How much do you spend on each of your kids at Yule/Xmas.

kbl

Spendaholic_Chick wrote: »

Trouble is, as they get older, things are more expensive and smaller in size (i.e. ps2 games) so you tend to spend more cos it doesn't look much!

Hi, been reading this thread tonight and am prob repeating a lot of you already, but I also feel guilty about the size of the presents. My son only ever wants ps2 games and anything to do with football, so last year I got around that by getting him two current games he really wanted (almost at full price) and shopped in the preowned section in Smyths and Game. I managed to get him another six games for £20 that were just as good. Only thing is tho, check out the preowned section asap as from now on, the gaming shops will stop displaying them until after xmas day itself.

BigMummaF

I have always indulged the offspring more for their birthdays, because I have only had one to pay out for at a time that way.Granted there is more choice around closer to christmas, but even so I agree that they remember the gifts that were really thought about more than the latest 'must-haves' of the time.

Stockings were filled with decent underwear & comical socks, because they had plain stuff from the market all year round, & also character toothbrushes to replace the bargain family packs! A few sweeties & pencils plus a bag of their favourite lexia raisins from the scoop & weigh were added to stuff I would have had to buy anyway.

It was easier I guess just having the three, because I've only ever bought one advent calendar to encourage sharing & emphasise 'waiting your turn'. Every evening, we have the 'Parade of the Chocolate' where everyone has to see the pic on the choc & in the calendar before it can be eaten:rotfl:
Perhaps having a larger family, you could get those everlasting advent calendars[or better still, make one yourself], & have a bag of pick & mix to hand so they still have to share. Or what about little 'promises' of all the boys can choose the film today; all those with even number birthdays decide what's for tea; everyone older than 12 can stay up an extra half hour.......a simple tree shape, with 24 little pockets & a bit of thought.

Now they are in their 20s, we have set a limit to £20 per person, & looking at a 'secret santa' type thing for next year, so someone could possibly get a satnav or similar. But it's still the silly little things that mean the most.

I hope you all have a safe, warm & peaceful christmas-time. BMFx

hobbesy_2

It is 2 and a half years since we started out debt management plan and started to get our life back on track. We still have very little spare funds as we regularly review and up our repayments. I'm quite lucky as our kids will still only be 2 and 4 this year so don't expect these big things everyone warns me about. We always spend about 50-60 each I'd say in total. A main present at around 40 plus loads of little bits for the other 20. This year we've had a splurge selling on ebay and getting some money together but they are still having the same amount spent on presents, but we'll be celebrating christmas at pontins. My four year old can't wait! We went on one of the cheap breaks earlier in the year with friends and family with us and the kids all had a fantastic time

We'll also take part in all the local free activities we can, including checking out all the local mad christmas lights on people's houses. I'm quite lucky in that I get paid to do christmas stuff for the second year running. I'm a singer and will be working on the local radio station's roadshows for some of their christmas light switch ons

Keri -x-

Oh I should add we also spend about 20 pounds each year on a present or two for whichever local scheme is running (children's hospice, social services, etc). The eldest has got very into helping me find the present, wrapping it, etc. I think its very important for him to know how lucky he is. And it also gives him an idea of what things cost, which will hopefully be helpful in the future when that expensive present list comes!

foxy-lady

ktflosspot wrote: »

:j How lucky am I !!! I dont spend anything on my kids coz Santa brings it all !!!!!!!!!!!:j

Not really ! My 2 ds write a list of 3 items that they really want and post it to Santa, they know that they will get ONE of the items but not which one.
I aim not to spend "an amount" but to get something that they really want and fill up with stuff from the sales and poundland .
Last year the 2 main presents ( 1 each) came to a total of £95 with about another £30 in fillers each so about £75 each child . Reading through some of the posts I feel a right tight fisted so&so now!

My neice however gets EVERYTHING on her list from my brother and sil and last year got a tv/dvd psp & xbox 360 !!!!!

ds2's list last year consisted of
1 power rangers dvd
2 mp3 player
3 shrek selection box

So I suppose I am lucky that none of the items were too expensive I could have bought all 3 items (he got the mp3 player )but its fantastic christmas morning to see the anticipation as they open their prezzies to see what Santa has brought from their list.

Oh & to get them to bed Christmas Eve ( sorry it is going off on a tangent)
Santas Elves deliver pyjamas whilst we are sprinkling reindeer dust in the back garden and as soon as the pyjamas have arrived it is bath and bed time !!!!!!

I can remember getting a 'clip round the earhole' one christmas morning when i was about 10. When i opened my presents I cried because i hadn't received a 'flower fairy'- cost about £10. My parents had bought me a casio keyboard and a 2nd hand tv for my bedroom. There were 4 of us and we used to take turns having the 'big' present. This year i had been given 2- but all i had begged for was the flower fairy. I was sent upstairs to 'think'.

xx

jamtart6

Just read this thread and wanted to say that no one is mean/tight/overindulgent/any thing else you think of yourselves!

I've been really lucky at Christmas and birthdays and have understood from a young age that there is no point in buying something for the sake of it, this year for example, cant think of anything i want so will get a few token gifts, next year i might ask for money for a laptop which is in a completely different price league.

The point im trying to make is, a lot of people who over indulge their kids, can often teach them the value of money at the same time. My mum n dad wouldnt spend money if they didnt have it, but because they did and I did get lots for xmas most years, one would be labelled as spoilt, and "going over the top". Who are these people to have an opinion on how and when my parents spend their money? We would never ever look at someone who had spent £10 on a child for Christmas and think that they were being tight or mean, because fundamentally MONEY is not what christmas is about and everyone has the right to choose how much they want to spend and should never feel like they need to keep up with the Joneses! The best xmas's Ive ever had are the ones with the memories - I can't remember what I got when I was 8 but I can remember things that happened that xmas!

So i think all im saying is that we shouldnt judge any one for spending more/less at Christmas and no one should feel bad about anything, because christmas is a time for cheer

pigpen

My 5 year old wants a fluffy teddy bear and a bag of chocolate coins this year.. she said she would like a kitten but as Santa doesn't bring animals we could get her one for her birthday!! lol

I have 8 children to buy for... I spend about £100-£150 each on mine.

I get each of them 1 big present then 2-3 smaller ones and a heap of books and a few stocking fillers

I don't do things with 'bits' of hoover food.

haylibo

I have four kids and my eldest wants a mac book which she has got but the one of the middle ones wanted a bike (£50 for 20" one searching through the deals on here) and a book all about penguins which I've found at bookworld I think it's called for £5.99. I usually get two biggies or main pressies but not by intention, it's simply that mine have tended to have the same couple of toys requested throughout nov/dec. They throw in lots of other requests too but I go with the ones which get repeat mentions... and a nice stocking each. I usually buy a couple of joint pressies such as board games which no one would be thrilled to receive but which get a good family playing on Christmas day such as a cheap game of kids charades.
We don't have to be careful what we spend at christmas I have to say but I it's important to me that the kids aren't swamped and that the day is about the fun, the food (my fave part of the day) and family.

aaroncaz

I tend to spend abt £250 on my son, and £100 on hs birthday, which is December 29th, this may sound alot, but there is really not many other presents coming his way!! Ok, this year my brother has brought him 2 DS games,but besides my mom, who usually gives him £50 for both birthday and Xmas, this is it!! Also this year, he wants a Nintendo DS, which with one game, was over £100!! And thats just 1 present!! I do thnk if he was going to get lots of other presents from ppl, I wouldn't spend so much, also I'm a single mom, and he father has NEVER brought him one present:mad:

gargoyle

I went a bit overboard last year and spent about £300 on my DD, this year it will not be nearly as much as OH is not working. She's 7 and has asked for a few DS games and some clothes. We've got other bits using money we've saved on shopping via coupons and carbooting, so they'll be a nice surprise. But she always gets alot more for birthday as it's in March so January sales come in very handy.

jamtart6

i also meant to add - we spend a lot on each other in my main family (mum dad grandad and OH) and a few friends (token gifts) and stopped doing the extended family when us kids were about 13/14 so no expense outside of the family really.