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Original poster

How much do you spend on your children at Christmas?

285 replies

Lilybetsey · 15/12/2018 13:53

A FB thread about a woman who plans to spend £400 on each of her 5 children for Christmas got absolutely ripped to shreds.

My children are teenagers and I have spent about £300 on them, or main presents .. then I do an advent calendar each - usually things I have picked up over the year, costs about £100 each I think .

Doesn’t seen massively excessive ? What do you spend ?

OP posts:
Dementedswan · 16/12/2018 19:20

Snap fussuchia. My dc don't ask for anything but once a year they write to Santa and ask for a handful of things. I don't spend equal amounts, but I certainly try to fulfil their wishes. When they no longer believe in Santa, that's when I will impose strict budgets. Until then I will keep the magic alive .

Dementedswan · 16/12/2018 19:23

Birthdays tend to one or two presents, a homemade cake and clip and climb/soft play etc.

Rabbitjam · 16/12/2018 19:27

£30 on my one year old, £50 on my three year old. Most of it is good quality second hand stuff.

Dontsweatthelittlestuff · 16/12/2018 19:35

My family has just got the best Christmas present ever and it was free due to there still being good people in the world.
The present being my cat who has been missing for 2 months has been handed into a rescue centre about 35 miles away. The wonderful people who give their time and effort out of the goodness of their hearts have just rang and I will go collect him tomorrow. He has a broken leg and is a bit sorry looking but he is alive.
BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER.

Bunnybaubles · 16/12/2018 19:36

My 18 and 19 yo both work so just £100 each. Youngest is 6 months so probably about the same, she doesn't need much.

Most I spent was over £1000 each on the 2 older ones a few years ago after getting a very well paid job after a year on benefits. Was stupid and they never appreciated it tbh.

perfectly1mperfect · 16/12/2018 19:38

At what age will or do you stop spending hundreds of £s on your children's xmas presents? Do they expect similar for their birthdays too?

Not sure I ever will, they will always be my children. My DPs parents still treat us at Xmas and we are almost 40. We buy lots for birthdays too. They don't expect it. My 15 year old always says that if what he's asked for is too much, then could he just have what we can afford and he'll save up.

Dontsweatthelittlestuff · 16/12/2018 19:39

Whoops I meant to post on a different thread. Never mind I am still happy

perfectly1mperfect · 16/12/2018 19:43

Dontsweatthelittlestuff

It may be the wrong thread but that is fantastic news. Hope he makes a quick recovery, he'll be so happy to see you.

YerAuntFanny · 16/12/2018 19:45

We spend what we can afford. We don't have overdrafts or credit cards so if we can't cover it in cash we don't buy it.

Over the years this has varied, once we had £50 and managed fine. This year we have a bit more so have spent about £400 between 2 DC's, not split evenly.

I've never played Santa up too much so they "know" that they can only ask for a handful of things and that Santa only brings 1 gift then friends/family pitch in so they may not get exactly what they would like if it's out of budget.

Ifangyow · 16/12/2018 19:47

Zero. Mine are adults now. I stopped buying for them when they were 18.

Dontsweatthelittlestuff · 16/12/2018 20:30

Perfectly Thankyou we are just so happy to have him coming home. I also have his brother who has been mopping without him so he will be happy to have him back as well.

GreenTeacup · 16/12/2018 20:33

Probably around £200- £600 per child.

But not every year. My son has had his Xbox for 5 years and we have decided to update it. We have 5 and so we don’t get phones on contract but try and purchase which adds up. Usually one or two will get the expensive gift that year and we update every few years. They really don’t ask for too much.

Also are all born within a month of Christmas and so we tend to update their wardrobe with their Christmas and birthday presents so this will include trainers and clothes, new football boots for the boys etc. and then we try not to buy much more throughout the year. I have friends who do not spend as much as me at Christmas but will frequently purchase throughout the year.

DH doubles his money with overtime at Christmas so it is the best time for us to do this.

Fr3d · 16/12/2018 20:39

About 50 this year. Their Santa requests were less than 20. Then 30 on some stocking fillers and gifts from us. Don't really need anything.

Have spend more other years. E.g. for a good trampoline

Iwanttoswingfromachandier · 16/12/2018 23:51

25 year old son in a job I couldn't do (prison officer) just over 500 - I said I was cutting back as he's nearly on the same wage as me (24, 000) but I always go over - coat £150, aftershave set 90, clothers 300 x

Yabbers · 16/12/2018 23:54

I spend what I can afford.

ToffeePennie · 16/12/2018 23:55

£100 on both of them. £100 on everyone else. £20 on dh.
It’s all we can afford this year

Winterfellwonderland · 17/12/2018 00:00

About £65-80 each child

TrueCrimeToll · 17/12/2018 00:00

Usually £50 - £100.

One year it was about £250 as it involved technology.

seventhgonickname · 17/12/2018 00:05

Dd wants perfume this year,she doesn't think I will get it as it is £40 but she will have that and a stocking.She is 15 and will be over the moon, it's not all about money.

blackteasplease · 17/12/2018 00:13

About £150 each. They are 10 and nearly 5.

stinkypoo · 17/12/2018 00:17

I don't really have a budget yet, DD is only 5 and has a very limited 'list' so I've bulked it out with stuff she needs, but I have pressed it to her that Santa doesn't always bring everything on your list and only has a small budget because he has to look after so many children. The rest comes from parents/family x

BatPie · 17/12/2018 07:44

@Ifangyow why did you stop at 18? Absolutely nothing at all gift wise? Unless you're going to say you're completely broke then that sounds just awful to me. Your kids are your kids aren't they?

I spend loads to answer OPs question. £70 ish on birthdays as a rule and £600 per child at Christmas.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 18/12/2018 18:00

my post should have said can afford it, not cant

RandomUsernameHere · 18/12/2018 18:13

I don't actually know what I have spent on them this year as haven't added it up, but I would guess about £200 each.

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 18/12/2018 18:37

I've probably spent about £350 each on dds 10 and 6. I've been buying all year around and didn't realise how much I had bought until I got it all out to wrap. There is quite a large amount will likely fill the room!! but I don't tend to buy through the year (except the odd charity shop book/dvd)

This includes clothes, and essentials such as new hairbrush, wash bags, school bags and a big pile of books for my 2 bookworms!

I'm making the most of the big pile as I'm sure this will be the last year dd1 asks for toys (her most wanted item this year was a ninja turtles half shell heroes playset!)