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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

321 replies

Zara87 · 11/10/2018 22:19

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 :-)

OP posts:
Funnyface1 · 12/10/2018 08:49

I go over the top at Christmas. I think it's cos my mum always did. But my kids appreciate it and it's a special time of year for us. Having said that, I don't just buy for the sake of it. I really do try and buy things that I know they'll love and get a lot of use out of.

BitchQueen90 · 12/10/2018 08:51

I have one 5yo DS and I spend about £150. One "main" present (which will be a new bike this year) and a few smaller ones.

BitchQueen90 · 12/10/2018 08:54

I should add though that I am divorced so DS gets separate presents from his dad and he is my parents only grandchild so he gets a lot from them too!

lubeybooby · 12/10/2018 09:17

Def wouldn't spend 200 on a 3 yr old.

100 max - and the baby... max of 20

BiddyPop · 12/10/2018 09:20

We have spent less than that some years and more on others - depending on what dd wanted and needed at the time. We never spent more than we could afford though.

Yes, clothes can be presents. Of course they can! And books and developmental toys. It’s not all about plastic tat!

When dd was 1, her stocking included a set of toddler cutlery (metal set, from lidl) and a divided plate for meals. Another year (she was maybe 6) she was having food issues and wanted to separate things so she got a new divided plate in her stocking.

Things like rubber ducks for the bath are great.

And things that get used up - nice bath bubbles, craft materials, hair bobbins etc.

PodgeBod · 12/10/2018 09:29

I spend £200 on my 2 and 3 year olds, I don't think it's too crazy. Growing up we never had much money but there was always a big pile on Christmas morning, including clothes, new lunch box, duvet set etc. We don't go so crazy on birthdays. Family will buy for them but not massive amounts.

WhichSchoolForDS · 12/10/2018 09:35

Honestly a baby certainly doesn't care - just buy a tube of bubbles and give them some wrapping paper and they'll be happy. When mine were three they were happy with little bits - didn't matter if it was second hand. If there's nothing expensive they want/need don't buy loads of junk for no reason.

LexieLulu · 12/10/2018 10:03

My DS (5) will probably get about £150

My DD (2) about half £75

I don't think it has to be fair, I do it based on what they want. DD will be happy with a doll and playdoh, DS wants computer games.

But then we probably spent £100 in the lead up to Xmas with Santa visits trips etc. I get Xmas pjs for Xmas eve for the kids.

I have included some clothes in the kids presents, but they are themed with presents (so DS is Pokemon top to go with toys)

user1471426142 · 12/10/2018 10:04

If you can afford it then I don’t think £200 is crazy. If you can’t then it is.i do spend quite a bit but I wouldn’t if we didn’t have the money to do it. Some of the things I kept for Christmas would have just been bought by others (a little table a chair set from ikea for example). I think I’d spend less once there are 2 kids as with the first one there was an element of buying things because she needed different developmental toys. For number 2 we’ll already have stuff.

MrsPworkingmummy · 12/10/2018 10:08

About £300 for DD (6), but this will include clothes including a Christmas day dress (usually Monsoon or John Lewis). Our DS (11 month then) will have about £75 spent on him including clothes.

Jackshouse · 12/10/2018 10:12

DD will be 2 1/2. I have bought most of her gifts already (charity shopping and bargain hunting) and tracked it on an app. It comes to £77.13. No clothes except for Christmas Eve characters PJs not that she will wear PJs at the moment. She has some character bubble bath too but I would not buy ordinary bubble bath. I have bought new pens and pencils for her stocking and I would count these as a necessity.

My parents are spending about £100 on her and PIL £80. So she will have quiet a lot.

We have spent £33 on a show, enchanted parks light show and we May do a Santa visit.

PippilottaLongstocking · 12/10/2018 10:17

Probably about £100 per child, I try to stick to want/need/wear/read
This year I’m getting them one big present to share (big outdoor toy) then they’ll get a couple of books, a nice outfit, something like a board game/craft kit/science kit, then one or two toys that they’ve asked for each

MicroManaged · 12/10/2018 10:17

I don't think it has to be fair, I do it based on what they want

This.

I have a 10, 8 and 1.5 year old. I think the amount spent on the older two (each) is likely to be 5 times that of the youngest.

And ds3 will still look like he has a fuck-tonne more, the same as last year!

OutPinked · 12/10/2018 10:20

I’ve got three DC and am 9 months pregnant with DC4. This year my budget is £150 per child aside from the baby who obviously will only be 6/7 weeks old so won’t get much. I will undoubtedly exceed that budget slightly, always do but hopefully not by too much.

Clothes wise they get pyjamas, slippers and socks every Christmas Eve and an outfit to wear on Christmas Day. Sometimes new trainers too.

Tomatoesrock · 12/10/2018 10:25

That sounds more than fair. I try do 300 each, it isn't always easy to with the age gap. DD seems to have more money this year like 350 towards his 200 and hers seems less.

We do an adult kindle. Then usually 100euro from each adult or couple towards nieces and nephews for their cards.

GoodbyeSummer · 12/10/2018 10:46

My children are only 6&7 and we are absolutely skint - we literally have no money left after paying our bills (and sometimes not even enough to pay them). As a result, the budget for Xmas gifts is ridiculously small - about £50 each, less if possible. Yes, occasionally that includes clothes. Nothing for each other or anyone else. Homemade cards for the family. Their grandparents probably either spend or give them the same amount.

Lawrence22 · 12/10/2018 11:00

I love that £50 is "ridiculously small" for 6 and 7yr olds! It's not that I'm particularly skint, I just struggle to think of anything that my DC want that goes above that. What do you even buy??

We think of/ask what each DC would like. Generally they get what they want unless it's a ridiculous try-on, in which case they have to think again (No DS6, you are not having your own laptop...)

Currently looking at joint present for DS6 and DS8 which is about £70. Probably a bit less than usual presents but they'll definitely love it so, job done.

GoodbyeSummer · 12/10/2018 11:14

Given some of the budgets I see on here (not necessarily this thread but on here in general), £50 or less each is ridiculously small.
For that, they get clothes, a couple of books and stationery and one bigger item. As I said, we don't spend bang on that amount, it's just a limit that we're not willing or able to go above.

ferntwist · 12/10/2018 11:17

I’m also baffled as to what people can spend so much on for tiny ones, especially presents for babies?

MysteriousQuinn · 12/10/2018 11:20

For 3yr old DD will spend £150-£200 and for 8 month old DS will spend £50-£100. The only clothes we buy are pyjamas usually.

MysteriousQuinn · 12/10/2018 11:22

Just to add that if we couldn't afford to spend that then we wouldn't. My rule for xmas/birthdays is to never go into debt to pay for presents.

LexieLulu · 12/10/2018 11:24

When my babies were little, I bought them things they would need later in that year.

So when they were tiny I would buy floor mats and activity floor things. I would be buying it anyway but put a bow on it and call it a Xmas present.

Or walkers if they are a few months older.

reluctantbrit · 12/10/2018 11:25

I don’t budget as such and we don’t do “main gift”. It always depends on DD’s Christmas wish list.

One year she got a tablet, the next year her most expensive present was £40.

At baby/toddler age I also got lots of things second hand like the brio train set she got one year. That helps keeping the costs down.

At her first Christmas she had 3 presents from us and one from each set of grandparents. The grandparents stick to one gift DD can ask for (in a £20-30 limit) plus a small surprise, often a book or a DVD.

Clothes - not as a rule. She may get a something for her hobby like a new leotard or jodhpurs she may not need but wanted for a change or a character pj or top we normally don’t buy.

LexieLulu · 12/10/2018 11:26

I have also bought character crockery and cups and used them as Xmas presents.

I've done it this year for DS (5) as he loves Pokemon and I seen a cheap set for £2.

I have bought wellies/umbrella's in characters and said they were presents too! I don't generally buy things covered in characters so my kids love them

Witchend · 12/10/2018 11:34

I have older children. I spend more than that, but about 90% of stuff is things that they'd get anyway, just it makes a nice large stocking to put them all in.
So they get underwear, a new outfit, slippers, pyjamas, toothbrush, school stationery etc. that they'd get anyway.

They will get roughly a couple of books, a DVD, a box of chocolates and a game or craft item that they wouldn't need anyway. Oh yes, and a satsuma. I stopped putting that in a couple of years back and they objected.