AIBU to ask how much you spend on your children at birthdays/Christmas?

[glossypeach]

I know it’s all relative to finances, ages and just generally how much you’re willing to spend - but I’m curious. So how much do spend on your children at Christmas and on their birthdays?

Two teenagers £300 for birthday Christmas £150. Don't get why people treat Christmas as more important than child's birthday for spending money on them.

DS is 3. No more than £100 unless it’s a particular big ticket item like a bicycle. It’s usually less and I add the remaining money to his ISA or premium bonds. He’s very happy with inexpensive things.

about £350 for each birthday and Christmas. They are 13 and 17

A lot. But not if we don’t have to, so if I can get a bargain or eg bikes second hand then I will. I’m not stressed about it being equal either as long as it looks pretty similar. I’d say £500 each for bday/Christmas

DD is 4, we probably spend around £500 but she doesn’t have many other relatives and she’s the best girl in the world so deserves to be spoilt!

£400 each for birthdays (this includes everything from cake and activity through to present) and £400 for Christmas each 2 kids. 13 and 10, had this budget a few years, will likely up to £500 next year. Don't tend to buy them much else in way of toys in the year.

It completely depends on what they want and what we can afford.
Birthday spending depends on how they choose to celebrate too so they might have a big party or trip out and a smaller gift or a big gift and a takeaway.
This year Christmas will be about £200 on DC1, £400 DC2, £400 DC3 and £200 DC4 plus a stocking.

DS is 3. For his birthday we spent £50 on presents - 2nd hand hot wheels parking garage (£12), £10 toy truck, new paw patrol pyjamas £10, brio train accessory £14, sticker book £4. That's it. We could afford to spend more but at this age I don't think it's necessary and I don't want to set any expectations. We've hired somewhere for his birthday party £100 inc decorations. Also signed up to football class for the season £200. I know he will get lots of gifts from family/friends. I think it's obscene how much people spend on kids these days. Especially when they're little. And birthday parties seem to have got out of hand. When I was growing up it was pass the parcel, iced gems, party rings & balloons. Now there seems to be an expectation for bouncy castle, soft play, entertainers & a giant pile of presents. Not sure if it's all for Instagram. Or parents feel pressured. But think it's a bit much. I get it when kids are a bit older they generally want more expensive things. One of my friends buys something they want, something they need, something to wear & something to read & I think that's a good rule to follow.

I should add Christmas stmas we spend a bit more as he has a stocking so I expect to spend £200 max total.

My daughter will be 3 this year (birthday a week before Christmas) and we have budgeted £150 for her birthday and £500 for Christmas which I know seems absolutely ridiculous to some and I wish in my head I could be happy with getting/spending less but I just can’t, when I was a kid I remember having lots and lots of presents that filled the floor and settee and my mum definitely COULD NOT afford it but she still made it happen somehow (probably debt) so maybe this is where I get it from and my husband grew up the same. So this is definitely not a brag post! And I know my daughter would be happy with absolutely anything it’s me I’m the problem!

We spend more at Xmas because my kids absolutely love a pile of presents. At birthday they know it’s a few presents but they also have a lovely party, so lots to look forward to. So it’s £50 on gifts at birthday plus party, and about £400 each at Xmas

We always spend more for birthdays than Christmas, I think birthdays are more special.
It really varies depending on what he wants, last year he got a bike for his birthday and a few other bits. TBH he would've been happy with a paw patrol one from Argos, but we got him a little big bike. I liked that it converts from balance to pedals and then the frame flips for an older child. DH likes the fact it's a proper bike that can be repaired, maintained etc. DS likes it because it's red and has a loud bell. There's nothing big he wants this year rough estimate the presents we've bought will total about £100.
I do think this kind of thread is a bit pointless, your budget will depend on your income, we spent £170 on a bike, helmet, bell etc, which was absolutely fine, we have no debt other than a mortgage, only have one child and earn well. If that's your monthly grocery budget it will seem a lot.

100-150

About £300 on each. Only child and could afford to spend more but try hard to stay in budget.

Christmas is stocking (satsuma, chocolate coins, bath bombs, fun socks, hair bands, lipbalm etc) plus a main present, pjs, books, games, something to make, piece of jewellery (of the £30 variety... not diamond bracelets!)

Birthday similar to Xmas minus stocking.

Sometimes there are things she needs that end up being part of Xmas or birthday but aren't included in the budget. Eg. she plays the guitar very seriously and was still using the one she had when she was 7 that was far too small and very basic. She needed a new one and the final choice was a pretty sizeable investment so I said to consider it part of Christmas.

YABU - there'll be a wide range, so it's a stupid question.

We spend more at birthdays which are spaced quite well. I try and be smart with stocking and get things that we would buy anyway - just a better version.

winter pjs, set of felt tips, fun bubble bath, fun socks, sweets, new drink bottle for school, stickers and colouring book. Stuff I would have to buy over the next six moths but slightly nicer more fun versions.

it varies for a bigger present but my kids 6 and 9 have not always liked most expensive present most. We have bought things for £13;99 which the have loved and things that were £75 which they have been mah over.

About £200, probably less, but its usually things they need like this year there'll be a new lunchbox for school, socks, clothes, maybe a few toys here and there.
My BIL spends about £2,000 per child at Christmas. Its absolutely mind boggling 😂😂😂

Probably around £2-300 if I added it all up properly. We only have one DC though and it would definitely have to be less if we had more.

About £150 for birthdays and £400 for Xmas each. But tbh every other year we could afford that as we'd spend DHs Xmas bonus on Xmas. We can't this year as he's moved company's and not getting a bonus and we now live seperetly and I just don't have any money. Will struggle to give them a budget of £100 each so if I'm honest I am stressed about it and I kind of wish I hadn't set a precedent of such high expenditure

About £400 each for Christmas on my teens but it’s a lot of practical stuff
Clothes, make up, skin care, nice stationary, new hairdryer etc
100-250 on birthdays as that tends to be something they really want rather than stuff they also need

About £200 on a birthday. Between £500 and £1000 on teens for Xmas. Far less for dc3 (6) as money obviously goes a lot further!

birthdays are much less, we do Christmas as a bigger family thing. We do £500 each roughly, with a “big” thing each.

About£150 birthdays and the same for Christmas. All children are adults and have now finally stopped Christmas Stocking presents!

What on earth do you buy a three year old that costs £500 ?
My granddaughter has a birthday close to Christmas and we struggle to buy presents for both occasions.

Really depends what they need / want birthday I keep to under £100 exc parties.

Christmas is more likely to blow the budget things like bikes, consoles or phones just isn't cheap