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

[Snowflakes1122]

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?

[Katinkka]

About £750 per child. I have 3 boys.

[colouringinagain]

Wow. I'm honestly a bit surprised and I wasn't born yesterday. Will spend max £70 on dcs, 8,11. They'll get some other pressies from family but nothing over £25. Dh and I will spend £50 on each other, plus buy for parents, siblings, nieces and nephews etc... All this is a stretch and we're not exactly low income.

[Wibblewobble100]

I guess we spend about £150 per child a year. Neither DH or I are big spenders although we are both higher tax bracket earners. We would splash out for special items associated with a life skill or hobby the DC were pretty dedicated to, for example golf clubs, musical instruments, driving lessons at 17, and would expect to do this every 3-4 years. We would spen £££s on an iPhone, tv, computer or a car etc. If DC want these they save pocket money or do chores to earn more/ get a job if old enough and we might match what they earn. I find it very hard to understand why family's would spend £1000 on disposable stuff that kids will only use for a year or less unless you literally have more money than you know what to do with. That's not meant to be a criticism, I may just be tight!

[Wibblewobble100]

**we wouldn't spend ££££ on iPhones, tv..... Etc

[LadyAEIOU]

About £100 ish. DSS at that stage where he just wants money to buy something bigget later on and DD only 7 months.

[soontobemrsmckeown]

Between birthday (jan)and Christmas on toys and books I've spent 650 need to get a few bits still so say 750/800 between birthday and Christmas. This is a massive cut back for me to spend it's usually that on each but dd age 4 (nearly 5) doesn't need anything or want anything but a couple of lego sets and a game. She is having a extravagant birthday party and understands that's part of her b day gift. She's also having a vist from Belle on Christmas Eve at 7.30 just before bed to make it extra magical for her this year.

[Notso]

Our budget for all Christmas presents is £1000-£1200. That includes our 4 DC, 8 nephews/nieces/godchildren, 2x£50 secret Santa present for DH's side of the family, my parents, sister and BIL, DH's Nan and godmother and a few family friends, I usually try and put the deposit on a turkey as well.

I'd find it hard to spend more than £150-£200 on my 5 and 4 year olds without just buying for the sake of it unless it was a bike or something. Where as £200 doesn't buy much for my 12 and 16 year olds. The trainers DS1 told me he liked today were £70, he is adult size 9 now.

[OhTheRoses]

We don't spend a massive amount on presents relatively speaking but I love Christmas and so does the family. It's about the whole experience.

I live the candles being lit through advent, the carol concerts and music generally, the crib service, the decorations and ours go up a week before. The cards, oh the excitement of the cards on the mat and news within. The guests arriving, the ham steaming in the oven with a bastardised nigella basting, the cold meat and pickles, and turkey and ham pie, even MIL and a week later waving goodbye. Parsnip soup with some devilment. Counting the Christmas morning collection. Getting up at 6 and having a glass of sherry while stuffing the bird and champagne at 11. Feeling too tired and tipsy to enjoy a late lunch but enjoying the occasion anyway.

The fact that everyone wants to come is what makes it, not the presents. The fact the children want to be here and even miserable MIL wouldn't be anywhere else.

Of remembering school nativities where dd was the innkeeper and ds fell off the stage. Of x's drinks which still happen though she barely knows what day it is.

It's about memories and love. The smell of Christmas, the spices, the turkey, the rich food boffs in front of the Christmas 9pm tv .

[autumnintheair]

We are probably the top 5% of earners but we spend about £100 on DD2. Couple of Disney DVD's and maybe some Christmas pyjamas

nothing to you personally but your post made me think of some uber wealthy cousins who would also pride themselves on a relatively restrained xmas for their dc. Giving small and thoughtful gifts. Widen the camera lens though and you will see the dc already have a huge amount normal dc wouldn't enjoy, its just brought all year round as a given, not as a special gift. As well of course all being sat in a beautiful huge house, decorated to the highest degree with everything they could want or need.

[autumnintheair]

the ham steaming in the oven with a bastardised nigella basting

[autumnintheair]

She's also having a vist from Belle on Christmas Eve at 7.30 just before bed to make it extra magical for her this year.


^^ sounds interesting how and what will belle do!

[soontobemrsmckeown]

Raindeer dust in the garden, a magic wish with glitter, Christmas craft activity, sing along sings, Christmas story, give a little gift, photos and sit and talk to her about what ever she wants to talk about. She also helps to put the milk and cookie out for santa if dd wants her to. Dd had elsa last year come on Christmas Eve and it was magical.

[RJnomore1]

I am trying a £500 budget this year each but to be totally honest its blown to bits already.

A leather jacket, a pair of decent headphones and a benefit makeup set for dd1 16 and suddenly you are about £300-400 in and only three items.

Their groups at school will get iPhones and laptops and game consoles, even among friends on lower incomes I don't know anyone who spends £30 or whatever. I absolutely appreciate sometimes there is no money and I think its important to have priorities to keep a roof over the kids head and food in their mouth over having lots of presents but its only on mums net that ever see this competitive misery of spending less than everyone else.

Anyway I beat you all because when I was a child I had £0 spent on me ever at Christmas so if I want to spend my own, earned, unaccounted for cash making my kids lives different I bloody well will.

[RJnomore1]

Should have added "competitive misery of spending less than everyone else and thinking it makes them a better person"

I love the poster with the twins and the social experiment!

[Nikki1171]

I've got to say that people warned me that children get more expensive as they get older. You can't compare what you spend on a 2 year old to what you can spend on a 12 year old. My budget has gone up year by year. My budget on my kids includes a lot of what others would class as necessities - I get them a load of clothes for example and new socks, underwear, PJ's, shoes etc. They joke about how my stock answer from September time when they need anything is "christmas"! I buy very few toys as I know they don't get played with much - I'd rather spend a bigger budget but include things like concert tickets (Take That cost a fortune today!) and an activity weekend away. Of course I get to enjoy these gifts too....

[Babyroobs]

We have 4 dc and will probably spend around £150- £200 per child. They don't get any presents form anyone else except a bit of money from their Grandad. We've never gone overboard and think it's ridiculous what some parents spend on their kids. My ds2's friend ( 15yrs)has just been bought a £400 coat !! Ridiculous although completely up to the parents of course.

[OhTheRoses]

I don't really see how underwear and clothes that are necessities anyway are treats and presents.

I still do a stocking for mine and start collecting about 27 December when frippery is 20% of the original price. They still get chocolate money, haribos and mini Ferrero Rocher in there. They will not give up their stockings. Actually they are Christmassy gift bags, left by the side of their beds. DD came into our bed still last year to open it - may be not this year now she's 18

[crashdoll]

The only thing worse than the competitive spenders are those who call others competive "misers" without realising how much people struggle. It's almost as if the national average salary isn't £27k and 25% of families aren't single parent ones...oh wait...!

It's fine to be rich and to splash out on your kids but perhaps hold off on judgement of those who can't and consider how they might wish they could, eh?

[Notcontent]

I have to say these threads are always fascinating!

Just in case anyone reading this thread is feeling inadequate, I feel the need to say: THERE IS ABSOLUTELY no need to spend £1000 on your child!!!! And buying your child their own TV does not make you a super parent - quite the opposite I am afraid....

[Helloitsme87]

Stocking £20-30
Main present £50
Xmas eve box £10
Days out, visits to santa £40

[Jellybean83]

Haha, Notcontent Where did I say I thought I was a super parent?

We've decided to upgrade his old tiny second hand TV, I've decided to add it to his Christmas list instead of just giving him it just now.... how does that make me a rotten parent? We hardly lavish him with gifts throughout the year, and I'm certainly not making or trying to make anyone feel inadequate, you trying to belittle me over something so trivial says a lot more about you!

[RJnomore1]

Crash I think I was absolutely clear in my post I was not referring to cases where people did not have the money to spend. I was referring to people who post things like "we have plenty of income but wouldn't want to spend it on my child in case they become entitled so I make sure they are grateful for their satsuma every year" or " how on earth can anyone spend over £10 on a child thats obscene"

The thing is a site of the size of MN will have a huge range of incomes and a huge range of life styles and neither poverty nor wealth indicate moral superiority but for some reason on here it is not acceptable to choose to spend your own money on what you want to, not without someone popping up to tell you what a failure you are and how ridiculous you are.

No does buying a child a tv make you the opposite of a "super" parent.

But the dig is acceptable apparently because its aimed at someone with disposable income...

[belleandsnowwhite]

£150 for 15 year old,(mainly on art supplies) about half that for my younger ones though (both under 5) and then an extra £20 on stocking fillers.

[Shinyshoes2]

About £200.00 per child this year . I have 3 children

[ShesGotAMapOfTheWorld]

OhTheRoses my son would be upset if he didn't get underwear and socks for Christmas. He does get them if needed at other times of the year too, but posh undies are bought at Xmas. For example if he needs news boxers in August he might get Next or M&S. For Christmas they would be Ralph Lauren or Calvin Klein (from TK Maxx, I'm not mad).