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 also dont understand the point of the question.
who exactly do you want validation from?

you want us to say yes or not enough but obviously not too much.

My sons 9,daughter 7. I spend approx 400 each. I’m not well off. Min wage job. Partner works. Saved up since July. Not got a big family to bulk up. I don’t grudge it one bit.

@Justaboy actually I will be doing this but not on Christmas Day....as I already said upthread I give to charity and I have my name down to give my time this year two! Thank you though...

That’s a stupid amount. Well literally spend a tenth of that (also two children).

Well done you, ££££

@Fizzypoo (not singling you out but) I think this whole thread just sums up how meaningless these discussions about Christmas budgets are. We've spent about £400 in total on our 1, 4, 6 and 8 year olds including PJs for Christmas Eve and stockings. Our stockings come to around £50 each but that's because we include socks and pants (£15ish), a CD or audio books (£10ish), a decent book they'll love (£7?), a small craft set / magazine (£5) so it adds up quickly.

We don't theatre trips, clothes, electronics, musical instruments or bikes as presents as it's very much our choice if / when they need those things.

It's such a personal thing but £200 is a very good amount for young children.

Passthecherrycok rather disparate issues

But I wouldn't disclose how much I have spent privately educating my children either on a forum such as this.

I wondered when the competitive Christmas thread would appear. I get my DC a piece of string and a pen. Do I win? Every year like clockwork.

@CareOfPunts dd6 specifically asked for a Nintendo DS. It was the top of her list...I could have bought a second hand one but I was scared of it being dodgy to be honest.

Spend what you like- what you've said sounds reasonable 😊 things really do add up!

I don't understand those who are giving off about it being "too much"- they're not your children? No one's complaining at you spending £20, so don't do the same to those who spend a few hundred, or thousand. Everyone's finances are different. OP asked for an opinion, yes, but she didn't ask for a barrage of rude insults.

The only thing I can 100% back is no one should get into debt over Christmas. That isn't worth it.

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...

That’s a wide sweeping generalisation. We’re currently trying to convince our daughter to put the stuff she wants on her list and not to keep worrying about how much it costs. She got an iPad last year so isn’t unused to having expensive gifts. She has never once shown a lack of appreciation for any gift big or small. How much you spend doesn’t automatically correlate with them being spoiled.

All depends on what they want and what they need. And what you can afford.
When my DDs were 5 and 6 we spent approximately £450 each on bikes, helmets, accessories and a treehouse with toy kitchen etc for them to share
When they were 6 and 7 we spent around £50 each - board games, books, art supplies etc
As long as they want it and need it and you aren’t buying for the sake of it - or getting into debt - then it’s fine whatever you spend.

I know @Lipperfromchipper you worry if it’ll just be false economy. I’d spend more on something they wanted or needed, this year they don’t though so I’m not splashing the cash just for the sake of it. :)

@Velveteenfruitbowl what exactly do you get for £40...just interested. What do you do if their main item on their list from Santa is more than that??

@NoGuarantee
It also mentioned the fact that if you are 'richer', you'll spend £100 on a pair of good quality work shoes that'll last at least 10 years. If you're poor, you'll spend £20 a year on a pair of shoes which won't last and over the ten years, spend twice what the richer person did
Surely you know it is social economics. Even I know that, I am one of those pesky uneducated early school leaver a WC person.
Why do you think wc people enjoying throwing £20 at shoes twice a year rather than investing in a pair that will last years?
Why do they pay higher electricity and heating rates, larger interest rates on loans, usually door step loans, why is it important for them that their peers see them with valuable items.
I know WHY. We like throwing away money, especially at Christmas. 🤣

Ridiculous amount of money. Christmas is not just about gifts (and I’m not saying that as a Christian). What on Earth are you teaching your children?

We would probably be considered well off and I will be spending about £60 on my 2 year old which is still more than enough, especially considering how many gifts she will get from family. I set out to spend about £40 but there are a couple of things that she actually needs so I thought I might as well wrap them up and save them for Xmas.

@Doggodogington a pen TOO!!’ And people wonder why we have an Obesity crisis

Naive question: how do a 4 and a 6 year old come up with such expensive items, and so many of them (mine are 6 and 3)? am i living in a bubble? we are living in an affluent area, but i don’t think any of the kids have their own consoles , or know lego sets by heart. i get it in older kids, but that young?

What's the need for some of the harsh responses on here? .
I don't think the OP was boasting at all imo.
I think that's good OP.
£40 each for stocking fillers are also good.

I save all year for Christmas and I spend more than what the OP has said and I really don't care because it's my money and my family

Mine are the same ages. So far I've spent:
£80 ebay playmobli bundle
£20 toy crossbow
£20 book
£13 LOL dolls
£15 puppets
£30 Our generation doll
£15 doll clothes
So just under £200 so far.
I may spend another £100 between them so I think your £400 Is very generous. Having said that: they can expect presents from grandparents and various aunties and uncles.
If it was just me buying I would be tempted to get more.

I’ve spent £300 on both of my sons (150 each) combined including stocking fillers, advent calendars, Christmas Eve pyjamas etc.

@user1480880826 yes I remember whe mine were 2! I remember spending approximately the same to bed honest! And I thought aren’t I great I can spend so little at Christmas, but then they grow up and go to school and make LISTS. They are great kids, they have asked for what I have bought. They are very aware they are lucky children, and I don’t just mean in a material way, they know they are loved dearly, they get a lot of attention and one-to-one time. They are not spoiled or bratty in any way.

@Lipperfromchipper If this is for real, it's crazy! Your kids won't care how much you spend. Why on earth are you thinking you need to spend a certain amount? I have adult DCs and we spend about £50 on each other, tops. DH and I don't buy anything for each other as we have enough stuff. It's totally ridiculous to spend loads and loads - do you think it gives you some status or something to spend so much?

For my DD I’ve spent just under £50 on Christmas and £50 on her birthday which is a few weeks before. There’s not much more I want for her, she’s still young so doesn’t ask for her own stuff and with them being so close together she gets little bits during the rest of the year atm

So if you’re aware that they are lucky then why have you come here to ask if you’re spending enough when you clearly know that you are spending a considerable amount?

If ever I saw a stealth boast.