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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how much you spend on DC at Christmas?

202 replies

sleepfortheweek · 30/10/2022 23:03

Would love to know how much other people spend on their DC at Christmas...do you have a budget or just buy what you can/what they ask for?
.

OP posts:
PersonaNonGarter · 30/10/2022 23:04

I hate these threads. It is so contextual and I think lots of people end up feeling bad.

User135792468 · 30/10/2022 23:05

No specific budget but we tend to hover around the £300 mark for each dc. They’re still young though so I can imagine once they want tech and expensive clothes and trainers, then it will be much more.

NuffSaidSam · 30/10/2022 23:07

I buy them one big thing (within reason) that they really want, a few smaller things and a stocking.

I stick to a budget that we can comfortably afford.

If we can't afford it, they can't have it (but sometimes can make it work buy getting it as a shared present or forfeiting the smaller presents etc.)

AMorningstar · 30/10/2022 23:08

Approximately £100 per child. They get a book, an outfit, a toy and then a few extras plus a shared family board game.

We don't go overboard

Original poster
sleepfortheweek · 30/10/2022 23:09

PersonaNonGarter · 30/10/2022 23:04

I hate these threads. It is so contextual and I think lots of people end up feeling bad.

Sorry, I don't want it to be a competition of who spends what, but I know what you mean.

DH and I have different ideas on how many gifts/how much money should be spent on the DC at Christmas and I just wanted to get an idea on what other people do

OP posts:
Ringbling85 · 30/10/2022 23:09

Usually just buy some of what they put on their list (not everything) we spent about 350-400 each I reckon

notdaddycool · 30/10/2022 23:12

probably 30-50 for main present and under 100 for stocking, they were given sacks but a relative and they are a pain to fill.

Tothemoonandbackx · 30/10/2022 23:12

@PersonaNonGarter totally agree, someone on here might earn 100k+ a year and spend £1,000, someone might earn 10k a year and spend £100, it really all depends on what you can and can't afford. I don't even get the point of the post?????

Original poster
sleepfortheweek · 30/10/2022 23:16

Tothemoonandbackx · 30/10/2022 23:12

@PersonaNonGarter totally agree, someone on here might earn 100k+ a year and spend £1,000, someone might earn 10k a year and spend £100, it really all depends on what you can and can't afford. I don't even get the point of the post?????

Call it curiosity. Mumsnet is a way to reach out to so many people in different circumstances and sometimes it's nice to ask questions to get answers from people other than your immediate friends/family.

There is a reason I am asking, and it's not about income or to make anyone feel bad.

OP posts:
JockTamsonsBairns · 30/10/2022 23:19

These threads pop up every single year on Mumsnet and, honestly, they're pointless. Sorry.

There are so many factors in play that it's impossible to try to compare.

My DCs have no extended family whatsoever, so no extra presents. I buy them very little outside of birthdays/Christmas, so they wait for the things they'd like.
Household income too - when DC1 was little, I was a lone parent with a tiny budget, so I had to make do with what little I could afford. He got a few bits from Poundland, and car boot sales.
20 years on, I'm in a better situation financially, so all three of my DCs get a good Christmas. Not massive piles, but they do ok.

It seems off to me, talking about how much we'll be spending. Some parents will be spending a shit load, while other parents will be scraping together whatever they can.

Just try to have the best day you can afford, and remember it's not all about how much you can afford to buy.

Tothemoonandbackx · 30/10/2022 23:20

You do understand that income massively comes into this though, so it has to come in to consideration at some point. Hence why someone may feel bad for saying they can only spend X amount on their kids, while others may say they can afford more.

Original poster
sleepfortheweek · 30/10/2022 23:23

Tothemoonandbackx · 30/10/2022 23:20

You do understand that income massively comes into this though, so it has to come in to consideration at some point. Hence why someone may feel bad for saying they can only spend X amount on their kids, while others may say they can afford more.

Absolutely. But I also know people who earn a lot but don't spend an awful
Lot at Christmas on their DC, and I also know people who don't earn much but buy their DC everything they want 🤷🏼‍♀️

OP posts:
user1471508872 · 30/10/2022 23:25

I’ve spent up to £1000 each previously. I usually hover around the £500 mark each, those prices don’t include clothes or stocking fillers as I don’t budget for those. This year it will be much less as I don’t have as big of a budget for various reasons. I will also be purchasing clothes out of my eldest (12) main budget as he only wants branded items now which are obviously a lot more expensive.

Tothemoonandbackx · 30/10/2022 23:26

If you already know that, then what are you expecting to get from Mumsnet that you dont already know 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

BCxx · 30/10/2022 23:30

My little one is only a year and the house is already packed full of toys he got for his first birthday so I really don’t want anymore! I think we’ll buy one big thing like a balance bike or swing then a book, maybe a few smaller toys. For his birthday I think we spent £3-400 but that was more just because that’s how much the soft play and ball pit cost rather than aiming to spend a set amount when he’s so little. I think you definitely feel pressure to spend a certain amount or have enough for them. It probably all comes down to what you used to get as a child too and ‘Santa’ used to bring me so many presents they’d completely cover a sofa. I can’t even imagine what that must cost but I don’t want to start that! 🙈

Vgbeat · 30/10/2022 23:30

This year about 1200 as my daughter wants a laptop. Its not usually this much maybe 500 or 600 depending on what she's asked for. I only have one and she doesn't really get many presents elsewhere.

Dinoteeth · 30/10/2022 23:32

Depends what they want and need.
If its consoles, bikes or phones it pushes the budget.
But remember some families do bigger Birthdays than Christmas some kids will get loads from other family (grandparents Aunties etc) others will get nothing from out with the house.

Catclown · 30/10/2022 23:33

Mine are a bit older now, they have a set budget and look for what they want within that budget. The budget can change every year and this is usually the time we set that for them.

When they were younger and writing santa lists they could only ask for five things. One bigger/more expensive thing and four smaller ones. I thought that way they had to think about what they really wanted instead of circling everything in the argos book haha. They usually got other things but they got everything on their list. Worked really well for our family.

happyfishcoco · 30/10/2022 23:39

why hate this post? if you are upset by this, don't look it.

I like this kind of post, I would like to know what others' life is.

I may spend around £50 this year.
£10 for a book advent calendar, thank you other mums in MN give me this idea.
£20 for a present, or maybe not buy any present.
£20 for a xmas clothes, hopefully can find good one in primark this year.

ObjectionSustained · 30/10/2022 23:39

I have one DD(7).

I have a rough budget of £500, but not too bothered if I go over (which is normal.)

Sounds mad but she only has me and my dad. No other family so she only gets the presents from us; and I feel the need to overcompensate and buy the presents she would get if she had extended family too.

Ridiculous? Maybe. But oh well.

Smearywindowsagain · 30/10/2022 23:42

I am for about £100-£150 but then extended family buy so add another £100 or so on top. I think it’s too much really. Mine are 9 and 2

AuntieDickhead · 30/10/2022 23:44

About £50-£60 each. Then maybe £10 on stocking fillers.

Smearywindowsagain · 30/10/2022 23:44

@ObjectionSustained not being goady but what do you find to buy for £500 at that age? Last couple of years I’ve struggled to think of things for my eldest

runjy · 30/10/2022 23:46

I don't have a budget, don't feel the need to spend a set amount. Just buy them what they want & what they need.

Tigger85 · 30/10/2022 23:46

I bought the kids main presents in the prime day sales, £200 on 5 year old and £130 on the baby, baby has stuff for his next developmental stages, eldest likes hotwheels, playmobile and lego. They will get a santa present of a reading book and colouring book each which I haven't got yet, eldest will get a stocking filled with edibles and a few hotwheels cars. I put money into savings each month to pay for birthday and Christmas presents and buy bits throughout the year to spread the cost, eldest has been car mad since age 1 so I haven't had to worry about changing interests yet. I expect when they are older gift buying will be harder and need to happen closer to Christmas.