Is £10 present per child stingy for nieces/ nephews?

[HeffalumpsDaughter]

Previously I’ve spent more as only had one niece and one nephew. This year I have four. SIL always spends £25+ per child and although I could afford to do the same it would be a stretch. I have now got presents for dniece which cost £8.99 and dnephew that cost £9.99 and I’m dithering about getting something else to bulk it out a bit. I have the added problem that I have seen these kids once for about 2 hours since last Christmas (purely due to distance rather than not being super close). I’m pretty sure they’ll like what I’ve gor but I don’t want SIL to think I’m being mean.

Argh! I do this every year and never know if I’m buying the right value gift.

nope not at all we have a similar budget here I bulk out with a selection box.

Buy what you can afford. Don't get yourself in debt/stress buying for people you rarely see. Your gifts are enough.

Fuck I hope not!

I have one nephew so spend maybe £20/25. My sister did the same. Now I have two children though and next year she will have two.

Personally it makes no sense to me to just essentially swap over money.

A small gift is absolutely fine. Maybe suggest a family outing later in the year instead

Urgh. Forgot the key senstance which was - spend what you can afford/are comfortable with.

It’s not stingy but I would try to give a heads up to your SIL in advance if possible, so she can adapt if she wants to. She may be relieved!

passme that’s it exactly, we’are just swapping money. Neither of us really know what the others dc’s want and don’t want to come across as grabby by asking for a specific thing.

Selection box to pad it out is a good idea.

So people think £10ish is fairly average and acceptable?

£10 is fine. They will get presents from their parents and other family too.

I think £10 is fine. It’s something you think they will like, so it’s fine. Christmas is far too commercial and by bulking out what you have bought you are buying into the message the shops want you to believe- that spending money is more important than time.

Rather than buy something extra, why not try and organise a day when you can see your nieces and nephews and spend time with them doing fun things? I think that’s far nicer.

It's a gift spend what you feel comfortable with - we exchange the same amount of money for all nieces and nephews - it's all nonsense.

We just ask what DC want so it feels less like a money swap. (We also spend more than I admit to as has both my DSs to buy for whereas there’s only one DNeice... I would lie through my teeth if necessary about bargain purchases and we can afford it).

Although...the gifts I was most delighted with as a child were often not expensive...they were just great presents. Sometimes slightly out of character (tiny needed evening bag when I was a very unglamorous teenager comes to mind!) as my wonderfully generous parents stuck to things they knew I’d like.

Blooming autocorrect...beaded rather than needed!

Nope that's what we spend and if we can get something decent even cheaper then we do!

Op, it depends on lots of variables for me eg if my 4 necies nephews etc didn't get much, etc I'd try and get them more.
In normal average family however I think 10 each is fine.

I have a thread on here where an aunt last year turned up with nothing. For one child and a book for the other. No dc of her own, no other dc on the family and she is loaded.

So in that light your extremely generous and even giving thought to it is lovely.

If I was however in a tight budget myself. I think 10 is more than enough.

£10ish is my budget for nieces/nephews as well.

Mine are getting a strict budget of £15 (perhaps a £ or two either side) in the past I got sucked into the buying extras and to be honest it all gets sucked into one big pile of gifts nope £15 cash for teenage nephew a gift of thereabouts for everybody else. To he honest my guideline for parents isnt much more either.

That's what I spend on my GC and GGC . There are 17 in all and I have to save to afford that much!

I've got 8 nieces and nephews plus a goddaughter who I consider to be equivalent. £10-15 each is plenty. FWIW, my siblings and GD's dad spend about the same on DD, so it works out fair.

Going against the grain here but £10 isn't a lot for a niece or nephew that you're close to. We see our nephews on a weekly basis and spend £50 per child.

we have 9 nieces/nephews and spend £25-£30 per child. Under 10s get toys off their lists, olders get £25 voucher padded out with £5 stocking fillers or christmas chocolate/sweets so they have something to open.

spend what you can afford. £10 isnt stingy if you have put effort in and got them something you think they will enjoy.

We do 10-15 max per child. I have 7 nieces, ranging in age from baby to 17 years.

We have 16 nieces and nephews- £10 each is the budget!

I got mine in the three for two in argos so probably worked out 15 or so.

I think it's fine - they look like good presents I think

I have 6 nieces and nephews and budget £20-25 each. My DBro has 4 kids to my 2 and usually spends £40ish on each of mine despite me insisting he doesn't have to. Go with what you can afford and feel happy with.

£10 is absolutely fine, OP. I think the point of a present is that you've thought of someone - the time and effort is far more precious than the money spent ❤️