How much do you spend on dc's at Christmas?

[justalittlelemondrizzle]

I spend about £70 - £100 each. They're 8 & 10. But from what I've seen at Christmas time -on facebook- eek other parents spend hundreds.

I don't think anyone has been braggy on here, there hasn't been huge amounts mentioned on here

Only spend what u can afford!! I only give one present form Santa 🎅 as anyone will tell you there are a lot of children in the world so his sledge can only bring one thing to each child!! Then one big thing from us and a few little things from us, by the time family and friends give I find it’s quite enough. Never fill guilty because u can keep up with the Joneses!! A happy family Christmas in a loving home is far more important then piles of presents, and spending quality time is what they will remember in years to come.

I wish I could stick to £100
Per child. I write a list at the start and shop around and never pay full price but I always end up spending about 250-300 per child ( I have 3 ages 6,4 and 2). They don’t have any toys throughout the year- they have a big present for their birthday - this year bikes and last year scooters. Wonder if I spend more because we don’t buy them
Toys at any other time so anything they have seen throughout the year and keep mentioning I get for Christmas.

Skint, skint, skint, does not even cover it, so I will spend what I have.

I have bought DD1 two lovely dresses from everything £5.com and I know she will appreciate them. I plan on getting her a couple of pairs of leggings, a bit of make-up and some beads for her pandora-style, not silver bracelet.

DS is now going to and from school alone, so I would like to get him a phone, possibly this and a scooter.

I budget for £250 per child, I have 2. But they don't really get anything else throughout the year, other than small cheap things such as colouring books and crayons. I tend to get them a couple of cheapish things for the garden in the summer if needed, this year they had a new sand pit and a few accessories for £30
Also always struggle with DC2 as it is his birthday early January.

We have four DC. We’ve had £50 spends and £700 spends each over the years. We were skint when we first became a couple and were doing better now.

But usually we don’t budget, they get the same amount of parcels and they’re always happy.

I am really trying to cut back this year. I am sinking under plastic tat. I have another 3 bags to send to the local women’s refuge.

It doesn’t help my parents buy the dc Christmas stockings....

I’ve had years where I have spent £100 on both and that’s everything. This was when we were mega fucking skint. Some years I’ve spent £400/500 each on them.

So far I have spent £65 on Christmas stockings for 2 dc. I will probably spend another £35/40.

Dc1 - will spend about £65 on main present, I have been shown exactly what to buy.
Dc2 - I have already spent £40 (in the sale reduced by half price) on the main present as it’s something I know that they desperately want.

With dc1 is it quantity over quality so I know that I will wrap the 5 pack of pants individually where as the dc2 I can wrap the whole lot.

For some reason I always try and keep it equal spends.

I have to admit I do ignore the fb bragging I just can’t be arsed with it all.

Also people should not get competitive about it and remember what Christmas is about - giving, time with family, Christ (even if you are not christian or just nominally so a bit of religion tends to do no harm at this time of year). What children will remember is opening something - does not really matter what and toddlers like to play with wrapping paper as much as anything, perhaps going into a church, carol singing, crackers, seeing relatives although not endless boring ones and not rows hopefully, walks, perhaps visiting an elderly neighbour to give them presents, making something themselves to give to their granny. None of this has to cost much at all. Consumerism is a curse which does children nothing but damage.

Great post Mother 2015.
You know it's funny because I'm Christian and go to church and I have a friend who sneers at me for my religion but she was the first to whinge when her dd wasn't chosen as Mary!!

@justalittlelemondrizzle that sounds fine to me !

We probably spend about the same as you OP - but would spend more if they wanted something expensive that I thought was worth it and would be used. This year my DTs are 9 and are between the advertised toys for youngsters, and the teenage demands for fancy stuff, so actually don't want much. They still believe (lovely.....) so FC is going to give them all sorts of exciting stuff like school socks and boxes of tissues!! DD wanted a nature camera which was about £50 but DS says he doesn't want much. I love to give them loads of stuff to open so am struggling, but it will all be cheapo even though we could afford more - no point in wasting money on things they don't want. No doubt it will be different in a few years..........

About £100 each on two Dds age 5 and 3, unless it's something big like a bike where I'd spend more. I buy a fair bit in that and am genuinely shocked at what some spend.

I haven't even started for this year!

I started buying for DS (3) last month and will probably have spent £250 by Xmas. Baby will get much less. I maybe overspend but would never tell people how much I spend or post pictures of it. I find the pictures on FB of huge piles of kids presents a bit ridiculous.

Depends on age and interests but never more than £150 each for everything including stocking fillers which can add up to a fair amount. Try to stick to one major present from us and smaller item/s from Santa. Try not to over indulge and kids never seem disappointed.

We have 3 DC 10,8 & 6. DS8 is severely disabled so the other SC miss out quite a lot.
We don't have many days out through the year as DC8 just can't cope.
Extra toys etc throughout the year is a no no too. I have just former £20 each on DS10 and DD 6 as we've just has exceptional parents evenings and we are so proud that despite all their challenges they both try really hard. Both DC have hypermobility syndrome and DS10 has high functioning ASD. Christmas I start buying after tha last birthday in September.

about 100/150 I only have one but dont count really just get him what I think he will like children get far too much

Usually about £50 on presents for each child, ages 7 and 5. I prefer to spend extra money on other types of things like a Christmas experience day out, panto and meeting Santa. It all adds up.

These thread always give me the rage.

Maybe don’t read them then?

I shouldn’t. Moth to a flame. Actually this isn’t bad but there was one on Facebook yesterday and people were talking thousands per child. On what I have no idea.

I don't think I spend a thousand quid on my children In a year - including Christmas and birthdays 😮

Mine need/want nothing this year. Am trying to persuade them that we have a couple of days away rather than a pile of tat.

Don’t really have a set price. Usually try and buy one main item and then go from there.

Struggling this year though. Ds is 11, has lots of up to date gadgets so it’s possible we may get him the Amazon Echo dot thingy and a decent pair of headphones. Two items totalling £100 so far. Possibly clothes, books, couple of games and vouchers.