Page 2 | To ask how much you spend on DC at Christmas?

sleepfortheweek · 2022-10-30T23:03:27+00:00

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? .

SouperNoodle · 30/10/2022 23:47

We spend about £100-£150 on each DC.
I have a mum friend that spends about £1-2k each on her children and you can barely see the tree for all the presents. They'll usually play with a few things and aren't bothered about the rest so I don't see the point.

RosesAndHellebores · 30/10/2022 23:51

I think it varies from family to family for a variety of reasons.

I think very often middle class families who sneer at poorer children having sacks full of presents need often to check their privilege. Often their DC will attend a sports club weekly, have lots of paid activities, pets, music tuition and lots of days out as the norm, and if they need a new computer, they get one, whatever the time of year.

yoyo1234 · 30/10/2022 23:51

At primary school generally £50-100 per year per child . This would included stocking presents/main present etc. Secondary circa £150 I think. One year was very generous for secondary aged child. I think as well it is the idea of clearing up all the presents and sorting old toys for charity etc.

Wildone16 · 30/10/2022 23:52

Dc14 we spend £500 £250 of that is a mobile contract for the year and dc7 we spend £250

they get a lot from family so we are rethinking budgets this year, but I’d say generally spend what you can and don’t go into debt buy somethings they ask for if you can and don’t feel the need to compete with others

ObjectionSustained · 30/10/2022 23:52

@Smearywindowsagain it really depends to be honest and it's what I can spend, not that I always do.

Last year I got her a kitchen, washing machine, fridge and all the stuff to go in it, play food.. and that alone came to nearly £250.

She really wants a switch and a couple of games, the bundle I've looked at is £289! My dad got her the Barbie dream house for her birthday and that was £200, Barbie campervan is £80.
She likes the Magic Mixies and those are £70, one lego set is £50...
So it sounds like loads but once you add in a big gift it really adds up.

BMW6 · 30/10/2022 23:54

Between £2 and £20k per child. HTH. 🙄

CherryLongIsland · 31/10/2022 00:16

We don't have a set budget. It depends what they ask for, just because one year they get a big ticket item doesn't mean I'll spend the same the next year. We are fortunate enough to be able to spend whatever we want on them, this hasn't always been the case though.
Last year DC1 asked for mostly clothes, make up, perfume,
DC2 a bike,
DC3 stuff for his hobby and switch games, DC4 football gear and a chocolate orange.
This year DC1 would like air pods,
DC2 clothes and cookery stuff
DC3 an experience and aftershave,
DC4 a Nintendo switch light and slippers.

They do get gifts from family but nothing extravagant. Pyjamas, a book, a game etc.

makingmiracles · 31/10/2022 00:18

I have 4 and they get a budget of around £150 then I spend £30-50 each on stockings-but those also include things like packs of boxers and socks for the older two and small Lego sets etc for the younger two.

the older two have birthdays either side of Xmas so if they want a big item they generally choose to have a Xmas and bday combined present then have just some small bits for their birthday/Xmas.

im more curious as to wether people step down budgets as dc reach adulthood?
oldest now lives elsewhere and has a girlfriend who I now have to buy for…

Dinoteeth · 31/10/2022 00:19

RosesAndHellebores · 30/10/2022 23:51

I think it varies from family to family for a variety of reasons.

I think very often middle class families who sneer at poorer children having sacks full of presents need often to check their privilege. Often their DC will attend a sports club weekly, have lots of paid activities, pets, music tuition and lots of days out as the norm, and if they need a new computer, they get one, whatever the time of year.

I'd agree with that.

Some will class things like a block of Riding or Music lessons as a Christmas gift others it's just a weekly cost.

Even things like trainers for some kids will be a as required others will be a Christmas gift.

Tech, xbox, laptop, some kids will share, others get hand me downs. But ultimately if people want their kids to have these things then they need to come from somewhere

PrueHalliwell · 31/10/2022 00:19

I think I've spent £85-100 on my two year old but got some decent stuff - thank you sales.

£0 on my 4 day old, she won't know

Dinoteeth · 31/10/2022 00:23

@PrueHalliwell I'd get your baby something, for your toddlers benefit, you don't want to answer why Santa forgot the baby! Doesn't need to be big or £££, just something.

SpeckofDustUponMySoul · 31/10/2022 05:11

It'll prob end up around £100 per child (twin DC, aged 4.5).

PuttingDownRoots · 31/10/2022 05:25

DDs have grandparents who buy them everything. So when they were small we didn't buy them much. Often it was under £50.

Now we use Christmas as an excuse to buy what they need for hobbies. This year they have camping rucksacks and wetsuits. DD2 also has a bag for her Rugby boots. DD1 has some gardening stuff. This has been slightly more expensive than usual... but the c camping rucksacks hat should last for years - I'm still using the one I got at 14!

They also have a board game to share and stockings.

HappyHappyHermit · 31/10/2022 05:29

Here it varies from year to year depending on our circumstances and what's on dd's list. She normally gets a stocking (small sack really) and a main gift, both from Father Christmas. Stocking is a few small things like a bath bomb, book, mini game, new socks etc. This year her main gift is an outdoor one that needs setting up so I've got her one for inside too as I don't want her to be disappointed on the day if we can't work out how to secretly set it up beforehand or it's rainy etc. The inside one was second hand for £20 though so I was pleased with that. Maybe £200 total this year, which is a little higher than usual for us, but still sensibly affordable.

I find these threads interesting each year, I'm not judging more or less money and gifts, I just like hearing what others do (nosy I guess!).

KenickiesHickey · 31/10/2022 05:41

About £150 max, I have 2 adult children. Their first Christmas was about £30 as they didn’t know what was going on and we didn’t see the point in getting them loads of stuff. Never done stockings or gifts from Santa, gifts are from whoever bought them. I save £80 each month towards Christmas and that’s what I have to spend on everyone including wrapping the gifts and the turkey comes out of it too. I wouldn’t get into debt for Christmas I’ve put money aside for it for as long as I can remember.

Hazydayss · 31/10/2022 05:48

sleepfortheweek · 30/10/2022 23:23

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 🤷🏼‍♀️

Show quote history

I agree OP. I have one little girl and have spent under £100 got her main present 2nd hand, because I can't deal with the waste and knowing she may not use it, even though she's asked for it. Other family members who have more kids and earn less go way more over board and spend around 500+ each on their kids, so it's not always about income.
I prefer to get really good condition 2nd hand stuff, may aswell while she's young.

TeddyisMydog · 31/10/2022 05:50

I have 4 children. I have already spent £180 on each of my children, I still need to buy them bikes and get a few extras from their list so will probably end up being around £400 each although the 4th is only a baby so I won't spend anywhere near £400 on her

America12 · 31/10/2022 05:50

How much does your family earn @sleepfortheweek ? Someone on similar money might answer.
If you and your husband are disagreeing what others spend is irrelevant.

KweenieBeanz · 31/10/2022 05:52

Always interested that some say they spend 'as much as I can'.
My DC don't have a fixed budget - some years it can be less than £100, if it's a year they need a new bike or something, more. We are high income and could easily afford to spend hundreds/thousands but I never would there's no need. Gobsmacked by somone upthread talking about buying a £1.2k laptop for a child..... If they need a laptop one can easily be bought for £400?! Why does a child need a laptop over a £1000, what's left for them to aspire to as an adult? Mine won't be getting latest iPhones either.

KweenieBeanz · 31/10/2022 05:56

My kids won't be getting £150 air max trainers ever either, until they are earning money and paying for them themselves. Why pay so much just for branding, decent trainers can be bought for less than half that.

Misspacorabanne · 31/10/2022 05:58

I aim to spend between 100-150 per child for Christmas, do sometimes go just over, that. I get their main gift and afew other bits from their lists. I have been known to get good quality second hand bits too, I like the idea of a big pile of gifts for the DC on Christmas morning, but I do stick to budget. We don't have a huge family so do have to stretch my budget as far as I can. I've finished for this year already and think my DC will have between 10-15 gifts each (including a selection box etc)

mickandrorty · 31/10/2022 06:02

£100 each plus stocking at around £20, we used to go ott but realised the house just ended up full of shite, half of which got played with once if that!

RoachTheHorse · 31/10/2022 06:05

More than I spend on birthday. We tend to be pretty chill about birthdays. They're special but not all out. Christmas is the big one in our house but spend varies.

This year oldest needs a mobile and youngest is due a tv for his room. So lots on one or two smaller bits. If no big ticket items are needed then we get a chunk of smaller bits.

TBH I'd spend less than my DH if he had free reign so we chat and meet in the middle.

A580Hojas · 31/10/2022 06:06

Yabu. Put it in the Christmas topic.

HappyBinosaur · 31/10/2022 06:16

I spend about £100 each on either a main present or a few presents depending on what they want, and another £70-£80 on ‘Santa stuff’ for a sack in their rooms which is often more practical and normally includes an Xbox voucher.
They get about £150 worth of stuff each from various relatives too.
This feels like a lot to me and even though we could probably afford more, I do try not to go OTT.

But on birthdays I’m more flexible/OTT and my youngest ones might have a smaller present and a very expensive whole class party whereas my older ones would mostly have money now and I tend to give them about £150-£250 depending on if they want other things.

It’s easier to spend more on their birthdays as they are spread out through the year so it’s easier to budget!!
We all have adhd except dh and planning and budgeting don’t come naturally so I tend to over plan just in case I f*ck up!