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??

@Beansandcoffee definitely not getting into debt. I don’t even have a credit card.

£80 for stocking stuff is bloody stupid.

@Lulualla wow, £700 each? I can't imagine spending that, and what toys that would involve!

Can I ask what you're buying for that, if you don't mind sharing? Must be some big purchases such as bikes or wooden swing set for the garden?

No you need to add a couple of 00 on.
Seriously there are people using food banks .
Spend what you can afford and keep it to yourself .

I don't know why it needs to be a set amount, either high or low. We just try to buy most of what's on their list keeping in mind what we can afford.
Our 2 year old has a toot toot fire Station, a moon and me toy, another small ELC toy, a jigsaw, a buggy and a doll. Probably about £60 spend on him.
4 year old loves playmobil and we've probably spent about £200 on her stuff
7 year old has a Hornby train, set of Mr Gum books, a spy kit, Boomtrix and some other bits and we've probably spent £200 again on him

There was no target.

You are spending quite enough, op. They'll enjoy whatever you give them and you'll enjoy seeing them open the gifts.

It's ridiculous to think of it in terms of what you should spend. Just buy things they would like. I've bought mine a main present each, 3 smaller things and some stocking fillers. No more than £200 in total I reckon although I haven't added it up.

@Schuyler we’re not actually discussing people who can’t afford more. Obviously If you can’t afford more that’s that.

This is about people choosing to only spend £50 because they think it makes them morally superior or wannabe upper class, and deride others who chose to spend much more

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!

Very much depends on who you mix with.
I doubt if I'll spend £40 per dc in total, not as 'stocking fillers'.
If you are on a tight budget, this comes across as kind of insensitive.

As posters who have already replied on this thread, there will also be people who think it is normal.

@Passthecherrycoke

Meh, can’t get myself worked up over people who choose to spend their money in other ways. What’s wrong with second hand anyway? I see a bike as a good investment but small kids outgrow a lot of plastic tat in months.

Most people I know IRL spend similar amounts. Focus on what they want rather than amount spent!

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

Why would you be worried, the shops aren't going to run out of stuff to buy. I get that some people buy early for budget reasons but otherwise usually sane people manage to make the hugest deal about the perfectly ordinary task of buying stuff. Go to the shops, go online buy what you need, seriously don't be brainwashed into thinking you need to make a big deal out of it.

Crazy! Really if you have so much to throw around there are many charities that could benefit. God's know what you'll be spending when they're teenagers if you're spending this much now!

Second hand what? I never buy second hand because I don’t have the time or inclination to go and find exactly what I need, or wait until it becomes Available.
And second hand doesn’t deliver itself.
And some stuff doesn’t come second hand (the much loved LOL crap)

I don’t know how much I spend, I don’t go overboard.
Each has a couple of gifts to open. I buy things that I know they will love.

Does it not worry you that they don’t have the same number of gifts?

@SunshineCake
Well let’s see (these are ballpark)!
Underwear-€5-10
Socks -€10
(I get these from next as they are the best fit for my dc) I have tried primark and tesco but they don’t fit the same. My dc gave slim feet and hate excess fabric around their toes...
Then
A book- €10
Pjs €7-10

That’s pretty much €40

@pinkcardi

They're getting new snowboards, a Nintendo switch with 3 games, Lego, polymer clay and foam clay (both mad about making models out of clay), a couple of warhammer model sets (both obsessed with painting the models), quadropolis board game, Tzolk'in board game, a flash action figure and a cyborg action figure.

What are you buying for £80 on two children’s stockings?

@TildaKauskumholm thank you for that, I already give to charity. And I plan on helping out with my time this year too.

A book- €10

For one book? that's crazy, how can a child's book cost so much?

Whoa !!!!! Enough? Where do I start?
Firstly, enough is what you budget to spend and obviously depends on your income and morals.
Secondly I think that is a massive amount. I spend about £100-£150 on each teen but when they were your DC age it was far less .

Enough is what you feel happy to spend and are happy with what you have got them

That's about right for us, as the kids get older its getting more expensive! Last year my eldest main gift was an expensive violin and a mobile phone. Shes 11 but our spend has went up from 150/200 to 600 in total.

Good grief - and people wonder why the youngsters of today are entitled... I had an orange and a lump of coal in my stocking (I was alternately good and bad throughout the year). Seriously, that is a stupid amount however rich you are...