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??

Shooturlocalmethdealer just out of interest, what on earth can you buy a nearly 4 year old that comes to £700? When will he have time to play with it all?
My older two are 6 and 4. 6 year old has asked for Lego, 4 year old for a scruff a luv. That’s all they could think of that they wanted! They wouldn’t have time to play with £700 worth of toys.

Shooturlocalmethdealer just out of interest, what on earth can you buy a nearly 4 year old that comes to £700?

Yes I wondered that too

@BennyTheBall why might this make them feel inadequate but the poster spending £12k a year on schooling goes unchallenged?

If you feel inadequate because a stranger spent £200 on their child at Xmas there is something very wrong

Our budget for our four year old is £100.00 for his stocking and £100.00 for his main present (bike and a helmet). Our baby is getting £50 for his stocking and £75.00 for his main present (high chair and a couple of toys). I think £200 each is reasonable.

I no longer have young children but think under £200 each is fine at their ages
I was a lone parent and often bought second hand toys - but made sure there were a few things they really wanted
It gets harder when older and they want tech stuff or games etc
I budget £1000 for Xmas
Adult DC x 2 get around £150 each as does DP
I probably spend another £250 in total on everyone else as in rest of family and a few friends
Leaving £300 for food, drink, Xmas dos and a new outfit

I'd say that was about the normal amount op.
I have 5 kids ( 17,17,15,5,3)
I spend about £300 each on the teenagers.
£200 on the 5 year old.
£150 on the 3 year old.

It’s what we had budgeted for DS. As it goes we haven’t spent it this time about £120 I think but I might see an odd thing between now and then.

We spend about the same as well .older now but I think if you can afford it why not? no one elses beeswax really?

@PurpleTreeFrog I would rather pay 10 for one book that they have expressed an interest in than €10 on 10 books they don’t have any interest in.

I am a minimalist in most ways. So I don‘t like clutter or needless items in my home. Everything I have bought is on their lists tbh. Stockings will be things they need.

I wouldn’t spend a set amount, I think that’s a bit weird. I’ve got a 3 year old so I’ve gone for a scooter as a main present and a few books, a couple of games and a soft toy, so all in all that’s around ten parcels to open and a stocking of socks and chocolate coins so it cost maybe £100 in total. But I buy stuff all year round rather than waiting to buy everything at Christmas.

My parents were buying me 'sensible' presents. Usually woollen socks/couple of books/'quality' backpack/something like that. And a bag of candy. Didn't see sense in wasting money on 'tat' (toys, in other words).

I HATED them for it. I was a child and wanted toys! A barbie doll, some pink shiny stuff, etc. Lucky for me, my grandad was far more understanding and gifted me money to spend on toys. I should add, my parents were and are very well off and could very well afford some 'tat' too (not talking about obscene amounts).

However, I don't feel there's a 'right' or 'wrong' amount to spend. If you can afford 200 OP, that's fine. If you can afford 50 - also fine, you can hunt for deals/sales/buy second hand, nothing wrong with that. I buy a few presents for my DD (7) and it always seems to add to about 150-ish in total. Sometimes a bit less, sometimes a bit more. This year I've got everything she wanted, nice things (imo) and it adds up to a 100. I think it's an ok amount.

It is a good amount as they are young. You'll set the standard.
I easily spend 200 in my 4 year old, 400 on my 11 year old, plus a Christmas day trip, visit to Santa and a cheap community centre panto.
We don't go abroad, they don't get toys throughout the year.
To me it is their special time.

Its a huge amount of money. to be honest, it would probably be an idea to save some for them (ours get £30 for the 6 year old, and £10 for the 3 year old). same from grandparents and uncle. that’s it

@DuchessofWoke I don’t know really it was just a question of does it sound about normal/average. Maybe I should have put the list in the OP? But then I thought that might be a long OP! Just wanted opinions so I didn’t freak out and think I needed to get more to be honest, I find it hard to gauge the right amount. 🤷‍♀️

€200= £170 for the pp’s asking.

I think £400 is more than enough considering how young they are.

By your standards, when they become expensive teenagers you’ll end up spending thousands at Christmas!

I think it sounds normal tbh, £200 each isn't ridiculous.

Although £40 each on stocking fillers for young DC is a bit much. I'd probably do £20 each and tickets to the zoo ect.

@NoGuarantee You sound like a raging snob with your put downs of Wc buying Shit . People like you make me sick .

@ poorstudent1010 I dread to think but I would like to think I won’t be spending thousands.

Why don't you buy them something adquate, and then go and work in a soup kitchen for the homeless on Xmas day?.

If I were you I’d enjoy when they’re small and you can get away with buying relatively inexpensive things that look a lot, as opposed to £££ on a tiny looking video game!

My 2 are bigger at 13 and 11 and I think I probably won’t even spend that on them. They’ve asked for something specific and I’ll get some sweets, pyjamas etc but I’m not buying them stuff just for the sake of it just because it’s Christmas, they have enough.

I think that’s normal as well. Once you tot it all up.

I fill a stocking from things in Poundland/the works/charity shops.

I’ll aim to spend £100 on DD, but it’s easy to go over. She’s still at the age where quantity is more important than quality, so I will try and keep it cheap and cheerful.

Christmas is going to be tough for me this year financially, I didn’t save all year!! So it’s going to take some imagination and innovation!!

“Why don't you buy them something adquate, and then go and work in a soup kitchen for the homeless on Xmas day?.”

WTAF? Is that a serious post? That’s hilarious

@noguarantee I would quite like to read the article if you can find the link. Xx