What’s your Christmas budget?

[Ticktockk]

I’m interested, having read the thread by the poster who is sad that she is limiting herself to £200 per (adult) child.
We’re pretty well off but I wouldn’t spend more than that on my young kids each. Am I a total miser??

I try and do around £50 per child for stocking and £100-£150 for other presents (3dc) I buy a lot second hand where I can.
£15-£20 for niece and nephews (8 total)
£15-£20 agreed with siblings (x3)
Around £30-£50 for parents and inlaws, grandparent
Probably around £50 dh - we don’t normally spend much on each other as we can’t afford it after everyone else!

I spend heaps on the kids - they’re teens and we don’t tend to buy much over the year so blow out on birthdays and Christmas. Probably in the region of £800 -£1000 each. DH and I probably spend £100 on each other as we have most of the things we want. Christmas food is around £100 as it’s only the 4 of us this year.

Don’t buy new decorations as we have them but we are getting some new outdoor lights this year.

I don’t have one but prefer to make homemade gifts anyway
I treat myself to things year round so don’t feel compelled to buy anything specifically for Christmas for myself.
Also I don’t really have the energy for Christmas decorations so I don’t do it. I have a miniature Christmas tree in the cupboard that I was gifted years ago, but that’s it and might not even take it out. Maybe that makes me a sad person.

This year,
2 kids - £100 each (incl. Stockings)
DH - £100
Close Family £100 shared.

Looking at the replies this looks pitiful 😥
Dh pays for dinner, i dont know what he spends on average.

Around £700 per dc (all teens), probably £250 on dh. £200 on my mum. The food shop will probably be double a normal week so about £400 including all the snacks and Christmas food and drinks. We did a fair few Christmas activities last year and no one seems to be bothered to do the same again so no money on that.

It's not pitiful at all ❤️

I have 2 dc, 14 year old dd and 22 year old ds. He asks for nothing and she asks for everything!

currently have spent £1100 ish on dd. Not much on ds yet but will get the majority of his in December. Only buy presents for these two and thats it.

@£1100in total , luckily it’s only h, adult son and GF and FiL plus food

we do go away for new year though to Sweden so that’s£1600

£300 for each DH and me
£350 for each DS
£100 for sister
£50 for other relatives

So about £1,500

Last year my shopping bill the week up to Xmas was over £600 but that includes catering for 5 houseguests for 4-5 days and 11 for Xmas day. Thankfully FIL buys 24 bottles of wine for the duration, but most shopping will include some spirits and mixers plus soft drinks.

Real tree, a few new decorations usually about £150

DC gifts £300-500 x2
DH Xmas about £200-400
DH pre Xmas birthday £200-£400
other gifts (parents, wider family, in-laws, friends) £500
Outing £200

I don’t set a budget as such but I put money into savings all year to cover holidays and Xmas and this spend is covered.

About £500 on both dd's, I buy things throughout the year so it's not all in one go.
Dh and I don't buy for each other.
£100 on Mum, £50 on my brother.
£50 on food, there's only 6 of us for Christmas dinner and we don't drink so it's no more than a regular roast dinner that we have most weeks.

Slightly hijacking this thread but what are you buying if you are spending £150+ on a gift for dc?
Also aren't people including gifts here like for teacher collections or gifts for neighbours?
We might spend £25 on those.

We have a long list - maybe 75-80 people but it's people like that- e.g dd's friends- so a £20 budget. But it all adds up. We spend maybe £1K but not much on anyone. I suppose we spend the most on children- £70-80.

No....this looks normal in my world 😍

I try to make majority of presents if i cant £60 pound limit , but i wont buy computer games anything phone related , i will be honest its probably things the child will not like , but it will be board games that help the child interact help social skills and life skills , people spend loads of money on computers , consoles then moan their child does not interact with them , if their child gets picked on because they have not got the latest toy etc , that is a life lesson and they can explain you cant always get what you want , even though now it seems thst most children say i want this and they get it , life does not work like that . Be as tight as you can and when you die they can have the fruits of your lablur

I give 5 to each class teacher collection. I don’t buy neighbours gifts. If dd wants to buy her friends gifts then that’s on her

My dd has asked for a ninja creamie so that alone is 200.

Ok.... I have to ask.
What on earth is a ninja creamie?

I've bought my 4 year old this so far

go kart £80
elecrtic scooter £140
a hamster in a wheel toy £20
remote controlled dino and robot £60
4 figures iron man ect £40
build your own toy car kit £16
a barber set £15
a McDonald's play pretend set £15
a cash till £10
soggy doggy and pull my finger game £25
jenga game £6
bubble maker wand toy £12
prank set and art set £12

so it all very quickly mounts up

Children all adults so about £100 each,£ 50 grandchildren,£50 on their partners £50 on husband and sister. £20 on a couple of friends.
I have been made redundant so not much extra money and visiting son in Australia next week..booked before redundancy thank goodness.
Thankfully my family are very grounded and have never taken anything for granted.
All appreciate that we are kind,caring and supportive parents.

Agree with Needmorelego 👆

An ice cream maker

ninjakitchen.co.uk/product/ninja-creami-ice-cream-frozen-dessert-maker-nc300uk-zidNC300UK

To my absolute and utter shame; I don't know how much we actually spend on Christmas. I buy what the children would like/ask for (not all of it) and occasionally we do a big spend for things we want and gift it to the other spouse. DH is getting a circa £800 gift. I might get myself a hand bag as a treat. We also buy second hand depending on what it is.

Probably spend around £300 ish on in laws and their kids. We only buy for parents in laws and the nieces/nephews. Aunts and uncles get a card. No grandparents on either left for us. Siblings did sweet FA as we buy for the kids, except one who is doesn't have a partner or kids.

£200 ish on a family Santa visit/day out

Decorations and random shite another £200 ish maybe

Food which includes 3 days hosting around £350 - £400 with booze

Mini holiday approx £800 including all costs

We are not well off but are not struggling either. But thinking about it... We spend a disgusting amount of money that could be better utilised elsewhere.

Thanks op for the food for thought here. Next will set a budget and stick to it. Spend you include things like the snata visit and the tree etc? Petrol of going to family cross country...?

I am curious.....is this an adult daughter?
Because if a child daughter I'd be laughing at that request.
Sorry that sounds mean 😂

She’s 12, she loves cooking and all things kitchen. She loves all smoothies, sorbets, ice creams etc. I don’t see why it’s funny, her brother got a PS5 last year which cost double that, why would I treat her differently?