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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:
BloodyBing · 15/12/2018 15:47

DC's are 4 and 1. About £60 each. I could afford more but they will get what they want and need.
I expect to end up spending more as they get older.

SauvingnonBlanketyBlanc · 15/12/2018 15:50

Around 200/250 for one ds 4

Danglingmod · 15/12/2018 15:50

About £100 on ds (18). He just doesn't want or need anything. He does tend to get more at birthdays (his desktop one year, an ipad another). Phone is on a contract at a tenner monthly as he doesn't want an iPhone.

People always say teenagers cost more than younger kids but it's not true in our case. If they don't like clothes or gaming, there's not much you can buy that costs much. He's getting 5 books, a charity donation and a jumper! When he was pre-teen I'd be buying gadgets and cool stuff to bulk it out, but it's such a waste and he's so environmentally conscious it became obviously silly.

Dimsumlosesum · 15/12/2018 15:52

Mine had about £150 spent on them (three young kids) in total.

U2HasTheEdge · 15/12/2018 15:52

£150- 175. I have five children, simply can't afford more.

Thentherewascake · 15/12/2018 15:59

There was a recent thread on a facebook group where posters proudly stated they only spent between £20 and £35 - in total Grin
Clearly complete bullshit, but it was hilarious to read.

I am not sure how much I do spend to be honest, must be at least around £400 or £500 per kid, but that includes the tickets to grotto, panto, discos concerts, club Christmas parties and so on. We do spend a lot on presents too, but the kids are happy.

SixToEightInchesOfSnow · 15/12/2018 16:03

Honestly? About £1500. He’s getting a computer this year though and DH wants him to have a MacBook so it’s an expensive main present.

loubluee · 15/12/2018 16:07

Honestly about £1400 between two of them. Lots of computer stuff.

Chocolatecoffeeaddict · 15/12/2018 16:09

Different amounts as they are different ages and into different things. My 5 year old, 3 year old and 15 month have probably had just over 200 each. My ten year old has probably had around £400, but he has less than the others as his are more expensive.

TeaPot496 · 15/12/2018 16:12

I've spent less than £30 on DD(9), she has no expensive wishlist and will be super happy with her presents.

I don't know why this is so unbelievable @Thentherewascake ?

Thentherewascake · 15/12/2018 16:26

the smallest lego set costs at least £20, what can you buy for £30 nowadays?

more importantly, the so-called thrifty shoppers were spending a fortune on Father Christmas experience, photos with Father Christmas, Christmas breakfasts, Christmas Eve boxes Grin - they conveniently forgot to mention that in their "tiny" budget. Complete bollocks!

TeaPot496 · 15/12/2018 16:31

Plenty. Our £30 covers a new (themed) backpack, a book and little bits for her stocking.

Father Christmas visit is an additional £14, then £21 for us all to see a Christmas play, but they aren't presents.

funinthesun18 · 15/12/2018 16:33

£250 each on 5 children. 💸

anniehm · 15/12/2018 16:36

£150 each approx unless a specific gift eg this year dd is having a mobile phone that's £220 but that's all she is getting

M3lon · 15/12/2018 16:36

Almost nothing this year...she's still got loads of stuff left over from previous birthday in May.

GertrudetheFifth · 15/12/2018 16:38

I think it depends what you include as “Christmas”. As children we had probably the equivalent of £50 or so spent on us by my parents. This was for a toy or something like that and stocking gifts.

But during the year obviously we had things like bikes, musical instruments, hockey sticks, swimming stuff, lots of books, pens and craft materials, a family computer, family mobile phone, special clothes, climbing frame...

If you include stuff like that that you are probably going to buy anyway because most families want to provide them for their children, the total is lots more. Most of the big spends listed here are including things like mobiles, iPads, bikes etc. It’s not £500 of Lego and Sylvanian Families.

Worriedmummybekind · 15/12/2018 16:39

Approx £100 each. Usually one £50 present and then some smaller ones.

They are little and have loads of stuff so no need for more stuff really!

We also go to a panto, theatre etc

Elfinablender · 15/12/2018 16:42

About £100 on DS3 (4) and £150 each on ds1(11) and ds2 (9).

MaryShelley1818 · 15/12/2018 16:46

About £100 on DS plus a few little stocking fillers but he’s only 1! His main present is a beautiful ride on toy for £65. Then a few toys and books - only 4-5 other things so not a huge pile of stuff.

PatchworkElmer · 15/12/2018 16:49

On actual ‘things’, only about £30 (second hand balance bike, some books and puzzles, new PJs, craft stuff).

But ‘experiences’- Santa train, messy play, craft sessions. Easily £150 for the 3 of us 😱

shirleyschmidt · 15/12/2018 16:49

About £130 on 3 year old, which is a result of buying a 'main' thing and adding bits and pieces along the way... soon adds up! It was not our intention to spend anything close to that at such a young age, but it was the first time she's got a genuine interest in a few different things, and we do have a lot of great gifts for that money.

MamaTT · 15/12/2018 16:50

I'm not sure but I'd guess around £450-£500 each on the older two (7&8) and £250ish on the youngest (17mo).
We can afford it quite easily, I haven't bought anything for the sake of it. I know every single present will get a lot of use and enjoyment out of it. The older two are having a Nintendo switch and 3 games between them from my DPs parents. My parents only do very small token gifts (which is fine, I'm just pointing out that they won't be getting a sack full else where). My late DHs parents spoil the older 2 but everything they get stays at their house.
We don't buy them much throughout the year and they're very good at budgeting their pocket money (they have GoHenry cards) and understand the value of money.
They believe Santa brings the stocking and one gift and the rest are from us.

Kenworthington · 15/12/2018 16:50

Ds2 (15) About £350
Dd (13) about £350
Ds1(20) about £300 (doesn’t live with us)
This includes their stockings
Dss (24) about £100 (doesn’t live with us gets stuff from his mum too)- doesn’t get a stocking!

Snowydaysaregreat · 15/12/2018 16:54

Ds 12. About £900 plus stocking and outfits. But that's included a pc
Dsd 6 about £300 plus sticking and outfit
Dd 9m about£ 250. Plus stocking and outfit.

FishFingersAndCustard11 · 15/12/2018 16:56

I don't know how much I spent. It's dd's second Christmas, she's 15 months old. We haven't thought of a budget yet. For her first Christmas we spent roughly £50 because she was only 4 months old. This Christmas we've spent £400-£500 worth of gifts. Not doing that every year though, I admit I went way too mad this year. I would like to stick to a max of £200-£250 id say