Christmas!!!

[Nancy10]

I know it's a little while off but we've got to start saving!!!
I always feel on Christmas Day that I've over done it for my 3 sons. I have a son who'll be 10 and twins 5 this xmas! How much is a sensible amount to spend on each one and how many presents under the tree is sufficient?

[Overmydeadbody]

Oh for goodness sake, it'sonly August!

Sufficient spending per child: £23

Sufficient presents under the tree: Two each.

Christmas isn't about how much you spend or present counting.

[piscesmoon]

We haven't had much summer-don't wish the remainder away! Don't give it a thought until November at least.

[Gateau]

Leave the OP alone, some people just plan early (not me, I have to say!)and she did say she had to save.
I'm not wishing to rush time on but I am excited about Christmas as DS, who will be 2.8 will really know what's going on this year, plus, if all goes well, we'll also have a newborn .
Present spending is a really subjective thing, so can't really advise you, but this year we'll def have to cut back as I'll be on mat leave and pretty skint!

[saggyhairyarse]

Depending on price, I get my kids one or two 'big' gifts and a stocking which consists or item of clothing (could be socks/pants), sweets, a book and novelty items.

We have given our kids a wii one year but it was a family gift for everyone and then they only got small items.

[Pinkjenny]

I am buying dd a doll's house this year, she will be 2.8. I have fallen into the trap of quantity rather than quality for each birthday and Christmas since she was born, and she gets so overwhelmed by it all, that she plays with nothing! And we have lots of plastic tat to store.

The dolls house and all the rooms comes to about £150, I think. I agree with Gateau, it's totally subjective.

[ssd]

Christmas is definately about present counting in our house!!!

2 kids aged 8 and 10 who will compete over everything, size of presents, trying to guess the spends, who got the most......

overmydeadbody, you either have babies or only one kid, am I right

[Nancy10]

Exactly! Well said! We're far from rolling in money and although I try to be sensible its very easy to get carried away! Last year my eldest son had a DS which was what he really wanted. I bought him some other bits and pieces aswell as a stocking. On the day though he barely looked at any of his other presents because he was so happy with his DS!

[EyeballsintheSky]

I was dreading Christmas last year as I was going back to work in early Jan and I really didn't want to. The year before I was terrified of giving birth and feeling rotten. This year I'm really looking forward to it and dd will be nearly two and far more interested than she was last year. I can't wait!

[Nancy10]

Definately! Christmas can be such a worrying time! A few years ago we were strapped for cash and struggling. This is why I plan so early now! I've come up with a really good arrangement with family members we buy presents first so it doesn't cost as much. Then that leaves us to focus on the kids! It's lovely when they get to an age where they have more of an understanding! Although its so true about smaller children getting more fun out of the boxes and wrapping paper!

[strongblackcoffee]

I always work on the basis of one main present each. Last year DS1 got a (2nd hand) scooter, DSD got a wii fit board, DS2 can't remember!! But the price ranged between £9 and £70 per child. They then had other little things in their stockings, and any other presents from relatives under the tree.

imo the stocking caters for the 'lots of things to open' bit, and the big present is all they really care about.

[strongblackcoffee]

ps that's the 4th thing about xmas I've seen in the past few days, unbelievable! It is my final word on the matter until november!!

[Fruitysunshine]

I am already planning christmas. This is due to the fact I have to save and my husband is working over christmas so in order for him to spend christmas with us we have to travel and book into a hotel close to the site he is working on. That means hotels and at the time of the year they get booked up early so I have to start browsing now.

As for presents, I start buying around September. I love christmas and try to make it as magical as possible for my family - that THAT only happens with lots of planning and organising!

Bring on the reindeer!

[Roomfor2]

I luuuurve Christmas and think it is never too early to start planning! I spent about £100-150 on DD last year. She will be 2.9 this year and will probably spend about the same, many presents that take about a week for her to open. But we don't tend to buy toys much outside of Christmas and birthday apart from the odd treat, so I don't feel bad about piling them high on occasions like Christmas. Then you can rotate them throughout the year...

Summer has been so crap this year I am already starting to get Christmassy twinkles every so often and have decided to start looking forward to it unashamedly. At least you know Christmas will definitely arrive, unlike summer

[Boblina]

I must say that I am planning for Christmas too as I want to be sure presents, cards and everything is ready especially with 2.6 DS and newborn. I am also sure that FIL will come over for Wales to meet the new member of the family and DS. DS was early so want to be even more prepared. Present. I think that it does not how much you spend. It all depends on how much money you have. I think that they get a lot of presents for Christmas so I am only going to get them something small. Don't ask what because I don't know. I will also get things like glue, glitter, colouring books and things like that.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

I think Christmas spending and the number of presents is personal, what suits one may not suit another.

I love Christmas and do go overboard for DS but its only once a year and childhood only comes round once.

[pranma]

For me as grandma I get a pressie a book and some things to add to stockings-my benchmarks are something to wear,something to read,something to eat and something to play with.I do this for adults and children[10 adults and 9 children]I save for it all year and buy things as I see them.I love the whole thing-carlos,stories,stars,trees,Santa and stockings with the Christmas story on Christmas Eve when we set the crib round the base of the tree.Cost?Varies-about £50 a head usually.I work at various things to augment my pension and put it all towards Christmas.

[PuppyLoves]

I do one big present + stocking + a few other little things under the tree. You do set a rod for your own back I believe, so if you start off spending a fortune make sure you can maintain that as your dc will expect it each year. Best to keep expectations low IMO[ grin]

I got into christmas baking/cooking last year and made my own mince pies and shortbread which I was rather pleased with. This year I want to try and make everything I can (christmas pud etc) so I'm eagly awaing the christmas baking threads.

NB Can all the baking/cooking experts not forget to let us know when we should start making everything!!

[Colonelcupcake]

Make your xmas pud now! Mines down ala James Martin, I ammended his recipe though as I don't like currants

[Chamomile]

I quite fancy doing a pud now. Is it not too early? Would you do it and freeze it?

[Karam]

I say this every year, but I think your question is impossible to answer without looking at the bigger picture.

For example...

• How much do you spend on birthdays? Some people spend more on birthdays and less on Christmas. I tend to do a big birthday party but a max of £50 on presents and then they get 90% of their presents at Christmas.
  
  
• How often do you buy them gifts all year round? Some people I know will see things in town and just give their kids small presents / gifts all year round. I don't. If I see something in town, I'll put it away in the box to be saved until Christmas. My children virtually never get given gifts / presents outside of christmas, yet I know of another mum who doesn't really do Christmas, but never comes home from town without a little present for her DCs.
  
  
• What sorts of things do you include in your gifts? Is it just toys or other things too? My kids have a big sack from Santa (about 20 presents in it), but that will always include socks, pants, vests, pyjamas, new outfit or two, special cereal that they're not normally allowed to have and so on... not all presents have to be expensive! and some can just be the essentials. My DDs just love unwrapping presents, they don't care if its a year's supply of pants that they would have been given anyway. But other parents wouldn't include such things as gifts.

[tammybear]

DD's birthday is 10 days before Christmas, and it's funny, I was already thinking about presents this afternoon and what I'm gonna do party wise for her, as she'll be 7, and I believe her party last year came up to nearly £300

The past few years, I've only been able to give her 2 presents for birthday and 2 presents for Christmas. It upsets me because I can't afford much (party was split between me and my family paying for it) and particularly when other members of my family go overboard. But saying that, I tend to put more thought into the presents I give her, so usually she'll spend all day playing/using what I give her and don't give anything else the rest of the family have got her a second look

[Karam]

Do you know what though Tammy bear, we didn't have loads of cash when I was a kid but always had great parties. My folks put a lot of effort into them. Even now as an adult, I cannot remember half the presents I was given as a child, but I remember the parties. I have very fond memories of the fantastic birthday parties that I had, and I guess that is why I now don't buy loads for my DD for her birthday as I choose to give her the party instead. I hope that she too will have memories that she will cherish for life.

And at 7, parties don't have to be expensive. Sleepovers are great fun, and dead cheap!

[tammybear]

Yeah after last year Karam, I'm going to think a bit smaller. We decided to do a big party, as when she turned 5, I was still living with my mum so we had room to have her friends round. I'm now in a 2 bed flat so obviously this is not a great venue for a pack of hyper kids hehe.

I'm thinking perhaps bowling or cinema, or like you say sleepover with just her best friends. DD went to a bowling party a while back and really enjoyed it, so thought it'd be nice to do that or something similar with some of her close friends. Really don't want to spend too much again this year!

[Colonelcupcake]

Chamomile My stays covered in a cupboard, don't need to freeze it

My two ds's birthdays are the 20th & 23rd December which is why I start shopping now