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 spent around £400 each on my 2 DC at Christmas. They are mid teens and they don’t really get anything unless it’s a birthday or Christmas. Plus the older they get, the more expensive presents seem to be

I haven't even got halfway through this thread and I'm so annoyed already. All the "Ive spent £1.50 per dc and that's plenty" nonsense and putting other people down!

All the op seems to want is to ensure her children have a memorable Christmas that they enjoy. I would never berate anyone for wanting to make their children's lives pleasant and fun!

I'm not sure what I've spent, I've just bought things I think they will enjoy. They are 2.5 and 1.5 years. They have lots and of colouring and craft bits. Stickers and ginger puppets. And bizarrely some pegs as they seem obsessed!

Keep doing what you do OP, merry Christmas, I'm sure your children will love it.

@UndertheCedartree that's genuinely all they had from us. They hadn't asked for anything, they don't need anything, I don't feel the need to buy for the sake of it.

However, my Dm, FIL, Dsis, BIL all buy them a present so they did get things, but just not from us.

There are so many variables at Christmas (do people just buy at Christmas or through the year, are presents just treats or do they include clothes etc ). The big thing for me is that I wouldn’t get into debt but otherwise people will generally spend to their budget.

I also cringe every time I see the stereotype of the rich but thrifty. In my experience wealthy people spend as well as having money invested.

My mother went to finishing school (so not exactly slumming it) and she always went a bit mad at Christmas. I like picking nice presents for people including my own children. I can afford it so I don’t care if people judge me for it.

I think it depends on whether you have other family/gift givers for them. My children get only presents from us and one from my parents. We also don't do stockings as I find them a bit weird as never had them. There is nothing I can think of to put in a stocking for my children that doesn't cost a fortune (LOL dolls, goo Jit zu, Treasure x etc) and would take away from the main present budget and would be discarded as just novelty.

My older 2 are 7 and 5 and If I were to budget £50 per child then they would get 2 presents each from their list (a Lego set and Some superzing shite). Then 1 present from my parents. I'm trying to budget at £100 each but that will still be 4 presents each that they want (they hate games and books and I don't give clothes unless they ask for them which they never have).

As I have no one else to buy for (apart from M&D) all my budget goes on the kids. It's swings and roundabouts. Our friends with bigger families spend less on their own kids but more on other peoples and their dc end up with about the same as mine. It just comes from other people and their parents end up spending the same anyway.

I've not read the whole thread as I know it'll wind me up, but just wanted to say if you're going to buy expensive presents for your kids, please make sure they know they're from you and not Santa, otherwise the kids who get a £10 budget spent on their stocking will wonder why Santa doesn't love them as much as the kids who got the latest phone / computer / etc...

@IWorkAtTheCheesecakeFactory I’m not on Facebook but thanks...

@eenymeenyminyme I see people saying things like that on Facebook. I genuinely don't think children that believe in Santa know how much things cost or compare them with friends. In fact by the time children are back at school they probably aren't discussing Christmas presents at all and won't remember if it was Santa or mummy that bought them a certain thing.

“I also cringe every time I see the stereotype of the rich but thrifty. In my experience wealthy people spend as well as having money invested.”

It’s so ridiculous it’s almost funny. I happen to be having a coffee In the factory outlet of a designer company. I am sitting at a dining table which, across the way in the shop, is selling for THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS.

But obviously wealthy people never buy expensive designer things, oh no. I’m sure these tables are brought by poor people who save up their benefits and splash it on a table. Then they charity shop it and THATS How the thrifty wealthy get hold of it 🤣

selfhelpneeded I agree, if they're small, but if they're 7+ years old until they stop believing I would expect the whole 'what did you get from Santa' thing to be going on, especially with family and friends they socialise with in the school holidays.

Spend what you want. Personally I don’t think that’s excessive, although wouldn’t be aiming to hit a target. Stocking fillers here are satsuma, chocolate coins, pen, key ring, book.

All depends what you’re buying.. we are buying 5yr old a telescope that costs £65 and will get some other bits with it and will probably come to £200 ish. Smallest is almost 2yrs and his amount is probably just under £200 but I didn’t aim for that just got what I I wanted to buy them 🤷🏼‍♀️ Plus a lot of the items are good quality and therefore cost more. It’s not a competition

I’m not on Facebook but thanks...hmm

Oh you have to join otherwise strangers won’t know how much money you have!

I always got mine ten presents they only got from me and had a budget each they wrote a list and left money for surprises they always got what they wanted. Nothng worse than a disappointed child. I also don’t believe any form of clothes should be presents as parents we have to cloth our kids not give them as gifts

I don't feel the need to buy for the sake of it

Is that not part of the point of Christmas though. Selfless giving. It doesn’t need to be something bought either, it could be something made or just something thoughtful.

Passthecherrycoke but don’t you realise It’s just the vulgar ‘new money’ people that will be buying that table. The ones that have been rich since the abolition of the monasteries are the true aristos and they only ever go to the charity shop and live on smart price beans.

No it’s certainly not. It’s an aristo company.

It’s going to be Chelsea posh boys and country homes, I can assure you

But also at beans and charity shopping

I think the thing with MN is it’s full of working class people who think, as adults, they’re now middle class- probably something their parents were desperate to be and bought them up to find it aspirational- but they have no idea how the wealthy and posh actually live, having never really experienced it.

so they get all their ideas from snobby books like the Mitfords (nazis, so Hardly admirable) and oft quoted myths from forums like mumsnet about how posh people like hand down wax jackets and muddy battered range rovers

Passthecherrycoke I know, I was just being sarcastic. Of course that’s the demographic. It’s just what you hear on here all the time without any critical thinking.

I know I got carried away userzzzz 🤣🤣 sorry

This is too funny

What’s the Mitfords ? Can I ask for this book of wisdom for Christmas?
Ive no doubt I’m common as muck but posh people seem to love me for some strange reason

I’m spending about £400 on three kids plus anyone else that needs gifts. That’s what we can afford comfortably. Another £200 if absolutely necessary.

I think what you’re spending is a lot unless there are bikes or similar included.

Posh people, like everyone else, generally love normal people I find. They steer clear of the wannabes

I wish I'd only spent that :( DS wants a nintendo switch (quick £300) , daughter wants an old silver cross pram (£150) ...bought second hand bikes for both of them (£120 in total)...haven't even got stocking fillers yet.

Anyone who's spending only £35 per child - HOW??!!!