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

mandarinduck

I don't have children but my partner and I are very childlike at heart sometimes and last year I went way overboard (about £600). He never asks for anything so I spent a lot of money on things I thought he would like - then he dropped a huge hint about wanting - of all things - lightsabers (best not to ask).

I felt so guilty that it was the first time in 5 years that he had actually dropped a hint that I bought them anyway and blew the budget. Luckily, we could afford it but it still makes me grimace a bit. That said though, he doesn't really want anything all year round, whereas I regularly top up my wardrobe and buy books, so I like to splurge on him.

Thank goodness for no kids - we'd be broke! This year, a £50-100 limit has been set.

Amarillo

I spend about £30 on a main present for each of them and then about the same again for stocking fillers which I usually buy in the January sales.

We could afford to spend more and have done this in the past, but found that they don't play with things or appreciate them properly. I have trouble with my Dad who comes laden with presents but finally have got through to him that I would rather they had one or two presents that they will play with and appreciate properly then bags full of stuff that inevitably falls apart after a play or two , or gets chucked in the corner.

I think it is really important that they don't get everything they want and that sometimes they have to make choices. It is hard to do this when they are surrounded by friends who get every single thing they want, but I am standing my ground as I know that long term they will benefit from this.

aaroncaz

Last year I spent abt £250 on xmas, and £100 on my sons birthday, which is the 29th December:eek: but found some of the toys he hardly played with! He is 7, this year he wants a nintendo, which is abt a £100, so much on one pressie, and the games!! Even if he gets it, i will be spending less this year.

benbenandme

I spend about £50 on ds for his birthday and £50 for xmas. I also do a stocking for him at xmas which is filled with bits I've picked up in the sales or from mystery shops during the year. It doesn't sound much compared to everyone else on here but he is only 4 and he gets spoilt rotten when he goes to his Dads. I can't compete with him financially but I want ds to understand the value of money and appreciate what he has. I know it will get harder as he gets older and peer pressure kicks in but for now its more than enough, theres nothing he wants or hasn't got so it just seems daft to spend more and more on him.

sukysue

I spend about £300 each xmas and £150 each for birthdays.DD 2 did well this year with her ears pierced £22 pound from Claire's (daylight robbery)new mobile 75 . games and clothes.btw I bought them both nintendo's last year and they have been used so much they love them. I have never regretted buying them.

sara1980

i can't believe how much some of you spend for birthdays & xmas. my 2 oldest get £100-£150 tops @ xmas and the youngest gets about £75 normally, i know it's unfair but he's only 2 & doesn't know any different yet & it's his birthday on 7th Jan.
I spend about £50-£60 on birthdays for the older 2 & about £30 for the youngest.

Debt_Free_Chick

Remember that different people have different "means". A £1,000 might not be much to someone who earns £100k, but £100 could be a small fortune to someone who earns very little or relies on benefits. So the amounts are not so important, if they are what can be afforded without getting in to debt.

(Last year our neighbour reckons he spent £3k on his two kids - in addition to 3 or 4 holidays abroad!!!!) :eek:

astonsmummy

I'll probably spend about £100 on the boy this year, he'll be 3 and a half by then so really into it so got to push the boat out a bit!

Lillibet_2

We spend £85 on our 2YO at Xmas, £15 on his stocking (although this year I have almost filled it for 27p thanks to lots of good freebies:D), out of the remaining £70, £20 is spent on adopting/sponsoring an endangered species animal in his name & £40 on a Sworviski Xmas decoration (which holds it's value;)), the remaining £10 on one good toy which this year is a Vtech fly & learn globe. We don't go overboard at Xmas as it's really important to us that he learns that Xmas is about so much more than just the presents. We ask other people to be senisble at Xmas too & just buy him token gestures or else put money in his trust fund.
However, his birthday is HIS special day, he gets a good £50 of toys from us (this year I valued them at over £100 but paid a lot less thanks to canny shopping). Oh an this year he got 2 birthdya parties too! One for toddlers & one for family!

sukysue

I know it seems a lot but when they were much younger I could get away with much less, now they are teenagers they want really expensive games and consoles .This year they want a b****Y laptop!!!!