christmas spend

[user1477260162]

Hi all, how micu do u spend on your child for christmas? x

[LovingLola]

One teenage dd here and one young adult ds. Ds heading abroad to study after Christmas for 6 months so will be giving him living expenses for 6 months in the local currency (flights and accomodation have been booked and paid for by us already).
About to get iPhone 7 for teenage dd.
Add in some bits and pieces so I would guess about £1,000 each.
When they were tots it would have been about £10 each for quite a while!

[user1477260162]

Thanks, felt rotten earlier..several parents discussing xmas, was asked about what my son wants, told them and two comments bade about the amount of money i spend. At the moment i have spent around £900 but that is a new mobie and custom scooter...still need to buy clothes, xbox games and stocking fillers.

[catsofa]

Wow, wish i had that much to spare! DS is only 18mo and I don't know what I'm getting him yet, but £900 is an entire months income for us!

[PutDownThatLaptop]

All of these things are very relative, as it depends on the age of the child and the household budget. I think it is best not to compare as there will always be people spending way more than you and people spending way less. The best thing is to manage your own child's expectations.
If you can afford it, and you want to spend it, you shouldn't feel judged, and similarly those who can't afford it shouldn't be made to feel inferior.
I have had two sets of children - the first born when every penny was a struggle and the last when it was not. I don't think that they would tell the Christmas experiences apart as I was a very savvy bargain hunter in my younger days,

[AndNowItsSeven]

I have 7dc spend approx £150 on the four oldest ( 17,12,5,4) £100 on the nearly 3 years olds and approx £60 on nearly 2 year old.
That's everything including stockings and Xmas pjs. A Santa trip for the five youngest is another £50 in total.

[user1477260162]

What annoyed me was i gave up smoking tosave money, i save every penny i can and rarely drink..those who commented smoke 20+ a day and are out every weekend without fail but say they struggle. I f was still smoking and went out all the time i could not do it but my priorities are different.

[flapjackfairy]

Surely what you spend your own money on is your own business! Take no notice and enjoy. Personally i have never spent that amount on any of my kids(i have 5) but that is my choice and i have chosen to help them out in other ways financially as they have got older.
Well done on giving up fags by the way. That shows where your priorities lie.

[Mindtrope]

Entirely depends on circumstance. I buy what they need or want. Usually around £500 each. Last year DD got a new iphone with a 2 year contract, so that gift alone cost £700.
Equally I have spent £60 in total and had delighted children.

[sonlypuppyfat]

These questions are all relative aren't they £500 pound spend would be a fortune to some but miserly if you are a professional footballer! Spend what you can afford children remember being happy and loved not what you've gone into debt to buy

[SillySongsWithLarry]

This year I have spent £140 on their main present (an electric scooter) and will spend another £20 or so on stocking fillers. I split the cost with their dad (non resident) so will be about £80 each. Most years I spend about £50 all in. The DCs never feel hard done by.

[lostlalaloopsy]

We will probably spend about £500 for our 3 dc. I have actually got the majority of it, just need to wait to see what Santa presents the older 2 want. The youngest is only 2 so she is easy to buy for!

I can imagine this budget having to grow every year!

[ftmsoon]

So far, I have spent £5 on DD and don't intend spending any more as will make some dolls' clothes for the rest of her present. I can't imagine ever spending £1000!!!! I wouldn't spend that much on Xmas in total, never mind on one person, and I don't drink or smoke either.
However, your spend is your choice; don't discuss it and people can't judge you.

[unicornsarenotjustforchristmas]

£100 on each dc. But we have 5. And we are "poor".
Spend as much as you want and can afford, and if that's £1k per child then go for it, just like if it's only £10 per child

[PoldarksBreeches]

Between £150-200 including all the bits like new pyjamas, advent calendar etc. He's only 8 so I am aware that things will get more expensive as he gets older but I would never spend £900. I spend another £150 on family gifts so it's already quite expensive for me.

[glenthebattleostrich]

I spend what I can afford. This year I've had a decent income (self employed) so will spend around £400, including days out, Santa present, stocking and advent calendar / treats.

About another £600 on presents for families and friends children and parents / dh.

[Pengweng]

Dts are four and I've spent about £100 each on them. That's only one biggish thing (rapunzel doll & a leap and roar kion), a new game each, pjs, some books, tub of hama beads and their stocking stuff. Plus some books and choc for the advent tree i made.

I imagine it will get more expensive as they get older. They are also getting cameras and some other bits from family.

[Bonnie152]

Feel really stingy having read this but I'm spending £50 on each of my DC (3.5 yr old and 2 yr old). Both of their birthdays are quite close to Christmas though so they don't get much else through the year so DH and I decided we would spend less at Christmas but then more throughout the year so they have new toys every so often.

I'm sure as they get older their wish lists will become more demanding!

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

Tbh I never think that threads like this are helpful.

What is the point in comparison when everyone's circumstances are different.

[Badders123]

I've found it does get more £££ as they get older
Ds1 is starting his gcse planning so we have bought a new laptop for dh and I but ds will use it most I think
DC are getting iPads and a few stocking fillers
We don't buy for adults though which helps
So I guess not much change from £1k

[Badders123]

And tbh op don't sweat it
I don't discuss it irl - I've found some
People are quite competitive about how little they spend
"Oh no! I found bobbys present in a skip under a dead fox!"

[heyohh]

people seem to judge for spending too little or too much so I wouldn't worry.

Dt's are under 2 and we have spent around 150 each on presents and maybe another 50 each on days out etc.

we do buy toys as they need them or it would have been a bigger spend.

[MTWTFSS]

I think the age of the child has a lot to do with how much one spends. My DC are still small (4, 5) so I can get away with small presents whereas a teenager would probably cost £££ more!

[Juanbablo]

I think it will end up being about £150 on the big two and £100 on the little one which seems like madness and we aren't even getting them that much.

[Ratbagcatbag]

I've aimed for £200 per child (dss is 18 currently nothing purchased) Ds is 3, spent around £180 so far.
Advent calendar and days out will add to another £250 or so.
I don't have a general set amount though. If dss identifies something specific at £300 then he could have that. It's just my starting point.
Usually spend £1k on all presents for all family and friends including our twos presents but not including days out or food.

[akkakk]

age of child - varies
number of children - varies
do you provide items you would buy otherwise, but as presents? - varies
general wealth - varies
approach / attitude to possessions & life - varies

so many variables, but as long as it is balanced in your life generally and you are not feeling that you should spend more than you can afford to 'keep up' with others, then I don't see an issue...

I would always prefer to buy presents which are going to last / be loved - it probably means spending a bit more but e.g. I would prefer to spend £100 on a nicer fountain pen than £30 on one which will break - etc.