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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Am I spending way too much on a 3yr old and a 1yr old???

43 replies

BebeBelge · 03/11/2011 03:52

I haven't actually bought anything yet but have put together a wishlist for dcs. It comes to £90 for dd (3.6yr) and £80 for ds (18 mo). This includes one big present from Santa (trike for ds & scooter for dd) and one big present from Mummy & Daddy, and the rest is stocking fillers - books, dvd, puzzle & soft toy each. I will also spend a little extra for wee stuff for the stockings like stickers/choc coins etc. so no more than a few more pounds each.

Have i got totally carried away?? I thought I was being restrained but DH seems a little shocked (we can afford it though). I have friends with similar aged dcs but would feel funny asking them how much they're spending. Would love some perspective on what's normal?

Thanks!

OP posts:

Slightlyreluctantexpat · 03/11/2011 04:17

I don't think you have got totally carried away but you could spend far less, seeing as at that age they have no idea how much anything costs.

When my first two DCs were that age I bought a lot of second-hand toys.

Now, I try to set a limit of fifty pounds per child at Christmas - including stockings. I have four teenagers. The bigger presents are given at birthdays. That is what I think I do but often it creeps up to the 70 mark. If I had only two DCs I think I would set the budget a little higher.

My point is that your DCs are fairly unaware of the cost of things at the moment so fob them off with cheap things for as long as you can!

Original poster

BebeBelge · 03/11/2011 04:27

Yeah, I think you are right about them not knowing the cost of things and the thought of Christmas wth teenagers does freak me out a little! Need to start saving now! I haven't tried the second hand route but that's a good idea. I'll check out ebay later! Thanks for your reply!

I think us expats are the only ones awake right now!

OP posts:

savoycabbage · 03/11/2011 04:36

The year I bought my dd a wooden kitchen was the year that her favourite present was a triangle. Of the musical instrument variety. The year I bought her a playmobil castle her favourite present was a bouncy ball with glitter in.

Slightlyreluctantexpat · 03/11/2011 04:41

Hi bebebelge. Yep, it's lunchtime with me! And savoy, indeed one cannot predict what toy will hit the spot (but it is often not the biggest one).

Original poster

BebeBelge · 03/11/2011 04:51

It's so hard to be restrained, isn't it? I know Christmas isn't all about gifts but we have had a tough year and I feel so blessed to have my 2 kids and I can't help wanting to spoil them a bit. Have been looking on ebay but no joy so far. The particular things I want don't seem to be around 2nd hand yet

OP posts:

Slightlyreluctantexpat · 03/11/2011 04:56

I know many people would spend far more than this. Bump your post again in the UK morning. People will say that 80/90 pounds is nothing! I think I am quite mean as far as Christmas presents go.

pinkytheshrunkenhead · 03/11/2011 05:08

I have to say I think it is too much. I have found in the past that the worse I felt the more I spent on my children. This may not be the case for you but you put that it had been a hard year and in my own experience in the worse years of my life (when my marriage broke up for instance and when I was horribly poor) I got them the most things.

This year my children are getting a big pressie each and a lovely stocking and I really am trying to keep it all quite frugal. Strangely I can afford to buy them an awful lot more but I don't feel I am doing them a favour by inundating them with stuff.

nooka · 03/11/2011 06:10

I think with really young children you want to watch the volume as it can quite easily be overwhelming for them. One big present each, two or three tree presents to unwrap and a few silly things in the stocking (plus new jammies to go with the stuffy and/or a new outfit for Christmas Day is always nice). Will they also be getting presents from family? The other thing that I really enjoy is getting the children to find or make presents for other people. Some of my happiest Christmas moments have come from small children wildly excited about their presents being opened. One year my small niece was so excited that she told my mother long before opening time about the wooden spoon she'd bought for her

But I suspect there are lots of people who give their children tons more presents and spend a lot more money. We almost certainly overdo Christmas as a compensation for being abroad.

olibeansmummy · 03/11/2011 06:17

That doesn't sound too much at all, and it's not tat it's stuff they'll get loads of use out of all year :)

Bellavita · 03/11/2011 06:26

If you can afford it, why not?

mumblecrumble · 03/11/2011 06:34

I think that sounds lovely - some people would buy scooter and trike during the year so great idea for Xmas! I think that sounds spot on :) ALso, they are your kids and its your money, don;t be woprrying wwhat people think.

bunnyspoiler · 03/11/2011 07:05

That sounds fine to me. It's not so much the amount spent that overwhelms kids but the volume of stuff, and what you have bought isn't a lot of things at all.

maxybrown · 03/11/2011 11:03

Well we prob spend maximum, absolutely of £50 atm. DS is 4 but tbh we prob don't spend that much. So far he has a MASSIVE MASSIVE bundle of lego bought off gumtree for £20 and some Thomas DVDs that were £15. He has a stocking too, will prob cost between £5 and £10 for that, not sure we will get him anything else,but we buy second hand as much as possible, esp whilst he is little. But then he LOVES car boots and charity shops

poorbuthappy · 03/11/2011 11:06

Sounds about right, we are spending similar amounts.
I almost fell off my chair when 1 of my friends made the offhand comment
"christmas is a grand whichever way you do it"!!!!!!

jester68 · 03/11/2011 11:20

Sounds fine to me. My eldest will be nearly 6 at Christmas and we have spend around £150 on her. This includes new outfit for Xmas day. Plus pyjamas, new toothbrush, hairbands/clips, Disney DVD's, dressing gown, character socks etc.

My youngest will be 19 months old. We have spent about £100.00 on her including Outfit, pyjamas, new coat, socks etc.

WhatWouldLeoDo · 03/11/2011 12:01

Sounds fine to me. I don't think there is a 'right' amount to spend on Christmas - it really depends on your circumstances, whether you can afford it, whether you'd be likely to buy things like bikes/scooters/books/puzzles at other times of the year, what the norm is in your family, if you're including things you'd buy anyway (pi's, vest and pants, slippers etc),how much they're getting elsewhere, what you're likely to spend on birthdays etc.

We spent a LOT on DS last year but that was because his main present was a fairly expensive wooden kitchen which I was happy to pay more for because it had longer term play value. I tend to spend a lot less on him at his birthday.

Don't worry too much what everyone else is doing - it varies so much! I have a friend who only spends about £20, but then their DC gets big things like scooters, bikes, kitchens etc from GPs. Neither my parents or PIL's would spend that much.

kmdwestyorks · 03/11/2011 12:11

if you can afford it and you know they'll enjoy it, or you could get family to go halves if you're worried about costs. My dd has one main present which is a joint present from us and her auntie that came in at £80, so £40 for us and her. Then we've done the stocking and other stuff she needs on top

Original poster

BebeBelge · 03/11/2011 13:55

Thanks for the replies everyone! I think I will go ahead and buy my list but try and find the 'big' pressies second-hand if I can. I want to spoil them, but not have them be spoilt iyswim? Just want to get the balance right. Thanks again!

OP posts:

Raven78 · 03/11/2011 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flubba · 03/11/2011 19:49

OMG I am mean! I've bought DD1 a small art glitter making thingy and DD2 a small toy microwave (each under a tenner), will add a few of my homemade things and a few silly stocking fillers. They are 4 and 3. DS will be 11m and will get a couple of silly things (probably just for his sisters to unwrap for him).

I am mean, aren't I?

maxybrown · 03/11/2011 19:53

Bebe you sound level headed about it all I really wouldn't worry. We don't spend much on DS at Christmas really but he does get things things through the year too - nothing major and again mostly second hand, but things all the same! Sometimes if he wants something, we say he has to sell something he has as one, he can't have everything and two he need to make space etc etc and then he can have the money from that to buy said item. if he doesn't want to do that well then he doesn't get it! He is 4 btw

No you are not mean Flubba in any way at all. we should d what WE think not what gives us a guilt trip. i know some people would be horrified at us buying second hand as gifts, i do not care a jot! There is no way in the workld DS could have the lego unless it was second hand - there is tons and tons of it for £20 which is prob new the best part of £200

TheHappyCamper · 03/11/2011 20:00

I think it sounds like a good amount of presents if you can afford the £90. It's not tat either!

For DD (2.7) we have got her a wooden dolls house and furniture set £49 then all sorts of bits and bobs like gruffalo notebook & toothbrush, tiny digger, socks, new peppa pig wellies, more train track (IKEA), chocolates, bubble bath, book - that comes to about £30.

She'll get quite a few presents off family as well but these will hopefully be spread out over about 5 days. Last year she was overwhelmed after opening about 3 presents so we saved the rest until tea time. We'll do this again this year I think.

Maybe you could try doing the same? (especially for your 1 year old)

TheHappyCamper · 03/11/2011 20:02

Oh and I meant to say she told me what she was wanting off Father Christmas - a shiny little pink bouncy ball in a blue bag

I suspect this might cost about £1.50 and will be loved more than the dolls house!

IveGotTightsOlderThanYouLove · 03/11/2011 20:07

You're being more restrained than I am (and I can't afford it!)

RosemaryandThyme · 03/11/2011 20:12

ASDA are clearing out their toys today and Friday ( play Kitchen reduced to £12, Megablocs 200 pcs £12, Cars and race track half price, might be worth a look).
Also skip the TRIKE for your 18 month old - they are tricky to carry when child is fed-up with it and very few children can effectively peddle them - by the time they can they may as-well have a bike with stabalisers.

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