who is right here so that gives you the right to bully others.

You didn't need to mention my name ...you quoted me...directly, so I responded. And my grammar correction was merely to point out that maybe it is you who has not reached their full potential, not me.


You're not getting any more of my time.

Poly,put_the_kettle_on

UnderPressure wrote: »

No sorry my simpleton mind does not understand your method of thinking here, please dont bother trying to explain...

Sure thing; if something that simple is beyond you, the rest would be a waste of my time. At least we agree on something.

Oh, and Merry CommercialismFest! :beer:

UnderPressure

SingleSue wrote: »

My actual point was that my parents spent very little on that doll as she was second hand (with half a foot missing and the back plate where the battery was supposed to be placed, broken and taped down)...but she ended up being my favourite gift.

I don't have the doll here, my nieces have the joy of playing with her when they go to my parents.

As for being prepared, I am afraid that sometimes there are not the pennies to go around, no matter how prepared you are. My spend is from being organised, it is from saving a few pounds here and there when it can be afforded but I certainly could not save £10 per week per child..it may sound like a little to some but to me, £30 a week is a huge amount and simply not possible (and no it is not wasted elsewhere, all excess funds after the basics are spent on the shortfall from DLA on the boys therapies, special foods, extra electricity, hospital trips, doctors appointments etc).

As for not being able to get them what they really want for less than £50...well it depends on the child doesn't it, my middle son is getting something he has coveted for months as is my youngest son...they are going to be so chuffed and over the moon with their items and they only cost £30.

Maybe my boys are different in that they don't aspire to loads of material things, maybe they take after me (I am not at all materialistic)...who knows but they certainly enjoy their Christmas despite a low spend.

Of course you are right, as I said for soem people it is not that easy and my hat is firmly off to you, you sound like a great mum and a great person

All the best