To ask how much you spend on DC at Christmas?

[sleepfortheweek]

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?
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Up to €1000 each on my teens and €500 on my 5 year old. Some of my friends spend alot less but there children's present are added to by grandparents and aunties/uncles etc. My kids only get from us so that's why I spend so much.

My family were never big gift givers so I'm similar. We used to budget £100 for each child but this year it will be more as they're getting older so their main present is costing £100 each. They'll also have a few extras for their sricjing so probably £150 to £200. They get very small presents from 2 sets of Grandparents and that's it.

I just buy when I see stuff and then somethings they ask for. Christmas is a big thing in our family, always has been.

We have a very high household income - 250k+.

The DC have a small stocking each "from father christmas" - eg things like sweets, bath bomb, card games, stickers, a small book, pants/socks.

They then get one "big" present from us. The budget isn't fixed, but really the only things we think younger children need that are more than about £100 are bikes. Other things they have had as big presents have included scooters, vtech camera, lego/ brio/playmobil sets. We don't buy children expensive technology, we would expect things like a tablet to be owned by a parent and borrowed by the child occasionally until secondary school.

1 set of Grandparents spend £50-60, the other about £20. Then there are aunts/uncles who each spend perhaps 15, they buy things like a board game, a craft kit.

This is so true. We buy stuff as the kids need it and when I wasn't working we had a very frugal Christmas.

DD wants a switch so we will be spending more on her than usual. She will get that with a couple of games and very little else. Maybe a craft set/ some new pens, probably total of £400 (switch and games are £370, but hoping to get a discount Black Friday). We have also got a few bits for a stocking (£20ish)
It is her birthday on 30th December so she will be getting a much smaller main present than usual and a few friends for a tea party, rather than a big whole class thing, which will balance the spend a bit.

DS (4) doesn’t want anything! I have seen a new hot wheels track which he would like. So that will be his main present (£45), and then a few little bits. Cars, puzzles, maybe a game and then a similar stocking to DD. I would say total of £150 for him plus stocking.

Oh and we discourage our kids from asking for things or having wish lists. We take into account their age and interests and try to choose things we know they'll like, but there's no concept of "DC wants [insert expensive gadget or similar] so we must buy it".

Don't have a budget at all. Young DC so pick things up throughout 6 months in run up to christmas when i see them in sales/secondhand. I keep things i know they'll like and then around birthdays and christmas sort it out into what to keep for later and what to give now. This obviously gets a lot more difficult to do as they get older.

Ususally have 1 bigger present (this year a toy shop I got secondhand) a sack of smaller gifts and a stocking. If I was estimating i'd say it totalled around £300. Maybe a bit less. To be honest splitting cost over year it just fits into monthly budget without much issue and I don't really notice the expense.

@Dinoteeth haha no thank goodness! I meant I have a 6 year old and twins that will be 5 by Christmas!

Adult dc around £250

We usually give larger presents for birthdays rather than Christmas, to spread the cost a little through the year.

DC always get 3 presents each under the tree, and a stocking with about 7-8 smaller presents. I try to keep under £150 per child, some years I am well under if I manage to find things second hand, sometimes a bit over, but it balances out over the years, I think.

Our yearly income is approx 200K and we aim to stay around £100 per child, 2DC. Not worried if we sneak closer to £150 but wouldn't go above except as a one-off.

Baffled by all these high spends. But as someone pointed out last year, we'll buy them eg a bike when they need one, not wait for Xmas.

Some people buy a laptop for £500 for a Christmas present for their child and maybe some new PJs.

Others spend £50 at Christmas but also then buy the same laptop for their child on a random day as needed ditto a new bike/pony/cello etc

So often people who are well off seem to spend less on Christmas but spend thousands more on their child on other days of the year.

Ours have one main present from us. Price varies year to year. Last year it was about £150 for the elder 2. The year before my husband built them a gaming PC each which cost us nothing as our friends from our gaming community donated parts. Because "they need decent PCs". 🤣

Younger daughter's main this year cost £25 at 1/2 price in the Tesco toy sale.

Father Christmas brings around 10-12 gifts varying from £5-30 each.

Stockings filled with small £1-5 items but mostly sweets and chocolate.

This year probably £2k or close to it between the 3 (14, 12, 5).

We don't really have a set budget but try and get the dc what we know they will like and use, so it varies each year. Last year the oldest twos main gifts totalled £350 - this year its £900 but they're having one off big ticket items.

I agree. If someone is struggling financially and reads how much other people are spending on the children, they must feel really shit.

The OP should read the room.

We spend a lot less than most on here - about £80 per child including stockings (feel a bit mean now!).
However as others have said, we buy a lot of things as and when needed throughout the year e.g new clothes, craft stuff, books. And the DC do quite a lot of activities.

When they were younger and liked toys, usually up to £500 each with a few bits we chose for them. Now it’s more like £1000 each.

@Tothemoonandbackx we earn £100k a year and we spend £1,000 on the whole of Christmas including tree, Christmas dinner, and presents for everyone we buy for in total. I thought that was a lot!

Could you have another child and send them out younger?

I know I only really give change to toddlers or babies. As soon as they hit 5/6 I don't bother.

All done and dusted for DS17, he is an only child.

Second hand Book = £15:99
Sweatshirt = £24:83

So a grand total of £40:82.

No budget really it just depends on what they want/need. DS will be getting driving lessons this year which will obviously be a lot more expensive than what the younger ones will receive. But when they’re old enough they’ll get driving lessons too.