how much do you spend on your teenagers at Xmas?

[ssd]

when mine were small I could get away with spending a little and making it look big, now an x box game is £40 and looks tiny

think I'll be spending £250 each, which I've saved all year for, have 2 kids

ouch

I've heard it gets far more expensive as they get older...

For this reason I do Christmas now while it's great big fun piles of toys and DH has agreed to take over when it becomes men's high fashion and technology I no longer understand .

I dont get threads like this.. honestly.

Everyone has a different budget, and teenagers should be able to appreciate what their parents can and cant afford.

I can only think that threads like this make others feel bad if they havent much cash, and gives some the opportunity to brag.

YABU to ask.

We're spending around £120 per child. I have 3. That's the same budget for the 16 year old and the same as the 5 year old.

They're all my kids so are treated equally in that respect. The youngest still believes in santa but the other two have been told they can choose more expensive presents and get less or less expensive and get more.

I'm sure by many people's standards we're tight arsed since we both earn decent salaries. Xmas is about spending time together and with family and friends. If my kids judge the success of xmas by the number or presents they got or the value then I have utterly failed as a parent.

I'm spending about £100 this year on DS who is 14, but we have just been on a holiday which was mainly for his benefit which cost about £700, so the Christmas spend is a bit lower than usual. He's an only child so I'm able to spend that bit more on him, despite being a single parent.

I used to spend much less when DS was younger, but I'd also wrap stuff like clothes and other bits like stationery, which I would have got for him anyway and I don't see them as presents. Now he's not so impressed with all that, so all presents have to be proper gifts!

Between exdh, my mum, exmil and dp and I probably similar to you op but that'll be i total. Sis and friends will give them cash. Dss are 12 and 15 and into games. They both have stockings in their bedrooms still and there'll be quite a bit in there but useful stuff as well as tat.

I think it's all too commercialised tbh. I'm thinking next year we'll have a holiday instead and just small gifts?

Just bought ds1 15 an I phone4 £320 but his birthday is next week and its for both. And a few stocking fillers, and clothes

We will spend 100 quid each (in the form of cash, one big prezzie, or a couple of smaller ones), then some other stocking fillers. Maximum 120 each

In other years, pre-recession, we spent more

It's all relative, ain't it

I agree with squeakytoy. It must be really hard for people who can't afford much to hear about people spending such a lot more. It's not a competition and no, it's not interesting to hear what others spend if you are on a really limited budget.

WE don't have fixed amounts - either year to year or between each DC.

DS1 (20) will get the pair of £80 shoes that he wants.
DS2 (18) is getting a shaver (about £50)
DS3 (13) we're not sure about yet. Maybe a PS3 game and some clothes.

We've never felt we have to spend the same on each child every year - it all evens out over time.
They do also all get stockings with a mix of some (boring) essentials in, some chocolate/sweets plus a few fun items - nothing expensive though.

We've never gone over the top with presents, but have been there to help when needed such as for DS1 now he is at university or DS2 (re)taking his driving test.

I sort of agree with squeaky I don't like threads like this and there seems to be tons on here atm. Spend what you can afford.

My SD would like us to spend about £500 judging by her 'wish' list.

Our reality list however is more like £30.

DS1 (17) is the only one I haven't bought for yet, the three smaller children were much easier to buy for! I think I am ging to get him a cineworld pass, that means I can pay monthly and spread the cost! I do want t get a couple of other smaller gifts but no idea what to get yet.

If my kids judge the success of xmas by the number or presents they got or the value then I have utterly failed as a parent

In principle I agree with you Nice but if you truly believe that why do you make such a song and dance about spending exactly the same on each child, however (in)appropriate that might be?

Have been to TK Maxx today. They have some good Nails Inc nail varnish sets, St Tropez tanning stuff and nice smellies (reasonable prices)for stocking fillers. Have bought a few for DD.

Rather fabulously, I also got a grey blazer for myself for 15 smackers. Chrimbo outfit now sorted !

I don't necessarily agree with spending the same on each child.

When we were growing up, some years we would get something more expensive if we wanted or needed it (stereo, camera, ski boots) and other years we would have a lesser amount spent and just get a stocking, books, and a few other bits and pieces.
Generally I think we got bigger presents for our birthdays.

Now Mum and Dad are very even though, they spend the same on us all to within a few quid I think - which is absolutely right as we are adults!

We have bought a kids tablet this year, which will be for DS1 initially and then DS2 once he is old enough. It will be labelled to them both though - to save arguments in a year's time when DS1 protests at having to share

That aside I think we've ended up spending about the same on each of them. Not really intentionally, it is just how it has turned out.

I'm spending about £250 each on my teenagers.
However ds is off to Oz on Xmas Day with dh, so dd will get some extra bits in the sales.

Me and dp hav 6 between us and are spending 250 on each, so 1500 collectivly.

Weve both admitted its probobly too much but its our first xmas together as a blended family and wanna go all out :)

I don't agree with spending the same for each child either.

Too much I guess! £120 for phone, £95 for Nike trainers, £25 for new CD player. We are pretty tight with her the rest of the year and she has worked so hard at school this year so it's well earned.

I don't agree with spending the same for each child either

No I don't. That's really stupid. Spend £150 on a much wanted iPod for. 15 yer old, and then £150 on plastic tat for a 5 year old? Resiculos. And then, when your youngest is 18 and wanting driving lessons, you feel the need to spend the same on your eldest adult?

Although saying that my Dad bought my adult brother a TV a few weeks ago and then tried to give me some cash 'to even it out, but don't tell your mum' he's late 30's and I'm mid twenties! Hardly required!

13 yr old DD is getting a ticket to go to the ballet with her friend, Christmas pants, a pair of gloves, etc. Not too expensive, but not cheap either.

I don't think it's getting more expensive: books and DVDs are no more expensive than toys. Will be spending less than most posters on this thread, but know the presents will be appreciated.