Budget for a 3 year old

[Enoughtodriveyouinsane]

For Christmas?

I’m starting to save back a little each week, what would you spend on your kids, especially at this age? On my list it’s mainly the books that add the extra cost as I do like to get her lots of books.
Is 300 a crazy amount?

Books are great but not that exciting to unwrap for Christmas. I would get her books throughout the year (or go to the library is what I personally would do) and just get a couple for Christmas.

£300 seems like a lot, if your having to put money away then I assume its a lot for you, so I would go for less. The expectations you set at a young age can be difficult to match when their older and can remember.

Does anyone know a second hand book shop online that delivers to European countries? Currently using Book depository

I was at about £50-£80 when mine were 3, and it was probably more at the £50 end. They’re going to be more than happy with that.

I would say 300 is reasonable - enough to get some nice presents and a few bits they need

It depends what you can afford really.
We’ll probably spend between £200-£250 on our 2.5 year old but she only gets new toys at Christmas and her birthday in the summer.

I recommend World of Books for second-hand books! They have international shipping available :) www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb

Ebay is also great for book bundles.

DS is getting a bike for Christmas, that plus a few bits and pieces will probably come to around that amount. We can afford it, no debt other than a reasonable mortgage and no other children. He will get a few books, but we buy books all year, if he has a treat it will likely be to go and choose a book. Yes we could buy second hand and have had some donated by friends with older children, but we have a lovely independent bookshop who do readings, writing clubs, work with local schools etc so try and support them. We spent less last year probably around £150+ to me it's more about a main present and a few other things, if the main present isn't something very expensive that's fine.

I think it's fine if you can afford it and it's good stuff as opposed to just spending for the sake of it. It's also fine if you can't/don't want to spend it.

We spend a lot on DD, but we can afford it and we enjoy it. But everyone has their own circumstances and take on it, so all that matters is that you spend what you're comfortable spending.

At 3 you can get so much for your money so I would say £300 is a lot but it's really whatever you can afford and want to spend.

For an older child £300 often doesn't go far. Ds wants an Xbox (he's 10)...

I keep loosing posts so sorry if this seems disjointed.

From experience good places to find books in languages other than the community language include;
-expat buy and sell groups on Facebook. You can also put up requests for what you are looking for.
-larger bookshops which sell foreign language books (mainly in big cities and can be ££ as the books are new)
-libraries with books not in community language (it can depend on the language how much and what is available.)

As a more unusual suggestion - if there is somewhere (like an airport) which you think could have books in their lost property find out what happens to the books if they are unclaimed. I mean offer to buy them not pretend they are yours that you lost.

Apologies if you've already considered all of these.

I buy books throughout the year so Christmas is for big gifts. This year DS will get an electric car and a bike.

It depends if it’s £300 on stuff for the sake of stuff. I tend to focus more on the amount of presents than the cost. The more presents the more frazzled they seem to get and less acknowledgment of what they have in our house. We go for less now.
I and they love books however I have found they don’t go down to well as Christmas presents. They get them on their birthday and I regularly buy them throughout the year.
This years budget is about £100-150 per child (I have 4) but I will spend more on the older ones and far less on the youngest.

I spent £132 last year on dd who was 3 and her favourite gift she still treasures is her Octopus key ring that I crocheted and sits on her new school bag.

I would spend money on good quality stuff like Lego for younger ones that’s going to last a few years. It can always be passed down. My DD loved sylvanian families, pricey but again lasted years.
Be warned though kids usually spend more time playing with the box! 😁

I used to go mad for my two. Probably £300 ish spent on both. Things they'd asked for and then 'little bits' stocking filler type presents to make it look more.

You don't need too. They get bored and overwhelmed opening so many presents and then 70% gets left and never touched.

They get most the stuff they want all year round - within reason. So this year I'm spending around £150 on things they REALLY want and cutting loose the tat!

To me it seems a lot, especially if it’s just on lots of bits and bobs. If it was for a specific gift such as a bike then it would be okay but only if you are not scrimping and saving to buy it.

We’re a high income household but I wouldn’t envisage spending more than £100 until they are older and start to ask for things like games consoles. We do buy bits and bobs such as books and and age appropriate developmental toys throughout the year though.

You'll get all sorts of responses on here OP.

Some spend thousands others won't break into a fiver.

Spend what you can comfortably afford and what you're happy to part with.

£100 tops for a 3 year old.

Honestly do not over spend when they are young as they have no sense of value and will be quite happy opening small things. As people have said as they get older they ask for more expensive things so I would not go big too early!!

It wouldn't be for me, but I spend more than most seem to on here

I could easily blow £300 on books alone for a 3 year old. And really enjoy it. I probably wouldn't go that far though.

Whatever you want to spend is the right amount
As long as (imo) you aren't going into debt to pay for it.
DD will have just turned 2 at Christmas. She's getting a small set of toy dinosaurs and a new dressing gown from us. Because she loves her single dinosaur that lives with her farm animals, so thought she could have a few more.
She wears her dressing gown all the time, and will need a bigger one,so am looking for a yellow one for her online. Butt that's because things like duplo, cars, building blocks etc are just there already and I don't see the point in giving her a bit more Duplo or whatever as she already has enough.
Any birthday/Christmas cash this year will go towards a Magna-tiles set, which will appear at some point, but won't be given "as a gift"
So I guess I'll spend around £30.

My 3-year-old will have £100 max for birthday (December), stocking, advent calendar, father Christmas visit and Christmas present. They have lots of family to buy gifts and we just don't need more stuff.

£300 seems fine to me. I'll be spending that on my three year old too. His big thing is the Paw Patrol tower which is £80.

Wish I could say the same for my nine year old!

If you can afford it, go for it.. you will get a lot of posters saying why are you spending so much.. and that's fine for them, but you do you I will most probably be spending more than that for my 6 year old and his damn Lego obsession 🙄😂😂

It depends what you are buying - as pp have said if you're buying a big item like a toy kitchen, bike, playhouse etc then you won't have much spare change.

I'm budgeting £80 per child this year, 6 and 3 year old. In reality I'll probably spend a bit more on the 6 year old and a bit less on the 3 year old. I also tend to buy books all year round and not buy them as presents.

I've found over the years that only certain things get played with and the rest get forgotten about. I need to do a HUGE clear out this year.

£300 is a crazy amount.

We do second hand and between £20-50.