How much should parents spend on a child for Christmas?

pink_princess

george27uk wrote: »

i said nothing about designer wear. a few games, 1 large gift (karaoke machine) some stocking fillers ect and it mounts up. they dnt know how much it costs. besides they dnt think it all comes from us so there not learning about money at xmas at there ages. they think alot of it comes from santa. they learn about money when they ask for treats when were shopping or spending money when we are in town. its then when we say no and explain why.

Thats giving them conflicting information though.One day you can t get them a small treat due to lack of money yet you can afford lots of christmas presents.Its our behaviours and money discipline that teaches them ,they pick it up from a very early age.
Im not saying your wrong to spend that much on them in your situation ,its your choice.Id just be aware that its not the best lesson to teach them .

winner12

Hi
Spent about 130 quid on each this year(3kids) I also thinks its what you buy it with your hard earned cash or somebody elses via a credit card kept in budget for the first time in years and only used my own money

daviesalie_2

laisbojar83 wrote: »

Kids follow their parents steps, most of the time - with rare exceptions - and if you show them that xmas is all about a gazillion presents and expensive stuff, thats how they are going to grow up and when comes a time when you cant afford a flashy Christmas, they will not take it well.

I'm a walking, talking, in debt example of this!

the_cat

I have no debts. I am lucky enough to be able to choose a healthy budget for my kids presents.....................BUT

I choose to spend about £200 on each of them (ages 14 and 17). The absolute last thing I want to teach them is that you get something for nothing in this life and the way I see it, they are in danger of being 'spoilt' and having unrealistic expectations in their future life if I over-lavish on them now

Each to their own of course, but how much you can afford is not the only factor to consider IMO when setting a budget

isy1011

My youngest she is 5 wanted two things - a guitar (£20) from ELC and a princess jigsaw (£7.00). So apart from a few books, barbie dresses and a second hand toy from ebay this is what she has got. My oldest aged 11 wanted an ipod nano - she has got that and a few other pressies totalling £50.

This is the most we have spent on my eldest. She is so good though she never asks for stuff and when she wanted a camera recently she saved up her birthday money. Im so proud of her.

beanielou

Im amazed TBH at some of the amazing amounts that people spend.

penelopedee_2

I probably spent about £200 for DS this year. But it does include a big pressie (stereo) for his room, a coat, slippers and bath robe that he needs plus some DVDs and a couple cheap games.

He knows that if he wants something big he has to negotiate with us nearer Christmas. And I use it as an excuse to update his coat, I keep back clothes etc that need replacing and I include a lot of toiletries just to make sure he has a nice pile to open Christmas morning.

When I was a child it was pretty similar, as a teenager I got fancy tights, hair spray, Avon lipsticks as my stocking fillers, a few bits of clothes and a main present something like a tape record (oh I'm getting old!)

daviesalie_2

Rather annoying that this has been moved from the Debt Free Wannabee forum - its to do with being debt free/spending/unnecessary spending when you have debts to clear

betterlife

i probably best not say how much ive spent on my kids (all 4 of them ) but at the end of the day its my choice we have no debts, nothing is bought on credit, everything is paid for with cash. my children no the value of money, (those who are old enough) dont get many treats throughout the year other than birthdays and when they do are more than happy with something from a carboot sale etc. we will have loads of pressies under the tree, yes they will be spoilt , i spend loads of time with my kids, baking, crafting, playing etc, we go out on walks, hikes, fishing etc loads, i dont compete with other family members (there kids are grown up) i dont buy them loads for any other reason than i want to! we love xmas, (and yes they no the true meaning of xmas)

bigmomma051204

I have to say i find it shocking how much people are spending!! It seems to be £200-300 per child!!! I have one little boy who is 6years.. i have spent about £50 on main presents and about £40 on stocking fillers. I really don't see the need to spend more. My little boy would love a Nintendo Ds...mainly because his cousins and friends all have them. Unfortunately we are facing me getting a redundancy letter between xmas and new year and my hubby is disabled and not able to work. So no nintendo ds this year! But he wont care.... as long as he has lots to unwrap he will be happy enough! Most of his stocking fillers from last year are still in the plastic box we used to tidy them up on boxing day - they would be there whether i spent £10 per item or 99p per item (oh how i love the "pound or less stores"!!). Last week i threw away half the sweets he had from the stocking!! It'll be even more bare under the tree this year as we are stuck in due to snow so can't get any pressies from grannies etc etc lol.... But hey ho! Our biggest problem is the fact we dont have any food at all for xmas cos of the snow! Bloomin' snow!! :eek: