How do your kids split the cost of presents?

[moaningmoo]

Just going off what I overheard between my two kids over christmas. DD1 works a full time job and is 27, (as this is about money) she earns about £50k. DD2 is 22 and in the final year of her languages degree, has no job and is a 'broke' student, but scrapes by.

I think they spend about £70-80 on each parent for christmas. They split the cost down the middle, as it is a joint present. DD2 was a bit disgruntled and said to DD1 that it wouldn't hurt her to pay more than half as she is actually working.

My young adult DDs always buy joint presents for us which I think is sweet. They do split the cost but are now both earning and were both students at the same time. Your student DC should not be spending as much as your working DC on presents - perhaps they should buy separately due to circumstances.

Well it depends, who's deciding on what's being bought? If dd earning money says 'we're buying this at £200, give me half' that's not fair, same as other day saying 'we're buying this at £200, I'm giving you a £5 you pay the.rest'

Ummm if it is a big present like a shed or flower show tickets then we will split but my brother is hard to get money out of and I refuse to let him take any recognition for it

Normally we buy separate gifts

I manage to split it evenly amongst the 3.
My youngest is 8 months and I have a big family who all chip in to help.

My brothers and I used to do shared gifts but I had to put a stop to it because one of my brothers never ever paid me back. (I'm the high earner.)

Money is a weird thing in my family though. It starts with my parents who can't even give you a gift without telling you how expensive it was before the wrapping paper is off. I hate it so I've withdrawn.

I'd be interested to know which of them suggested the present that not comfortable for DD2's budget.

Generally I would stay away from joint presents as it is too easy for things to get awkward both in terms of budgeting and if it is really chosen by both or if one was pushed into it.

When I have done a joint present with somebody I knew was in a different financial position to me it has generally been set at their price point. I have sometimes chipped in more than my 'share' but that was something I offered from the outset so any agreement was made with that in mind, I wouldn't knowingly suggest a joint present that meant requesting other people give an amount that might be a stretch for them but equally I would be annoyed if somebody agreed to do a joint present and then expected me to pick up part of their share/resented me for not.

They buy separately

We have six between us (DC/DSC) aged 18-24. It varies what they do tbh. Some earn more, and some are more generous and like buying presents for others. Some make deals with each other so the rich-but-lazy/busy one pays and the poor-but-organised one buys and wraps it.

We make it clear that we're fine with them clubbing together to get presents, and it doesn't matter if it's just small, and a bit of grief is generally given you anyone who fails completely to buy someone a present. But after that we leave them to it - not up to us to police their emerging adult relationships. They need to figure it out for themselves.

My DC buy separately, and me and my siblings buy separately. Never heard of siblings buying joint gifts!

My 18 and 20 yr old are both students , both live at home and both work part time. Both pay the same though eldest is a lazy bugger and transfers money to the youngest account as ‘ they are better at buying presents’.

Eldest does buy the youngest more expensive gifts(with my help) as a thank you,

I’m sure it will all change when hey move out,