how much do you spend on presents at xmas?

[NordicPrincess]

how old are your children and what do you buy them? how much do you spend?

I do believe in having open and honest relationships with the DCs once they're past believing in Santa.

So I tell them that there is a budget for Christmas. Then we spend months planning whatever the new gizmo is, and researching it and whatever.

This year DD has decided to sell her macbook and upgrade it to a macbook pro. Which doesn't sound like much in the scheme of things but is actually quite costly. DS is having an iphone and a pair of skis. No more than £500 each.

umm
about 25 pounds each if at all poss.
baby will get a little tikes rocker (ebay) we will just wrap up a few recycled bits otherwise and make sure there are balloons, shiny paper and a cardboard box!!

others want a rocking horse! and a red bike hoping an elc dino racer, something remote controlled or a little tikes slide/cube will do the trick (all e bay I'm madly hunting allready) stocking has chocs, orange socks bath bits in usually a dvd from somewhere usually stick socks or tshirt and a book or two in as well
dh usually nothing maybe a bottle

all pretty much doable

what will break the bank though is that everyone has a birthday between now and Christmas

we have not splashed out over the last few years and TBH I'm glad since both me and dh have lost our jobs this year
so in a funny way the best bit will be that for the first time since they were born neither of us will be working

For DC1-2, at age 0-4 my usual spend was under a tenner each. Then we changed to about 60 quid each. Now those same DC will be 9 & 11 soon, and I think 60 quid is probably a bit mean... plus I can't get away with being so miserly to DC3-4, even though they're still quite young...

This is the sort of thread that makes me go around the twist . When DC are being ungrateful brats I revert to thinking that 60 quid each each is PLENTY. But we can afford a lot more, and reading this thread, I wonder if I'm being mean and horrid .

I have no judgements about how much any of you lot spend (charity shop oranges or gold-plated oranges, all fine by me). Some of our best friends only spend a tenner each child. Those kids are delightfully feral and happy.

I vote that this thread gets moved to the Christmas topic, btw!

I am shocked at the amount some people seem to be spending on their children - there are lots of very spoiled kids out there, not appreciating half of what they are getting by the sounds of things. All sounds a bit distasteful and over the top IMO. (Bah humbug)(but then shopping does seem to be this nation's favourite pastime)(and we are bringing up the next generation to follow suite)

I hate the assumption that if you spend alot at Christmas your children must be 'Spoilt Brats'. My DC's appreciate the presents they have - I dont buy things willy nilly.

We never have a budget, we just buy what we think they really want and things that they need.

This year they will get a TV(for games and DVDs) and PS3 for the playroom, so the sitting room is ours again!!

oops and they are getting bikes.

I don't count. I usually get one or two 'big' things they want and then buy bits and pieces that I see that I think they'd love. I do it for friends and other family too. I like 'spoling' people at Christmas. And I tend to buy more expensive than they would themselved. Friend said she wanted nail varnishes for her birthday recently. I bought her pricey brands that she would never buy herself.

I love seeing the faces of people when they open something that they weren't expecting because they would never ask for it but they love.

It's about the giving IMHO. And to quote my mother 'It's my money, I earn it and I'll spend it on what the hell I like !!

They will be 2,4,7,8. We do not buy things throughout the year.

Excellent posts, colditz

BTW I really don't understand people on small budgets that still spend considerable amounts on their OH's. When money is tight DH and I have token (less than £5) gifts because it's important to show the dcs that we matter but not take money from them, iyswim.

I must be tight!! DS gets about £50 max on a christmas present but then he is only 3.

DD was only born 8 days before Christmas last year so we got her very little and I doubt we'll spend much this year either as she will just have got a massive haul of birthday presents and is too tiny to care anyway.

I just try and buy them nice things I think they'll like. DS got more spent on him the year before last cause we bought him the Happyland starter set which he loves.

In my defense though, both children have 2 sets of very generous Grandparents and 5 sets of equally generous Aunties/Uncles who all get wonderful presents for them. We wouldn't be able to move in our tiny house if I bought a stack of new stuff too!!!

It depends on what they want.
It depends on what I am prepared to buy them.

I am often very sensible with lists and budgets and stuff and then I go out a day or two before christmas and buy like a twit. It is a kind of joy and panic event that I have become accustomed too.

I try now not to leave the house after about the 22nd

I liked your posts too colditz. It doesn't make children spoilt to get nice things/go out now and again - it makes them feel valued and loved and special.

My children have everything they need, dd2 loves getting the smallest things ds doesn't really know any different as he has sn but he certainly doesn't expect to much he is saving up himself for his next games console none of my children are spoiled.

Pag i am the same.

I buy most of the big presents first week of December - then go out, drink some mulled wine and spend like a whirling dervish on Christmas eve in a fog of Christmas cheer.

I must be the meanest ever. My DH expects to spend about £500 on Christmas. That includes DS who is 15, two adult DCs, DiL and two GC. In that he would also expect the annual visit to the panto on Boxing Day to be included and extra food because obviously adult DCs come home for either Christmas Day or Boxing Day. Added to that DS2 has a birthday over Christmas, although he usually goes to an event in November for his birthday treat. DH and I never give each other Christmas presents. I think I am going to work on him to up the budget though!

Yes, it really does add up.

I buy from sales and from places like amazon and the book people so NEVER pay full price for books and dvds and yet I will have spent £75-100 on each ds.

I will also be making homemade gifts with ds1 of cookies, mint balls and chocolate rudolphs for family members.

I will also be making decorations rather than buy them. Lots of paper snowflakes in this house!!!

Its not about how much you spend, its about whether you can afford it, and whether you are buying just for the sake of it or stuff your dc really want/need.

I ask for money for b days and xmas as I can buy new clothes which I cant afford the rest of the year.

Me too, I am sensible and then go a bit shopping nuts on the internet and in real shops!

about £80- to £100 for DD.

£10 for everyone else. Last year we decided it was bloody stupid spending so much money on stuff and i came up with the £10 rule. It was rather fab and everyone got some really nice, well thought about gifts. becuase it was little to spend you really thought about what they wanted. Bar my mum who just wrapped up £10 with a chocolate bar! lol

But DD ends up with about £400 being spent on her as her dad will spend the same and then all the extended family and things. ( she seems to be expemt from the £10 thing)

DS will be 7 by Xmas - Lego Harry Potter which is £100 but depending whether I can get my hands on one sooner - he may get it for his forthcoming 7th birthday instead and think of something else (not Lego) for Xmas. DD (nearly 4 at Xmas) is getting my JL Playmobil Circus Top bargain of the year which was approx £25. Her birthday is in Jan but I'm sure that the Jan sales will come up trumps with a birthday present. Yes - they are also get stockings - usually DVD/game/book/choc/small toy and that's it. DS got a new bike for his last birthday so no need for a 'big' present this year. DD will be inheriting DS's first proper bike soon - such is the lot of the younger sibling.

DD will be 16mo at Christmas and we'll probably spend about £25. Mostly on eBay, I expect. She'll get presents from the GPs and other family so we won't go too overboard. I'll try to source some cheap things for her stocking (which is purposely small ).

TBH, this year will be tight on all presents because I'm only working part-time.

I'm not sure how much this year but have been one of those people reading these threads to myself each year, tutting under my breath at some of the amounts people spend.

This year DH has been made redundant. We're find, savings in the bank and I save for Christmas all the year round. But I found myself really focusing on Christmas and wanting to buy more than I usually would, wanted to make it special as I have been saying no to pretty much everything recently. I now really understand why people do splash out if things are tight all year.

Mugglewump has such a good point about all the extras throughout the year (pets, stuff after school), I hadn't thought of that. So I'd like to apologise anyone I've silently judged over the years on here !

DH has just gone freelance yesterday and has work lined up so hopefully we are fine. But it was a sobering experience and did make me think.