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?

Too much. I'm not exactly sure as I stagger the buying but I would say my eldest had about £600 last year but that's because last year he got a laptop, Nintendo Switch and games. My younger kids get more presents but get less spent on them because they are still getting toys, probably about £350 each. I'm not well off but I love to spoil the kids at Christmas and will always find ways to do it.

Spend what you can afford, kids don't need mountains of crap and adult kids don't need hundreds spending on them, that's just ridiculous. We were comfortable growing up, my parents spent £50 on Christmas presents each, we were always happy with what we got and the wider family agreed that once the kids turned 18 then no more presents apart from their parents/grandparents. So no buying for adult nieces and nephews, it just gets silly

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
I bet you spend throughout the year, family holidays, midterm mini break?
No one wants to let their DC down it isn't confidence nor is it about not looking poor, it is making an accessible occasion very special so the DC can feel great.
As a WC person if you like with friends and family who over spend. I do it to compensate for lack of a holiday abroad and lack of life experiences due to finances. My DC will never be skiing or visit Disneyland never mind lapland
Everyone wants their DC to feel worth it.

'Lovely' food is what exactly? It's just food. For us it's food we wouldn't normally buy week to week. So a box of chocolates or a cake to offer guests with coffee, a Christmas cake, going out for breakfast the Saturday before Christmas, things like that over the Christmas season to make it special.

I don't have a budget as such. I look at what they want and that I think they would like. Get at least 3 (usually a lot more but it depends on the price as although I don't buget only 1 high value item between 100-200) and smaller gifts/crafts that I think they will enjoy and last them until their birthdays the following year. Plus some chocolate and a gift advent calender.

@UnfinishedSymphon

Spend what you can afford, kids don't need mountains of crap and adult kids don't need hundreds spending on them, that's just ridiculous. We were comfortable growing up, my parents spent £50 on Christmas presents each, we were always happy with what we got and the wider family agreed that once the kids turned 18 then no more presents apart from their parents/grandparents. So no buying for adult nieces and nephews, it just gets silly

Yes like that in our family

About £500ish but I can afford it. No catalogue stuff or anything. I love xmas.

I wouldnt spend less on some than others but you could cut back the amount over all, you have 5 children at £250 each thats £1250 which is a lot - maybe drop it back to £150 per child

I could argue the older kids who have bills, work loads, debt and responsability need 'spoiling' more than the younger ones because they live at home likely with no debt/serious bills and can just piss away their money on things they want without worry etc... a luxuary that vanish as you get older

That is a good point.

I sometimes buy useful presents for older dc as well e.g. something for their house

About £50-60each

£50-70 or so? We have one child who is 5. I hate filling the house with crap, so we just get 1-2 presents (often second-hand toys - ebay is amazing) then maybe some sweets, socks, undies etc.

About £250 each. Eldest wants an iPad but that’s going to be half birthday & half Xmas.

Around £60 each including stockings. 10 years old.

I am on a low income and do not spend loads. For me that teaches kids that value is on things when real value is on family and friends and spending time together.

A lot of (not all), kids and young adults seem to have a big sense of entitlement now, which is really sad.

I would prefer to spend any left over money on a cheap uk family holiday, whether it be two or three days or a week. Sometimes we cut the holiday cost by sharing with friends . (Unfortunately this did not happen this year as all the cheap holidays were snapped up very quickly, but I wont be spending more on the kids to compensate for no holiday, as the money will have go on impending moving costs).

And i should have added even if I had not been moving I would still not spend loads to compensate.