To ask how much you spend on DC for Christmas?

[Lightbulbs]

I have 2 DC.... one is 5 months the other is 2 . They are so young, I'm not planning on spending much at all. A few very small gifts that I know they will play with. For the 5 month, I'll get down her brothers Jumperoo from the attic.

After reading a few post about Christmas on Mumsnet, I was wondering.... how much do you spend on each DC for Christmas and how old are they?

Who cares? I mean really, why are you even asking the question? Everyone will spend a different amount depending on their budget and circumstances. Some people don't have a budget!

There is no right and no wrong and the constant trying to measure yourself against others to reassure yourself that it's "normal" is just ridiculous.

About £100-£150. My DS will be 3 the week before Xmas so have spent around £80 on birthday too

I have a budget of £400 to do the entire Christmas, including extended family. I spend about £100 of that on 5 year old DD.

200 each

Does it really matter what others spend. Why the need for competition?
You spend what you can afford, that's it. No need to take surveys about other people.

I have 3 children (15, 7,7). I spend what I can afford.
They always get pjs but this year they are from m&s rather than primark, year before it was Boden.
They always get a book, doesn't matter if it's from a charity shop or amazon
And they get a toy - this year my 15 year old will get a pair of studs from Etsy and the 7 year olds will get a £10 lego set, each. (Last year it was a bike each! Becuase they needed one. We got it second hand off eBay) Plus a tiny stocking with a torch and chocolate, maybe a small toy.
They'll all get some chocolate gifts too. I don't believe in going nuts at Xmas.

My two year old has £100 on main presents. Then £30 for stocking. We don’t do presents for each other as we can’t afford it, we spend what we have on our daughter. Next year may well be less as I’m pregnant and we will spend the same on both kids. As adults it’s all about the kids having fun, but money doesn’t go far really does it.
She wants a Juno elephant so I need to track it down!

Just added it up, am spending around £85-90 on my three year old this year.

I imagine it'll be less some years and more when he's older.

My DC are also 2years old & 4months. My dc (2yrs) has had £250 spent so far and £100 spent on Dc (4months). I love Christmas and me and DH work hard and save thoughout the year so. But I truly believe you should only spend what you can afford

This year we are recycling some of DD'd old toys for DS (10months) we have a few little bits to wrap up but more for DD's sake as she believes in santa and don't want her thinking he hasn't come for her brother. We are paying money in DS bank account to make the money spent fair. We know relatives want to buy them presents so we don't get much ourselves and always make up to about £100 with money in their savings. How this will work as they get older 🤷? If you can get away with spending very little, go for it, as one day they'll all want smart phones and cars! Save while you can and don't waste money on throw away plastic toys. I have even bought things from charity shops and second hand sites when they are young as they grow so fast and can't warrant the cost of some things for all of a few months use!

ive a 15 and 9 y old they are getting £350 each and we all go to butlins 5 days before Christmas for 4 days

but tbh they get what they want(in reason)through out the year anyway as i spend their dla on them

I think we've spent about £20 on my one-yr old so far - probably going to spend a few pounds more on a couple of bits to go in her stocking. She had her birthday a month ago and has no concept of Christmas - so really no point in us spending more for the sake of it. We're also moving house soon, so we don't want to buy anything "big" as there's currently no space in our tiny house.

For DD1's first Christmas, we only got her 1 gift (January baby). When they were a bit older and more aware, we rarely went above £50 each for the 2 of them, and when we got anything massive (wooden furnished dollhouse, for example), they shared. Now they're in their early teens, we just base it on what they want, but I have an absolute maximum of £1000 each, which sounds like a lot but when you start buying electronics it gets very pricey very quickly. I'd say just think of what they want and what you can afford then go from there.

I bought nothing for DD until she was old enough to understand what was going on, then v little when she was still small. Last year we spent £2000 on a school ski trip then about 40-50 on stocking fillers. The year before she had an electronic piano (about £1k secondhand)

This year she doesn’t want/need anything big so I’ll buy some small gifts with a £50 budget and then we will do lunch and shopping in the sales - probably about £100 for that - as she’s nearly 12 now and “into” shopping.

Have never spent more than £100 on her birthday gift. Last year she just got some kindle books, an eye shadow pallet and new duvet set from us and was pleased!

I’m quite hesitant to stick to a yearly budget per person as when she doesn’t want much there’s no point buying for buyings sake, and when there’s a big want or need we like to be able to flex to do it! Last year we pillaged our family holiday fund and went camping instead so she could do the ski trip.

We are spending a fair bit this year, but we only have 1 child who have asked for a piece of tech. We could get a cheapo version, but we've decided to invest in a better model, which should see her though a good few years of high school.

You will get the people who competitively state how much they WON'T be spending and how they are whittling a flute from the wood of a tree from their local woods, or how they are getting their kids a lump of coal and a satsuma because they want them to know the TRUE meaning of Christmas.

I don't have a strict budget in terms of oh I have to spend X amount. I've probably spent about £80 so far on the 5 yo but I've not finished but can't see it being much more as her list is quite small. Don't see the point in buying toys she won't play with.

Always ends up being over a thousand for the two of them but in my defence I’m not one of these parents constantly picking them up stuff during the year.

About £80. He's 2.5yrs this xmas and very clever and already asks about presents for christmas 😳 (thanks nursery!)

At that age just a few parcels to open otherwise they get overwhelmed. Only spend what you can afford, never get in to debt and start saving now for the teenage years which are hugely expensive! Do not let yourself fall in to the trap of lots of presents which are inexpensive when they are young, lots becomes an expectation and isn’t feasible as they get older and the gifts get more expensive.

Well mine are teens now and the amount has gone up over the years. It's was about 100 each when they were little and is nearer 400 each now but there is no exact budget just a rough guide. I wouldn't spend 1000 each on them or anything!

Honestly probably £80-£100 each but I tend to get a toy they want and a few bits for stockings and then an extra toy or 2 to bulk the santa sacks out. It's not really about the cost but whether they got a few things they will play with. Not looking forward to it as they get older though! When they were babies/toddler age we definitely went quite minimalistic- as the toys were big!

I’ve spent £120 on ds who is 10 (but it’s also his birthday that day too so split over 2 occasions ) and £60 on dd who is 9.
We go away for Xmas and I’d much rather spend money in having fun and spending quality time together than on gifts they’ve not asked for or really need
If they want an expensive gift gränd parents contribute and it’s from us all
I’ve had times when I could afford £30 and times I could’ve spent £3000 it’s all relative to income and situation
And I’m lucky to have children who have a very humble Christmas list

DC1, 10 years old: around £300
DC2, 8 years old: £100-130
DC3, 5 years old: £100-120
DC4, 1 year old £60 (ish)

Spend what you want and what you can afford, it’s no ones business but yours.

£100 each

Around £150/200