Spill the beans..

moomoomama27

pinklipy wrote: »

Well...... I am actually extremely shocked at how little some of you manage to spend on your kids at Xmas, I don't know how you manage it at all. Iv spent roughly around £500 on my 4 year old so far and have about another £100 to spend so in totall £600, and that includes me cutting back from previous years. I also do not include clothes as Xmas/birthday presents as I don't really see that as presant to a 4 year old, just my opinion.
Have about 10 nieces/nephews who all get about £10-£15 each apart from 1 who is very special and gets £100 on her. Other family members are all around £20 (7 of them) then my sister who is about £100. In saying that though I spend very little on myself throughout the year. As children we had a fortune spent on us but we have turned out well and in no way spoiled. I also was of the belief that you get your kids practically everything from the Argos catalogue or where ever else at Xmas as you can't say no. We also will spend the same at birthdays and at Easter maby around £150.

What do you class as little?

I class £600 as alot, and I think I'd struggle to spend that on things they'd want, unless it was a larger item, like a laptop!

The amount of money you spend does not mean you love your child more or less than someone spending more or less!

As for the bolded, you may want to reevaluate that! Your post comes across as very spoiled to me!

pinklipy

I find it strange that you would bring love into the equation when I never even mentioned it all, nor would I. spending more or less money on your children certainly does not equate to how much you love your child. Sounds like you feel guilty.
I class £50 as little but Im not judging anyone I was simply answering the original question.
I am certainly not spoiled either and work hard for my money, maby I feel guilty for working so spend extra.

pinklipy

Also, my original post said I was shocked how some people manage to only spend a little, was not insulting anyone. If I could get away with only spending £50 I would! But she would be gutted on Xmas day and prob think she'd done something wrong. I'd be lucky to get 2 prezzie's for £50 even with offers, or maby she just has expensive taste for a 4 year old lol!

moomoomama27

pinklipy wrote: »

I find it strange that you would bring love into the equation when I never even mentioned it all, nor would I. spending more or less money on your children certainly does not equate to how much you love your child. Sounds like you feel guilty.
I class £50 as little but Im not judging anyone I was simply answering the original question.
I am certainly not spoiled either and work hard for my money, maby I feel guilty for working so spend extra.

You're right you dodn;t say, but that's the tone I got from your post, rightly or wrongly!

I don't feel guilty one bit. I spend about £200 per child (I have 3), plus I get stockings, and then we have a family treat, so I think I spend a good amount, in some peoples eyes too much, no doubt!

I just think by saying you are shocked, it implys that people don't spend enough!

To me it's not about the money, it's about the quality, it's about the happiness.

I would not set a budget and then have to buy things to meet it.

If I could get away with only spending £50 I would! But she would be gutted on Xmas day and prob think she'd done something wrong.

To me that is an example of a spoilt attitude. A child being gutted if they only had £50 spent on them. It becomes monetary, and loses the purpose IMV.

saidan

pinklipy - what on earth do you find to buy at easter for £150?......i'm genuinely asking as i can't figure out what you might buy for that?

my boys get a £3 egg usually or one in a cup for a £ - as we don't give them sweets/chocolate except as a massive treat they are thrilled!

saidan

Lunar_Eclipse

samphe wrote: »

There's been costs of £10-£1000 per child quoted.
None are wrong or right. It depends on what you can afford.

Great thread! Really interesting.

I think it can depend on much more than what people can afford to spend though and what we spend isn't really based on what we can afford (although we do only spend what we can afford.) We choose to spend about £100 on our children for Christmas. We could spend more, but I think most children have an inverse correlation between their enjoyment of Xmas and the amount of gifts/money spent on them. Less is often more. Frankly, my kids have far too much stuff already.

I have two girls aged 10 and 11. The 11 year old has asked for the soon to be released Harry Potter DVD, a book, a calculator for school and a set of fine tipped pens. The youngest hasn't asked for anything, but is always thrilled with what she finds.

We spend approximately £40-50 on their stocking (from Santa) and the same again on gifts from us under the tree. We usually buy them 3 gifts, which will include a gingerbread house kit (hoorah for consummables!), a bundle of books (4/5) each and one other item each (tbc) this year.

Lunar_Eclipse

mandlou wrote: »

I am going about it the other way around this year - I made a list of what my 3 kids (13,6,2 by christmas) wanted/needed and then went about working out which of those things we could afford or how we could afford them.

I work this way round too.

I basically buy them things they'd like and use and it works out to around £100 from us & Santa.

I also don't pad gifts out with everyday shampoo, deodorant & pants, although a pair of Christmassy socks seems to always sneak into their stockings. I don't want to make it look like they've got loads (which it does anyway), but that what they have they'll love.

Lunar_Eclipse

savingmonkey wrote: »

Aw! My 3 year old wants a yo-yo for Christmas and some chocolate!

Brilliant! And long may that last.

I think if you don't hand them the Argos catalogue & ask them to make a Christmas list (that has got to be asking for trouble), then you'll probably find their requests don't become too outrageous.

CFC

toontron wrote: »

You may think my kids are spoiled at Christmas but you would be wrong, they are actually spoiled all year round, so they are not suddenly bombarded on 25th December every year, as for it being a lot, that I would suppose depends on an individuals general standard of living.

Even worse if you do it all year round.

pinklipy

moomoomama:

I hardly think she is "spoiled" and think you are being rather harsh, but if for the last 4 years she has came down to a couch full of presents wether that be for Xmas or birthday then this year she comes down to 2 presents, then of course she's going to wonder what's going on, and that is through no fault of her own.
I don't think you get a lot for your ££ and 4 of her gifts alone add up to £300 so if I spend another £200-£300 on other toys then that's fine. Also if you spend £200 on each child and they get 10 gifts each and I spend £500-£600 and my child gets 10 then surely your children are just as "spoiled" as mine?
I am due baby no2 in the new year so next Xmas my budget will not be doubled it will be split between the 2 or put up slightly to £700 between 2.

Saiden:

At Easter it's prob more around £120, last year the Easter bunny got her a bike £70, 2 toys £35, then some eggs and craft things £15.
We got this (prob more) as children so it has obviously rubbed off on us also as my sister spends the same.