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

annie123

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

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.

I disagree.

I spend on average £125 to £175 each on 17 and 25 year old students which I feel is enough. Yes we could afford more, but what examples are we giving them?
10 years ago was around £50 less each.
Children need to learn that everything you want in life does not come to you.
If I brought everything my DD wanted last year would have come to over a thousand.:eek: They have never turned round and said..not fair so and so got..xyz .. I didn't.

Christmas is a time for showing love, affection, thanking friends for being there when needed etc, not for standing up and saying I want or I got.

As many mse on this site will tell you that some of the nicest pressies received are home made or small tokens and I dont see why children should be treated any different from adults.

When mine were small they made home made bicuits or sweets etc to give as presents and receive many home made pressies themselves.

We could spend a lot more on pressies but why? I am not buying love and affection, I do not feel a less loved/liked because they do not get everything they would like over the years.

Yes when they are small they want lots of things to unwrap...not a problem it doesn't have to cost much.

We do not want children growing up feeling that they can have what ever they want....(often not touched after a few weeks).....think of the shock when they are adults!

Are we creating the 'adults in debt' of the future because they do not know any other way than want it now!

longest post I have ever written, sorry had to get it off my chest.

Debt_Free_Chick

annie123 wrote: »

I disagree.

I spend on average £125 to £175 each on 17 and 25 year old students which I feel is enough. Yes we could afford more, but what examples are we giving them?

Personally, I agree entirely. Actually, I think more than £100 is too much - my partner and I commit to spending no more than £50 on eachother at Christmas and nothing for birthdays. His is at the end of Nov and mine at the end of Jan, so we're brassic anyway! :rotfl:

But others get alarmed at big money thinking they are being "tight" or depriving their kids - for all we know, that "big money" could be a drop in the ocean to someone who earns a shed-load.

I might disagree with such extravagant expense, but it's not for me to tell those who have the money how to spend it

dlb

I have 4 kids, they get approx £280 each for xmas and £50 for birthdays.
This may sound like alot and we are by no means on a larger wage (dh on about 12k ayear)
But my kids have nothing else through out the year and they really look forward to xmas as they know it is the one time in the year that if they want something `big` that they may get it.
It is hard throughout they year when their friends get £200 plus spent on them at birthday and get treats throughout they year. But it is worth all the moaning that they cant have, when on xmas morning they see what they have got.
This year the 3 boys have asked for psps but are convinced they wont get them (they are already wrapped up and hid!!) cant wait to see their faces.
I do buy as much stuff 2nd hand as possible on ebay ect so that £280 spent on each may only be face value, but the kids think they have had the world.

Mrs7ones

We have 3 kids, 15,10 and 6..... and spend around £400 each for christmas, and £100 each for birthdays.
I KNOW this is a lot of money, BUT none of it is on credit - I save for christmas, and pick up 3 for 2 offers etc where I can. Plus, I pride myself in being able to say that my kids do not get presents through the year just for the sake of it - I do not fall pray to any pestering for new stuff - they understand that they have to wait till christmas/birthdays for anything new they want.
So, considering that, I don't think £400 is unreasonable at all.

knithappens

Personally if i could afford a little more i would, i say each to their own, it is a personal decision. This year i wanted to do things debt free, and last year i did pull in the reigns, but i still managed to over spend on food and other bits. Hopefully i wont this year.

Alikay

We spend £50 on their main present and about £15 each on filling their stockings - they are 18,16 and 13. Since we have a very small family they only get another £35-40 each in total from the other 3 gift buyers (always cash or vouchers). They still seem very happy, though, and if we can afford it we also buy a "family present" for us all to enjoy...last year it was a small LCD TV for the computer/games room, one year it was a karaoke machine, another year a couple of new board games, that sort of thing.

kj*daisy

So far have spent between £60 - £100 on each child at Christmas, but last year we spent more on DS as he got a DS Lite. This year I am thinking of getting a joint present which is about £100 and then a couple of £25-£30 things each and then some bits (which i have already got) So about £250 total between the 2. Family buy them loads so I try and keep it low or they have too much. We have unopened stuff upstairs from last year still. One of their grandmas buys a main pressie and loads of bits and I wish she would just get another bigger pressie as we end up with loads of bits and bobs everywhere. She wants them to have lots to open and I don't as they get overwhelmed.

TurnaroundSue

With my ds's games at christmas I have wrapped them in a different size boxes (if there is more than one) so it looks like he is getting more as the pile is bigger. I try to spend around £150 on each (DS 14 and DD 9) but never manage to keep it to this figure. That said, they don't get much at birthdays (around £30) and anything they want in the year they buy out of their own money - we very rarely buy them gifts throughout the year.

Last year in particular I was astounded by what their friends received for xmas - it was obscene and I know one of their friend's parents went into debt for it as well. My DS is desperate for his own pc but we have said that we will not be buying it for xmas and he will need to save his own money for one. My children are being brought up (hopefully) to learn the value of money and you have to work for what you want in this life - it is very rare that it is given on a plate and I know that they appreciate what they have, even though it might be hard at times.

Redbedhead

Wow - I am now frightened as to how much Christmas will cost when our baby arrives:rotfl:

I already have 5 nieces and nephews and this year have had to put a £20 limit on their Christmas presents as last year got silly and they all got nearly £50 each spent (and you can't spend more on one than the other etc!).

For their birthdays I have told their parents I will spend £25 on each (4 of the 5 birthdays are November/December) and would push that to £30 if I saw something fantastic.

It all mounts up though.

Lots of people seem to spend more on their kids for Christmas than on their birthdays, while I do it the other way round. I figure the birthday is something specific to the child and prefer to spend the money then.

TurnaroundSue

Redbedhead wrote: »

Wow - I am now frightened as to how much Christmas will cost when our baby arrives:rotfl:

Lots of people seem to spend more on their kids for Christmas than on their birthdays, while I do it the other way round. I figure the birthday is something specific to the child and prefer to spend the money then.

On our DS first christmas I bought him an outfit for £5.99 and I was amazed at how many comments I had about being tight. He was 5 months old at that time and didn't know what day it was so couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

I know what you mean about spending more on xmas than birthdays - I am one of them. I think you are right in that more should be spent on their birthday than xmas, but I think it is a case of not wanting them to feel left out. As previously mentioned my kids' friends get alot more than mine, but I still spend more at xmas than birthdays - don't know how to change that tho'.