To ask how much you spend on your kids at Xmas? (AND if you buy clothes as gifts!)

[Zara87]

We are putting together our budget for Xmas this year. I'm on mat leave so it's quite tight plus we have a huge family.
I'm thinking ds age 3 - spend around £200
Ds age 6 months-spend around £100 (And put some in his savings)

So just curious really as to what you budget per child? I'm fully aware as they get older our budget will no doubt have to increase significantly.
Also I was surprised when talking amongst friends that they don't buy clothes for their dc as presents as they see them as a necessity and not a gift (unless it's something the kid wants such as trainers).

I just am trying to get a snap shot of Xmases to come :-)

Nevertwerk

We tend to go without luxuries from around September to make sure we’ve got the money for Christmas

Probably our first actual “expensive” Christmas now DC is 2 and a half, probably £200.
Under 1 and at 1.5 I spent about £35. That wasn’t me being cheap, we spent a lot on other things and generally making Christmas nice but things for a baby are really not that expensive.
I’ll spend more in coming years but I guess it will be depending on interests on what the biggest thing they want costs, I won’t have a set budget because I won’t want to buy extras to fill it if I come in under.

This is by far and away the most I've ever spent on DS who will be 6 at Christmas. He is asking for the parts to build his own computer (a Kano kit) and I've bought the newer Pi3 model secondhand and disassembled for about 1/3 of the new price. I also bought him a small secondhand tv to use as a monitor. He's not going to have a chance to build it and play with it on Christmas morning, so he's getting a surprise of Incredibles and Hot Wheels toys. And I found a really cheap Gorilla Gym swing set on ebay, and I've bought a trapeze bar/gym rings/yoga swing to go with it.

Any one of those three lots of gifts are about what I'd normally spend on his whole gift but when he's asking Santa for something that he can't actually use on Christmas morning, and maybe not for the next few days as we just have so much on, then I want him to still feel wowed on Christmas morning. And be happily occupied until near mid-day when we leave the house.

Those of you who spend a fair amount, do you mind me asking how you do it? Do you save throughout the year or do you just have a lot left over each month?

We have an income just under £100kpa and live well within our means so Christmas spending just comes out of our monthly money and maybe a bit out of our short term savings. I tend to assume £1k for Christmas in total but I might be wrong because I've never added it up.

Those who spend a lot, what do you even buy? And aren’t they overwhelmed?

I think anyone who isn't on a tight budget probably spends a lot more than they realise because once you start adding up the small stuff that goes in stockings it's a lot. And of course individual items can vary a lot, e.g. a bike could be second hand or a new Islabike that cost £400. Tablets could vary from £50 to £600. A HP book could be £4 paperback or £30 illustrated hardback. T-shirt could be £1 from Primark or £25 from Polarn o Pyret.

3 kids, £350 budget in total.

Last year only spent maybe £20 on the baby!

They each get one toy they have asked for from Santa, a stocking with small stuff including pants and socks.
Christmas pyjamas
Clothes
Books
Something from us - this year its a season pass to an attraction and maybe one more small thing.
A small toy from each other.

They also get toys from both grandparents, two aunts/uncles and a cousin so they have more than enough.

We usually spend around £200 on each but our eldest DS has asked for a pc which will be about £400 on its own. But we’re seeing that as an investment as he starts high school next year so will be helpful for homework etc.
We do get clothes, especially for eldest DS who wants the latest (most expensive) trainers and tracksuits. Younger DS who is 7 usually gets toys and maybe a few bits of clothing if there’s something specific he’s asked for.

I also have a small house so even 3 children getting 6-7 toys each creates a storage issue!

I probably spend £50-100 per child on their main gifts...they have lots to open from family and friends too so I don't go overboard.

Then lots more on stocking fillers...that's the best bit imo.

That £300-£400 (possibly more actually) isn't all toys though. In fact very little of what I'm buying this year is toys. Previous buys have included fleecy throws for double beds (got an extremely cool avengers one from America one year), alarm clocks, cool bedside lamps, books, tickets to things (marvel live for example, although this was 'our' present to them), sweets, cushions to use in the car, dvds/blurays, video games.

Most people I know (in NI) do 90% of presents as from Santa (never referred to as father Christmas). And I'd say my boys get at least 20 things each. It's normal here. And I don't think it's a waste of money.

I used to save my Tesco vouchers for the toy boost, but can't do that any more. I save gift vouchers from work to use in Argos, normally in 3 for 2. I pay full price for nothing, pretty much. Pick up bargains from July or so. Wait for black Friday for the electronics. Love hotukdeals website.

My boys trust Santa to bring them cool things they never even knew existed. I talk them out of crap with bad reviews or dust gatherers so they ask for very little (knowing they'll get more though).

So far this year the non-toys I have bought include sketchpads and charcoal for ds1 (9) who loves to draw (and is very good). I know he'll love it because he'll know that Santa thinks he's good at art and more grown up than his brother (who is getting a 1000 part craft kit). He's also getting a stationery kit (reduced to 80p in asda) which includes a4 folder, fileblock, stapler, highlighters, post it's, mathematical equipment etc. As he's doing the transfer test next year, he'll appreciate that too. I've also bought them both those blankets that look like they've been eaten by a shark.

Mine are younger so fleecy throws wouldn’t be too exciting to them anyway I don’t think. DD1 is 4 and doesn’t want any toys (not interested) so I’m getting her books and craft stuff, which is what she wants. I’m also getting her a watch. Can’t really see how I could spend more than £100 on that stuff together, without topping up with fillers just for the sake of it.
Completely understand that things cost more as they get older.

Something you want, something you need. Something to wear and something to read.

That's my mantra for the children's presents...

The cost peaked around age 4-8 for my 12 year old, mostly because of Lego. Since then he has wanted cash, which can be added to cash from relatives, so it's costing less. He costs more year round though because of camps and activities.

Those who spend a lot, what do you even buy? And aren’t they overwhelmed?

We probably spend €250 - €300 on each dc aged 9 and 7. I don't know whether that would be considered a lot but no they're definitely not overwhelmed. That usually works out at 6 - 8 gifts each (although admittedly I count a pile of books or a box of craft stuff as one gift)

The thing is, as they get older their interests get more specific. So a big tub of lego might have gone down well at age 4 but when you're talking about lego elves, the lego city range, Harry Potter and so on, those get expensive! Dd is 9 and one of her gifts is a large lego elves set which was @ €90 though we got it in 20% off sale when we spotted it a little while back.

Of course we could say no and decide we won't spend €70 - €90 on one gift but we actually can afford it without having to scrimp and save, it's an age appropriate gift that we know she'll love and and spend hours playing with. We don't buy that type of thing randomly through the year so it's special and exciting at Christmas.

I suspect a lot of us do Christmas similar to how our families did it growing up (well, those of us who liked how our parents did it). My parents weren't well off but Christmas in our house was a very big deal, the highlight of the year in fact and we all still remember the sheer excitement, the anticipation and the WOW feeling of opening an amazing toy we had hoped Santa might bring. DH and I wanted our dc to have that and luckily we're able to afford it so that's what we do.

Well my dp told me the other day he's planning on spending 500-600 each on them. I laughed at that, not sure where he's getting that kind of money 😂. We are not well off by any means but we do go overboard at Christmas for the kids.

DD was 4 months last year and we didn't buy her anything. She'll be 16 months this time so we're thinking of buying her a swing for the back garden or maybe a pop up tent but that's all.

To be honest we don't have a lot of money and spend a fortune on gifts for other people, cards, food and travel to see family last Christmas so just can't afford to spend hundreds on things she doesn't need or even realise yet. She wants for nothing and our tiny house is overrun with her toys!

We spent very little before the kids started school - they didn't watch TV with ads and even an Octonauts set was max 30 quid.
Then the demands set in...
Last Christmas we did get a bit carried away after a tight year, so this year will be max £800 for 3 kids and food and other presents. Ds is 10 and only wants a Lego set which would be £260 but have just got second hand for £130 - so he'll get little else from us, just a couple books. Dd age 7 got huge amounts of craft stuff for last two birthdays and is still working through it, and only really wants some book sets. And some hairbands and unicorn slippers - uncle will probably get the latter. Family give a bit of cash but possibly clothes too - pyjamas, an extra nice top, funky socks. I might take dd to a panto that her brothers would hate.

My youngest was 4 when i got the throws. They both loved them. You'd be surprised what kids love. I always try to get stuff that's a bit different.

In response to the original question.. up until now, clothes wouldn't really have been part of the presents from Santa (they'll get jammies/onesies from us and last year they got deliberately large harry potter dressing gowns), but as ds1 wants some football jerseys this year, they will. Luckily, dh's cousin owns a few sport shops. Told you, I pay full price for nothing. He also wants those football mannequins you see for practising free kicks (very random) so he'll be getting those for us too, hopefully.

16yo and 11yo £300 each in gifts

My youngest was 4 when i got the throws. They both loved them. You'd be surprised what kids love

Different kids like different things 🤷🏻‍♀️. I know mine wouldn’t be bothered by a throw (for more than 30 seconds anyway).
My point is I guess that I’m getting mine things I know they’ll love, that they’ll use and that they’ll be ecstatic by on Christmas Day. That will probably cost about £100 per child. So why spend more than that?

I spend what it costs to get ds what he wants/needs.

Some years £100 and some £300. I start buying in September after his birthday and pick up things like dvd I know he wants etc as I go along.

Some years he's had a 'big' present like a tv or laptop and some years smaller gifts but more of them. He's 14 now.

I do buy clothes for Xmas for him. Usually some nice PJs, decent dressing gown if he needs one, nice hoody or some uniform for his sports club (that costs a fortune 😂😂).

How do we afford it? We buy across the year and keep an eye out for bargains. Also have lowish outgoings generally though also have a lower income than the majority on mn.

Where do we put it? Hmm well we moved last year because we ran out of space 🙈 we home ed though so do find most of it gets used and I do use it as an opportunity to get equipment like microscopes and science kits. My children also have autism so their interests are specific and often expensive and sensory equipment like door swings and sensory toys soon tot up too

Oh yes my ds has had throws and blankets and bean bags etc! Loved them all!

I don't budget, but I reckon we'll spend around 300-500 in total. Yes it's a lot, but she'll get trainers and branded clothes along with something electronic (TV this year) plus a few toys and Lego sets.

Spend as much or as little as you want.

we dont have a budget but just get their list. One year it was an ipad each (£450ish) and £100 in games / stocking fillers. this year they want a bike each (£150) and then have around £200 each. so anywhere between £300-£600 depending on the list.

We also have a very generous family so they get around £250 in gifts each from family members/grandparents/aunties etc.

and no, clothes are separate from gifts.

however i do think its all relative to what you earn and how well behaved your DC are over the year. one year DD10 (who is normally an angel) was horrific around her birthday with constant talking back and being ungrateful so we threatened her for weeks with "you wont get X if you carry on". Made an "earn it" chart and she ignored us so we just didnt get her her big gift. to us big gifts are earned and not just automatically given. I was devastated, she seemed disappointed and her behaviour improved. Never had to do anything like that since and shes back to being 99% angel and believes us now when we issue ultimatums.

Mine are 7 and 15 but both have birthdays within 6 weeks of Christmas.

We spend around £500 each on them plus clothes approx £200 each.
I save all year with the credit union and we don't buy any tat or crap.

Last year we got dd an American girl doll which she has wanted since she saw it and that cost almost £250 so that was half of her amount gone already. Our generation camper van was over £100 so the stuff she gets tends to be expensive and she treasures it.

Ds got a new Tv for his bedroom wall which was around £350 and bits like aftershave, footballs, books.

It doesn't go far and I de-clutter often and donate all of their clothes.

I always had fantastic a fantastic Christmas when I was a child and I hope mine feel the same when they're older.