If you have an only-teen how much do you spend on them at Christmas?

[nappyaddict]

My friend is wondering if 50 quid is stingy now her DD is older. They have a family income of about 40k.

[CherryMonster]

i would say that is stingy yes. my family income is less than half of that and i spend at least double that amount on each of my 4 children. but thats me, i do love to be overgenerous at christmas because i dont have a large family who all buy for my kids so i like to make sure they have plenty.

[GetOrfMoiCarbsClaire]

Christ, I spend about a grand (Christmas and birthday as dd has a December birthday).

But I am SOOO not the type of person who knits a scarf and frugally spends undr £20 on presents at Christmas. Conspicuous consumption all the way here (I can afford it, have a high household income and never get into debt btw).

[upahill]

Normally we spend about £500 on each.
Before anyone kicks off at me and tells me that is ridiculas I get the boys clothes they want which last a good way into the following year and the next autumn so it saves me money and they usually get equipment (bikes and the like) that I have in the past ended up buying as a 'just because'

ATM we can afford it. If we didn't have the money I would not put myself in debt and would cut my clothe accordingly.

[twinklytroll]

My dd is ten, so not teen yet. Our Household income is higher and I imagine that is what we would spend on her, we spend less now usually.

[MrsRobertDuvall]

Ooh is the first "how much do we spend on dcs at Xmas thread?"
I only buy for dh, and 2 dcs.
No one else
I spend about £250 on the kids - they are 12 and nearly 15.
And about £200 on dh.
No crappy secret santas/ boots 3 for 2 here......no buying for nephews/nieces/brothers/sisters.
Spend what you can afford....never go into debt for Xmas.

[GetOrfMoiCarbsClaire]

God yes why the hell am in a christmas thread when we haven't even had August bank holiday yet!

[littlemagic]

Nappyaddict how old is ur friends DD? I set a budget of 150 on each of my two kids. But usually nearer 250 each. I have a lower wage income than ur friends and never get in debt. X

[tigerlillyd02]

My ds will be 2 this year but his list comes to around £400. This will be split with his birthday though as that's the end of Oct. I'll just pick a few of those I've already bought and give them him for his bday instead of xmas. It does seem a lot given his age but he doesn't get to play with everything all at once - I put most up and get them out during the year so he always has something new to occupy him.

[EssentialFattyAcid]

£50 is not much, but it depends on what her dd wants/needs and how much they spend on her during the rest of the year really. Our household income is more than your friend's but it surely depends on her personal financial committments how much she has left to spend on her dd.

I spend between £250 and £500 at christmas on my dd, depending on what we are getting her - £500 was when we bought her a laptop. Dp and I don't buy expensive presents for each other at christmas but I like there to be a bit of a wow factor for dd, mainly because I had very little as a child.

My dd would be happy with a lot less as she is not particularly materialistic and struggles to come up with a list of what she would like for christmas/ birthdays. This birthday she has asked for books and dvds when pushed to come up with something, but doesn't have a clue which ones she would like...so we won't be spending much on her this birthday!

[oksonowwhat]

I used to spend an absolute fortune on christmas for my children. Since i've been on my own obviously its been harder.

I would like to spend about £200 each on them this year, they are all teenagers. I know they would like Hollister/Abercrombie, Benefit make up, Bags for the girls, Topshop clothes, all that sort of stuff that doesn't come cheap. Tbh £200 each doesn't get much of that!!

I am going to have to put in loads of overtime if i think i am going to be able to afford that by Christmas!

[crazynanna]

£200 (age 13). Would be more if their were two of us.

[crazynanna]

there bloody chuffing hell

[insanityscatching]

For us it depends on what they want/need I suppose. This year ds will have an Ipad but last year his main present was a psp. Last year dd had a new laptop this year she wants a kindle. We don't really have a budget and it varies year to year and child to child.None of them keep a tally on what has been spent on them as they all know that they get what they want/need when they want/need it.

[mumtotherescue]

We have two teenager DD's. We don't exactly set an amount, but it is roughly £200 each. Usually a present for about £100.00 off their wish list then a good £100.00 plus on surprises e.g clothing/perfume/pj's/facial and hair products. The girlie stuff. They are always pleased with their surprises. I have ask our DD's if they would prefer to choose their present and they both said NO, they like the surprises. So i must be doing something right ! They are 14 and 16. They get plenty from family and friends too. Birthdays we spend about £50.00.

[NotQuiteSoDesperate]

Two DSs - one 21 the other 19. So spending lots to support DS2 at Uni. DS1 has ASD and is unable to work. Similar household income to OP. We spend about £50 on each for birthdays and Christmas. Obviously, have spent a lot more throughout the year on other things for them.

We are always pretty frugal with presents and they have grown up very undemanding. They have both from a very young age saved up for special things - such as a Playstation etc., years ago. DS2 bought his first one when he was about 8 - saved up all his birthday and Christmas money for a couple of years, which we topped up.

We do, however, have savings accounts for them which we still add to when ever we can.

[NotQuiteSoDesperate]

I must say I am astounded at the amount the rest of you are spending on your DCs!

Better not tell mine :)

[nappyaddict]

Go on NQSD :)

I think it tends to go down once they reach 16/18 and start getting part time jobs, have uni costs to be paid for etc. I know my mum started spending much less on us once we left school because we had jobs and bought our own things.

I think friend's DD is somewhere between 13 and 15 but not 100% sure.

[wornoutbutstillwonderful]

ds1(13) I am looking at about £350, I will try to stick to this but I find it hard as christmas gets closer.

[justcallmemummypig]

Not Quite So Desperate i think every family is different, for instance my children never get any birthday/christmas money as we have very little family, so don't have an opportunity to save up. I do think it's a shame as i used to love going out to spend my money when i was young.

We spend around £100 each on them at xmas but then they are 6 and 3, and i'm sure as they get older it will go up, but they get very few family presents soit's not as if they get lots from elsewhere too.

[NotQuiteSoDesperate]

justcallmemummypig Sorry, I didn't mean to sound judgemental - I was simply a bit shocked! Yes, we have few family members now and anyway we have a family agreement that birthday and Christmas presents for other people's kids stop with a big pressie at 18. So, now ours only get stuff from us anyway. But, as I said, they are very expensive now with Uni costs etc!

[justcallmemummypig]

no don't worry :) I just meant it's not always possible for them to save.

I guess we will have to start giving pocket money at some point then they can save that. What age does pocket money tend to start?

[gillybean2]

Is the £50 for one present or does it include xmas stocking and all?
Seems a bit stingy to me even if it is for one main present plus more spent on other bits and I am on a quarter of the income you quote for your friend.

What kind of thing/s do they get for £50?

Ds usually gets a game for his nintendo ds and his wii. That comes to over £50 before I even get anything for his stocking or anything else!

Does their dc get lots of other things during the year instead? I tend to buy very little during the year and ds gets it for birthday and xmas instead. He also gets clothes (socks & pants in stocking, new pj's etc) which 'saves' me having to buy it during the year on top.

[twinklytroll]

I can't believe that £50 is seen as stingy it is a lot of money .

[forevergreek]

I think the money comparison in terms of income etc.. does really work

eg: if you live in central london 30k income- it would be hard to rent an ok 1 bed flat a year and feed family

30k in many other areas of the uk goes a lot further as the rent is 1/3 -1/4 of the price.

Spending at x-mas here varies according to age and need. So if it gets to a year where we think they are getting to old for current toys, then that your will be more of a splurge than others

[nappyaddict]

That is true forevergreek. Also some people stretch themselves and have quite a large mortgage to save moving 2 or 3 times before they get to their ideal house. Or they spend a considerably amount on activities, doing things and holidays rather than material things. So even though they might have a comfortable family income there may not actually be that much spare left over.