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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how much you plan on spending on DCs at Christmas?

400 replies

Snowflakes1122 · 28/10/2016 18:35

I ask because dc10 seems to have a lot of friends getting the iPhone 6 or 7 for Christmas. I'm talking 9/10 year old kids!

I was planning on spending £150 per child (we have 3 dcs)

What do you think is an acceptable amount to spend on your children at Christmas?

OP posts:
BlueSpottyTiger · 28/10/2016 20:46

We've spent around £100 on our daughter she will be 11 months at Christmas. We will put money in her savings too, As she is getting alot o gifts from family. Her birthday is in Jan so she won't get any more toys then just money again for her savings.

Ellieboolou27 · 28/10/2016 20:47

Does it matter?

OhTheRoses · 28/10/2016 20:49

Just read the thread. When I said they had generous grandmas I meant ones who give them £75 each so another £150 each.

yesterdaysunshine · 28/10/2016 20:49

No.

But I for one like reading about others' lives, gasping in envy and hoiking my pants in judgement Grin

EC22 · 28/10/2016 20:50

200-300 on the 2 teenagers
Up to £100 on the 3 wee ones
I tend not to tally though

CJCreggsGoldfish · 28/10/2016 20:50

About £100 each (age 5 and 2), but they both have November birthdays, and we will buy clothes, books etc throughout the year when they need them. We're buying DS a balance bike, otherwise he'd probably have a lot less spent on him as he has all his sisters old toys already, plus we're quickly running out of space!

multivac · 28/10/2016 20:51

As I do every year, I will be spending £500 on twin A, and £15 on twin B.

We're going to see who grows up to be the better human being.

SockQueen · 28/10/2016 20:54

DS will only be 3 months old so won't know what's going on, and will be spoiled by grandparents etc. I'll get a few things for him to play with wrapping paper etc, but doubt I'll spend more than £30 or so. It'll be more as he gets older, but will depend on how we're doing financially and what he wants/needs. We won't be having massively extravagant gifts though.

IminaPickle · 28/10/2016 20:57

clarinsgirl I'm not dictating?! I'm not sweetdreams accountant. And I think that spending £1000 on a 5yo's christmas presents in ridiculous. Not that in any circumstances spending that on a child is- but codifying it, wrapping it up, and presenting it on one day is ridiculous.

blurredlines · 28/10/2016 20:57

£70 on dd who's 3 and £150 on dd 10 and 13.

Rolocookies · 28/10/2016 20:59

About £60 for a play kitchen. He's going to be so happy, I can't wait.

expatinscotland · 28/10/2016 21:01

£100 each all in (incl. stocking stuffers). Cannot afford more than that as one child also has a birthday in November and the other in December.

clarinsgirl · 28/10/2016 21:02

iminapickle you said no child should have that much spent on them. That's dictating. People are different, circumstances are different.

Beth2511 · 28/10/2016 21:02

About £350 on dd and dsd each. However dd includes a £100 bed. DSD wants to go see lion king so she's got ticket for that, madame taussa ds and a few bits to open. Ds will be 12 weeks but he has a jumperoo and a few other bits that he would have got over the year but is getting fo Christmas for dds sake

ShesGotAMapOfTheWorld · 28/10/2016 21:04

Depends on what he asks for. Last year he just wanted some cadet stuff and aftershave. Cost about £100 plus little stocking presents like books, deodorant, pants etc. This year he wants a decent camera as he has started photography as a hobby and A Level option, so has asked us all to chip in for it.

ample · 28/10/2016 21:05

A lot of DD's friends (10 & 11 year olds) are the same.
All my DD has asked for (and not on a list) is a pair of trainers.
Love this girl so much Grin

Thingywhatsit · 28/10/2016 21:05

Ds (14) just had his birthday and had a joint Xmas/bday present of £500. This was a huge spend for me (single parent currently not working) but I have gone without for the majority of the year so I could buy it and selling bits that I didn't need. It was equipment for his hobby which he is talented at and couldn't progress without it. Previous years it wouldn't have been huge spend as although I was single parent I was working full time and didn't have dd. Dd(2) is having whatever bargains I find on Amazon and also some pre loved bits. Spent about £50 so far and will probably spend another £50. Exp has just agreed to cover half the spend on santas pressies so that takes a bit of the pressure off but I probably won't spend more just cos he is now paying half. She is getting stuff that she needs toys wise, as a lot of her stuff is a bit babyish now so not unnecessary spending.

DS will also have some bits in stocking, like some bargain branded tshirts I picked up a and smellies and socks (lots of deodorant as he smells!) but all stuff he needs and I would have to buy anyways. Mainly just giving it to him on Xmas morning as dd thinks Santa is bringing presents for both of them. That will probably come to about £50

I think what you spend on your kids at Xmas is all relative to your finances, the traditions you have around Xmas and what the kid actually needs. I don't agree with people getting in debt to give kids expensive presents like phones etc and I don't particularly like spoilt children who don't know the value of money either. My ds knows exactly how precious his present is and knows what I have gone without to get it - makes him a lot more thankful despite some of his mates just been given them cos they needed them not cos it was their birthday/Xmas

IminaPickle · 28/10/2016 21:08

clarinsgirl I don't think you know what dictating means. By definition, on an anonymous forum anything I say is an opinion of my beliefs not a dictat Hmm

onecurrantbun1 · 28/10/2016 21:08

I don't really have a budget but it's usually around £50 each including stocking and the box the elves bring on Christmas Eve (PJs, book and DVD). My eldest is only 5 though.

I don't spend money for money's sake so they each get a present they'd love and their stocking and that's it. Last year their main present was a wooden doll's house with furniture - in virtually new condition from eBay so £35 between them.

That said, they did have a climbing frame in summer - I used their Christmas money from others but we probably put £120 ishtowards it too, and it wasn't "for" anything. No point waiting til December for garden toys imo.

Voteforpedr0 · 28/10/2016 21:10

We spend a different amount each child each year some years a tiny amount and others quite a large amount, mine don't get all year round and only 1 or 2 small gifts on their birthdays. I buy them what I think they'll need for the coming year so if that includes books or a bike then that's what they'll get, also things we can enjoy together as a family so board games and stuff. Then I'll consider sensible wants from the dreaded Xmas lists they think went to the north pole.

Swirlingasong · 28/10/2016 21:12

Amazed by some of these! We do not have a set amount but it tends to be between £20 and £40 per child, depending on what they need/ want. They have two sets of grandparents and an aunt who spend around £20 each, I guess. But, as others have pointed out, if we were the only ones buying the presents, that would be around £100 each so it's swings and roundabouts.

My children have started Christmas lists already. This is because grandparents like to know exactly what to get. One set have commitments that makes December horribly busy so shopping is done early. The other is elderly and likes to go out and actually buy presents but lives in a large city where to be honest the business of Xmas shopping in December is just too much for them to cope with. Our families are also spread far and wide so presents either have to be posted or exchanged when we meet over the winter for those we don't see at Xmas. Plus, there are lots of good sales on now!

OvOntToSuckYourBlood · 28/10/2016 21:12

No idea. Never added it up.

Though actually I could give a rough idea for my DS1 as he asked for only one item which is a joint Christmas and (November) birthday present.

I buy what I think they'll like. I don't buy on credit. I don't make sure I spend the same on both DC - how could I, I don't keep track?! They've always been happy. I'm happy. DH is less grumpy - his equivalent of happy. Xmas Grin

clarinsgirl · 28/10/2016 21:13

OK iminapickle, have it your way but you come across as someone who thinks they get to tell others how to behave and that is in fact what you said.

ample · 28/10/2016 21:14

I don't put a price limit on Christmas gifts for DD but she doesn't get everything on her list.
I only have one DC to buy for so maybe that makes it easier?
In previous years we've bought the usual... bike, roller skates, iPod, iPad (only one main gift each December) and I don't buy stuff for the sake of buying just to make up an x amount spent.
Some years are cheaper than others depending on what she would like.
This year just happens to be a cheaper one. Yay!

marvelousdcomics · 28/10/2016 21:16

At the most £200 per child. We have 3 DS's (14,13&10). They get a new outfit, a pair of casual shoes, a pair of running trainers (love running), underwear, socks, a cd/dvd, a bedding set, lots of books, and then a few more bits. Also get a stocking. I don't include the stocking in the price though. It contains 2 satsumas each, a small gingerbread house (get no other edible stuff), some deodorant /bath sets, an annual and some notebooks/pens/drawing stuff. Also get a onesie.