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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?

225 replies

Iggleshmiggle · 03/12/2022 18:51

My DC are 5 and 2 and, my DD has a huge list which adds up to about £400, just wondering how much you spent, although I’m guessing it varies depending on what they want.

OP posts:
Girasoli · 03/12/2022 21:17

Around £100 each, DC 6 and nearly 3.

MissAmbrosia · 03/12/2022 21:20

Probably too much but I had loads of aunties growing up and to me Xmas is lots of things to unwrap - even if only selection boxes - where as dd really only gets stuff from us so I try to replicate. She's 18 now. I do buy a lot of practical stuff - trainers, socks, smellies, earphones, pyjamas etc plus things she's not expecting and/or asked for. If I ask her these days, she just wants cash.

Tripsabroad · 03/12/2022 21:32

We've spent around £120 which is mostly for a scooter and secondhand Brio. Plus a book and one or two small items for the stocking. DC isn't old enough for lists yet. We'll spend less on birthday.

DC(1) only got one gift from us last year for birthday and Christmas combined, but it was a Pikler triangle so cost about £100. Tbh DC hardly uses it so I shouldn't have fallen for the hype! There were other items I bought and wrapped up for Christmas, but they were things like clothes which I'd bought anyway and just wrapped up to give DC the fun of opening.

ijustcouldntthinkofausername · 03/12/2022 21:34

All depends. At the moment my DS is 30 months and I probably will spend around £100 this year because he just doesn't really need anything and won't even know at this age. I think the older they get, the more is spent.
Eg my 14yo niece is asking for a phone and my 12yo nephew asking for a laptop etc

Tartifletti · 03/12/2022 21:42

About £250, but that includes a new scooter. Books, 2 small craft sets, a toy to play with and stocking fillers added up quite quickly. She will need a new bike by the time her birthday arrives so that will be more expensive.

BakedTattie · 03/12/2022 21:45

9 and 7 year old girl and boy.

£400 each I would say. poss more, wouldn’t have thought less.

we have no money worries though. Would definitely adapt/alter based on money

peaceandove · 03/12/2022 21:49

Probably more than most, but we can afford it and don't need to go into debt for it.

Starseeking · 03/12/2022 21:50

I don't really have a budget for my two, who are both under 7. More a rough list of the type of thing I want to buy for them, plus enough so they have a decent pile of presents to open. As well as the usual must have toy, I get them books, pyjamas and Christmas Day outfits, plus stocking fillers. Thinking about it, I probably spend £200-400 on each DC.

ijustcouldntthinkofausername · 03/12/2022 22:11

ijustcouldntthinkofausername · 03/12/2022 21:34

All depends. At the moment my DS is 30 months and I probably will spend around £100 this year because he just doesn't really need anything and won't even know at this age. I think the older they get, the more is spent.
Eg my 14yo niece is asking for a phone and my 12yo nephew asking for a laptop etc

20 months**

Saz12 · 03/12/2022 22:53

My spend varies each year depending on whats wanted- an iPad being way more expensive than a basketball hoop or an Oodie.

This year dc doesn’t want any big ticket gifts, so probably around £150 maximum. Only other gifts will be from one set of grandparents.

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 03/12/2022 23:03

Not that much. My children never get everything off their list, and Santa brings stocking fillers here, gifts that children specifically ask for that may or may not be expensive are given by mum and dad or maybe other relatives so they gain and understanding and appreciate that funds are not unlimited.

This year I think we’re spending about £180 each.

JoyfulGirl · 03/12/2022 23:06

Probably £100-150? We would spend more but he’s not into toys in general and doesn’t really “want” anything so we struggle for ideas and don’t want to buy things just for the sake of it. We treat him to days out etc throughout the year and basically buy anything we think he might like as and when we see it. He’s six.

Mamai90 · 03/12/2022 23:44

I've spent £100 on presents for my 1 year old. She's only just turned one and to be honest her favourite gifts have been little cheap things so the money is really being spent for my 7 year old nephews benefit so be thinks Santa brought them. As we open up presents with my sister and nephews on Xmas day. We'll also put a few hundred pounds in her ISA. But I imagine around £400 is what I'll spend. It's similar amount that was spent on me at Xmas by my parents/Santa.

meganorks · 03/12/2022 23:52

To be honest, I'm not that sure. Maybe about £200 each. Although I don't insist they have to be equal amounts - they have no concept of that.
I would also say, I don't think I've ever got everything off their list. It's a guideline. They have no concept of money. The list could equate for £50 quid or £500. Plus, I think you need to make sure they know they won't automatically get everything.

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 04/12/2022 03:09

This year I’ve spent about £300 each on my 2 - ages 5 and 9. Wouldn’t normally go that high but we are in a good financial position and we haven’t had an easy year so just wanted to spoil them for once

Firefin · 04/12/2022 07:25

Around £120 per child. I'm one of those miserable fuckers who sticks to 1 thing to wear, 1 thing to read, 1 thing they want and 1 thing they need, though 😁

Firefin · 04/12/2022 07:25

I have a teen and a 6-y.o. I should add

Zanatdy · 04/12/2022 07:26

At that age £200 max. They don’t need expensive tech etc. I spend around £300 ish on each of my 3 kids. Two are adults, one is 14

Zanatdy · 04/12/2022 07:29

Iggleshmiggle · 03/12/2022 18:58

Yes, I wasn’t posting this to make people feel bad, I feel like my daughter is asking for a bit too much but obviously she thinks Santa brings it.

Just tell her you don’t get everything on your list. Don’t get into the habit of her thinking Santa brings everything on the list. I always told my kids I gave Santa the money for the presents, Santa was merely the delivery guy. Presents always signed off from mum & dad not Santa.

Get your DD to tell you what she wants the most, as Santa has to make sure all the children get a gift. I’d cut the cost in half for a 5yr old.

AmIThatMam · 04/12/2022 07:31

Our kids know that we pay for the presents and Santa delivers them. So requests must be reasonable!

whatthejuice · 04/12/2022 07:34

Aged 5 & 2 here as well.
About £150 for the 5 year old and around £100 on the 2 year old.
May seem mean not to spend exactly the same but in all honesty, everything is cheaper the younger they are!

Cosycover · 04/12/2022 07:41

I've spent about £800 between my two. But not evenly split.

Will probably pick up a few more little things too.

milawops · 04/12/2022 07:41

About £100 on the eldest and £40 on the youngest. We could have spent more but they are 19 months and 7months so have no concept of what's going on so I don't see the point of buying loads of stuff. Especially when my in laws are going to bury us in plastic tat anyway. We're well aware we won't get away with that for much longer though.

KeeefBurtain · 04/12/2022 07:49

I have 4 dc - 2 late teens 2 primary age. I’ve just added up and it comes to around £160ish each. Haven’t done stockings yet but that will be another £20-30 each.

I could afford to spend more but I don’t see the point in buying for the sake of it.

RobinRobinMouse · 04/12/2022 08:00

We tell dd that the list for FC is a list of ideas and he is an expert so will know to choose the ones she will end up enjoying the most. This year we've spent a little more on a main than usual (maybe £150), but she only gets the one and her stocking. We don't buy her anything separately from us, though she does also get presents from family.