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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:
melika · 03/12/2012 08:49

Yes, yes, I agree, I say to them around this time to write that letter to Santa and it must only be 5 items. No more. And...that is exactly what they get or the nearest equivalent. They are 13 and 18 now!

melika · 03/12/2012 08:52

Last year it was iphone 4 and blackberry bold, phones were free but I pay the contract! So some presents are paid for throughout the year. (Tescos, very reasonable)

mrsEbruce · 03/12/2012 08:59

£600 doesnt stretch far these days i dont know how i would do it on less never mind under £100??

We give our oldest dds 9 and 7 a list to write and there budgets £500 then £100 worth of surprises but they do choose some clothing and footwear but even these add up dd9 wanted doc martins there 90!! There pile of presents isnt obcene they just choose decent quality things

to all the mums doing good piles for under 100 hats off to you all you must have a seacret the rest of us dont know about

melika · 03/12/2012 09:18

Hear, hear, MrsEbruce, I can imagine a few disappointed little faces too.

When I was a teen, I remember saying at school I got a fiver for Christmas and a stocking, I was being honest! Most of my friends said they had clothes and £50,back in the late 70's. They were lying little toads and it really made me feel bad. I was, that disappointed little face, but there was no option, we were poor.

Today, I do my very best to have happy faces at Christmas without going into debt.

BabyGiraffes · 03/12/2012 09:43

Melika no disappointed faces here I can assure you even after spending less than £80 for two

MissCellania · 03/12/2012 09:48

If you have disappointed faces after you give them their presents, you haven't taught them the point of christmas very well.

cantspel · 03/12/2012 10:04

christmas can be done quite cheaply if you have little ones but if you have teens then it is really hard to keep the cost down. An xbox game alone is over £40, cloths and trainers are man sized and so more expensive. You cant fill a stocking from poundland unless you have girls who like hair, nail and smelly stuff. Boys are even harder as even a can of lynx is over £2.
My budget was £250 per teen but i have gone over and i still have a few bits i need to get.

BrandyAlexander · 03/12/2012 10:19

bumble, yes the dcs are very blessed. I didn't have grandparents in my life growing up so to have them, all the extended family and to be so loved by them is truly a blessing. The mounds of presents is a bonus! Last year they got much that I had to take half away as it was overwhelming! It means they have had lots of presents during the year. But of course the rellies never seem to see them without some little gift coming back home with us. It's nice to give them the pleasure of being able to spoil the dcs. However, dh and I keeping say to each other behind closed doors "who the hell are these people as this is sooo not what they were like 30 years ago!". They all claim amnesia Grin

Hobbitation · 03/12/2012 10:26

I will have spent £200 altogether on both of them as got them each a Maxi Micro Scooter and a onesie. I don't always spend that much but I think the scooters will last a long time and be well used.

kaz1119 · 03/12/2012 10:29

i am just Shock about the amount some of you are able to spent.

will spent about £10 on each child (we pay £££ for childcare, DC1 has complex SN - not much help available on the NHS and most therapy therefore self funded - doesn't leave a lot money for pressies Sad ). nothing for DH or myself and will just try to spent some nice time together with the DC.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 03/12/2012 10:31

I have 3 brother's and im pleased i have 3 dd's. I agree boy's cost much more than girls to buy for.

If anyones got stuff to buy still i started off at toys r us, put the same stuff in the basket at argos then got the same stuff cheaper at woolworths online plus a flicker free. Obviously it depends on what you want and whats on offer but woolworths is deffo worth a look. Also pay cash not on account

Bumpsadaisie · 03/12/2012 10:32

We have spent £200 on an Islabike for DD (3.5). It's a lot but they have good resell value and it can be handed down to DS (1). And I don't mind paying money for a quality thing like that which will get lots of use and get DD out in the fresh air exercising, and help get her learn a new skill (riding a pedal bike) I.e. it seems like a "wholesome" kind of present.

Other than that I have budgeted to spend £30 on each of them.

They have two sets of grandparents, one set of great-grandparents, one great-uncle and great-aunt, one great-great-aunt, four godparents (each), 7 cousins, 8 aunts and uncles, all of whom buy them presents. So I reckon £30 is plenty.

I consider DDs bike out of the equation really as that is an investment for both of them (and us, as we want to go cycling!) and we just happen to be buying it at this time of year.

Bumblequeen · 03/12/2012 10:33

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at poster's request.

Hobbitation · 03/12/2012 10:35

I used to have a (much) bigger disposable income but still didn't spend more than £100 on each child, just not necessary.

oohlaalaa · 03/12/2012 10:37

No disappointed faces at £40 each. Smile If there is something specific that they need, or have been wanting for ages, then we will push the boat out.

They share a laptop and desktop, with mum and dad. I really don't see that they need a iPad or games consoles or their own laptop. They have lots of hobbies, and are always busy.

If I had £600 to spend, then I'd probably spend £60 each, and put £540 in their savings accounts, for university or buying car/house.

MrsDeVere · 03/12/2012 10:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

winterhill · 03/12/2012 10:43

Hobbittation It mightn't be necessary for you to spend £600 but please don't speak for others.

Ragwort · 03/12/2012 10:43

apostropheuse - I was about to post the opposite to you - I don't know anyone in RL who spends these huge sums of money on Christmas.

The 'value' of my DS's presents is about £100 but the majority (mobile phone) was bought with Tesco points Grin. This his first ever technological gadget at age 11 Grin.

I am clearly in the pious camp as I am frankly amazed that people spend so much on presents - and have the space to store it (Hmm at the comments 'we donate old toys to charity shops' - if you are buying such huge volume of new stuff every year then last year's gifts aren't really that 'old' are they? Grin). We could if we wanted to spend considerably more on our DS (only child, we have a very comfortable life style) but just think it is totally OTT.

Still, each to their own and all that, Happy Christmas to all Smile

Ragwort · 03/12/2012 10:50

Something that worries me (and why I can't keep away from this subject Grin) is that clearly some people do get into a lot of debt in trying to buy more and more expensive presents for their children and see it as a huge disappointment if they can't treat their children. There are so many threads on MN about how people struggle, it seems very sad to me that it is almost seen as the 'norm' so spend such excessive sums on presents.

I help with various projects for people on very low incomes and it is sad to see people going with food and heat but still saying proudly 'I've bought X for my children' - when you know X costs £££££s Sad.

nocakeformeplease · 03/12/2012 10:54

I agree with hobbittation- I couldn't care less what other people spend on Christmas presents (or anything else for that matter). We could afford more for the DC but at the moment there really isn't that much they want or need. I also accept it gets more expensive as they get older - but of course it isn't necessary for anyone to spend £600.

And as for the disappointed little faces comment - that has to be one of the most stupid and insensitive things I've read on here in a while.

oohlaalaa · 03/12/2012 10:54

Ragwort - yes, I was thinking the same. I don't think any of our friends spend over £100 on Christmas, many considerably less. Unless it is a one off, such as ipod, bike etc.

Apostropheuse - I can only assume your children all went to private school, and must have mixed in very different circles to me, as I was born in 1982, and mum and dad would never have spent £250 on us, I think it was closer to £25 each. I don't recall it being an issue growing up. We never went without.

MrsDeVere · 03/12/2012 10:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsEbruce · 03/12/2012 10:57

Im not wanting or trying to sound smug at all sorry to appear so im sorry that you dont have more to spend but because i choose to spend what i want and people judge for it i havent judged anyone on here i said i wouldnt be able to buy what my dds want on a smaller buget. Each to there own i do not get into debt for it so why im i having to justify it. Myself and dh thought what we were run of the mill budgets before reading this clearly not..... I also believe every childs happy on the day no matter there budget!!

Badvocsanta · 03/12/2012 11:04

Sad little faces?
That was a really shitty comment.
I spend a fair bit on my dc but I know that they would be just as happy with half of what they get.
They have 2 sets of GPS and aunts and uncles who all buy for them too.
It's lovely but they enjoy all the other (and imo the most important) parts of Xmas too...the tree, church, carol services, panto baking etc...the gifts are a bonus.

oohlaalaa · 03/12/2012 11:10

mrsEbruce - sorry, I don't mean to judge. I think it's just shock that £600 is spent per child at Christmas, as this is a lot of money to DH and I. After household (inc food) bills, car expenses, and one holiday a year, we have a disposable income of about £300 a month, for a family of four, this includes clothes, gadgets, furniture/ curtains and all activites/meals out. Furnitures a random one to include, but any non-maintenance improvements to our house, come out of the £300 a month budget.

I could never imagine having our children, give us a list of christmas items, with a total cost of £600 each. Their expectations, are the level that we can afford, if this makes sense. It would make sense, that your DCs expectations, are adjusted, to what you can afford.