How much do you spend on each child?

Spud_2

Out of pure curiousity, how much do you spend on your kids (individually) at Christmas?

Amanda65

By the time you take stockings ertc. into account it probably somewhere just over the £150.00 mark - and we have three of them eeek;

As they've got older I've foudn the repssie pile is smaller but mroe expensive. This year though we have done quite well so far - DS wanted a computer and we got a fab one from ebay local to us for £56.00! DD's bith wanted Ipod nanos and have managed to get hold of two from ebay for £175.00, which I am very pleased about - need to rein that spending in though and as a family generally we are cutting down this year - thank the Lord for MSE and a little bit of money we've put by

melt71

My daughter is only 9 this year so I haven't had to deal with teenagers expecting expensive presents yet. However, I think it's ridiculous spending £300 on a very small child who would be just as happy playing with the bloody box! Such a waste of money.

The most I have ever spent on my daughter is £50, as her birthday is in November so I can't go mad and wouldn't even if I had the money. I try to split her presents between practical (clothes, boots, PJ's), most wanted (games & toys) and silly (little £1 shop goodies!) She also gets LOADS from family and friends and never goes without. She loves presents, whether big or small and is always grateful.

My friend, who is a single parent on a low income, is planning to buy her son (also 9) a personal DVD player which is £150 - I asked her why she was buying him this, she said 'he has everything else and it's the only thing I can think of'.

cosworth_monkey

When we were children my Mum used to spend about £100 on all three of us.

But xmas was made by the treasure hunts....we'd wake up and on the back of our bedroom doors would be a big poem/clue from Santa....we'd spend about 3 hours hunting for half our presents (the rest were under the tree for asthetic value!) so by about 9-10am mum and dad would finally be happy and awake (much coffee!!) and we'd have all our presents.

We did things backwards and had a massive "Xmas Brekkie!!" we chose the week before exactly what we wanted and it was amazing! then we'd open our presents.

As we got older tho the treasure hunts stopped and the presents got smaller and more expensive, until it was finally about £25 each on small funny presents and a cheque for £150 each.

I miss xmas!

comping_cat

I spend a lot on my 2 for xmas, but i dont buy them anything during the year (apart from birthdays, and maybe a gift instead of an egg at easter).
I love christmas, its my favourite time of year so tend to go overboard but its worth it, as the children are happy and so am i!!!!

Alikay

Main present is £50 (they're teenagers now, so usually have cash and put it towards whatever they want), then I usually spend around £10-£15 on bits and bobs for their stockings.
Our kids only get 2 other present of around £15 each, plus a very small one from other people as we aren't a very big family, and my half are Jehovahs witnesses so don't celebrate it anyway.
New clothes are always bought in November and don't count, because the run-up to xmas is when they've got all the parties, family visits etc to wear their new stuff.

Katyag

I dont usually have a limit, i just buy what i think he will like or things he has shown an interest in.

With his birthday in December too i think we have spent around £400 in total for both, maybe slightly more. Or should i say he has things worth that but i have got them for much less via 3 for 2's vouchers, sales, etc. I always try to get as much as i can for as little as i can!

choccyface2006

I set a guide of £150 each for my two daughters, but with weeks to go, still a few ideas and having already within a few pounds of the limit, its going to be a bit more I think.

Sarah

RHYSDAD

A £1 and he's lucky to get it.

No seriously, up to about £50. My son's gotta learn the value of things and not have £100's of pounds worth of stuff foisted on him so he can just chuck it all in the cupboard and forget about after 3 days.

He will be 4 1/2 months old this Christmas.
My wife thinks i'm too hard on him!! Pah!!!

Sarahsaver

Goodness me! this is a moneySAVING site yet more votes so far have gone to the £150 spend! :eek:
If I *HAD* £150 to spare on each of my kids it would not be all spent in 'stuff' but probably a holiday or savings.

Katyag

Sarahsaver wrote:

Goodness me! this is a moneySAVING site yet more votes so far have gone to the £150 spend! :eek:
If I *HAD* £150 to spare on each of my kids it would not be all spent in 'stuff' but probably a holiday or savings.

I moneysave in other areas so that i can spend more on my son. Im paying for my sons things with cash and not getting into debt for xmas so i dont see anything wrong with it. He doesnt get handed toys thru the year so why not let him have a good xmas and bday. Yes i know lots of presents dont make a 'good' xmas but for various reasons my family have had a tough few years and want this to be a good xmas this year so are pushing the boat out and making sure we enjoying it. While still doing it the moneysaving way!