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??

That sounds absolutely fine. If you can afford £400 and that's what you want to spend then don't listen to anyone else. It sounds a sensible amount to me. For what it's worth, I spend quite abit more than that but my 2 are older and don't have any grandparents . I save all year so no debt and won't be dictated to by anyone else... Enjoy your Christmas xx

@venger no a bike is a great present... surely cycling is the future. £99 on a plastic Barbie house, not so great.

I just despair a bit about all the crap that is going to end up in landfill in 6 months. I can’t see how buying our kids more ‘stuff’ is going to help them in the king run.

I really hate this “I only spend £50 on my children” rubbish- as a poster above said what about when they need a new bike? Or scooter?

You often find those that spend very little spend Significantly more throughout the year in their children and will often be paying for things like bikes/ extra curricular activities/ holidays that people who blow at at Xmas may not.

£200 seems a lot to spend on young children.

I do think one big ticket item they actually want/ semi need in a first world way is great - if they really want a bike or even a console and don't already have one (one in the right size for a bike), it's great to get that whether it cost £50 or £150 or £300.

It's just the "oh no I haven't spent enough" that's totally silly and a slippery slope...

What does it matter?
Some people have lots and spend thousands, some have lots and spend less.
Some have less money but spend lots getting into debt, some don't.
Why do you need random people to tell you how much to spend?

• long run!

cherrycoke

I see your point but when does anyone NEED a bike or scooter?
If you only have £50 that's all you've got.

£100 - £120 on my DD and I feel like we have spent too much. She’s nearly 4 so I got caught up in the excitement.
Usually spend about £50.

Sometimes it also depends on what you are buying. I don’t think underwear falls as a Christmas thing but OP has said this for stocking fillers so it really does depend on what’s making up the total

Yes that would be plenty.
Don’t think it’s the best idea asking on here though as there is a vast difference in what people can afford and also what people want to spend.
I always think - have they got one thing that would make their Christmas? And go from there.

Spend whatever you want. Enough & normal is what people can afford without buying junk that won’t be touched & putting themselves into debt.

I’ve spent around £300/£350 each between my girls who are 6 and 2. That’s for everything including stocking and when I get it all out to see exactly what I’ve got I will keep things back from each pile to give them for their birthdays as I feel I’ve spent too much thanks bargain thread!

Honestly I think that's madness, absolute madness. Kids don't need stuff. I like the 4 present rule, something they want , something they need, something to wear, something to read. Spending a ton of money and buying lots of gifts...not what Xmas is about in my opinion.

Mine don’t expect more each year 🤔, they are happy with whatever they get, I get to chose what I spend as does OP. If it was £400 worth of tat from Poundland then I would think it’s crazy (plastic tat that ends up in landfill) but if it’s more expensive gifts that are going to get used, such as a games console then I think that’s fine. OP said she has bough the 6 year old a games console? add the price of a couple games and it soon mounts up to over £200-250?

People always jump on these threads to tell us how their child gets one gift and a satsuma, that’s fine but others like to spend more.

@Drabarni when they grow out of their old one

Enough for what?

Why can't you make your own mind up? It's not a competition or a group activity, what's stopping you knowing the answer yourself?

Drabarni if you've got £50 and they want a bike you'll be able to find one second hand for that if you start looking well in advance. Same for most things - especially with children under 10.

This is either a stealth boast or a Trolly McTrollerson post.

£400 is a crazy amount, but just enough to provoke this type of reaction, which is what the OP wanted.

I can't afford to get anything for my DS this year, I have to make do with whatever is in Poundland! Thankfully he is still young so hopefully he won't remember it.

So yes that's plenty. If it's too much, I will take some off you! (joking BTW)

I have got exactly what they have asked for so far. But I still need to get what they NEED (which is what I put in stockings) underwear, socks etc.

To the pp’s asking yes I can afford it. Also I am not in U.K. so I use euros.

And like another pp said they don’t get much throughout the year. And we don’t have loads of family that are buying for them either.

If I’m being honest I thought it was average amount and just wanted a gauge in case I freak out and think I didn’t get enough. I didn’t mean to offend anyone and it wasn’t a stealth boast at all!!

We have one DS and we have spent over £400, however not on TAT he has asked for a BMX which was £320 and I have bought him and DH a trip away to a thing they both like about £300 between them for accommodation and the tickets and travel. Problem is he is 9 I also want him to open things in Christmas Day so he also has books and a calendar and jeans and a onesie (to be fair I needed to buy him most of those things anyway). So yes it mounts up. If I had two DC I would spend the same between them probably unless they both wanted a BMX.

Spend what you can afford!! If that means £20 per child or £2000 per child it really is no one else's business.
My DD4 circled the argos gift guide over the weekend... well, she circled a coffee machine??? Hair straighteners??? And a Now TV remote control?? :)
Elder children want more expensive items now so, a new phone and a few stocking fillers will be all one DD gets - so it doesn't look much.
I don't even start thinking about presents until December :/

I am worried I am the only one who hasn’t started any Christmas shopping

Spend what you can afford. Do not go into debt over it or use credit cards. Following Martin Lewis’ advice. We all have different pots of money and cannot tell you if that is enough.

Another way of thinking about it is that the average uk household income is about £30,000. So you are spending 1.5% of the average entire income on presents for two children

Maybe think about what percentage of you total income you think you are