Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Christmas gifts for our children

97 replies

Searbear · 20/12/2018 06:38

Hello I was wondering how much to spend on children for Christmas, I understand in most cases there is a budget, but what is the right price? considering how costly things are now days, it just seems to hard to feel like you have done enough

OP posts:
Notso · 20/12/2018 10:17

I just buy them some stuff they have asked for or that I know they'll like.
I don't spend the same each year or the same on each child.
One of my DC is getting a laptop this year, the other three are not getting a laptop worth of gifts.

PadawanCat · 20/12/2018 10:35

We went a bit mad this year and spent £100 on each of the children. Plus extra for stockings (mainly chocs/useful stuff like pants and socks as we got fed up of the toot). Sometimes we do a big family ‘gift’ too, but not this year.

BatCakes · 20/12/2018 12:38

Ugh at that pious little poem

Well I'm not working class but I've managed to spend £1500 between the two of them Grin I'd budgeted £300 each!

I agree with a previous poster. A few bits can add up. I bought my DS a Nintendo Switch, 2 games for it, a pro controller and a carry case and screen protector. That's £550 right there - on 6 gifts.

I start in September and we can afford it and I like spoiling them but I've had previous years when I was a single parent when the budget was a lot lower so I'd adjust accordingly and start even earlier with shopping. After all, Christmas Day is never a surprise so it's easy to be a little bit organised

LadyFidgetAndHerHandbag · 20/12/2018 13:26

I think the thing is to set your budget and stick to it.
Re a previous poster's comments on class - my parents are very upper-middle class and we got a few presents each and a stocking. I didn't realise other people had loads of gifts until I was having a conversation with friends when I was about 15 who were horrified that my big present was a CD. My husband's family is much more working class and his parents put themselves into debt every year. I was gobsmacked the first Christmas I spent with his family and couldn't see the sitting room floor.

ceeveebee · 20/12/2018 21:38

Ugh at the thought of spending the equivalent of a small car on presents

formerbabe · 20/12/2018 21:45

When I total it all up, I actually spend more on stocking fillers than their main presents from us.

Stockings have small bits and bobs but I've done about 30 gifts each in them! So it's really added up. I do go a bit ott with the stockings but it's the best bit about Christmas. Unfortunately, santa gets the praise rather than me!

Main gifts, only about £60 each I think.

BatCakes · 20/12/2018 21:52

@ceeveebee don't do it then if you can't afford it or don't want to. It's not compulsory

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 20/12/2018 21:53

I don't think it's a matter of how much. In my experience often it's the RIGHT gift or gifts for them, something thoughtful that will make them happy.

Purpleartichoke · 20/12/2018 21:53

I set the budget on what would make good gifts each year. This year is fairly large because we are doing a gaming console. Last year was just a few toys I thought dd would enjoy because she didn’t have much on her wish list.

Our budgets for adults are similar. Dh’s Gift this year is very small because the thing he really wants isn’t coming out until his birthday and will be expensive. I on the other hand really wanted a large LEGO set that was available this season.

So basically we try to figure out what each family member would really enjoy that year and if we can afford it, that is the gift.

burningcandle · 20/12/2018 21:54

I think it depends on what they’ve asked for. My DS14 has asked for a £220 jacket, but my DS9 has asked for a £36 Science kit. My youngest DS5 has the most parcels as he’s asked for smaller things. I used to be quite anal about keeping them all the same but it’s just not possible.
Last year we had a bit more money but it meant that I bought more crap!

JustHereForThePooStories · 20/12/2018 21:56

OP, I think you should spend £164.72

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 20/12/2018 22:00

What's wrong with just buying what you think they'll like/enjoy and not competing over cost?

I have genuinely no idea how much friends spend on their DC, nor family. I have genuinely no idea what we've spent on ours; we've bought things they asked for throughout the last few months and I think DH and I are both pretty happy with the way our christmases go.

BumbleyBum · 20/12/2018 22:02

We spend about £400 on each child and £30 on each of their stockings. We don’t get in to debt for it though. If we had less disposable income we’d obviously spend less.

loubluee · 20/12/2018 22:02

Well I’ve spent £520 on ds14 plus stocking fillers, his dad has spent £600 on computer bits plus stocking fillers. Dd18 has a day out with his gf doing an activity that’s cost £520 plus more with hotel etc, and then stocking fillers and other bits. It sounds loads but there’s very little to open Christmas Day. I’ve saved up throughout the year and am definitely working class now lol.

makingmiracles · 20/12/2018 22:17

We’ve spent £180 on a main gift each for 3 of the dc and I’d say easily another £30 on a small bag of presents, plus another £25 on stockings, the youngest has around £140 worth. I have been buying since summer though, But still, 2019 I am scaling it down massively as we Blush are trying to pay down debt. I can’t help myself, I have massive throwback from my awful childhood but I know I need to rein it in, as they become teens it can become ridiculous with how much you spend if your not careful, so much easier to buy for and for less money when they are small.

ashvivienne · 20/12/2018 22:20

We’ve splurged on Christmas this year for everyone. We’ve had the ability to do it. I think the most we’ve spent on 1 child is about £900.

DinoDave · 20/12/2018 22:36

I had what people are referring to as a ‘working class’ Xmas (piles and piles of stuff) growing up and tbh I have no desire to recreate it.

The rule in our house was very much quantity over quality...and as a young kid that’s ok but it was so so tiresome as I got older opening gift after gift of market stall clothes, knock off make up or perfume, 4 pairs of cheap shoes etc.

I used to look at my best friend who literally had a quarter of the amount of gifts I had but all nice, quality and carefully chosen things iyswim. They probably cost the same as my huge huge pile of stuff.

I choose gifts carefully. The dc have a decent amount of things I know they’ll love but not piles and piles each.

Littlelambpeep · 20/12/2018 22:40

I haven't bought a lot but Lego is expensive and I bought a set each (about 70) and cars etc ... probably six or seven things including art/ stickers / slippers

I think it works out 200 for 2 dc and I feel everything will get great use/ no fads or silly things

Soconfusedbylife · 20/12/2018 22:50

I’ve spent about £130 each. £30 on stocking fillers and £100 on main presents. They have about 5 main presents each then a small stocking. Presents this year are board games, books, a switch game and extra controller and a mini drone thingy.

Last year we spent more because we bought them a switch.

I don’t think we go mad on presents but don’t restrict either.

I’m from a working class family. Grew up with a massive pile of presents but all good quality. I loved it! But I know mine end up with too much and they can’t play with it all so I try to be careful.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 20/12/2018 23:04

I read this thread and think we must be really mean. We don't struggle for money but don't go mad at birthdays or Christmas. Young adults, about £50 - £60 on things to open and £100 each in bank account (they asked for money towards things they are saving for)

peachgreen · 20/12/2018 23:06

I've spent £30 on my daughter - £15 on her stocking, £10 on two books and £4.99 on a doll! She is only 1 though! As children, we got our stockings - which were always full of nice things like nice pencils and rubbers, maybe a CD single, a book, small toys etc - and one "big" present (as kids, something like a doll's house, a Sylvanian family set or a Barbie, as teens a CD player, a camera or a bike for example). I never felt hard done by - the thing we got was always something special that we really wanted. The idea that I'd get more than one thing from my parents wouldn't have entered my head to be honest.

Thirtyrock39 · 21/12/2018 07:36

Those who spend £100s are your kids getting a lot from extended family as well? I guess I've only ever bought one 'big present for each as they'll get a big present from grandparents, great grandparent and a decent gift from all their aunts and uncles as well- it's easier to keep spending down if they're going to get lots from other relatives . It still feels like we have to declutter to fit in all the new toys and bits and bobs and they definitely don't go without and feels like they have days of opening presents.
Also I did a lot of Black Friday shopping - got loads from Claire's website with little things that were a £1 ! And home bargains are great for young teens as you can buy things like false nails, hair curlers really cheap but my daughter will love and use these. Also ships like tiger have good value stocking fillers

Tartsamazeballs · 21/12/2018 07:36

About £120 on my 2 year old- micro scooter main present, rebel girls 2 book, a bedtime book, some new flashy trainers, a foam football (for indoors, can't be popped by the dog, bliss), and a Melissa and Doug throwing game, and a bag of chocolate coins 😂

She will get enough tat and shite throughout the year 😂

RedSkyLastNight · 21/12/2018 08:00

How much you think is reasonable will not only depend on your income but your attitude to spending. We could afford to get more for our DC than we have, but we can't see the point of a huge ple of "stuff" and would rather prioritise spending on other things.. When they were little we only used to get 2 or 3 small things (often 2nd hand/charity shop); it's gradually increased as the years. As teenagers they are not getting much in terms of quantity but the items are more expensive.

ChanklyBore · 21/12/2018 08:11

I don’t know how much I’ve spent. I don’t have a budget. I only have two children and they are in a competitive stage so I have lined up the gifts to be roughly equal in terms of physical size and number, because that is what they will notice, but not in cost.