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??

Op spend whatever you want. You will get loads of people on here telling you it’s to much, and how they hand craft gifts and spend £20. Who cares.

Do you.

What I spend on my children varies each year. There is nothing wrong with wanting to spoil your children with stuff they would really appreciate. Just don’t get stuff for the sake of it.

It completely depends on what you can afford and what you've so far bought. If you've spent £320 on 64 small items, then I'd say you've spent too much, if you've spent £320 on a few larger items that you know will get years of enjoyment, and you can afford it then I'd say that's OK.

I must admit I'd struggle to spend £80 on stocking fillers. Socks, tangerine, chocs, flannel, few games, books, crayons. That'd be plenty in my opinion.

I think it's about right. It adds up quickly. Got a bike for dd4 150 euro , helmet 40 euro and an easel for 30 in aldi, a micro scooter for dd2 100 euro, helmet 40 euro and a happyland toy 20 and two orchard games and stickle bricks to share (30)
Prob about 20 euro altogether on stocking fillers. There's 450 euro on not a huge pile of toys but they needed the scooter and bike.

I've spent £400 on my 4 children and 3 of them are older than yours. I think that's plenty.

We’ll spend about £200 on one (aged 3). We’re very lucky to be able to afford that, and I don’t think it’s a ridiculous sum. Probably one biggish gift, four or five smaller toys, a couple of books and about £40 in stocking fillers.

Honestly... It sounds a pretty normal amount. £160 per child on presents could easily be ..
Bike: £80
Lego set: £40
Game: £15
Book set: £10
Dressing gown and slippers: £15

£400 on stocking fillers @OctoberLovers I didn’t say that I said 400 total 80 BETWEEN them on stocking fillers, that’s 40 each for things like underwear, socks, chocolates, hair clips, stickers etc etc
I suppose it can easily add up... not a stealth boast at all. 200 per child is hardly ridiculous, I would have thought it quite normal!

That's way more than you needed to spend already.

It's a huge amount, particularly for children that young. Why are you even asking? Surely it's obvious that is a lot?

One of the items was a Nintendo Ds. @160 including a game so it’s an uneven split to be honest.

Mine are older than yours but we've spent £650 on 3 of them so not dissimilar. That includes a theatre ticket each, presents off us and presents off santa.

It is normal, OP. Most people I know would spend about that.

I have a budget of £250 each for my 6 and 3 year old. That includes all their gifts, stocking fillers, clothes etc. I'm fine with that. I don't buy them toys during the rest of the year (apart from their birthday). So to me i feel it is fine to go a bit mad at xmas. I know some families who buy toys at other times but we don't. The most they get is some colouring pens and books etc and new clothes if they need them.

That’s a lot of money, I spend £100 each on my boys 4 of them
I’d say £40 for both stocking fillers it’s only wee things. But I guess you can afford it then they are lucky kids.

Last year I bought my DD’s 10 & 7 a few bits in a stocking, and that was it . They are happy and fine.

I agree with pp to spend what you can afford but mumsnet is v extreme- people seem to be desperate to spend the least amount possible! We have a summer baby and don’t buy toys etc through the year so Christmas and birthday are when she gets any new toys and non essentials. This year I reckon we will spend around £200 but on Ikea kitchen with bits (£100 itself), baby with clothes and changing bag (£30 to enthuse here with new arrival coming soon!) some new books and clothes and then a stocking. It sounds a lot but we can afford it and don’t spend on each other like we used to. People who are gobsmacked at the cost IME often spend more on their kids regularly and less at big events.

If you can afford it and you want to spend that then go for it. You'll have plenty of people telling you it's too much but, you do you.
I've spent about £200 on my 4 year old. I got a paw patrol tower that was £80. So even if 200 seems a lot, that one gift was nearly half of that price. It adds up quick.

I think it's normal enough, OP. There'll always be those who spend less or more but in terms of the average it's about that.

However this is MN where people will sneer at you for daring to spend actual money on your child at Christmas when theirs will be getting a paperclip and half a walnut for which they will be exceedingly grateful because their children understand that consumerism is simply a construct and it's the giving that counts.

It adds up quickly. I will probably spend £200 on my 6 year old ds. I have got him two toys already that add up to £60 and that was with £10 off each item.

@Venger well perhaps some of them have a point. When London and half the country is under water in 10 years time, consumerism may seem less appealing.

well perhaps some of them have a point. When London and half the country is under water in 10 years time, consumerism may seem less appealing.

And my child getting a bike for Christmas will accelerate that process? Aye, right.

Children who have vast amounts spent on them just because their parents feel they have to hit a spending target or make a huge pile of presents usually expect more and more spent year on year, don't appreciate most of what they get and turn into teenagers with terrible attitude and no idea about the real value of money and how far it goes...

I used to work in a secondary school where children were all bought flashy tech and branded products on credit for Christmas and it was usually returned, repossessed or pawned way before Easter...

One big present each and little fairly inexpensive stocking fillers. Start now or you'll be posting about entitled, ungrateful teens who's expectations you can't meet.

Do you have it to spare? If so, lovely. If not, stop now.

@NoGuarantee that is such bollocks. Wealthy people are all different as are non wealthy people

I don’t think £200 each is a huge amount- that’s one of those bastard LOL big surprises, a couple of outfits and a book/ game. (You can tell when they want in my house)

OP why don’t you concentrate on what they want rather than it’s value? If they have enough, they have enough!

I probably spend about that. One really nice toy, a cuddly toy, new clothes, books. A magazine from Santa. It's probably the clothes that cost the most because it's the only time I buy new if I can help it, so I go for something really good quality.