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AIBU?

to ask how much you spend on DCs christmas presents?

406 replies

Splatt34 · 02/12/2012 07:50

Just that really.

DD is 2 & have finally decided what to get her. Adds up to around £70 in total.

how about the rest of you?

OP posts:
altinkum · 02/12/2012 07:53

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StrawberriesTasteLikeLipsDo · 02/12/2012 08:17

Im pregnant with DS2 who will be born on 21/12 and DS1s bday is mid Oct, and that has had some bearing on DS1s presents this year...
Last year i spent almost £200 on him, on nothing big as such but lots of
littler things and no clothes (as that felt "mean") but last year he had no clue about christmas and took days to open the gifts. Some of which he has only recently started to play with.

This year we've been much stricter with the budget, We've gotten him probably 20-25 gifts (including some clothes) plus a huge stocking, but its stuff he will love, probably still around £170-200 but I dont keep track Blush, It was easier to buy for him this year and buy meaningfully as he actually has his own interests and asks for things. I still wanted to spoil him this year (on bday an christmas) as Next year with two birthdays and christmas, and maternity pay / possibly not returning to work, We dont know if we will be able to do christmas on the same scale.

DS2 will only be 4 days old so he has a photo album (riveting!) a bauble, a special soft bunny from DS1, and some clothes. Sounds mean and skewed I suppose but he has boxes full of toys, loads of clothes (both second hand and new) and we've bought the crib and travel system, so he hasn't been so hard done by.

My rule is really If I can afford it, I will get it, we dont get into huge debts over it.

foreverondiet · 02/12/2012 08:22

My DC are 9, 6 and 2.

Will spend around £50 - £60 on older 2 each (one thing costing £30 plys pjs and then bits and pieces) and probably only £25 on the 2 year old, who isn't getting a big present as we already have too many toys etc in the house and he'll be excited by small presents.

My rules is: could afford more but don't believe in spending lots of money on young children as think too easy for children to not understand value of money. DD already has 3DS from 8th birthday. We have a wii as a family and also ipad and nexus tablet so not buying any more technology.

fuckwittery · 02/12/2012 08:25

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fuckwittery · 02/12/2012 08:26

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DualFuel · 02/12/2012 08:28

Enough that we feel it will be a real treat for them to get something they wouldn't get any other time (ours don't get much through the year) but we always decide what our budget is and stick to it.
About £60 each this year, both preschoolers, could have spent more but they will love what we have bought so no need really.
There is little point comparing with others really because everyone is so different in their finances.

noisytoys · 02/12/2012 08:30

This year I have spent £80 each on them but most of that was things bought in the sales last year. Even that is too much tat next year I will probably spend half of that

freddiefrog · 02/12/2012 08:30

We spend around £150 each

£100 ish on their main presents from us (bike for DD2, kindle for DD1), then around £50 on a stocking from father Christmas (stuff like hair clips, lip gloss, pants, socks, colouring pencils, etc)

CheungFun · 02/12/2012 08:32

We've just finished buying for DS (1 on Christmas Eve) and we've spent £50 on his birthday presents and £40 on his Christmas present and £40 on his Christmas stocking. Ouch! We have tried to buy things he will grow into as it needs to last him a year and also we have saved up for it and not used credit cards etc,

LtXmasEve · 02/12/2012 08:34

£100 on DD, £100 cash to DSD (and a silly little stocking!)

RubberNeckerNicker · 02/12/2012 08:42

I've spent £60 on each, but I've shopped carefully over the year so it's actual retail value is a lot more. TBH still feel it is an obscene amount and we have so many toys already. Have been a bit Confused at some of the lists posted on here.

Emmielu · 02/12/2012 08:43

DD gets £25 spent on her from nan and grandad. £15 from my sis and her family and £15 from my brother. Occassionally my nan and grandad will spend about a quid or 2 and get those little lindt bunnies that DD loves. Last year i blew out completely but then again i didnt have a house to pay for.

This year i have spent £10 each on my nieces. £2 on my brother (toblerone were on offer) my sister doesnt get a present from me because her birthday is the day after xmas. DD on main presents has had £80 spent on her. Stocking fillers will probably count to maximum £10. I tend not to want to spend loads of money at xmas on DD because a month later is her birthday and she wants a party.

Emmielu · 02/12/2012 08:44

I know someone who has spent £250 so far on her DS. £150 per step child (2 of them) and £350 so far on her other half. Thats not included stocking fillers, family or friends. The thought of spending all that money makes me uneasy.

RubberNeckerNicker · 02/12/2012 08:47

BTW I wasn't necessarily referring to peoples comments on this thread I'm Confused about, but some of the other odd 'list' threads. They read to me like they are seeking some kind of validation?

MummyPig24 · 02/12/2012 08:49

Money is tight this year so we are spending wisely. So far we have spent around £20 on each child with a few presents to go in their sacks, we will add to this and it will probably end up being around £40-£50 in total for their sack presents from Santa. They are getting a guinea pig each from us which are £15 each, luckily we have generous family who have donated a hutch, run and things they no longer need.

We tend to spend a little more at birthdays, probably around £100 on each child. Ds has not long had his birthday at the end of October. We have a big family so the children receive lots of lovely presents including clothes so I don't feel too bad that we can't afford much, and to be honest I'm sure the children don't notice.

StrawberriesTasteLikeLipsDo · 02/12/2012 08:51

WRT other peoples spending, I personally wouldnt judge, and its one of the few things that pisses me off when people do judge. I dont think spending more means a better christmas OR a spoilt child, nor would I think that less spent would be a worse christmas.
DS has always gotten a lot, and part of that is related to mine and my partners upbringing and experience, this is probably also why DPs parents spoil us all also. As long as what you have bought feels right to you, then I think children will be happy.

To offset receiving such nice things, and to make space, each year we clear through all of DS' toyboxes, and any toys that he no longer needs we give to charity, or this year to his preschool. Again being 3 now, he is just starting to understand that idea too.

Outside of DCs and DP we tend to spend about £10 on each person, some more some less but mainly in the boots 3for2. Each person gets one gift, or in elderly relatives a gift for two between them.

doublemuvver · 02/12/2012 09:06

My twins are almost 5 and we have bought them a second hand Nintendo DS off Ebay (with original box and in great condition! Result!) They cost approx £60 each and came with 7 games each. I have found a great stall on my local market where stocking fillers (books, pens, notebooks, games etc) range from 2p-£1. So all in all around £75 each. I reckon that's OK.

Shutupanddrive · 02/12/2012 09:08

About £100 each, but it probably creeps up to more than this with all the bits and bobs along with their main presents

Canweputthetreeupyet · 02/12/2012 09:12

They have probably had about 300 each but that does include a new outfit for xmas day, still got family to do and some more bits for dp.

TheReturnOfBridezilla · 02/12/2012 09:13

I've gone way ott but I'm a Christmas fiend and love buying presents. I shop throughout the year.

CheungFun · 02/12/2012 09:17

Just to add, DH and I have spent the amount we have as we have a tiny family and don't want DS to miss out...I could have easily spent £1,000's given half a chance!

happybubblebrain · 02/12/2012 09:18

Far too much, but I only buy her things for Birthday and Christmas. I buy lots of special offers and look for good deals throughout the year and she gets a big pile of presents from me and a big pile from Father Christmas. I love Christmas.

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cory · 02/12/2012 09:19

Not above £50 each on own dc, but I'm also buying smaller tokens for nieces/nephews/brothers/parents/SILs and that does add up.

ENormaSnob · 02/12/2012 09:21

150 to 200 per child.

Emmielu, you don't get your dsis a gift just because her birthday is the day after? Confused

marleybrodie · 02/12/2012 09:23

When they were under 2years very little.
Now 9 and 12 approx £300 each.
But we can afford it- and we don't spend much on them the rest of the year- if they want a computer game etc they have to save pocket money.
Even with a decent budget I still shop around for the best prices and deals.
The eldest hasn't come up with much of a list this year so we have agreed money not spend on gifts can go into their bank account and if they decide they want something later in the year they can use it.

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