How much do you spend on your children at Christmas?

[HuckleberryBlackcurrant]

Just wondering what is normal these days. I would say we spend about £60 per child. We have 3 children.

First year ever that I’ve sat a budget. They’re 18 & 15, so understand that money is tighter than it has been previously and even offered to abandon the idea of presents altogether. Max is £200 each and I’ve asked them to write a few suggestions and should have enough to spend £30-40 on stockings.

I think the amounts will vary wildely depending on the family finances/income/credit cards as well as the age of the child. Teen likely has far more expensive taste than a 5 year old.

For what its worth, my DD will be 10months old and I will not be buying her anything. I dont begrudge other parents buying their babies gifts but for me, it's totally unnecessary.

Wow I had no idea people spent so much at Christmas! I spend around £50-100 per person (adult or child). I'm not getting my 11 month old anything this year as he's getting presents from family and won't know any different. It's not because I can't afford it either, we could spend more at Christmas but choose to spend it on other things instead.

@Frasers

What a horrible post, when you know that’s what the ops kids get.

You are making a huge judgement there that OP gives her children what she does because she cannot give more, rather than through choice.

4 DCs. Around £200 each. One big present and a few smaller.

Was a lot less when they were younger.

Generally use Christmas as a time to replace too small bikes and scooters or update tech stuff they want/need (phones/games consoles). Things we would inevitably end up buying anyway.

£60 on a 2 year old 😊

Everything has been bought second hand.

Have a look on the mumsnet Christmas bargains thread #12 on the Christmas board. Lots of bargains and discounts on there to make your money stretch further. I've saved an absolute fortune following that those threads over the years.

Around £200 each for their birthdays but they're teens and the smaller the size of the gift, the more money it costs.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/4947859-thread-12-the-one-where-were-hoping-for-mega-hotel-chocolat-bargains?page=15&reply=130932307

When DS was younger what I'd buy would be about £50 today. Main present a Lego set, then a book or books (may be second hand), an item of clothing like a t-shirt or pyjamas, and some chocolate.

@Frasers

Yep, probably won't buy her anything tbh.

@AvengedQuince

Yup this is about what we do. I'm sure it will increase once they get older.

@OzziePopPop

We plan on making a contribution towards any electronics they want once they are old enough to earn/save.

Works out at up to €100 per child but ours are older, we spent a lot less when they were younger as you could get away with a lot more smaller bits (youngest 9 eldest 15) Eldest asked for very fancy runners and we said he might put money with us for his birthday next year instead (but now are considering buying them). It’s so hard!

2 children - £400 each

@keye

We could do more, but our kids will get presents from extended family and already have plenty of toys.

Grandchildren about £80-£90 each
Adult children and partners about £120-£140 per couple.
No idea how much dc spend on their dc, I just wince smile at the piles of stuff and hope it doesn’t end up in landfill. ( Spoiler alert: not a fan of Xmas )

400/500 she 5 year old

One DC. Roughly £500. Sometimes less. Sometimes more but in that region.

3 adult sons
£200 each
Mainly clothes/ cologne/ trainers
I love to treat them and they have no other presents( sadly GP's etc have died)

Depends a lot on age. If tech for example, usually more expensive. This year about £500 per child.

I give 3 adt DC £200 plus £60 stocking and Foster Son having £350 as wants a new laptop plus £60 stocking. When my DC were younger I couldn't afford nearly as much but now my mortgage is paid off I can.

That’s exactly what I used to do and spend when my child was young. A £25 - £30 approx gift and then a stocking (books etc in the stocking). it costs a lot more as they get older.

I think I'm mean. £100 each for younger children seems a lot to me, and I can't fathom spending more than that (it might get up to that amount).

What are you buying a 5 year old that adds up to £400+? Tech, toys? I can't imagine how big the pile would be.

Well, some people can.

No need for eye roll.