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

nearlyrich

I am only spending about £20 each plus similar on their BF/GF but they are grown up and don't really need anything. I am also contributing to some stuff they will need to set up their own homes in the new year but it's not really a Christmas Present as such.

I was from a big family and we didn't have much to open at Christmas in fact I think some of our aunties spent more on us that our parents could afford. What that taught me is being together and having a family meal and all being happy together is more valuable than all the huge presents anyone could buy.

kegg_2

I always spend alot at christmas and see no reason why i shouldn't.
My youngest had a bmx bike which cost £250 but i gave it to him early as he needed a bike and winter is hardly a good time for bmx'ing. He is old enough to understand that this was his main present and where his brother will have a big present under the tree he wont.
He still has plenty ot open under the tree with a mix of clothes, games, books, dvds and as a special treat an enuf skateboard and new ramps.
My other boy is a lego buff but as he has got older his interest has changed to the large complicated sets, so i have got him 3 of these and he will be getting a new laptop in january in the sales. He also has a pile of clothes, games, books and dvds.
There stockings are bursting with socks, pants, toiletries, pajamas and a few fun things like teck decks and chocalate.

I love christmas and i am fortunate enough to have the spare money to spend so i am boing my bit to help against the resession by spending it.

Threebabes

We've spent different amounts on each of our kids, DS who is 15 has had about 600 spent on him (hes got a £300 bmx), DD who is nearly 11 has had about £500 and then DD2 who is 7 has had about £350. DD2 has a £200 birthday party in November whereas the older two don't have expensive birthday partys, so I feel it swings in roundabouts.

DS has got a hoody, tshirt & trainers for xmas, I dont see a problem gifting him clothes. DD1 has got a miley cyrus outfit from asda and DD2 has a wizards of waverly place outfit from asda too. Also got the 3 of them underwear and pjs and the girls also a dressing gown from disney store each.

Poly,put_the_kettle_on

The two still at home will get around £80 each, the older two £25ish. I'd far rather spend less at christmas & take them on holiday instead. Experiences are far more valuable than "stuff."

Our very best christmasses have been the three where we've only bought stocking filler type gifts, and taken them to the alps for christmas week. We've spent time sledging, throwing snowballs, playing games, and enjoying eachothers company. Bliss.

shellsuit

I buy my kids clothes when they need them, I won't buy them clothes just because they want them and because 'everyone else is wearing them'.

When they start asking for clothing they don't need then they have them as presents. They both know that and don't have a problem with it at all.

My son who is 14 has only asked for clothing items, so we got him some and will give him cash too. He has some DVDs also which he asked for.

Daughter wanted a Blackberry and a pair of Uggs (which we got thanks to here for £50!) and she has some other bits to open to.

The baby has various toys to open but we haven't gone OTT.

I think in all on the kids, we have spent around £700.



I supppose some people would think we're mean because it's daughters 13th on New Years Day and we bought her new wardrobes and drawers for her bedroom? Thing is, she didn't need them, she wanted them and they were almost £400.

Money doesn't grow on trees and when I was their age, I had a job so bought all my own clothes because I chose clothes I wanted to wear and not what my parents wanted to buy for me (which I probably wouldn't be seen dead in!).


The kids have everything they want, mobile phones, Xbox360, PS3, laptops, Flat screen tellys, DVD players etc, so it's not mean to just buy clothes and furniture for them as there isn't anything else to buy them which they would want.

flea72

i have no objection to people having clothing as a gift, if they have requested it, as its usually an item that they wouldnt normally be able to afford, or allowed to buy, so on those occasions they would be excited to receive it, and the item would have a special significance

what i dont agree with is people buying utilitarian clothing, that should have been bought from normal day to day expenditure. yes, one fun pair of socks, and maybe new pjs are acceptable for christmas, but buying clothing that would have to be bought anyway, is not a gift

would you buy a years worth of food and put it in your kids stocking and call it a present? of course you wouldnt, as its a necessity

F

flea72

shellsuit wrote: »

The kids have everything they want, mobile phones, Xbox360, PS3, laptops, Flat screen tellys, DVD players etc, so it's not mean to just buy clothes and furniture for them as there isn't anything else to buy them which they would want.

and therein lies the problem. if a child of 13 has everything they want, that they have to resort to listing furniture as a gift, then does that not ring alarm bells, as a parent?

F

poet123

What about holidays? we have friends who booked a holiday to Disney and wrapped up the tickets for Xmas as the main "present". We found that very odd.

bestpud

shellsuit wrote: »

I buy my kids clothes when they need them, I won't buy them clothes just because they want them and because 'everyone else is wearing them'.

When they start asking for clothing they don't need then they have them as presents. They both know that and don't have a problem with it at all.

My son who is 14 has only asked for clothing items, so we got him some and will give him cash too. He has some DVDs also which he asked for.

Daughter wanted a Blackberry and a pair of Uggs (which we got thanks to here for £50!) and she has some other bits to open to.

The baby has various toys to open but we haven't gone OTT.

I think in all on the kids, we have spent around £700.



I supppose some people would think we're mean because it's daughters 13th on New Years Day and we bought her new wardrobes and drawers for her bedroom? Thing is, she didn't need them, she wanted them and they were almost £400.

Money doesn't grow on trees and when I was their age, I had a job so bought all my own clothes because I chose clothes I wanted to wear and not what my parents wanted to buy for me (which I probably wouldn't be seen dead in!).


The kids have everything they want, mobile phones, Xbox360, PS3, laptops, Flat screen tellys, DVD players etc, so it's not mean to just buy clothes and furniture for them as there isn't anything else to buy them which they would want.

My 18 year old had her bedroom kitted out for her 18th birthday present. She did get a flat screen TV, new bed (she wanted a queen size one and had to renew everything to fit it in her small room), carpet, desk etc. It might seem stingey to some (I had a few horrified looks from people at the time) but it's what she asked for and I was happy with that.

bestpud

flea72 wrote: »

and therein lies the problem. if a child of 13 has everything they want, that they have to resort to listing furniture as a gift, then does that not ring alarm bells, as a parent?

F

It does for me tbh. I am always a bit shocked when parents say they don't know what to get their children as they have everything they could possibly want already.

As for clothes, I'd rather buy socks and pants than other stuff just for the sake of it tbh.