To ask how much you spend on DC at Christmas?

[Iggleshmiggle]

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.

Santa just brings one present and the stocking here. We tell Dd the rest of the presents are from us. She's 6. Personally we won't be spending more than £150 ish (we don't keep tabs but I bet all the small little gifts add up quickly!). However, if she'd just outgrown a bike and needed one then the budget would have gone up. I'm very wary of not spoiling dd. If you're not happy getting that many presents just have a chat and explains santa doesn't get all presents on a list and explain to only put her 3 (or whatever) favourites on there.

About £30-£40 for my 2 year old. I spent about £20 on him last Christmas.

Main presents about £50, and about £100 in stockings, maybe a bit more but includes clothes and new duvet covers which they need but we’re using to puff it out a bit. We’re comfortably off, could do more but why!

Growing up only the stocking came from Santa. We do the same for Ds.

That way they still get ‘Santa’, but the main gift can be adjusted according to budget and children knowing parents buy it not a mystery man with unlimited money.

Last year we spent more on Ds as bought bigger item, about £300. This year £40 on main item, and stocking. He’s 2 1/2. I won’t spend more for the sake of it, but happy to spend on something they need when needed

About £100 each, I would (and have in the past) spend more, if I had it.

£300-400 but these threads always turn into a competition of who can spend the least.

Not seeing any evidence of that. I think these threads look more like a succession of people spending loads and being weirdly defensive about it by giving unasked-for justifications for the amount they spend. And then everyone else just names moderate spends.

Anyway... for many, it's not competitive underspending, it's that people can't afford it! We usually spend about £100 per child (teenagers) on the main present(s) and about a further £25 per stocking. We could afford to spend more, but that's always seemed like a reasonable amount to me. Neither dh nor I come from families where several hundred pounds per child was the norm.

Bought a Switch from us so quite expensive, then lots of smaller gifts from Santa to make a fun pile, plus stocking from Santa. So I suppose around 300-400. It will be a long, boring January, but we will have the Switch I guess!

We usually budget £100 per child. This year we've bought a Nintendo switch to share so totally blown the budget but it's a family gift too.
We usually do £50 on each other so total of £300 between the 4 of us. With the switch (which is a surprise) + Santa gift (£30 each child) + stockings (approx £30 each child) we've spent £520 ish this year so £200 more than our normal budget.
But I've worked a lot more than normal this year and we've made other sacrifices to allow me to work so it's nice for all of us to see the benefit of those sacrifices.

I usually end up at around £400 per child. Stocking gifts around an extra £50.

£60 on nearly 4 year old (£20 stocking and £40 on main present) and £30 on 10 month old.
Older DS doesn't get everything on his list and Santa brings stocking and a small present. We can afford more but he gets loads from family as well

It varies each year. Probably about £200-250 per child on a normal year. Kids age 16, 14 and 5.

Given the current climate and people struggling to heat, get food etc this thread is really insensitive.

fb.watch/hc5AMY-2bu/ watch that video for some food for thought. I'd never worry what we can't get just thankful for the little bit we have

We have a rough idea of £150 each (including stocking, presents from us and siblings). They don’t get everything on their lists and if anything is really expensive they get money towards it rather than it bought outright. We’re not completely rigid about it though and if what they wanted cost 130 instead they’d get it and still get the same stocking etc on top as long as we could afford it.

Father Christmas only does the stocking and one £20 max present here though which helps manage expectations I think.

I’ve had Christmasses where I only spent £12 on my dc’s present and about £20 on a stocking each, it all depends on what I can afford and what they want.

For my 4 we've spent around £100. That includes one large new present, some accessories for it, and some secondhand toys to accompany, along with small stocking fillers.

For my 2 year old, probably £20-30 on a selection of secondhand toys, all in great condition, about £5 each.

I assume as they get older it'll get more expensive but I don't foresee spending over £100-200 each MAX. Definitely no where near £400, that would be too much for us.

I'm usually around the £300-350 per child mark but next year will be significantly less. I get £600ish pounds 'worth' of stuff for that as I shop in sales and clearance all year and store it away. Lego, playmobil, sylvanians etc have been in the loft for months. Their lists are usually only 3/4 smaller things each and Santa brings a stocking and one gift each

Depends what he asks for. DS is an only child without much wider family to buy for him either, so we probably spoil him a bit by trying to buy whatever he’s asked for. We’re fortunate that we don’t have to budget, because as (almost) 4 there’s only so much that’s within his imagination to ask for. This year he’s getting a Switch and a few other small bits. I imagine his expectations might have to be managed as he gets a bit older and his requests are more extravagant.

About £150. Would never get everything off their list. Could spend more but won't. £150 is a bit over what I had intended on spending but black Friday happened 🙈

Mine are 2 and almost 1. We're on a very tight budget at the moment but I've found some excellent second hand but new toys on Vinted. Spent about £25 per child on books, puzzles, a noisy toy each and a ton of fake food plus a mini kitchen.

@Bananarama21 give over. Should people only post stuff thatfits in with your narrative then? Are only less affluent people allowed to post on Mumsnet?

I think at 5 and 2 they're young enough for you to change the set up so FC just gets them the stocking with has a few sweets, small games, books and maybe one non expensive gift from FC.

Everything else is from you.

I've just read another thread where a 10yo is asking for a £600 gift from FC so definitely nip it in the bud now!

£300-400 DS is 4.

I don’t think it’s poor taste for people to post what they’re spending, however much that is. I think it’s poor taste and pretty offensive for people to accuse anyone of spending what they deem to be inadequate of competitive frugality or stinginess. I know you didn’t do that, just a general point.

@WaddleAway and I'd agree with that. I honestly couldn't care less who spends a fiver and who spends 5 grand

I think only one poster mentioned that though

Mine always got the laptop/game console/games for Christmas, so the budget was high. As teens they'd want designer clothing. You'll see people state that they are middle or higher earners, but don't send a lot. But there's usually old, but good laptops, phones etc for the children when the parent upgrades. So they don't need to brought. Likewise generous relatives. Gifts for my GC include days out to places like Chill Factore. I think the important thing is to not get into too much debt (some people have no choice but to use credit which is different to debt) and that everything is really wanted/needed. We've never done stockings. We just do presents.

We’ve spent 550 on both
one was a garden activity that will last 10 or years