To ask how much you spend on your children for Christmas?

[chubbycheeks26]

I imagine this has been done to death.

I am sick and tired of my mum telling me that I've spent too much on my 2 year old daughter, around £600. However, she's my only one and if she had siblings my budget would still be the same, just between them. I can afford it, so AIBU to spend this kind of money? Or am I being ridiculous?

We have 2 older teens. For the past few years we've spent roughly £400 each on them? To be honest, that doesn't buy a lot of they're into £45 Huda palettes, Kiehl's skincare and Hilfiger sweatshirts. This year we have spent more, probably about £1000 each, because it's been such a crappy year (aside from Covid, I had breast cancer back in February, and their favourite uncle passed away in September). So, we're treating them to some really lovely stuff.

We can easily afford it, and they're both good, hardworking kids who have part time jobs, so aren't entitled brats.

That’s a lot of money. I could justify spending that on a teenager who wanted expensive items like a computer or phone. But at 2yo you’re just buying junk that takes up room in the house.

About £200 each. Two girls, aged 6.5 and 3.5. If it works, it works, and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks!

OP I don't think it's anyone's business, including your mothers, once you're paying your way, not getting into debt and not asking her for money.

There are some right misery guts on the Christmas threads on here and some incredibly sanctimonious and judgemental poster.

I can never get over those who can afford to buy their children presents but chose not to...

Anyway, we have a teen and have spent considerably more than £600 on her this Christmas and we have always bought lovely presents for her. We buy quality over quantity and always have done. And I really don't give a fig what anyone else thinks.

We own our own home and have done since before we had dd. we have a comfortable lifestyle and savings for us and her. So we spend what we like on her Christmas presents and she is not spoilt and rarely asks for anything. We also buy her things throughout the year as she needs them such as clothes, makeup and trainers etc

Life is hard so much of the time, it makes us all happy to give each other lovely gifts once a year.

Even in times when money was tighter (when we were younger) we always prioritised spoiling each other a little bit with a thoughtful (not always expensive) present and making a fuss of each other. wee learnt long ago that no-one else will do it and it's SO easy to lose that side of things in a long term marriage / relationship where it all becomes a bit of a drudge and you no longer see each other as the individuals who found each other remarkable! So...we make the effort and we make the effort for dd too.

She has a tv and apple tv for her room as her main present and then lots of hard to find quirky things that reflect her interests which she will not be expecting.

We can't wait!

OP - hope your dd loves all her gorgeous presents

I've spent about 4k on dd which I know sounds bonkers but is not normally anywhere near this amount.

She passed her test and I spent 1.5k on a car for her, same again for insurance. Her computer was running slow so bought a new processor and motherboard. Which was £600.

£100 each for Christmas. Same for birthdays. DS1 is 18 next month so I've spent £200 seeing as it's a "big" birthday. HOWEVER, DH and I both have large families so they get presents from grandparents, aunts and uncles as well. Also they don't get big ticket items for birthdays or Christmas so if they need a new bike or a phone or, occasionally, we decide to get a new games console then it wouldn't be a birthday or Christmas present.

I’ve spent a bit more this year than usual, around £100 on both of them. They are getting older though so that money doesn’t go far really, but they’ve got gifts from other family members as well so I’m my eyes they have been thoroughly spoilt this year! Some years we’ve only managed to do £50 each, it really depends on our finances.

Unless the question is phrased as “percentage of disposable income” instead of in £, I don’t think any answer is really helpful?

If you can afford it and want to, then spend what you like.

@Etinox sorry I didn't see this question asked. I pay her £600. She asked for less but I wanted to pay something reasonable. I don't pay towards the mortgage as I won't pay for a house that's not partly mine and she doesn't want me to. On top of the & 60, I pay for the entertainment packages apart from Sky as I don't use it and we alternate doing the food shop.

How much we spend varies each year based on what they've asked for, this year we've spent roughly £500 per child for four children plus around £200 each for DH and I. As they get older the gifts get more expensive but the piles get smaller, my older two DC asked for a Switch Lite each so by the time I got those and a couple of games each that was £300 per child.

@HintOfVintagePink well I didn't really use any of my disposable income recently for my daughter's presents as such, I put £50 a month away to go towards presents for Christmas then topped it up by £100. I used Park, I decided to spend it all on my daughter then used some of my usual monthly disposable to buy for everyone else the last couple months. So around 20% of my disposable income on everyone else the last 2 months.

I have no idea how much has went on presents this year. Haven't totted it up. Going from previous years though it can vary massively depending on what they like and their ages. Went a bit over the top this year but I won't feel bad for it. It's been a crap year and there's not much to do outside the house so they've got extra to do at home.

Sounds a lot to me, but obviously it's your money, so up to you how you spend it.

My D.C are aged 8 - 17 now and I spend around £300 each on them. It does get expensive with teens, as although is only a few things, they tend to be more expensive.

My rule was always no more than 10 gifts to open and try to be more practical than just getting 'stuff' for the sake of it. I've heard of kids not managing to open all their presents or got bored halfway through which seems ridiculous.

I would have a look at what you have and ask yourself if she will really enjoy opening lots of things and if you reduced the amount, would she enjoy Christmas less? I imagine, that at age 2, she'd be happy with a couple of things to focus on.

When dc3 was 2, I got her one new peppa pig set, a few second hand peppa pig items, a scuttle bug and some bits and pieces. It really doesn't need to cost a lot.

@LazyMaureen
No more than TEN gifts to open?? That's crazy. Surely it is just a couple of things per child?! Unless we are talking stocking fillers.

@GreenestValley TEN as you say is not really that many 🤷‍♀️

@LazyMaureen I could probably do that, give her 2 things and she'd be over the moon. She has no idea it's Christmas. She just about knows the big man in red is called Santa. I am going to look at it yes, this year is the first year she'll be opening her own presents as last year she understood even less, so will no doubt be bored stiff after opening three of them. I just wanted to know if I'd spent a ludicrous amount of money and my mother was right to berate me about to.

It does sound like a stupid amount of money when you don't have your own place at the moment. At two she'd probably much prefer a few bits and Christmas and more treats through out the year. That said if it's your money it's your choice and I wouldn't pass comment on it (apart from in this thread where you've specifically asked).

@IMNOTSHOUTING I am starting to think I shouldn't have bothered moving. It was because of the bloody pandemic, mum is recently divorced and I'm on my own as a single parent so it was to give us both company. I will have my own place in a couple months if I don't buy immediately so I'm not going to forfeit the way I do Christmas when I moved to prevent lonlieness between the two of us and to help my mum out with her pets as now she's single and also a transport worker doing horrid shifts it meant someone was around to sort the dog etc. I was literally been there most of the time of the time between Christmas and lockdown, it seemed like such a waste of money to rent a property I was never in! Was never about money. I'd understand if it was overwhelming her house with toys and not paying her anything but that isn't the case.

I'm probably personally spending about £125 on my 4 y/o and I feel that I've gone OTT. (Some of the stuff is used so this has bought quite a lot). I am arranging for others to buy additional items as well.

I've spent £450 on each this year. It's much more than usual but teenagers are expensive and they were both due a phone upgrade.

OP, really and truly just spend whatever you are comfortable with and can afford. It's no one else's decision and your DC will only be small for a short time so of you're able to/want to go all out for Christmas, then go all out. There will always be someone who will think you're in the wrong no matter what so you may as well do what works for you, MN isn't exactly like real life where no one is that bothered. Here you will get people who spend the GDP of a small country vs people who give their DC a pointy stick and half a satsuma with very few in between.

My 8yo has had about £500, I don't see the problem with any amount that you can afford. I've always promised myself that I won't go into debt for Christmas and some years she's had more than others

Ten gifts just seems ludicrous. I can't understand how you wouldn't think that is a lot. Literally showered with gifts. Definitely makes them less special.

Ten gifts just seems ludicrous
Don't be ridiculous. Things like a couple of Lego sets, a few books, a boardgame, maybe some new colouring pens or items of clothing would soon add up to over ten gifts and is in no way ludicrous. Get a grip.

It depends how much you spend otherwise though. We spend a reasonable amount, but don't really buy the DC toys outside Christmas & birthdays. They might get a fiver to spend in a gift shop on big days out, but thats it really. So I suspect it balances out. Also we have a small extended family and the PILs are as tight as two coats of paint Again someone with lots of relatives buying too might spend less. Its not really useful to isolate parental Christmas spending, unless its truly eye-watering one way or the other