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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:
winterhill · 03/12/2012 11:11

Well tbh I would rather spend £600, £700 or whatever on the Christmas present, which I have said earlier is usually a piece of kit such as a mountain bike or snowboard or whatever and call it a Christmas Present than buy a Christmas Present and then have to buy a mountain bike later in the year.

All the stuff such a mountain bikes and snowboards are things we do as a family - We snowboard abroad once a year and go to Scotland as many times as we can in the winter months, We mountain bike all year round.

So it makes sense spending the money and calling it a present. It saves me money in the long term.

When I couldn't afford these things I cut my cloth to suit and spent what I could without being silly and going in debt.

I really don't give two hoots what people spend or don't. I have never asked anyone and only disclossed here as it is anonymous chat.

salemsparklys · 03/12/2012 11:13

No idea as I dont add it all up, DD1 mainly wanted money, clothes and make up, DD2 asked for a Kindle fire, 3DS games etc, DS is only 18 mths but we got him Happyland stuff, chalk board etc.
Prob around £300 each on the girls and £150 on DS?

oohlaalaa · 03/12/2012 11:22

winterhill - my children are younger than yours, but my parents bought my brother a mountain bike one year, when he was about 16. It was second-hand, and would have been £1,000 new. If they could have afforded new, they'd have bought new, but fortunately DB understood. I understand when it's a big item. I remember having a piano for Christmas, which I understand cost £700 in 1990, but my parents worked on the principle that it would have a resale value, if I give up, and took the money from their savings. I still have it in our hallway now, and it was worth every penny.

I don't mind spending a lot for big items, just not tat, as I'd rather put the money in a savings account.

Bumblequeen · 03/12/2012 11:28

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at poster's request.

Lancelottie · 03/12/2012 11:28

It's going to add up to about £600 between them this year, but: DS1 needs bedroom furniture and clothes, DS2 needs school dancewear, and DD has a coat included in that lot.

Their 'gifty' presents are quite small and boring-looking compared with the giftwrapped or will be eventually necessities

BabyGiraffes · 03/12/2012 11:29

Talking of expectations... I guess it is easier when the children are younger. My 5 year old dreams of having a hello kitty camera (and will get it, cost me all of 9 pounds using vouchers - when she is older and still interested she can have a proper good quality digital camera, but not at 5). My 2 year old wants a 'rainy deer' and a mr potato head (which cost me 6 pounds; haven't located the rainy deer yet). I would honestly struggle to buy stuff for them at this age and hit £600 unless I bought a bunk bed (which would still be to share).

winterhill · 03/12/2012 11:30

My three current bikes (2 road and 1 mountain bike) are both 2nd hand.
The mountain bike was £1,100 S/H and one of the road bikes was £1000. Bloody fantastic bikes!! I'm off on the road one this afternoon.

Completely off subject but ohlala made me think about my bikes!

HaudYerWheeshtFannyBaws · 03/12/2012 11:56

I have spent £300 on my 5 year old DS. He doesn't get toys the rest of the year except maybe some toy cars from Sainsburys. I haven't got into debt either. My sister, however, has spent £300 each and I know that she has got into debt with it. She said she doesn't want them to feel left out and to keep up with their friends.

BegoniaBampot · 03/12/2012 12:15

I was going to say what do you spend 500 or 600 quid per child on but if it's big expensive pieces of sports equipment for older children or clothes then that makes sense to do it at Christmas. I feel guilty spending sometimes up to 200 per child and we aren't on a budget as I know others out there are spending a lot less. Imagine as they get older thou what with sports and wanting more expensive clothing we spend a lot more. We are also away on holiday for Christmas so don't know if that sort of counts too.

Preferthedogtothekids · 03/12/2012 12:27

I have two teenagers and now spend about £200 each, £150 for a main present and £50 on pyjamas and little gifts - this year is more expensive as they are both in adult sizes now!

When they were younger it was often shared gifts, the PS2 and the Wii were shared, their ipods were bought a joint gifts from us and the Grandparents. I don't think we are excessive.

What I do find slightly disturbing is what people buy for younger children. When mine were below 10 they didn't get electronic stuff, it was activity based or imaginary toys - toys that don't cost lots of money or are particularly breakable. Ipods for 5 year olds? Really?

IsabelleRinging · 03/12/2012 12:34

I don't think anyone needs to justify what they spend, you should be able to give your children whatever you feel appropriate. If your kids are used to having lots then there will be 'disappointed faces' on Christmas day if they got a lot less. I wouldn't be able to get dd much for £50, toys are so expensive! The lego set alone was £60! and it looks like nothing.

melika · 03/12/2012 12:42

Well that's ok if you have both sets of GPS and lots of relatives but I haven't and that's why I don't want sad little faces.

BegoniaBampot · 03/12/2012 12:53

Well that's true, our families all live far away and usually just send money so no 'presents' under the tree from them to make it look better. I sometimes use their money to buy what they kids want, wrap it up myself and label it from auntie or uncle so and so. Makes me feel less guilty about spending a ridiculous amount and spoiling them and they get some more presents to open up. Problem is they probably might just enjoy getting the money and deciding themselves.

IfNotNowThenWhen · 03/12/2012 12:57

Lady letch-I didn't really mean that children would expect bigger and better presents every year, just that there seems to be an expectation that they will get really expensive presents in general.
I suppose I grew up without much, so things like (the equivalent of) ipods and such would have been things that only older children would have got, with part time jobs, and much saving!
It's lovely for kids to get these kinds of gifts, and I am sure the ones who do are not spoiled and awful, but maybe there is something to be said for not always getting expensive stuff really easily?
That's what I meant by "what will they aspire to?"
I myself aspire to having a MacBook, but will have to work a damn sight harder to afford one for myself!
Also, where I live there are quite a lot of well off families, and I find it a bit sad that children who will definitely not get laptops, bikes, and X boxes (are they the thing still?-no idea!) will feel out of place. And people do get into debt to get their kids things that "all" the other kids are getting.

Emmielu · 03/12/2012 13:36

ENormaSnob my sister is 26, she'd rather have a birthday present than a xmas present. She stopped her xmas list when she turned 20.

SantaJaxx · 03/12/2012 14:28

In previous years we spent around £200 each on the kids. This year though we're on the dole, so we've spent £60 each on them. It's a bit shite TBH but we've already told them that Santa is skint this year because Daddy isn't working. I don't understand the logic behind that, but apparently they do as they didn't question it. Grin They're 20, 9 and 6.

mumof2girls99 · 03/12/2012 14:36

for my 2 daughters aged 3 and one

we spent £200 on year old
and £150 on 1 year old i dont tend to pick an amount to spend tbh its just what was choosen i also get the girls a new dress every year so another £50 their but obviousley thats not a presant

jen127 · 03/12/2012 15:21

We have only 1 DS(10) and a small family on either side. His presents consist of new trainers and sportswear which I know will be worn through out the year and he has asked for a dart board and an ipad( which was bought in the US) which I have said if he does get it is a shared family present We have always told him that Mum and Dad have to give Santa a dig out with the financials so that everyone can get presents Grin.
He will be delighted with whatever he gets! Usually the cheapest tackiest present's are always the winner, as an only child and the youngest by 20 years in the family he just wants to have fun with his pals!

Lancelottie · 03/12/2012 15:26

A dress ins't a present?? Don't tell DD...

SaraBellumHertz · 03/12/2012 15:35

DD1 (7) about £250, although she doesn't really have a main present - there is very little she wants and it is her birthday between now and Christmas.

DS1 (6) about double - he wanted an iPad mini and some quite specific Lego sets.

DD2 (20mths) about £50. I mean she's a baby, what on earth could I buy her?!

I've still go a bit more shopping to do - they get quite a lot of "practical" gifts, craft supplies, PJ's, toiletries, basically stuff I'd buy anyway and I try and ensure their piles look about the same size.

It's crazy really Blush

Jojobells1986 · 03/12/2012 15:38

Less than £9, including postage. DS turned 1 in Oct & had loads of presents so doesn't really need anything extra. We got him a Spot DVD in Welsh to help me teach him! We're expecting DC2 next June so we've got to save up for that & at 14 months he's not going to care! Grin

autumnlights12 · 03/12/2012 15:40

way too much. I buy loads. The stocking alone is about 50 quid each. Probably 200 quid each. At least. I know. They are ruined.
(but I can't help it, I love making their Christmas amazing)

ShamyFarrahCooper · 03/12/2012 16:27

DS is 5 and I reckon we've spent around £200.

Justforlaughs · 03/12/2012 16:34

£50 each on main present plus a stocking (which this year may be less full than previous years). It suits us as a family and, although I sometimes feel a bit guilty when I hear how much my DCs friends get, I think that it's enough tbh. We do have a large family who will buy as well, but no-one goes too mad, most presents will cost between £5 and £10, with grandparents spending up to £25.

natation · 03/12/2012 17:23

IT averages £50 per child, 4 of them together, plus maybe a few stocking fillers. If one of our children needed a bicycle, we wouldn't buy that for Christmas and that would be more than £50 unless I found a bargain second hand bike. We don't include clothes either, unless it's something like a football shirt - eldest got a £40 Arsenal shirt as his birthday present for example. IF you added up our income together, it would put us a little bit into the 40% tax bracket. Even if we earned more though, I would hope we would still keep to the same budget.