How much do you spend on the kids for Xmas

[missrachael]

Sorry I’m sure this thread has been done a million times. Just curious, whenever I read about what some peoples kids are getting I feel like I’m not doing good enough, at all. I plan to spend £300 each this year on 4 kids, so that’s £1200 which is a big amount of money but it also looks like hardly anything compared to some !

Some of these are MAD!

I don’t do budget but try to do something that looks like the following:
Santa offers one ‘bigger’ item - could be a dolls house, could be a remote control tractor. Santa is also gracious enough to provide stocking fillers - think colouring, PJs, stickers, smellies, books etc. Then together we get them a present from us, could be of a similar size/scale to Santa.

Should a big item come into play I.e. bike that’s always a birthday gift. Children always know this, Santa doesn’t do big or expensive things given the Sleigh and insurance for courier issues…

If I were to tally it - probably be in the range of £100 - £150.

I have always tried (and I’ve had older step children), to ensure that Christmas is not out of control and make sure they understand that it’s about all the family coming together. One of our friends gave their children so many presents they didn’t even manage to open them all and they couldn’t even tell me what they got - not the ‘I’m five and I’ve forgotten’ type but because they genuinely couldn’t remember.

Grandparent's/Godparents/ Aunties all get them gifts too so they often have lots even if we did nothing!

I think this is a bit of a pointless thread (I mean it's interesting to see, but it doesn't act as a standard to compare to!) as the amount people spend completely depends on what they can afford, and what their priorities are - which is going to be totally different for everyone.
Some people might be on a high income and spend next to nothing on their kids. Some people may earn next to nothing, but save up all year for making Christmas special. Some people might always go all out for Christmas, but not have holidays or weekends away through the year, and others may get little in the way of gifts but enjoy spending plenty of time with family.
The important things for me are gifts that are thoughtful, and usually something that will be appreciated/ used / practical. I have budgeted around £150 per child, but as long as they each have something they'll really love it doesn't matter too much to me (or them) what is spent on them. They are young at the moment but I hope to instill upon them the values of Christmas which for me is about spending time with family and appreciating the things we have, while being able to show people we care through our gifts.

£100-£150 a child.

About £150 + £50 stocking. Only one DC (9) and this still feels like mad extravagance.

He’s getting: tickets to an event he loves, 2 board games, a squishmallow, a dressing gown, a jumper, a couple of books, a small lego set plus his stocking, which will have pokemon cards, stationary, chocolate, a piece of jewelry (he likes an accessory!), bath bombs etc.

His father will probably spend about £100, but typically on a mid-sized Lego set, rather than lots of small things like I do.

Far more than we should. Only child and we don’t have a budget. He isn’t materialistic so has only asked for a couple of things - Pokemon cards, Roblox credit and a new bottle of prime drink as he likes collecting bottles. He’s more excited both sets of grandparents are coming to dinner.

However I go a bit beserk, can’t help myself. My mum did the same to me as a child and I wasn’t ever bratty and am very sensible with money now.

I really don’t think it matters, it’s how the child receives the gift - being grateful, appreciative etc.

The most important thing is not going into debt.
We will probably spend about £100-£150 per child. (12&14). They aren't into expensive tech or brands... but even little things on their wish lists can add up. DD2 has had her main gift already... we got her a Red Roses rugby shirt to wear to the final, which came to £90. Fortunately she's at the age to accept that although she it got it in September it was her big gift this year. (The final tickets had been her birthday present in March)

I only have one, and we are very comfortable financially. He's 17. I think it will be about 400. Some of it will be cash as he had a thing he wants to save for.

About £150 for gifts but also spend a lot on days out and trips, panto, Christmas lights etc

I’ve got 2 and about £300 each on gifts.

Mine get £100-150 each 2 year old and 9 year old. I never buy anything for the sake of it. To be honest I sometimes struggle, eldest never asks for much. So it’s sometimes less.

A few years ago we did get a Nintendo Switch as a family gift which we use together. My 9 year old has had an iPad in the past but Dads old one - more than sufficient for her and she was chuffed. We may reassess this when it comes to phones/laptops when they are older.

I use Vinted, Temu/Shein, Black Friday, prime day. Even stuff off market place. Always shop around. I pick bits up throughout the year. I got my eldest an Echo Pop prime day in July for £17.

I don’t have kids, but I can’t imagine spending hundreds or thousands on Christmas presents. Is it possible to foster a greater appreciation of ‘experiences’ than ‘stuff’ with a child? Like could I get away with gifting them a city break to a really cool place instead of an X box or whatever?

Or is that fanciful bollocks only a child-free person could come out with?

Spent peanuts when they were little, now they are teeens at least £400 each

We don’t set an exact budget, it’s more about what they would like or need and if we can stretch to it. And the amount isn’t always the same for each DC.

Last year DD had a PS5 which was very expensive but this year she doesn’t want any big electronics and has mostly asked for LEGO.

Budget £500 each. For DS2 I will go over as he’s getting a PS5 which is already £480. DS1 isn’t needing or wanting any big ticket items this year so expect I won’t spend the full amount.

£150 aged 15

It depends on the age of the child.

My 6 year old just wouldn't really understand that as a gift.

But also experiences and stuff aren't so distinct for kids - mine really enjoy board games for example which are obviously physical gifts but we will play them together as fun family experiences. Similarly last year we got a table football table which we play together all the time.

We have gifted weekends in London, Disney Paris, Copenhagen etc over the years but if anything we just end up spending more 🫣.

its a bit fanciful, I’m afraid! And a bit cruel. A child would be very confused about why their classmates all got gifts, and they got the promise of a week in menorca or whatever…

But you can definitely choose gifts which foster experiences and shared time- which is what I do.

Books to be shared with younger children, family board games, tickets for events which speak specifically to the CHILD’S interests (not yours), animal sponsorships which you bolster with a trip to the zoo- are all gifts which I’ve given and have been received with lots of joy.

This year (forgot to say upthread) DS is also getting his first proper chefs knife and a first recipe book. He’s desperate for me to start teaching him to cook, and the gift really just symbolizes this exciting step in his childhood/ skills building. I already know he’s going to be thrilled.

i think about 150€ each but not sure as I’d get here for two on things, find deals etc. Age 10 to 18 (but non sporty so don’t need kits etc, older teens have phones and we have an x box so none of the big stuff to buy)

So true, as difficult as the younger years can be, they do make for cheaper Christmas’s. My 4 year old has asked for a yoyo this year, I said did he want anything else as well? No just a yoyo 😂 an my other is 1, so she’s excited just by the wrapping paper

Genuinely curious - to those that have teens how do you keep the amount down? By us it's the 'norm' for kids to have a new device (phone, laptop, tablet etc) and then have new trainers, clothes, perfume, jewellery etc on top. Trainers alone for teens now are usually about £100-£180. I've tried to keep track of spending this year as I know I spend too much, I won't say exactly how much as it's honestly embarrassing. I have a lot of childhood trauma which unfortunately comes out in me feeling like a complete failure if I can't get my children everything they want (I'm working on it and in therapy so please don't judge). Anyone have any advice more than 'just don't buy it' or 'say no'?

@Mummy3Plus1

same here - i don’t think over compensating is always a bad thing though, I want my two to have a life different to my childhood and DHs too.

The only thing I do is not buy unnecessary tat that will inevitably be binned. I refuse anything from sites like Temu - buying trainers or pjs whatever brand they are, at least they’ll be well used. I also make sure we do some charitable things as well - kids choose a charity or we get the unicef advent calendar, make a clothes donation to the local mosque or do something for the school - reminder that not everyone has it easy. I always buy charity Christmas card and recyclable wrapping/ small things but kids are growing up seeing this.

It’s a difficult time for me and buying my children the things they really want brings me joy (and makes up a bit for crap family) I work with vulnerable children and know Xmas can be shitty but I still over indulge- easily £500 each

@Mummy3Plus1I have teens and I just don’t spend the money! I refuse to go crazy at Christmas and to be honest even though we have a decent household income, I can’t afford it. Not MN decent income, but ordinary world decent.

They get brands and want brands like any other teenagers but they understand that this might mean second hand or similar. If they want £100+ trainers (surely £70 is more common?) then they have to contribute with their allowance.

I don’t indulge the tech. They have a PlayStation, phones, laptop for school, family iPad. That’s enough.

I don’t feel like they’re deprived tbh.

Thank you for that, makes me feel a little bit less guilty knowing I'm not alone.

We started charity presents when my children were young. Dunelm does Christmas tree tags and they each pick one, shop for what that person wanted and give it all packaged back to the charity which has meant they know how lucky they are. This again makes it difficult to not want to give them everything because they are honestly truly grateful for everything they have and would never dream of giving a huge list. I also completely agree with you about Temu and similar sites, I would rather spend 10x the price of something and it last longer than a single wash!

Actually it’s more when you count in ice skating/panto/xmas events etc. mine do save their own money for friends and parents presents, so they also get to enjoy giving!