Spending very little on your kids at Xmas

[quirrelquarrel]

I don't have kids but I know aroundabouts what my parents spend on me and it's usually between £40-100. Some people spend more some less.
So I was wondering, would you ever only spend £10 on your kids each at Xmas, and what would you get them if so, and how would they react? Would you feel guilty or like you'd let Christmas go by that year.....?

absolutely not trying to offend or be all self righteous or whatever, just curious.

I would be fairly stretched financially,(lone parent) so this puts a natural cap on what I spend.

My kids are now 10 and 11 and I generally get them one thing they really want this could cost up to 100 quid and then I buy them ,pants socks, dressing gowns etc. which I would buy anyway.

I suppose I have always been strapped for cash (has been me and the kids for 10 years) So have never considered being able to spend what I would want. I wouldn't spend much more than this, even if I could afford it.

I do however think it is different choosing not to spend and not having the money to buy your kids things. My kids are great never demand anything but sometimes it bloody sucks not been able to get them things . I don't think I would be a better parent buying them things ,but I do wish sometimes I had the choice.

I wasn't going to contribute as sure i'll get stick but maybe a range of perspectives is ok!

DD's main present will cost £15 (a set of Rainbow Fairy books) and she's super excited. She's full of such natural joy and her favourite things are making things out of paper and playing with her friends and she simply loves Christmas! I wouldn't change this if we won the lottery as
I really think the simple things in life can be best and presents give massive joy too but I don't want them to be over exposed to consumerism so early as it is hard to avoid and frankly I don't think we need more 'stuff'. Dd readily tells me when she doesn't need something. She also gets presents from grandparents (who brought me up like this too and our Christmases were magical for all sorts of reasons) and godparents.
Her stocking will be full of exciting bits and pieces and I'd say we look forward and celebrate Christmas very fully.

Showy your Christmas sounds wonderful! I'm writing it all down...

I am a grandma and spend about £50 on each of my dgc [9 of them] I always buy a few bits to go in their stockings, everyone gets a book and either clothes or a toy depending on age.We also spend about £40 each on the adults and I do them all a stocking.I save for it all year.When I can't afford it I won't do it!

£450 quid on a 21 month old

My mum and dad weren't well off and despite my dad suffering with depression all his life and his particularly 'down' time was usually Christmas, me and my sister have great memories of Christmas and have always felt loved and never felt they had failed us in anyway if we didn't get what we wanted. We knew they had done their best for us.

I remember one year when I was about 8.My parents were very hard up indeed.On Christmas morning mum had lined up my favourite dolls [4 of them] and each had a little cardboard suitcase full of new clothes.Mum had bought the cases [about 1/- each] and she and my aunty had sewn and knitted the clothes to fill them. Every doll had her name stencilled on her case.One was called 'Dorothy Margaret Elizabeth Ann' which virtually filled the case.I also had two annuals, a selection box and a stocking.It was one of my happiest ever Christmase.