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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask how much you spend on DP at Christmas?

39 replies

Chickenoreg · 24/12/2024 11:09

A friend just told me their budget for each other is £500. The same last year. I couldn’t imagine spending that much on each other, it seems so wasteful.

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BananaBananaBananaOrange · 24/12/2024 12:14

His is one of those things that largely depends on income/budget. £20 will be a stretch for one person and £500 is nothing to someone else.

XH used to spend around £30 max on me, despite having the means to spend more. Fine when it was something I wanted. Disappointing and wasteful when it was just last minute, thoughtless stuff.

I used to spend £30-£100 on him, depending on what he wanted/needed.

With my current DP, I've tended to go for experiences over stuff. We each have our own homes and buy things we really need as and when we need/can afford them. This year, we agreed token gifts to open, but we're having a weekend away in February and will spend the money on that. I'm on a tighter budget than him and said that I couldn't afford a big gift and also a weekend away. Partly because my DC are both getting quite expensive (for me) presents this year, so my budget has gone on those.

But I am generally more into experiences than stuff. And not spending money for the sake of it.

LoafofSellotape · 24/12/2024 12:13

Depends if we really want something. Usually we buy something in the sales for the house and have a day out/ lunch which is nice. This year neither of us could think of what we'd like so we're going away for the weekend instead in January.

CandiedPrincess · 24/12/2024 12:12

About £180ish. No set budget really though, depends what is wanted etc We don't shop for the sake of it.

caringcarer · 24/12/2024 11:59

It varies because I choose him a gift he'll like so sometimes more than other years. This year a bean to cup coffee machine for holiday home because I know he misses his nice coffee first thing in the morning when we are there. €380

BrunchBarBandit · 24/12/2024 11:58

I’ve spent £500 on DH for Xmas and it was a big birthday a few days ago and I spent about £300 plus paid for dinner out with friends. I don’t consider any of that wasteful and it’s affordable for me. If I had less disposable income I would spend less.

neverbeenskiing · 24/12/2024 11:58

This year I've spent about £150 as I happened to see some really good deals on the things I wanted to get him. Some years I spend more. There's no budget as such.

StabiloSharpie · 24/12/2024 11:52

Very little - nothing. Married for 21 years and joint account - been pretty much this way from the start. Money never been an issue. Gifts definitely aren't our love language. We would rather just buy what we want when we want it.

HowToDressYourDaughter · 24/12/2024 11:49

This year I've bought a bottle of wine and some posh chocolate for a grand total of £27. There's no point buying anything expensive - he buys what he wants and doesn't need anything and will only complain I've wasted his hard earned money! I'll suggest we leave the DC home and go out to the cinema, he's been suggesting it for years but I've always refused as I think they were too young to leave alone. They'd probably be ok now for an evening.

TheDandyLion · 24/12/2024 11:48

Nothing. We'd rather buy gifts that we actually want throughout the year when we see or want them instead of buying something for the sake of buying soemthing for christmas.

Cynic17 · 24/12/2024 11:44

It varies, as it depends what I think he would like. There is no budget. He also has an Xmas birthday, so this year I have booked us a few nights away at an event next summer. I'm sure it will add up to more than £500 by the time we're done.
Other years, it's chocolate and socks!

Boredlass · 24/12/2024 11:33

About £200 this year.

LittleLlama · 24/12/2024 11:32

I have taken DP (to mean partner/husband).

Like others Nothing….I could afford it but neither of us want/need anything, and it just feels like a waste. We are going on holiday in January and will probably go out for a couple of meals then.

dreamer24 · 24/12/2024 11:32

250-300 ish. Was more before we had DD - we spend around 600 on DD so had to scale it back.

doodleschnoodle · 24/12/2024 11:31

Really depends. Some years almost nothing if we are saving up for something else, other years hundreds of pounds if it's a big item the other person wants. DH bought me a piano a few years ago, I bought him a games console. But this year neither of us have wanted big stuff so I've spent a lot less and I imagine he has too.

starlight889 · 24/12/2024 11:29

Previous years when money has been better we never set a budget. This year money has been tight so we said £50 each. I know we have both gone over a little bit so probably £60-£70 each in total

Grumpyoldthing · 24/12/2024 11:23

In previous years , very little. Some years it’s been a pound land item or some chocolate- all because of money !

we have some more this year , and I have spent about £50 on him . I think he has been a monkey and spent closer to £150 on mine

honestly we still have to be careful, and I would have been just as happy with £50 spent and £100 off one of the many bills !

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 24/12/2024 11:22

We don't really. We are able to buy what we want when we need it. Presents are for the kids.

Doggymummar · 24/12/2024 11:21

DP is parents right? 20.00each and then a joint present. This year it was a kitchen clock, a small live tree and decorations and a magazine subscription.

DelicateSoundOfEchos · 24/12/2024 11:21

I don't really have a budget as such. This year I've spent about £600 and £50ish from the dogs. I don't know how much I spent in previous years as I don't really track it.

We have no children, and both have plenty of disposable income.

Gliblet · 24/12/2024 11:20

It varies depending on how much I can afford to spend, and what I want to get him. I think his most expensive Christmas presents have been a gaming console one year, and an electric guitar and amp another year. Other years he's had stuff he really wanted that cost much less so it's more about getting the right thing than spending a certain amount. This year he's getting aftershave, a t-shirt, gaming miniatures, and a Terry's chocolate orange from the dog 😁 Total spend about £120.

Worth mentioning though that his birthday's in February and I've gone all out for that this year - tickets to a gig, train tickets to get there, dinner while in London and probably some band merch.

Wishimaywishimight · 24/12/2024 11:20

I spend around €300, DH spends more as he often gets me a piece of jewellery as one of my gifts. We don't have kids and like to spoil each other a bit with a few presents each. We can afford it and it's a bit of fun on Christmas morning 😃

PrincessHoneysuckle · 24/12/2024 11:20

200.ish

GroovyChick87 · 24/12/2024 11:19

This year it's about £120. We've got 4 kids who get a lot spent on them. When it comes to presents they are the priority as we've felt the pinch this year.

VioletCharlotte · 24/12/2024 11:19

I've spent about £200 on my partner. All things they really want or need. It's not wasteful if you can afford it, unless you're just buying for the sake of it.

ueberlin2030 · 24/12/2024 11:18

PietariKontio · 24/12/2024 11:15

Depending on our finances over the years, it's varied between £20 and £600. We usually spend the same on each other as we do on the kids. 'Wasteful" is a weird concept to have about spending money on someone you love?

I suppose it's wasteful if it's not something the person wants or needs and/or finances are quite tight?