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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:
whatsthestory123 · 15/12/2018 18:32

1 dc very close birthday to christmas so approx £650-7

2 dcs twins 19yrs old £250- 3 each

on benefits /all paid for /no debt

Tw1nsetAndPearls · 15/12/2018 18:33

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

Why is it bullshit. I imagine that I have spent around this for many of my children's Christmases

Sparkers · 15/12/2018 18:38

Thentherewascake

I bet it wasn't bullshit. Last year my two (twins) wanted ZhuZhu pets. I got a huge, seriously huge, bundle from eBay for £22 they had that between them. 2 huge boxes full. They loved it.

So £11 each.

riotlady · 15/12/2018 18:40

About £60 this year but my daughter is only 8 months so will presumably go up
(She doesn’t really need what I’ve bought her tbh, I just got overexcited!!)

ihearttc · 15/12/2018 18:41

I have spent £1000 in total for both boys (one is 13 nearly 14) and the other is 8. That includes stocking presents and a trip to the Panto as well.

We are very fortunate that DH works abroad and we can afford it but the boys don't really ask for huge amounts. Ive made the mistake in previous years of buying lots and lots of presents (they literally only get presents from us) but they have fewer presents but things they will really love this year.

DS1 has got a steering wheel for his xbox, a drone, some aftershave, Forza and an echo dot.

DS2 has got the HP coding wand, a hoverboard and Kart, some lego and an echo dot.

All purchased with codes/discount vouchers.

Santababyclaus · 15/12/2018 18:41

There was a recent thread on a facebook group where posters proudly stated they only spent between £20 and £35 - in total

I suppose on one hand I've only spent £44.50 and £22 of that was for the grotto (didn't buy any food/photos etc when there) and £2.50 was on an Xmas jumper from a charity shop. We don't do Xmas eve boxes/elf on the shelf/new ceramic personalised tree decoration etc.

However, dd3 presents and stocking are the equivalent of £70. DP won a gift voucher during the summer so £40 was spent on dd's presents and then her stocking is worth £10 but those items were bought with nectar points during the double up.

If a family can afford £400 per child then that's their decision. It's not necessarily a huge amount of goods, for example it could be one phone for a teenager. Even for a toddler you wouldn't get many items for £400 if you were buying toys from Grimms/Osteimer/great little trading company etc

Mummylife2018 · 15/12/2018 18:47

Not this thread again....

thighofrelief · 15/12/2018 18:53

2 young adults £200 each in cash and about £70 each on essential clothing and some chocolate etc

afrikat · 15/12/2018 18:57

Probably £100 or so each this year. They already have so much and we tend to buy stuff throughout the year we don't do a big blow out at Xmas

TheGhostsOfPresidentsYetToCome · 15/12/2018 19:03

DS’ (6th) birthday is tomorrow and both my and ExP’s family buy tonnes for Xmas and birthday so I don’t buy masses. I went halves with ExP for birthday £50 each and I’d say Christmas is probably a bit less than that.

I do buy him something outdoorsy in the summer instead so it’s not quite so long to wait between Christmas and birthday.

JaceLancs · 15/12/2018 19:07

£150 each both adults same on DP

Shazafied · 15/12/2018 19:08

£50 main present
£20-30 on bits

I’m really mean

perfectly1mperfect · 15/12/2018 19:09

I just don’t understand this. Is it every year? There are only so many x-boxes and bikes you can buy for a child over 18 yrs of Christmases. What do they need that costs £500 or even £200 every year

New games consoles come out every few years, keeping PCs up to date, better monitors for PCs, updating phones, the latest trainers, iPads, sports equipment etc, there's always something.

shrumps · 15/12/2018 19:11

Around £500 each. (Two dc)

Lookingforadvice123 · 15/12/2018 19:11

This year no more than £100, but probably much less, maybe closer to £50 and that includes stocking. He will be 3 on Boxing Day and doesn't have any concept of what things cost. Why spend a fortune now when in a few years it'll be about expensive tech?

We spend a similar amount on his birthday, and will then buy a trampoline for the garden in the spring as a "big" birthday present.

Lookingforadvice123 · 15/12/2018 19:16

And those asking what you can buy for £30, play doh is very cheap! We have bought DS a play doh accessories kit, a play doh "sweet treats" blender creation thing, it cost less than £20 for both!

itsstillgood · 15/12/2018 19:22

Varies hugely based on finances, age of children, what they need/want. I don't spend for the sake of it but I don't have a set budget beyond is it affordable.

perfectly1mperfect · 15/12/2018 19:24

And those asking what you can buy for £30, play doh is very cheap!

I miss play doh. It used to keep my kids entertained for hours. And it was so cheap, you're right. Now they're older, it's completely different.

ihatehoney · 15/12/2018 19:29

My mum spent £100 max each on my brother and I each year I believe. No need for any more, we always had nice christmases without excessive piles of presents! (Always got the one thing we wanted though!)

Flapjackninja · 15/12/2018 19:29

@ElusiveButterfly yes the nude one!

Amber2019 · 15/12/2018 19:33

14 year old about 800 1 year old 200, every year will be different depending on what they want/need

Tw1nsetAndPearls · 15/12/2018 19:34

Now they're older, it's completely different

It doesn't have to be

Sherbetty · 15/12/2018 19:36

I'll spend maxium of £200 on my 4 DC then they'll often have a shared present for all of them or sometimes the whole family. For example this year we're going away for a few days, not exactly a present but a nice surprise for them which they'll find out about on christmas day, last year they got an xbox to share. I've limited the spending to around £150 each partly because of this little holiday but they haven't asked for as much this year so it's worked out well

imamearcat · 15/12/2018 19:40

£150 each for DD(3) and DS(nearly 2). We nailed it all last night. Spent £50 in hobby craft, £150 in the toy shop and £100 at next on PJs etc. We could afford more but more stuff would seem excessive.

checkingforballoons · 15/12/2018 19:42

I genuinely don’t know what we spend on DS. I start shopping quite early and we have a fantastic charity shop nearby, so he’s got a few brand new, still sealed gifts from there that should have cost a lot more. I’ve tried to be extra mindful this year to buy things I know he’ll love and less ‘filler’ presents.
I’m only really here for the inevitable post from someone claiming that spending more than 80p on gifts for their entire family AND Christmas dinner is excessive Grin

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