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.

Im another one that doesnt get these threads - surely you spend what you can afford, be that £20, £200 etc. Why compare to anyone else.

Spent about £35 on our soon-to-be 2yr old. She also gets clubs through the week and is starting at pre-prep nursery in Jan.

I imagine we’ll spend a little more on her and her soon-arriving sibling as they grow older, but I’m very keen to avoid the materialistic ‘I want’ attitude that seems to emerge at this time of year.

We've budgeted around £350 each this year. They don't get piles of tat, it all fits under the tree. They get one thing they really want, plus Lego, games, etc. This year DS2 wants a 3DS XL and he needs a new bike, so he'll go over budget. DS1 is an adult now, so he'll get slightly less.

Not that I should have to justify it, but they don't really get much throughout the year, what they do get they buy with their own/pocket money, so it's like our way of restocking for the year.

I can’t actually think of £500 worth of stuff my dc would want. Where do you put it all? We already have PS4, Wii, iPad, Xbox so what does £500 but other than a pile of expensive crap?

The other thing I dont like about these threads however is other people judging people for spending more than them. I could easily spend £500 on my 9 and 15 year old without it being "expensive crap."

Mine are 4 and 2. I don’t really set a specific budget as such (within reason!), it just depends on what they want on that year.

I’ve ended up spending £125 on my older daughter but only spent £76 on my son so I’ve put the difference in his savings account. I refuse to buy more tat presents just for the sake of it.

I’m mean Mummy though. I didn’t buy either child hardly anything for their first two christmas’ (they were both 3 months and then 15 months!) and I put money in their accounts instead.

A woman I know spends a £1k each on her 5 kids at Christmas, then moans she can’t afford for them to do karate club. Each to their own but anload more tat and toys cluttering up her already bursting at the seems toys or letting her children do a club which benefits them and gives them skills etc...

Not that I should have to justify it, but they don't really get much throughout the year, what they do get they buy with their own/pocket money, so it's like our way of restocking for the year

Thats exactly what we are like. Get them to write a list with a mix of smaller and more expensive things, they know they dont get everything so its a nice surprise still.

DS is 2 years old. I'm planning to get him a scooter (about £80) and then some stocking stuff (not more than £40-50). Even then I feel bad that I am over-spending and would be looking for something cheaper if he hadn't been going to bed with the scooter catalogue for six months!

We can afford it, I suppose - we are lucky enough to earn two six figure salaries. But we spend so much on him through out the year - we pretty much cripple ourselves financially to pay for his wonderful nanny, lovely nursery, activities that he enjoys (swimming, gymnastics and music) - and to me all that stuff is more important than having lots to spend at Christmas.

It's all choices, isn't it?!

I've had a couple of years where I've hardly slept in January because I am so panicked about having over-spent at Christmas. I am definitely choosing not to do that this year!

Probably about €300.

The other thing I dont like about these threads however is other people judging people for spending more than them. I could easily spend £500 on my 9 and 15 year old without it being "expensive crap."

Exactly. Same here.

These threads always go the same way.

Honestly can't say how much I spend on mine as I shop through the year and buy as and when. I stop when it gets to 10 presents by October as its two of their birthdays then. I then see what they got for birthdays and let them do a list and get them 5 more things. I get stocking fillers too (small things like mashems) and the elf brings some bits through December.

People really judge those who spend a lot on mumsnet, if they can afford it why not? DSS is 14...if I wanted I could spend 500 on just some shoes and a few designer clothes items. I don't but I see how it's easy done

Too much probably but I never buy them toys or large gifts aside from birthdays during the year.

So Christmas is THE time for them to get things they really want.

I have two DD's aged 13 and 9. I'll probably spend about 250-300 on each.

One wants a guitar and amp...the other a metal detector plus other things...various toys and clothes.

A woman I know spends a £1k each on her 5 kids

I spend about £250 on dd (she is my only child though) me and my ex go halves each anyway so its only £125 for me so not to bad. If I had more DC I would allocate them less than that.

Original plan was £150 each totted it up the other day and it's £200ish each instead. Oops. I try to equal the number of things to open as much as I can but not so much what it all costs if you see what I mean. For example DS's first Christmas I spent about a tenner on him and wrapped up a load of his sister's old baby toys because I knew my then 4 year old daughter would be worried if her brother (then 6 months) got nothing.

m0therofdragons but lots of people don’t already have all that stuff so perhaps buy it for Christmas...

Usually around £30 per child, 2DCs. We could afford more (not hundreds!), but I really don't think it's necessary and I really don't want to make Christmas about presents. I don't feel any pressure about getting them what they want, as I don't ask for lists or ideas. They get one or two things that we know they'll like, and that's it. They do also get a few presents from grandparents and other family, which is really kind.

We're really not big on buying them toys anyway as a family, so they don't ask for or expect much. We make the lead-up to Christmas and Christmas day really special in other ways instead, like baking, going reindeer hunting, having hot chocolate with breakfast - stuff like that.

I spend what I want and I really don't care if I'm judged.

DD wants a Switch this year so with two games, that alone is £430.

I've also bought other things from her Christmas list, books, a board game, art materials, a bag she wanted and some actual toys I know she'll use.

She'll also get a homemade advent calendar with a small token gift every day and that adds up!

A large stocking (best bit of Christmas!) usually about £50-100).

I spend a lot on my parents and husband too. We all have stockings and a "main" present then a pile of stuff. We all write down through the year things we've seen that we would like, so none of it is crap we won't use.

We don't have any other family. There's only the five of us. That's what we do and that's that.

Professor but would you follow it up with twatty, smug fbk photos about how #blessed your kids were? That's when it starts getting boring...not the spending in the first place.

Ive got my ds whose 2 a balance bike that was £25 down from £50 and will get him some jammies and other bits and pieces. He doesnt need masses of presents plus he doesnt know any different. My dsis has spent at least £500 so far and isnt even done

Haha, no absolutely not.

I might put a present photo up this year and say something along the lines of "this is absolutely fucking ridiculous, my child is a spoilt brat and next year there WILL be a budget", though

Ha! I've put a few up of certain gifts. The DC's GD made her a rocking chair, and I did post that- it was so, so thoughtful! But no twattery. I may start gathering random shite together now for my second piss-taking Christmas Day post...suggestions welcome! 😅

suggestions welcome Large empty boxes wrapped up in nice paper, borrow any amount of stuff from a friend just for the pic you understand or take a pic from t'internet then photo shop it to hell to look like your home with gazillions of pressies hmm the possibilities are endless really

@missadasmith Leaving work to look after, and spend time with your child, makes you the most adequate and amazing parent out there!!!

I’m asking from a place of genuine interest/curiosity (not judgment) but for those that spend £500+, do you have a very large household income?

We have a household income well above average but I still can’t imagine affording to spend that amount at Xmas... I felt guilty for overspending last year when I spent £100 for our toddler. We have been on a few foreign holidays this year though, so perhaps it’s just a case of allocating finds differently?