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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:
AmIIntrouble · 15/12/2018 19:50

My kids dont even know what they want, no pont of me spending hundreds of pounds on something they wont use. I bought a ps4 vr headset and games for my 11 years old. He used it only a few times, back to those basic games.

£50 each, ages 12,11,5. Although my 11 is getting a new contract samsung phone.

ihatehoney · 15/12/2018 19:51

@Amber2019 😱 what on earth do you manage to spend £800 on for a 14 year old?? Even if I had that kind of money I would never spend even half that much, it gets to a point where you're just spoiling them!

shelikesemwithamoustache · 15/12/2018 19:56

I have spent £25 on each this year, just because they don’t need anything and will get lots from other family members. I don’t like buying for buying’s sake. Last year DS got a chrome book and that was £200 so it really does vary.

Tunnocks34 · 15/12/2018 19:57

I don’t set a limit, at the minute we’ve just got them what was on their list. Due to age. My 5 year old has asked for a toy garage, some toy cars, some football boots and ‘100 thousand chocolate bars’ (we have got him a selection box). My two year old has got a giant fire engine, and a push bike. He has no list we’ve just him the stuff he’s got really excited over.

Babyroobs · 15/12/2018 19:59

We have spent £700 on DS3 (aged 16) but this is a joint birthday and Christmas present ( Dec birthday ) but it's a MacBook which hopefully will help in GCSE year and beyond. DS2 has probably had about £300 spent on him and DD probably about £360. DS1 is not getting much as he is at Uni and has had a lot spent on him this year. My kids don't get anything else apart from what we buy them as we don't really have any family that but them anything just my dad who gives them some money. We spend more on them as we don't have to buy for extended family.

Normandy144 · 15/12/2018 20:02

My children are 2 and 5 and we have spent an average of £215 on both of them.

They don't get toys at any other timw of the year apart from their birthdays. They might get new craft things or art things etc if they need replacing but otherwise that is it. This ans their birthday's are their only big 'haul' so i don't think this is misplaced.

Ca55andraMortmain · 15/12/2018 20:03

My dds are really young and the stuff they asked for was cheap. Dd1 is getting a doll that was around £40 plus her stocking and dd2 is a baby and has no idea it's Christmas so is getting a couple of token things that cost around £20. But we've spent a lot on Christmas experiences like ice skating, tickets for the panto and going on a santa train so although we haven't spent much on gifts the overall Xmas spends have added up. When they're older it'll probably go the other way as they won't want to go on a santa train any more but they'll ask for more (and pricier) gifts.

Trinpy · 15/12/2018 20:03

I love these threads - makes me feel almost frugal!

I've spent £20 on stockings and £60 on the main present so £80 per child. Mine are only 2 and 4 though so I can get away with buying a lot 2nd hand. I only buy them toys on Christmas and birthdays so it's been nice to treat them. We haven't done any Santa visits or anything like that this year either.

Amber2019 · 15/12/2018 20:11

6 playstation and 2 Xbox games came to around 400 straight away. Ive been known to spend way more and i wont be doing the same with my youngest. Ive learnt my lesson, even with spending that amount i feel guilty that it doesnt look enough. I was a single parent working 6 days for years so i guess ive used gifts to show that it was worth it.

nomilknosugarplease · 15/12/2018 20:11

We aren’t short on money at all but we’ve only ever spent an absolute MAX of £150. If we spent any more I think the kids would be a bit like wtf Confused But we do pay for things throughout the year if they need them like laptops etc so christmas is more just little treats they would like rather than laptops/phones.

Amber2019 · 15/12/2018 20:12

That was for @ihatehoney new to this

SilverDoe · 15/12/2018 20:14

I’ve done about £200 worth for my 3 year old and much less for my 1 year old who’s birthday was only last month (about £40). That’s for a stocking from Santa, pile of presents from Santa and some presents from mum and dad. I’ve also recycled a few baby toys that have been packed away for 2 years from my DD which DS will love and has helped me keep the cost for him down as he’s obviously not going to be too bothered!

They will also have a fair few presents from their grandparents, and some from close relatives which is why I don’t need to buy too much.

I have over spent a bit on DD but I just really want her to have a magical Christmas and when they’re little, I do think they develop so quickly that within a few months they’re ready for newer toys to suit their stage of development (that’s my excuse anyway)

oblada · 15/12/2018 20:17

Nomilknosugar - that's how we do it it and what my parents did with me and my brother. Xmas is MAX of 150 per kid, usually around 100 (they are 7, 4 and 2yrs old - the 2yrs old has quite a bit less as he doesn't need anything). But we do buy things they need or want throughout the year like bikes etc.
My kids never asked for much either. Their list was just 2 things. 1 i said no too (LOL surprise) the other I've bought. The rest I've chosen myself. All treats really.

UhYeahISureHopeItDoes · 15/12/2018 20:17

I don't set a limit but so far I've spent £250. Other (small £10-£20) presents will be bought as well as it doesn't seem like he has a lot.

Waiting for a couple of presents to come into stock which are going to cost about £260

So all in all about £600. Just to add last year we spent about £150 as he was younger and hardly needed anything and the toys for his age group were really cheap. So this isn't a regular thing and next year he will probably just have a few small toys and maybe a bike or something as a big present.

Laudaroc · 15/12/2018 20:22

200/250 per child
including stockings
i have 3 children

mama17 · 15/12/2018 20:24

I don't set a limit just go on what I think they will like I can't even guess how much I have spent in total as I have been shopping for a few months. Both children's birthdays very close to Christmas so I put all presents together then split them in half for birthday and Christmas. They are still young 4 and 2 so get away with spending less but when their older I will probably set more of a limit. I'm not fussed on making them equal at the moment as they don't understand how much things cost but when they understand I will make sure I spend the same on both. I also think people should soend what they can afford, I personally wouldn't get in debt for Christmas just save throughout the year where possible

ChimpyChops · 15/12/2018 20:28

I reckon I will end up at about £300 for ds1 (11). That is also half of a laptop included, ex-husband paying the other half.
Ds2 (5) probably about £200 once I add his stocking on but his toy kitchen cost a bit more than expected.
No debt this year, extra shifts!

Cheekysquirrel · 15/12/2018 20:29

Ds (9) - not sure, maybe about £450 plus a stocking...He’s got tickets to something but I’m only including his ticket in this total as dh and I are going too.

Dd (3) - £400 ish plus stocking.

DareDevil911 · 15/12/2018 20:33

My local FB selling page dedicated to mums has a wealth of gifts to pick up for very cheap. I got some lovely stuff from there for my 2 year old at a fraction of the cost of new. I love buying decent second hand, great on many levels.

Mine are still young but I don't spend a great deal. I could afford to get more but too many presents seem to overwhelm them. I'm sure this will change when they are older.

TwistedChristmas · 15/12/2018 20:40

This reply has been deleted

Posted in error

Thentherewascake · 15/12/2018 20:55

What do they need that costs £500 or even £200 every year?

bike
trampoline
Treehouse
yearly membership to a play farm
Playmobil dollhouse only is more than £100
Paw Patrol look out is £80ish
Lego Star Wars set is more than £100
and the list goes on
Ticket to Disneyworld is way out of that budget!

That said, you can't compare families. Budgets are different, some give clothes, pyjamas whilst others stick to toys. Some give few toys, but the kids get some throughout the year anyway. Some get their sport kit for Christmas, others get it when needed.

We spend a lot, but it's all toys and games the kids will use and spend a lot of time playing with, so it's totally worth it.

Mrsmumof3 · 15/12/2018 20:58

This year i spend £60 for my 10 years old daughter
£40 for my 8 years old son
£30 for my 4 years old son

lifetothefull · 15/12/2018 21:00

Dd1 - about £50. She wants nothing but I know she is planning a big trip next year so I will contribute to that.
Dd2. - £150 (partly equipment for her hobby)
Dd3 - £85
I find this interesting to see the variety. I hope no one feels pressured to spend more than they can afford though.

Knittink · 15/12/2018 21:04

About £75 per child. (2 dc, 10 and 13). I could afford more, but we just don't do massive Christmas spending. My dc always love their presents and find it hard to think of other stuff they want tbh. I find the huge piles of expensive gifts a bit showy and unnecessary tbh.

thaegumathteth · 15/12/2018 21:04

Dd (8) about £400
Ds (12 at Christmas) about £600 across birthday and Christmas.

That’s more than normal as we had a windfall but not that much more. We never get into debt and we don’t buy stuff through the year but rather focus on experiences and holidays. Fully appreciate we are extremely fortunate.

We also volunteer time all year to community groups / charities and donate to charity at Xmas.