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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:
Tunnocks34 · 12/10/2018 21:47

DS is 4, hell probably get about £150. Similar to his brother who is 2. They will get a pair of trainers, and DS1 has requested a lightening McQueen jacket this year.

hibbledibble · 12/10/2018 21:51

Under £30 each.

I can't stand the consumerism at Christmas. It's really environmentally unfriendly, and I don't believe is good for children.

I've done their Christmas shopping already. Older 2 are getting a doll each, pyjamas, a game, and chocolate. Toddler will get pyjamas and probably a recycled toy.

We already have a house full of toys, and pay each month into their savings accounts.

Bushellight · 12/10/2018 21:53

She's 8 and maybe £200ish but that includes things she needs as well.

We don't tend to do clothes as gifts (apart from new pjs and socks) but wouldn't be oppossed to it.

We spend a bit more on christmas day trips etc.

0rlaith · 12/10/2018 22:00

They cost more and more as they get older. Just sayin.....

Zakariyasully17 · 12/10/2018 22:06

I spend between £3000 and £4000 on 3 children. This always includes clothes new underwear pjs etc

Bojangles33 · 12/10/2018 22:15

@woodwaj can you link me to he Christmas bargain thread please? I can't find it searching on the app

Whatsthisbear · 12/10/2018 22:16

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

Clothes ARE a necessity. People need to wear clothes, if you have children you need to provide them with clothes. As you need to provide clothes for your children as a necessity if you then give them as a gift.....they are a shitty gift

I wouldn’t normally post on a “how much do you spend” post BUT I feel very strongly that clothes are NOT a present.
I grew up in a hard up house hold and it wasnt until at least age 15 that I received clothing as gifts and it was things I had admired and wanted to own but couldn’t afford to buy myself from my weekend job wage.
It knocked me sick when DC was about 6 years old and his classmates mum was saying how she would buy DD this toy and this toy and then a pair of trainers as a present... and every year since she has listed how DD would get a pair of shoes or a Pair of pyjamas or a pair of jeans as a CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
Clothes are NOT a present. If you have kids....you need to dress them. Their clothing should not be a gift.

Zakariyasully17 · 12/10/2018 22:20

Of course clothing can be a gift. Teenage children want more clothes than they need. They might have been eyeing up specific clothing items for a while before Xmas and some items are very expensive and not s necessity

CountFosco · 12/10/2018 22:25

What do you mean "joint present"?

Surely that's pretty obvious. We were going to get the kids table football as a joint present but then got one as a hand me down. They've had board games or DVDs as joint presents before as well.

Pinotwoman82 · 12/10/2018 22:30

My oldest is 11 and he gets clothes for Christmas but that’s because he likes brands now! Hmm Nike, Adidas, hype, rascal. They don’t need much at that age just get them a few bits and pieces and then bulk it up with Poundland stuff. Save it for when they are older

Doubletrouble99 · 12/10/2018 22:37

Our two are teens now and have birthdays in Oct. as well. I do a Santa bag which has things like P.j.s, sports things/clothes, toiletries, cd, books, craft things and chocs. in depending on child. They tend to get one big thing from us which is usually around £150 - £200.

BrickByBrick · 12/10/2018 22:41

Mine get clothes as gifts - it tends to be frivolous things, one year the smallest got a little t-shirt from Sainsburys with the word 'Hey' on as at the time that was her word for everything. She didn't 'need' the t-shirt but it was a meaningful gift.

If we are going down the line of 'you should never give clothes, because you should dress them anyway' then you probably need to apply that for 90% of gifts that are given.

MegBusset · 12/10/2018 22:43

Of course clothes can be a gift Hmm

Some of my DCs' favourite gifts have been Christmas PJs, character T shirts, animal onesies etc. They don't run around in rags the rest of the year!

zenasfuck · 12/10/2018 23:03

Only have one DS, 15yo and we spend roughly £1000 for his gifts
Clothes are not Xmas gifts in our house

UserName31456789 · 12/10/2018 23:55

Surely Clothes as gifts depends on whether the DC cares about clothes. My eldest would happily wear a sack and wouldn't care about being bought new clothes but my youngest likes getting PJ's with her favourite characters on. I find it odd to worry about the amount your spending. As toddlers I barely spent anything because they were just as happy with a bundle of second hand toy cars. Mainly for environmental reasons I hate pointlessly buying junk the kids won't even care about.

triwarrior · 12/10/2018 23:56

I cannot fathom spending $1,000 on a child! Wow. What are you buying for that kind of money?

WhereIsBlueRabbit · 13/10/2018 00:10

Don't know how much we will be spending on DS (3) but it won't be over £100. Probably more like £75.

We include "fun" clothes as presents - obviously we buy him whatever he needs, but we sometimes include clothes with fun designs, eg a Thomas the Tank top, bus pyjamas, that sort of thing, as presents - something that he will enjoy opening rather than something purely practical, if that makes sense.

Original poster
Zara87 · 13/10/2018 00:28

Whatsthisbear you clearly feel very strongly about the fact clothes shouldn't be given as presents
I really was surprised that this wasn't standard as like i said this was how I was bought up, I'd say it was a 50/50 split between things I wanted and things I needed. We were a hard done by family. I quickly accepted that I knew I'd need a new dressing gown /coat / underwear etc and these would almost certainly be under the tree, as would new bedding, shoes etc.

Really grateful to everyone who responded. I've genuinely found it interesting to hear everyone else's views

OP posts:
Curious2468 · 13/10/2018 00:30

I have a vague budget of around £300 for each of my kids (8 and 12). In reality my eldest will probably be over budget and my youngest under mainly because his interests are very narrow and I could buy for my eldest 3 times over with all the things she would like.

I don’t include books or clothes in my budget but do sometimes add them to their presents if they are particularly special.

I think it’s easy to have a low budget under the age of 5 but much trickier as they get older. I would rather spend more on things they actively want or would benefit from than less just because it was on offer iykwim.

I don’t get in to debt though and tend to spread the cost throughout the year.

melj1213 · 13/10/2018 01:03

Clothes are NOT a present. If you have kids....you need to dress them. Their clothing should not be a gift.

I have to clothe my child but clothing my child and giving her clothing as gifts are not mutually exclusive.

My DD needs shoes ... she doesn't need £50 Converse high tops. My DD needs a pair of jeans, she doesn't need £40 Levis. My DD needs a coat, she doesn't need a £50 Superdry hoodie. She needs hair clips, she doesn't need £15 Jojo bows ... etc

If my DD had come home from school today and needed new school jumper then I would complain she'd only had hers a couple of months, how is it already ruined?! I would be down to Asda first thing to buy another £6 school jumper. If she grows out of her everyday jeans/t-shirts then I replace them as and when needed from Asda/Matalan/Primark which is where most of her clothes are from. If my DD wants an expensive and/or branded item purely for the sake of having it then the only way she is going to get it is as a gift for birthday or Christmas.

Clothing is a basic necessity, I don't disagree with that but if a child wants anything more fancy than their everyday clothes then I see no problem with it being given as a gift.

Talkingfrog · 13/10/2018 01:56

I think we spent just over £200 on our 6 yr old last yr. It would have been a bit less, but someone was selling second hand sylvanian families just before Christmas so we ended up with extra gifts.
Most items were bought when there was money off or in a 3 for 2 (I compare prices of argos, entertainer, smyths etc before buying, but prefer to buy instore than online if I can) .
Some items my daughter wants come from us, others she asks father Christmas for and some of the ideas are suggested to family when they ask.
I try to suggest vouchers for days out /tickets to one or two family members, as I know thet prefer not to buy toys.
This year we will spend less as we are taking her away for the weekend.
I haven't bought clothes for her fir Christmas, but have for her birthday and I have given clothes to others. She has been bought clothes too, and usually appreciates them.
My daughter is awkward for sizing. I can never find things to fit her in peacocks or gap.
I still can't work out how my aunt, who sees my daughter about twice a year can manage to find her clothes that she really likes, and fit well in peacocks. My sister in law manages to find her things in gap too. Not complaining, I just don't understand how they do it.

OneStepSideways · 13/10/2018 06:58

About £50 per child. And no clothes (clothes are essentials not gifts! I understand clothes as gifts for teenagers but small children don't care about clothes.)

I think the magic of Christmas is getting lost in all the over-shopping and material excess. We stick to a stocking of small fun things and one big present under the tree. We do lots of days out, festive fayres, visiting family, decorating the house, baking etc.

OneStepSideways · 13/10/2018 07:04

Also I don't like the idea of saving clothes, pyjamas, books and everyday stuff for Christmas just so they have more things to unwrap on Christmas morning. It teaches them it's all about quantity of presents, and a big waste of paper.

We buy craft kits, books, fun clothing, toys etc throughout the year, so it's spaced out rather than saved up for one day.

oldgimmer78 · 13/10/2018 07:08

There is a vlogging family on YouTube that have about 100 presents each, but when they open them there are only a few proper presents and the rest are all food wrapped up. A packet of crips, packet of ice pops, a ba r of chocolate etc. I don't know how the mum can be bothered!

oldgimmer78 · 13/10/2018 07:12

Serious question, for those who spend £30~50, what do you get as a 'big' present? Mine aren't very young now but I was shocked at the price of crap toys in Smyths recently. You'd be hard pushed to get something for £30.

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