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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask how much you spend on DCs christmas presents?

406 replies

Splatt34 · 02/12/2012 07:50

Just that really.

DD is 2 & have finally decided what to get her. Adds up to around £70 in total.

how about the rest of you?

OP posts:
natation · 04/12/2012 06:57

Comparing Christmas with weekly essentials is just silly. I spend far more on weekly essentials than on the children at Christmas - food per head in the family is around ?40 a week, over a year that's ?2000. They have to eat, so I buy it (btw they didn't have to wear ?10 of nappies or wipes per week, there are cheaper options too!) So I spend far less on Christmas than the essentials of food, I cannot see what is wrong with that.

Badvocsanta · 04/12/2012 07:15

I have spent about £150 on each of my ds's. eldest is 9 youngets is 4 so very different gifts.
It's a lot of money, no question. Well, it's a lot for us! :)
When I think about what I have got them, most gifts were £10 or under with about 5 over £20.
Got ds2 a skarloey engine from ebay for 99p! He will love it. Also got him a paper plane book which he will also love. Pils have got him a tablet pc (cheap one) which I dont have an issue with. It's their money. My parents have got him some octonauts stuff.
Ds1 has got books, DVDs, ps3 games, pirate role play toys, nerf gun...pils have got him an iPod shuffle and remote control plane...again, they can afford it so that's fine. I think my parents have got him some pirate stuff :)
Oh, and I have got them bath bombs for their stocking. They love bath bombs!
My kids dont get pocket money thhoughout the year, ds1 doesnt eat sweets or choc so for me Xmas is about treats and special things.
Things they would never get at any other time.
I am happy with what I have bought.
It's a shame that people feel compelled/obliged to buy things for the sake of it.
It's not a competition.
I am also sorry for those who are struggling ATM. My parents never had much money when I was growing up. And yet my childhood xmas's were magical. I loved them. Church, lots of food, party games, being together...I know it sounds twee, but Xmas is about so much more than gifts.
Happy Xmas everyone x

BieneMaja · 04/12/2012 07:16

The majority of DDs presents are 2nd hand so I have probably got more for my money than it seems. But I have spent around £90 all in on her. She is 6.

It's hard as her birthday is in November so she just got most of what she "wanted" so there is nothing she is desperately hoping for. I spent at least £50 of it on books....

Badvocsanta · 04/12/2012 07:18

Bienemaja...I spend a lot on books too :)
Ds1 is just becoming a more confident reader and ds2 will be starting school next year so I have gone a bit mad on the book people website!

MrsDeVere · 04/12/2012 07:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Badvocsanta · 04/12/2012 07:28

Mrsdv :)
Not gin?

Badvocsanta · 04/12/2012 07:28

Dunno.
Wouldn't bother me if I didn't get anything tbh.
But I am odd :)

MrsDeVere · 04/12/2012 07:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

monkeyfarm · 04/12/2012 07:33

For children christmas means presents whether we like it or not.
My parents were the let's not make her all materialistic type etc and I had some crap christmases with hardly any presents resulting in a confused little girl who could not understand why she didn't get what her friends got from santa and guess what? now I'm an adult I am quite a materialistic person who likes to have nice things around them.
My girls will have about £300 each apart from the baby who will have about £100 as she is too young to understand and they will have a lovely christmas.

Kelly281 · 04/12/2012 07:42

My DD (14mo) this year has now had around £300 spent on her. I've been doing it all online over 2/3 months, and its not til you write it all down that you realise quite how much you've spent.

It is a a lot, but she does love toys and plays with them all the time so I know she'll enjoy it.

I work hard for my earnings, and I most enjoy spending them on DD, I don't see the problem with that. I don't believe she'll end up spoiled, as she'll see when shes older how hard I work for our families earnings, and that we sometimes have to save for the things we want or need.

notwoo · 04/12/2012 07:43

I still don't get why the quantity of presents is so important to some people and why if they get children a physically small present (iPhone etc) they feel compelled to bulk out with other gifts to look more impressive.

Surely by the time a child is old enough for small expensive things then they are old enough to appreciate that that is more than enough for their parents to shell out for.

Stockings were/are the best bit for me-so magical to wake up and find that father christmas had been.

Badvocsanta · 04/12/2012 07:52

Mrsdv...I LOVE Smirnoff ice!
When I was a kid our old neighbour used to come runs for a drink - this was like 10am on Xmas morning! :) - and she would have a snowball (?) and mum wkd let me have the last but of her babycham :)
Oh yeah....we were proper classy :)

Badvocsanta · 04/12/2012 07:53

Kelly...that's true. I started in sept and got a few things every month...it does add up doesn't it!?

mrsEbruce · 04/12/2012 08:15

Natation. I was using it as an example why to me£10 for our 10 month old isa tiny amount actually regreting writing our spends on this thread for our 3dd yes to some we spent alot but its isnt to us why should i be made to feel bad for it i would never make anyone feel bad. I love to buy the children stuff at christmas aswell as birthdays and all year round infact people have taken things to far with slatting others who gives a hoot what anyone spendsdoes it really effect one anothers lifes?? I think not!!

natation · 04/12/2012 08:26

Unfortunately yes those who spend huge amounts DO affect those who cannot afford to do so. Put yourself in the place of someone who would struggle to afford £10 of presents on a 10 month old.

mrsEbruce · 04/12/2012 08:31

Yes the wouldnt be a nice position to be in i agree but in not and i have said i genuinly thought we were average. Were not well off by anyones standereds i myself am a full time mum we save fron jan to aug/sept to provide what we do and are extreamly proud of it. Who knows maybe one year we wont be as lucky.

Bumblequeen · 04/12/2012 08:36

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Withdrawn at poster's request.

BegoniaBampot · 04/12/2012 08:40

Did you really think that was average? Not having a go, just surprised. I feel a bit guilty spending perhaps up to 200 per child and we can afford more easily but feel our kids are already privileged enough. We do spend a lot on through the year on holidays, expensive sports and eating out and if they need something they get it.

mrsEbruce · 04/12/2012 08:46

Yes we thought what was spent was run of the mill im shocked its not but also at how you get jumped on for it

we also spend all year round on wee treats, outfits, tripsand eating out but i also see this as the norm i suppose its my ignorence to think others dont.

Bumblequeen · 04/12/2012 09:00

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at poster's request.

TellMeLater · 04/12/2012 09:10

For us Christmas is all about gifts, food, alcohol and cheesy films, oh and dh would say Dr Who......and when I was a kid it was also about wearing a new outfit and being forced to go to church. Grin

Sparrows12 · 04/12/2012 09:15

The bore is the whole"matching" thing. My children have acutely sensitive antennae for perceived unfairness but it all does work out in the round. This year, I really want to buy my youngest (13) a retro robertson digital radio - I love it - the racing green one (it's not for me, honestly). But it is £155 and I just can't justify a gratuitous matching expensive present for my other daughter, as there is nothing she really needs. Also, whilst I think the retro radio is just fab, there is no way she will get £155 worth of enjoyment out of it as it will be permanently tuned to radio 1. At least I will get a nice clear radio 4 signal when I'm picking up the dirty clothes on her bedroom floor...

thekidsrule · 04/12/2012 09:42

crikey i cant believe how some people mind what others spend on their dc's at christmas

everybody has different income / outgoings /people will decide for themselves

as i said earlier im a single parent on benefit of 3

will spend 300 each on them and am taking them away for four days over christmas so all in all it will cost me £2/2500 in all

no debt all paid for

i save every week from january

dont have the expense of a car

my morgage is paid of

am a miser at home sometimes

bargain hunt all the time eg,my phone is 4yrs old,i love cooking so keeps cost down

so christmas i do spoil them and also their is no dad about and no his side of the family so yes i suppose i do make up for that

but i dont get into debt or harm anybody

why jump on somebody elses choice it's beyond me

Babycarmen · 04/12/2012 09:45

Far too much, DD1 is getting about £200, maybe just over. She is 5.
DD2 will only be 10mo so shes getting maybe £40-£50 (mostly clothes that she needs anyway) plus some of DD1s old baby toys wrapped up! Its her birthday in Feb so she will get some new toys then too.

thekidsrule · 04/12/2012 09:53

and thank god for the big spenders

the economy needs it Xmas Grin