How much do you spend at Xmas on kids?

csh_2

Dumbe wrote: »

Sorry but you bought a laptop, blackberry ds and 3d ds for a one year old? Seriously

the age looks like a typo as I don't think a 1 yr old needs ear rings smellies and boots as bits and bobs. Also it does say previous years when listing other large gifts.

FBaby

I probably spend about £200 on each BUT, a lot of the presents they get are things that I would otherwise buy them the rest of the year, such as clothing, underwear, socks, pyjamas, books, things they need for their bedroom. It is just more fun to hold it and give it to them as presents to open. I have always done so, so they actually do get excited about them!

They then also get a couple, or few things from their lists (depending on the price). The ratio of what is spent on them in relation to our income is quite low compared to the average but I wouldn't want to spend more even if as a whole, they tend to get less than most their friends do (never got the latest gadget).

monty-doggy

Interesting thanks for the replies. I asked because I think £200 each is a lot of money and we want to scale it back and have a family holiday next year.

I won't feel at all guilty about spending a bit less now!

Spendless

monty-doggy wrote: »

Interesting thanks for the replies. I asked because I think £200 each is a lot of money and we want to scale it back and have a family holiday next year.

I won't feel at all guilty about spending a bit less now!

My friend couldn't afford the same amounts for her kids presents last year that they'd been used to as unknown to them she's booked a holiday to Florida for this summer. What she did was had little cards made up in velvet bags that were amongst their Xmas presents that read when opened <Child's name> you are going to Disneyworld. I think she got them on either pinterest or ebay, but they could also be
homemade.

tazzyb

This will be my second Christmas with a little one. Last year I spent £250 on presents then a further £80 for his Birthday which is the 12th of Jan.

From friends and family I asked for clothes in the next size up for his birthday. Over half of the presents he received were put away and I have brought them out over the year.

This year I have been doing mystery visits at a toy store and putting the items I bought aside. The value of these plus the extra I buy will be around £350.

Looking to spend around £80 again for his birthday then have a little party which will cost around £100 including the cake.

I love Christmas and know I spend a lot but I love giving presents. I spend what I can afford and do not get myself in debt.

All year I save my nectar points towards the xmas food and have a change jar to pay for the rest.

I

2gorgeousgirls

I have two girls, 14 and 12.

Even as babies I would have had a budget of £150 for Christmas which, looking back now, was ridiculous. I was buying stuff I knew they wouldn't use because I had to spend the budget - crazy.

For the last few years, the Santa list has been for things like DS, phone, tablets so the cost has risen to maybe £250 each

This year I have a budget for £300 each. Can't say what they are getting as they may read this.

Based on my experience, I would say buy as little as possible when they are young because it really doesn't take much to please a young child.

mummyroysof3

I spent about £450 last year between the 3 of them. I am aiming for less this year as they are all having their bedrooms decorated between now and then too. I'm deffo cutting out the little bits and bobs of junk this year and trying to buy less items but better stuff. Eldest 2 have a Nintendo 3ds each and a game so far as I got them on tesco boost with a good saving.

Lieja

I have no children myself, but OH has an 8 year old daughter and this topic always causes issues at Christmas time! His ex spends easily at least £400 on her, and her grandma spends the same again. She also gets gifts almost every week of the year, whether it's something she's asked for or not, as there's quite a lot of money floating around the family and they seem a little shopping obsessed.

This means that it makes no difference at all how much we spend on her at Xmas, because it could be a £10 present or a £1000 present and she'd still unwrap it with the same look of boredom on her face. I've literally never seen a child look so uninterested in unwrapping presents! It's quite sad actually. The adults get much more excited in our house!

Carmina-Piranha_2

Lieja wrote: »

I have no children myself, but OH has an 8 year old daughter and this topic always causes issues at Christmas time! His ex spends easily at least £400 on her, and her grandma spends the same again. She also gets gifts almost every week of the year, whether it's something she's asked for or not, as there's quite a lot of money floating around the family and they seem a little shopping obsessed.

This means that it makes no difference at all how much we spend on her at Xmas, because it could be a £10 present or a £1000 present and she'd still unwrap it with the same look of boredom on her face. I've Figuratively never seen a child look so uninterested in unwrapping presents! It's quite sad actually. The adults get much more excited in our house!

I know households that go shopping every weekend, like a hobby. I don't understand it myself, but then I have boys who would rather stick pins in their eyes than be dragged around shops.

I wonder if the little girl might be more interested in a board game? Family time spent playing uno is always more fun for my boys than shopping.

Carmina-Piranha_2

happycomper22 wrote: »

My son is nearly 4, usually we spend around £200. Me and his dad are separated so we contribute £100 each towards "santa" presents. For birthdays we give £50 each. I rarely buy toys throughout the year so its not too bad. In late nov/ early dec I also have a clear out of his old toys for the charity shop.


This year he is getting a tablet as he did get the leap pad last year but its far too expensive buying apps etc when you can get free games/ apps on the normal tablets so overall it will save money (I hope) although I do admit I worry with that one present being expensive it will look like he has got very little? I'm sure hes far too young to think like that though.

I think he is too young to be disappointed by the number of presents, don't worry