Is 400 enough for two dc?

[Lipperfromchipper]

Just a Christmas question, dc are 6 and 4,
I have spent about 320 so far and was thinking if I spent another 80 between them on stocking fillers that would be plenty?? But I’m getting cold feet about that!!? How much have you spent on two dc of similar ages??

I'm spending £60 each on my 10 and 12 year old. Considering they'll get gifts from other people then that's more than enough.

Fucking hell. Some posters would faint if they knew how much I’m spending.

It’s not bad to spend more than £50 on your kid at Christmas and I don’t feel one ounce of guilt about it.

ffs

OP you sound ridiculous. And that's why people are accusing you of boasting. Because if you're not, frankly, grow up.

One year DS asked for a horse in his bedroom. So I had an antique rocking horse restored by the most amazing chap, and he ended up having a £3k+ main present. Most likely now to be a family heirloom. The previous year, he had asked for a teacup and a worm. Which he got. Circa a tenner. No one is going to tell me that I shouldn't spend £000s on a painstakingly sourced, designed and life long gift of an antique horse, and no one is going to tell me that I should spend more than a tenner if that's what matters to DS. It's my family, my budget, and not heaps of plastic tat to thoughtlessly bulk out a pile.

This "I need to feel I've spent a socially acceptable and comparable amount on more stuff buy I don't even know what to get" is such a sheep mentality.

We spent about £30 each on ours at that age - present and stocking fillers. £400 is excessive IMHO though I'm sure there are others who spend that much (and more!)

I think it’s more about volume than cost. I hate to see kids sitting surrounded by piles and piles of stuff.

My child is 4. I bought a main present of £100. Then probably £50 on stocking fillers. I've only one though, if I had two kids it would be less.

Also, I always make sure that some of the stocking fillers are practical items like slippers/pjs etc. I also pick them up throughout the year in the sales to maximise what I get.

£200 each child in this house, I don’t believe for a second those of you who say your only spending £30 to £40!! How old is the child and what do you get for £30-£40?

When my kids were little we got them a second hand main present, pens and colouring pencils and some other bits and bobs. It was not hard to keep it modest.

It’s not ridiculous that the OP is spending £400... each to their own. What is ridiculous is that she’s started a thread asking if it’s ‘enough’. Of course it’s bloody enough. No one is going to say ‘your poor deprived children, you should be ashamed of yourselves’, are they?

What’s Emma Tapping buying this year? Wonder if any of her tree will be visible.

Lots of people saying it’s a ridiculous amount. If you are stretched I completely understand that but bearing in mind that most children have bikes, a console etc they must have come from somewhere. I don’t buy gifts through put the year but prefer to buy a bigger gift at Christmas or birthdays. I guess it’s just how you spread the load

OP you sound ridiculous. And that's why people are accusing you of boasting. Because if you're not, frankly, grow up.

A bit of an over reaction there... I’ve seen worse “boasts” on here! It’s 400 not 4000!!

@Elbeagle I agree I could have phrased the question in a better way!

Meh. Spend what you want and can afford. We’ve spent more than that this year. We don’t really have a budget, just think what they would like / need and are very lucky that our family budget can accommodate that.

My dc are very lovely children, grateful for all they get and we love making a huge fuss of them at Christmas. I couldn’t care less what anyone else does.

I just added up what I've spent on my 3yr old daughter - £145 on main presents, and £55ish on stocking presents.
So exactly the same as you.

I know it's stupid, but I have a bit of OCD and I always get her 8 presents and 8 stocking presents too.

I think you are unfairly getting a hard time OP. You haven't spent an outrageous amount, have said it's within your means, and are getting them things they actually want. I suspect from the playground chatter I've heard in recent weeks that you are spending a fairly average amount (I live in a village with a mix of incomes).

Just to echo a couple of earlier posters however, I would make very sure each child has the same amount of presents both in number and by volume, regardless of what you have set as the overall budget.
I shop throughout the year for presents as I see things on offer etc that I know they'd love. I get everything out of hiding about a month before Xmas and lay each child's out next to each other to assess how equal things are. Depending on how much there is/isn't I will then buy things from their wish lists or put stuff away for their next birthday to ensure the piles match.

Odd question OP - what do you want us to compare it with?
If I compare it to myself, it's like what the fuck, that's a huge waste of money.
If I compare it to someone who is in the top 5% of earners in this country, then it's like 'meh'.
So why are you asking us? Have you lost all sense of proportion with your money?

I reckon the OP’s spending is probably fairly typical.

I won’t spend that much until there’s a Christmas coincides with a time when DD needs a bike or another big but useful item.

So I am not going to sneer at the OP’s spending although I do wonder why you would post a thread asking if it’s the right amount when clearly everyone will feel differently according to their own budget/priorities.

To answer this question that has cropped up a few times:

What do people who spend £50 buy ?

A wooden coffee maker toy £17
Hatley pyjamas (a bargain at £12 on eBay BNWT)
Some second hand Brio track £12
Two books £8
Gingerbread man cutter £3

Obviously not bang on £50 but pretty close and I know DD will be delighted.

She will get a good biggish gift from three other family members and a couple of smaller presents from friends.

That’s more than enough to open and any more would be overwhelming.

I reckon Emma Tapping is still paying for Christmas 2 years ago so praps she needs a 0% credit balance transfer to kick start this year or borrow from the magic money tree in the grounds of No 10. Folks ramp up the cards and the credit companies are the winners every year.

I spend far, far, far too much on ds 9, it’s because I’m the only one who’ll buy him presents and I have massive guilt that nobody else wants to know him. Spend what you want, there’s no right or wrong way

@skankingpiglet thank you!! I get everything out of hiding about a month before Xmas and lay each child's out next to each other to assess how equal things are. Depending on how much there is/isn't I will then buy things from their wish lists or put stuff away for their next birthday to ensure the piles match YES!! I do this too...I must admit it gets me all excited for the big day but that’s also when my doubts might be confirmed (and I feel I need to add to a pile rather than take off the other 😭) hopefully it will all work out balanced! Thanks again.

I realised I’d bought DD2 more than DD1 last year so put a couple of bits away for her birthday and completely forgot! So I was sorting the spare room last week and found 2 medium sized presents that she can have this year instead. Bonus!

Jeezo some people on this website seem to wank on endlessly and crassly about how much money they spend all manner of things and the OP is getting pelters for talking about a couple of hundred quid.

£400 is A LOT. Do they need it? I've spent £30 each on main present then probably another £30 on stocking stuff. My kids have so much crap, I can't bear to add any more

It’s not ridiculous to ask a question, it also depends on your circumstances and your upbringing.

I grew up with nothing for Christmas, literally not a single gift under the sometimes non existent tree... between that and other multiple reasons, as a parent you sometimes second guess/question the choices you make.

You need to be content that you’ve done the best you can in your circumstances

Im sure the gifts you’ve carefully chosen will put a smile on your kids faces irregardless of what they’d cost or how many gifts are under the tree.