To wonder how much you spend on your kids Christmas presents

[Angelina82]

and what ages are they?
I probably usually spend around 200/250 on each of mine. As a single mum it’s a struggle though, and I’m starting to think that I should cut back on the amount I spend on the kids that have left home, are in full time work and have partners to spoil them at Christmas. WIBU to spend more on the two college attending kids I have at home than the other 3?

Thinking about £100 on DD who will be just under 1 (books, cuddly toys, wooden blocks etc). She turns 1 just after Christmas so will be asking grandparents to bear that in mind and not go over the top on either occasion. Every time I speak to them, they seem to suggest another toy!

Mine are 9 and 5. I am a single parent and prob spend around £100 each on them but only if i need to, have spent less/more depending on what they want. They get presents from a lot of family including their dad so get a lot.

Studies have shown that lower income families tend to spend a higher proportion of their income on birthdays and Christmas than higher income families. It’s to do with them not wanting to look poor and not having the confidence to feel as though they’ve let their kids down. We have a household income of £80k but we still only spend around £130 each on our 3 kids and I think that’s more than enough. Doesn’t get us into debt and allows plenty for treats around Christmas time and lots of lovely food on the day.

@EmbarrassedUser

Yes sounds logical when examining the poor. However I would also suggest those that are rich will inevitably splash out (as they do) constantly. Naturally even if poor parents can afford it I am sure the rich ones can too and indeed their children probably more accustomed to a higher level of gifting.

It's been a crap year so unless the Covidiots continue to super spread we should all make the most of Christmas and New Year festivities if we will be allowed to by then.

@EmbarrassedUser

Studies have shown that lower income families tend to spend a higher proportion of their income on birthdays and Christmas than higher income families. It’s to do with them not wanting to look poor and not having the confidence to feel as though they’ve let their kids down. We have a household income of £80k but we still only spend around £130 each on our 3 kids and I think that’s more than enough. Doesn’t get us into debt and allows plenty for treats around Christmas time and lots of lovely food on the day.

We're not low income . I have teenagers and enjoy the holiday and being generous with them and family. We don't get into debt over it and have 'lovely' food . Sounds snobby AF.

Wow this seems crazy. I have a 5yo and 2yo. I spend between £60 and £100 each. Last year it was £70 on elder and £50 on younger. Along with gifts from relatives they had loads and I actually regretted spending so much

So my kids have zero relatives and zero gifts from anyone else.

Your kids are probably getting double what mine get and yet you're spending a tiny amount of what I do.

It's all relative.

And I'm just not buying you can buy presents for £100. Christ. ONE toy in Smyths is £30.

@CactusForever would you mind sending me a link to the bargain Christmas thread! Thanks 💓

I always say on these threads that it is also going to be affected by the number of other people your children get presents from - for me, statements about children getting piles of presents/easter eggs from friends and family is a bit alien. By christmas, my 14 year old will have lost 3 out of 4 grandparents in a year, and so his total presents not from dh and I might possibly be that he gets a £20 voucher from 2 of his uncles (at some point, this year one of them didn't send amything till February), and birthdays will now be nothing from anyone else.

I'm with redraptor. When I was growing up things like tapes or books were main presents. Maybe a jumper or jeans or something. Stocking fillers were literally things that fit in a stocking - sweets, lip balms, pens and pencils etc.

@Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd I’m sorry if you think I sound snobby but I didn’t undertake the studies. I’m merely quoting the studies that I’ve seen in more than one place. These aren’t my personal thoughts.

Also I see nothing wrong in spending different amounts on each child. I'm not going to buy things for the sake of it if one wants something less expensive.

[quote EmbarrassedUser]@Batshitbeautycosmeticsltd I’m sorry if you think I sound snobby but I didn’t undertake the studies. I’m merely quoting the studies that I’ve seen in more than one place. These aren’t my personal thoughts.[/quote]
I think it came across as a bit, looky downy embarrasseduser the have-nots spending loads, and your household income of 80k but you choose to not spend (your sizable income) because you don't want to when the feckless poor are getting into debt trying to give to their children a jolly Christmas, break from the grim monotony etc.

At least, that was the overtone from your post for me, I'm sure that wasn't your intention.

@StarUtopia

And I'm just not buying you can buy presents for £100. Christ. ONE toy in Smyths is £30.

I have to agree with this. My DD loves Lego and the sets are so expensive. Even buying books, pens, pencils, etc. isn’t cheap these days.

I spread out buying presents throughout the year. DD’s birthday is January so I just split what I have. My guesstimate of how much I spend is based on thinking about how many presents I’ve bought her and roughly how much they cost.

I suppose it's what you can afford. I spend £100 per child for christmas, because I never want to be be in debt just for christmas pressies. However your children are adults now?! I would just give them £50 cash. I think that's more then generous.

@EmbarrassedUser

Studies have shown that lower income families tend to spend a higher proportion of their income on birthdays and Christmas than higher income families. It’s to do with them not wanting to look poor and not having the confidence to feel as though they’ve let their kids down. We have a household income of £80k but we still only spend around £130 each on our 3 kids and I think that’s more than enough. Doesn’t get us into debt and allows plenty for treats around Christmas time and lots of lovely food on the day.

It's not hard to spend a higher proportion though, I spend up to £100 out of £20k but I don't think I could spend £400 if I was on £80k. I do similar to you though and prefer to spend money on food and other treats.

I spent less than half of that when we were on benefits, but DS was younger then.

What 'studies'? We are not low income (find it utterly tasteless to state one's personal income figures on the internet) and have no debt, but the competitive meagre Christmas posts are crass. 'Lovely' food is what exactly? It's just food. With teens, it's easy enough to spend over £30 if there's one large present they want. If people want to spend a lot on Xmas, it's shows no less moral inferiority than spending it to go skiing, on piano lessons or what have you.

Yes we are tightening our belts this year.

Adult dc with their own dhs and dc. So probably £100 per family

Even when they were growing up we didn't overspend.
Don't understand spending so much money on dc if you are on a low income

My dds would rather have stuff they want. Easy to buy tat for the sake of it

Always spend the same on my dc

About £150-£200 each but it will have to be less this year

This type of thread gets rehashed every year 🙄

Spend what you can afford.

For my 3 year old I'd spend a max of £100 and some of that will be secondhand (last year I got her a stack of lovely books secondhand for the grand total of £2). I personally wouldn't spend loads on an older kid either, particularly college age. If they want expensive things like Xboxes etc then they can get a part time job to save up! We are fortunate to be in a position where we could spend more if we want to, but I am a bit over vast amounts of "stuff" at Christmas (and cluttering my house after!).

Studies have shown that lower income families tend to spend a higher proportion of their income on birthdays and Christmas than higher income families. It’s to do with them not wanting to look poor and not having the confidence to feel as though they’ve let their kids down. We have a household income of £80k but we still only spend around £130 each on our 3 kids and I think that’s more than enough. Doesn’t get us into debt and allows plenty for treats around Christmas time and lots of lovely food on the day.

Ouch that’s me told . Though if true, apart from not wanting to let the kids down (especially as they basically only have me who buys for them at Christmas) the reasoning given is bullshit. But who cares about that when the rich can kick the poor down a bit further eh?

The way I see it (the low income thing) is that it's easier to make Christmas and birthdays a bigger deal than afford things like holidays which we really can't afford.