How much do you spend on your mum at Christmas?

BitterAndTwisted

To Mums it's often not the value of the present it's the thought that went into it/them. My dear old Ma would have been happy with absolutely anything or nothing at all once we had her grandchildren to buy for. Some of her most prized items were ones which were cheaper than cheap but completely appropriate. Things even she didn't know she wanted or needed. We put a lot of time and effort into it and that's what she valued.

littlerat

My Mum died when I was 14, but if she was alive and money was the same as it is now, it'd probably be £10-15 (I currently spend around £15 on my dad but would probably have to cut back a bit). But if money was better I'd probably spend more if there was something she wanted.

teacherandmum

adults (mum,dad,brother, sister, BIL...) get around £20
This year mum mum (62) is having a panto ticket, Cath kidston lunch boxes for work, gardening gloves and scarf. its just over the £20 .

Person_one

Emmzi wrote: »

I sepnd whatever the thing that will make her happy costs. sometimes that's a tenner, once it was £500. We don't really measure our relationship in cash.

Neither do I with my mum, unfortunately for me though, the companies I pay my bills too do measure things in cash so I have to adjust accordingly.

My budget varies according to what I can afford, a few years ago when I had a decent job I would spend about £50-75, this year I'm a broke student so it'll be £15-20.

The same amount of thought will go into the selection though and that's what really matters.

OP, if you can afford it, its not anyone else's business what you choose to spend your money on, we all have our different priorities and relationships.

claire16c

Im the same age as you and my mum is also mid 50s. I usually think Ill spend about £30 on an xmas pressie for her, but it often ends up being more around £50 upwards because I see things I think shed like. Also we often do a joint present for her and my dad which usually costs around £75-100, and then Ill add in a couple of small things for each of them. So yeah it probably ends up double what I start out thinking!

Person_one

*max* wrote: »

I never understood this habit of valuing a present by its cost. So many people say "I spend £20 on him, I'm buying her a £50 present". What does it matter how much it cost? It's the actual item that counts, and how much the person wanted it/will appreciate it?

I never start off by thinking "I'm going to spend £50, now what can I get for that?". I start off by thinking "What will they like (within reason obviously)? Ok, now how much does that cost?". If it's £10, that's fine. If it's £50 or £100, that's fine too as long as I can afford it. If I can't, I will just think of something else.

Well, it makes it easier to plan and budget.

I decide how much I can afford for each person and then do my research to find the best result I can for that amount.

Sometimes I find amazing bargains such as my SIL's designer handbag for £30 off ebay. If I'd done it your way around there's no way I'd have thought 'Ok, SIL likes designer bags, so I'll get her one regardless of cost'!

Spendless

Around £30ish. Doesn't it depend on your income and expenditure though? We are a family of 4, 2 adults, 2 kids kept by mainly my DH's wage. I work p-time and my money paid for 'extras' but I am to lose my job at Christmas when my workplace closes. Out of mainly 1 pay packet supporting 4 of us we buy for
Mum x 2
Dad X 2
Nan x 2
Neice x 2
Nephew
Godson
Plus a token gesture for an aunt and an uncle (box of biscuits/bottle of beer) who buy for our kids
as well as
son
daughter
and me and hubby buying a present to each other.

rachbc

we only do token gifts for adults in my family - my parents have each suggest a book they would like and I have seen a scarf I know my mum will like. Unfortunately OH's family have different views and have asked for a digital camera, food processor, le crueset pan, and apple TV player in the last few years!

summerof0763

i will spend the same on mine as she spends on me

*max*

Person_one wrote: »

Well, it makes it easier to plan and budget.

I decide how much I can afford for each person and then do my research to find the best result I can for that amount.

Sometimes I find amazing bargains such as my SIL's designer handbag for £30 off ebay. If I'd done it your way around there's no way I'd have thought 'Ok, SIL likes designer bags, so I'll get her one regardless of cost'!

But see, to find that handbag, you must have searched for the item on Ebay in the first place, without knowing how much you would find one for. This is what I do too! Only then if I can't find the item I want at a price I can afford, I'll start thinking of something else they might like and would likely be cheaper.

What I can't understand is people who will think of the price first, and the present second. I'm having trouble explaining myself today, forgive me...lol

Edit: see the post above this one for example!