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??

It must have been said already but a Nintendo switch is £370 alone so how do children ever get those for Xmas if half of mumsnet give a satsuma and a piece of coal for Christmas
@evilmorty They get those during the year on a Tuesday, the bike and cycling gear too, the trips, the smart watch.
But never at Christmas that is far to crass.

These threads are always so weird.

I have a budget of $350 (£183) per child, and always get the stuff off their lists. I ask for the lists mid November.

I don’t see the point in buying stuff they don’t want or haven’t asked for, just because I think they should have it. What a waste of money.

If you can’t ask for the stuff you really want at Christmas/birthdays, when can you? They’d never get anything they ever wanted.

Wow. I spent 600 on my 2 year old lol. We haven't actually been able to afford Christmas before so I was super excited to finally do it, I put tons of thought into every single present and I know she'll love everything I got her and play with it all year. There's no need for anyone to be nasty just because someone spent more than you did. Jealousy is ugly. OP, spent whatever you want, if that's £1000 go for it, if it's £400 brilliant! I think it's super mean to purposely only spend £50 per child btw, but I bet mummy gets new handbags and make up whenever she wants. 🙄

@serenajayne1047 Seriously? You think these people that can’t afford to spend more than £50 are doing it because they want the latest Gucci bag or a spends up in Mac 😂. Clueless.

@serenajayne1047 if you read the full thread, several posters have listed the variety of lovely gifts they managed to get for around £50. I don't understand why that's seen as mean, or why you would assume they have excess money that's been spent on themselves instead?

If you want to spend £600 on your toddler that's absolutely your call, but what right have you to assume those who spend less are "jealous" or "mean", as though they're depriving their children? There is far too much judgment on this thread, on both sides.

I don't get preferring to buy loads of cheap shite in Poundland for a stocking. I'm talking the type of things that get binned within a week. I'd rather spend more and buy items they'll actually use than £10 on some daft "mind puzzle" and other useless tat that will be instantly forgotten. That is just unnecessary consumerism. Sure, you saved £30... but did you really though? Or just throw money down the drain?

I honestly haven't met one person who has kept any of that stuff (that isnt dissimilar to what you'd get in a cheap Christmas cracker.)

Wasn't aimed at the people who genuinely can't afford it, was aimed at the people who act like it's an achievement buying their kids the smallest amount possible, if you actually read what I said ;)

Lol i£400 is a ridiculous amount of money especially at 6 and 4 but I'm sure you've enjoyed showing off on this thread.

Their stockings must be blinking enormous if you can fit £80 of loot in them.

Mine get socks, a toy, chocolate coins and a tangerine in their stockings. Probably about £10.

And presents £30 to £100 depending on what their big gift is.

I don't understand why it's "ridiculous" to spend a few hundred on your kids if you can afford it.

Smoking is expensive. Some people can easily spend £100+ on one night out. Car payments a month can be several hundred. Holidays are expensive. Getting your nails, eyebrows and eyelashes done every month is easily £100. Private schooling is thousands per term.

Everyone has different finances and opinions on money. I don't spend money on half of the above but I don't complain at those who do

People are so bizarre about Christmas. Spend what you want and can afford. Let others do what they want without snide little comments. Easy.

I am interested to know. We don't do Christmas so don't know the etiquette. Regardless to amount spent. How many parcels do you give your kids on average

people in the wealthiest areas tend to spend the least on Christmas presents
Be interesting to know what their recreational spending for the year is. I suspect t it us because they can afford to treat their dc on gifts and experiences throughout the year

50 on my newborn.

I don't understand this at all.

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

@PeopleWhoRun

I'm so sorry PeopleWhoRun. I didn't mean it to sound so harsh but I've just read it back and realise it does. It's the rhyme I don't like. Your children getting things they want/need, a book and a new outfit sounds lovely....you're certainly not failing and I'm very sorry if I made you feel that way. .

Just realised how much I used to love making up stockings. Main present - meh, what was the object of desire or whatever. But finding appropriate, surprising stocking fillers was fun. Oh, and there had to be a sugar mouse. Always.

Genuine question - do those of you who spend large amounts on presents also have savings schemes, pensions, investments etc set up for your children? We would never give our DS ‘big value’ presents, max spend around £150 for Christmas (he is 18 now) but I acknowledge that we do save regularly for him into a pension scheme (since he was born ).
I guess we could have used that money, to buy ‘big’ presents for the ‘wow’ factor under the Christmas tree but, to us, it seems much better to put money away for the future.
I assume some people are in the fortunate position of being able to do both ....

Spend what you like, but it’s a sad fact that many, many people get into debt over Christmas, not to mention the entitled attitude of many young people these days.

I only spend less than £100 on both ds's. I thought that was a lot!

Op is getting a hard time for what I see is a particularly normal amount considering the prices of things now. When I was a teenager 25 years ago we had a budget of £100 And as kids I loved my sack of presents. I still remember Christmas Day excitement now at 40, no idea how much was spent but I bet the equivalent now is about £100. We were no way spoiled we had very little but Christmas was the exception, not just about present it was a fun Family time in what sometimes was hard as mum had mental health issues but she tried so hard over Christmas to make it special.

Op as long as you aren't going into debt ( which you aren't) that list of presents looked great to me. Lots of fun but not too much that they will be overwhelmed and like you said what they asked for.

*There are some tight arses on here!
**
I can’t understand why people give their children underwear etc for Christmas. That’s not a gift, it’s a basic essential item that is a parents job to provide.

*Someone on my Facebook has bought their child a bed for Christmas as he has outgrown his toddler bed. A bed is again an essential item that a parent should provide it’s not a bloody gift

I think that's a bit harsh as for some people on benefits there is little money left in the budget for what should be essentials. My parents were both on benefits due to my mum becoming severely disabled when I was a child, we used to get a massive pile of presents (probably at least £100) but a lot of it was clothes, underwear, bedsheets. I never thought I was hard don't by as we had some great presents too. They didn't drink or smoke or spend much on themselves either. A lot of benefit money was taken up by equipment for my mum and hospital appointments.

The reason the post has attracted negativity is the phrasing making it all about reaching a financial target - have I spent enough?

That's what's so wrong (subjectively, I know, it's an opinion but a widely held one).

If you have a maximum budget that's a practical matter, and is what it is, you work with it.

If you have older children or teens who know what things cost and are prone to jealousy you may choose to spend the same amount on each child, meaning if one needs a laptop for school and as a family this would be a Christmas present item, you spend similar on the sibling even if they don't have a specific need. This can be the sensible pragmatic approach in some families.

However getting cold feet about not having splashed enough cash on a 6 year old? The child doesn't know how much you've spent, and doesn't measure your live or their own excitement and happiness in pounds, and shouldn't be encouraged to!

Is it ok to only have 2 presents under the tree? That seems like something which, if you're in a financial position to buy more but have no family buying for your children you might ponder... The child has the Nintendo switch, but they're 6, perhaps wrap the game seperately if possible and wrap some chocolate, a couple of books, pyjamas with their favourite character if they'll consider that special, some craft materials, all in seperate packages so they get the thrill of multiple packages.

It's the "I've only spent X amount, I'm getting cold feet" which provokes a visceral reaction. "My 6 year old wanted a Nintendo switch and I've been able to get that, but is it ok to have just one present under the tree at 6 if your parent is in the happy position of having the disposable income to buy a few more little items?" Is somehow less insane than "I've only spent £160, is that enough?"

However having a minimum

I’ve spent more on DS who’s 6. He’s having a Nintendo switch which I managed to get second hand and I’ve got a few games to go with it. He’s also having an item for an activity he does so I’ve prob spent about £350 on him.
DD is 4 and I’ll prob spend about £100 on her. I don’t normally spend unequal amounts but the switch is something DS really wanted as his friends have one. So I’ve made an exception this year.

I find with my DD (almost 4), the more she has to open the worse her behaviour is- she just starts flinging stuff around being really bratty. So I limit it mainly for that reason.

It's amazing how different posts are. People are saying that is plenty but on an older post I saw a while ago, people were saying they spent 400-1000 on their kids and some each.

You spend what you want and don't worry about what others think

Well said @notnowmaybelater

Why do you feel like you have to spend a certain amount?

Have you bought each child some gifts you know they would like and have perhaps asked for?

If so, it's enough.

@reginafelangee RTFT socks alone would be €10 as I get them from next my dc have slim feet and hate excess fabric around their toes.