How much do you spend on each child?

NotreDame

Mine have one main present of about £30, then lots of others which include clothes, new slippers, pjs etc, and a small selection box, plus a few toys and books, totalling about £100 - £120 each. But it's a special time of year and I enjoy seeing their faces when they go downstairs on Christmas morning and see all the things Santa has left. And they are not spoiled the rest of the year. Oooh, I can't wait!!

lisyloo

Goodness me! this is a moneySAVING site yet more votes so far have gone to the £150 spend!

I think you have mixed up moneysaving and living frugally.

As an example, finding the best way to purchase champagne, a luxury car or a luxury cruise or finding the cheapest Rolex watch is money saving.

For some people moneysaving IS about living frugally but for many other people (like me) it's getting the same services/goods for a lower price.

I saved £250 by buying an expensive cruise in $s and not £s.
I could of course have saved money by not going on the cruise but to my mind that isn't the point of the site.
I saved about £600 on a Rolex watch this year just by being cheeky enough to negotiate. It would be a mistake to think that everyone is living frugally.

Perhaps people who come here have different aims but I don't think it's a "live like a hermit" site.

BTW - if you do want to take it that far, then my top money saving tip is not to have kids (I am joking of course :-). They cost over £180K each !!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6134926.stm

Amanda65

melt71 wrote:

My daughter is only 9 this year so I haven't had to deal with teenagers expecting expensive presents yet.

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.
QUOTE]

Just wanted to point out that my children are always grateful as well and stockings pressies tend to be made up of things they need and I would buy anyways (PJ's, school folders/stationery, underwear etc.) I just save and wrap it for Christmas as it's more exciting! We've had a couple of very frugal Christmas's in the past due to redundancy and the children were great and didn't want anything big or expensive.

My chldren also save some of their pocket money and buy pressies for the immediate family (each other, me and OH, grnadma, grandad and my brother and sister-in-law) There is a £3 per present limit on what they can spend but they get a real kick out of choosing, wrapping and giving their pressies and I think has taught them that's it's as nice to give as to receive.

Sarahsaver

I don't live like a hermit but that was just my reflection on the matter. We are all different. My kids still have a fantastic Christmas, always have had and always will do.

maow425

I feel like a complete skinflint now, after looking at the poll result! I have two boys 2 & 6, one due in just over 2 weeks (and one husband) and wouldn't even dream of spending £150 on each of them! This year we asked everyone for money instead of presents as we are already going to Norway to see my mum (and the snow) for x-mas and we didn't really want to bring lots of presents, or have them opened either before or after x-mas. Eldest son also said he would like santa to bring a PS2 this year, so we thought we'd use the money from everyone else to buy that, and maybe a couple of other bits (new clothes probably) and something for the 2yr old to play with. Only problem now, is that everyone else has completely ignored the present wish and already bought the boys' presents. So we'll have to think of something else.

Last year, our eldest wanted Woody from Toy Story, so that's what he got (£15) and some new clothes which probably brought the total up to £30 for him. The youngest got some new clothes same as ES and a couple of toys that were paid for by an Argos Gift voucher we hadn't used yet. They usually end up getting so many toys and clothes from everyone else, that we don't really see the point of spending much more on them, and they are grateful for what they get, so we're happy with that.

Sarahsaver

You are not a skinflint Maow
if your kids are happy then that's fine;)

ashli_2

Fellow skinflint here.

I've spent just over £60 on ds (2) including all presents and stocking fillers and some new pj's for Christmas Eve. But that £60 was spent with care and has been made to go a very long way.

I refuse to get drawn into a cycle of over-spending on Christmas...it's meant to be a holiday, not a burden. :beer:

bluenose1

Wait till they get older and you will be under pressure to spend more.

My eldest wants an ipod nano costing over £120, add on a few PS2 games, books and smellies and you have spent £200.
My middle son wants a PSP, cost £135. Add on books, PS2 games and £200 again.
Much cheaper with my 3 year old. He will get Tool set - reduced from £40 to £12 from Debenhams 6 months ago.
Batman mini scaletrix - from Entertainer £15
Sportacus dressing up set £16 Amazon
Pirate set £4.97 reduced in Tesco.
Total spend about £50

By the way my two eldest have not asked for IPOD and PSP. They don't think they have any chance of getting them. I know their friends have got them and that they would like them. I love the fact they wil be so delighted Christmas Day.

Juicy_Tube

My LO will be 11 months at Xmas. I am making the most of having to spend very little this year:D

We have bought a garage set from ELC costing £27.50 with vouchers off from this website.

I will get a few bits but that will be it!

I am very surprised at how much money is being spent on children..


But come back and ask me in a few years LOL:p

JT x

lisyloo

We are all different. My kids still have a fantastic Christmas, always have had and always will do.

You are right.
It isn't about how much money you spend.
It's about spending time with people and taking an interest.
I like to save money whenever I can but it's not the most important thing in life.
One of the reasons I like to save money at Xmas is so that I can give people MORE for the same budget, not so that I can pocket the savings.