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??

Wow, the ignorance!

That's a disgusting amount to spend no matter how much you can afford ! Children value the small things in life not tons of pointless presents they'll probably be overwhelmed and bored by the end of the day whats wrong with one or two small well thought out gifts they'd really love and cherish ? Your teaching them nothing by splashing out like that

are you a very materialistic person? or very insecure?

@MonChatEstMagnifique I agree it sounds a little (lot) trite.

But I'm really not in the best of circumstances this year and have agonised over it. That's a list I chose to help me not feel like I'm failing 😂

Lipperfromchipper Mon 25-Nov-19 20:29:29
@Darkstar4855 why not? Plenty of ppl ask these types of questions all the time on MN? Surely that is part of the bloody point of an anonymous Internet forum!?? to enquire about things, ask questions and get responses (whether we like them or not)

Only we get these threads every single year. There is no 'right' or wrong' and your OP asks Is 400 enough for two children

There are so many variables it's a ridiculous question to ask not to mention insensitive. There are posters who can only dream of having so much money, there are posters who could think that's positively stingy. There are posters who spend that amount as they have small families and the children won't get much more from extended family. There are posters who could afford much more but spend £50 per child as the children will be inundated with presents from extended family.

I've spent much more on mine, and much less in leaner times. You spend what you can afford and don't ask such a ridiculous question such as is 400 enough for two children

FFS Scrooges my arse !!!!! What a disgusting thing to say when food bank use is on the increase, astounding!!
Some people don't have credit cards to the max will spend only what they can afford and children don't need lots of plastic tat anyway

@JinglingHellsBells

FWIW Folks with the most dosh often spend the least. Their values are different.

What is it that you are implying with this comment!? I can afford to spend what I have spent, I don’t have debt, I have a house paid off and savings. I don’t think my financial status has anything to do with my bring a gauge in what I gave spent!?? As other pps have said, looking for opinions or advice on what others have done Is not a terrible thing to ask?!?

nobody put any ideas I my head...it’s just a general wondering, like most mn posts! No, it's not like most MN posts. No way.

Well it's clear you aren't sure what is sensible parenting.

Why do you need to ask if something is 'enough'? What is the yardstick for measuring it?

Most parents I know choose one or two presents for children of that age. Showering them with plastic rubbish is madness. More doesn't equal better!

As I said, it's not the amount you spend it's the thought behind it and the worry that it's 'enough'.

Do you honestly think children of the age yours are have any notion of the value of money? Really??? They don't know if something costs 50p or £500.

Or are you building up expectations in them that they need to have X amount of presents?

You've already said that they are influenced by the amount of presents their friends at school have.

You need to teach your children real values, not measured by the £££ you spend on them.

It's far more caring to choose one or two small gifts that have some meaning for them and that they will love, rather than zillions of cheap tat that they won't value.

What was your own childhood like? You seem to have no idea of how to parent.

@MerryDeath actually I’m not materialistic in the slightest!! These are the dc’s lists not mine 😉 I asked for socks this year... socks...because I need some.

What I am implying is that people who are well off and could spend thousands, usually don't because they know it doesn't buy love or make their children any happier.

It's about values- and nothing to do with money.

You are certainly being very touchy and don't seem to get what posters are saying.

I don’t spend anything like that much! It would be under £100 per child (or about £100) but dd11 wanted an “experience” for her present and I don’t think I can count my ticket to go with her in her present cost! My ds is 5 (nearly 6) and his presents come to about £100.

And often think I have a spending problem!

That said, they’ve just had their rooms decorated and we are going away for New Year so that adds up.

This thread is bonkers. I don’t buy my kids anything. I get them to pay me at Christmas.

Do I win?

These are the dc’s lists not mine

Which makes the whole thing even more scary. Do they control you? Are you afraid to buy what is sensible or what they put on their lists?
So do you jump to do what such young children ask?
God help you when they are teens and you may have to say no.

I think it's entirely personal, really.

I just went back to work after mat leave recently (self-employed) and have been working really hard every evening. It's motivated me a bit to think about getting some nice things for DD's Christmas. I've probably spent a bit more than a lot of people would think was 'right' considering she'll only be 10mo, but some of the stuff will get a lot of use and some of it is fun stuff for us to do together so it's worth it. But we are very fortunate we're in a position where it's possible to do that and I hope she will learn that she's in a privileged position when she gets older and values what she gets regardless of the cost.

I don't think £200 is 'disgusting' at all, though, and is just taking it to the other extreme. You spend either what you can afford to or what you feel you want to. Some people can only spend what they can afford to; others can afford more and only spend what they feel they want to. Other people want to spend more. And it's all fine.

@JinglingHellsBells 🤣🤣🤣🙌 wow if ever I have seen a person try to assume so much from a few posts based on Christmas gifts “THIS IS IT!!”

I haven’t showered them with plastic rubbish at all! Most of the gifts I listed are art/crafts and LEGO! Lego lasts forever, it’s great for motor skills and imagination to name but a few benefits. They have 4/5 gifts each.

As I have said my dc have no idea how much is spent on them...not a clue!! And as a teacher I can tell you that 99% of children are influenced by their school friends!! That is a very normal process!!
My children are well aware of the value of money thanks...they do jobs around the house for their pocket money (€2) and they save half of that!

So don’t you come on here telling me how to parent!! THATS NOT WHST I ASKED!You need to learn to stop judging ppl based on a snippet of information and possibly RTFT!!

Ffs... and I had a perfect childhood thank you very much!!

personally I think that unless it's something that they need or will actually use then spending that amount of money just spending for the sake of it. I think if you give them too much then you're losing sight of what Christmas is all about. This is only my opinion though and I'm looking at it through the eyes of someone who grew up with very little and who, as an adult, still doesn't have an awful lot to give or spend.

@BellyButton85 without what? I spend that much. My children get a visit from Santa and a gift from there parents it’s the thought that counts after all. Meanwhile my children get what they need when they need instead of waiting until Christmas for toys/books/clothes/equipment. It’s not about how much money you spend, it’s the intention that counts. If people applied that ethic to their lives more broadly I think that a lot of people would be much happier.

*JinglingHellsBells Mon 25-Nov-19 22:20:04
What I am implying is that people who are well off and could spend thousands, usually don't because they know it doesn't buy love or make their children any happier.

It's about values- and nothing to do with money.

You are certainly being very touchy and don't seem to get what posters are saying.*

You see IME this is rubbish too - I'm PA to an extremely wealthy man who spends thousands on his only son at Christmas - equally his colleague is very frugal and doesn't.

It's ridiculous to stereotype.

Oh and @JinglingHellsBells that’s the reason I work part time...because I want to spend time with my children....quality time, because that is what is important to me too. Alongside wanting them to have a good Christmas...

You seem to have no idea of how to parent.

This seems a bit of a leap based on a thread about one day of the year!

I am gobsmacked! 0 why on earth would you spend this sort of money?

It just sounds as though you are licking a figure to spend rather than picking something they will have fun with.

Save your money - when they are teenagers they will be giving you a list with exact details of what they want - and these things will be expensive.

They are 6 and 4 - give them a football or family game. The idea is to give them a gift they will enjoy and not to set yourself a financial target - that is truly boners!

I’ve spent about £200 on my 6yo OP. Gets very little else all year and we can afford it. So I think £400 for two is fine.
Ignore the haters

I do not think that piles of presents make a good Christmas.

I found that mine loved the tiny inexpensive things: paper flowers/trees that grow in water, funny masks, little clockwork toys.

@Mishappening please RTFT I haven’t just plucked a figure from thin air and got them tat they don’t want...neither of mine would be interested in a football by the way. They play hurling

It’s only too much if you can’t afford it.

My two are aged 9 & 7 and I will probably spend about £200 each when you include all the extra bits. I start in the Christmas sales the year before!

But I buy a few things that last ages (e.g. bikes, scooters, sewing machine, Lego), so they get a few quality things rather than volume.