How much will you be spending this year on each DC?

[milk]

How much will you be spending this year on each DC? Do you think age matters when deciding how much to spend?

This year my budget for DS's present will be £15 (1.5yo). At the moment I don't see myself spending more as he gets older, as fortunately my parents spoil him with bigger gifts.

My strategy so far has been to buy one large toy present each - last year I spent about £50 on a second-hand bike for the 4 year old, and £10 on the 6 month old. Then around £15 on stockings, plus another parcel of clothes each to unwrap, and another of books. So 3 things to unwrap under the tree throughout the day and a stocking at the end of the bed for first thing in the morning. I think too many things can be a bit overwhelming for a young child, especially when they will get other gifts from grandparents and aunts and uncles.

I'll probably try to spend a similar amount this year - although I'll spend a bit more on the younger one. I wouldn't spend more than £50 each on the main present, while they're still little.

Young children don't know how much things cost anyway.

£200 on DD who will be nearly 4. But that is including a bike. The baby will only be around 2months old so we will prob set a budget of £100, spend whatever it costs on the toys for its first year (as it will have all year before its birthday comes around again) and then save whatevers left in an account for it.

Last year I only spent £150 on DD and it honestly looked like I had spent a third of that.

milk if people can afford to spend £400 on each child then why's that a problem? I rarely buy toys for my boys during the year so spend a fair bit at xmas to last the year. So I either buy the 3DS he desperately wants or I spend a bit less and disappoint him on xmas morning. So I'm going to put away as much as I can (which isn't a lot, believe me) and try to do some overtime. He'll also get PJs, a couple of bits and pieces and a stocking. Yes, kids shouldnt feel entitled to things and they need to learn not to get everything they ever want in life but sorry xmas just isn't the time for that - xmas is a magical time for kids and they don't believe in the magic for long.

I am the same as you milk we will be spending 10 on dc 2 who is a baby and 20 on dc 1 who is 4.

We will probably never spend more than 20 a year as they get stuff from others.

I truly hope no one thinks I am criticising anyone on this thread

I guess I could see myself spending more money in the future if it was for a specific toy, such as a bicycle or dolls house etc. I just don't get the whole "stack of presents" culture.

Hmm...I dont see it as competition, I see it as buying appropriate to age and budget.

No doubt when dd is 10,11 and asking for laptop or equivalent, I will if I can afford up my budget.

At one year old, in all seriousness, she will require very little.

I think SpansihFly raises a valid point too - in that how much do you spend on your kids during the rest of the year? If the only time they get toys and electrical goods is on their birthday or at Christmas you are going to spend a lot I'm sure, unless your kids are only playing with 1 10 quid toy ever. On the other hand I spend less than many people on this thread, but, for example, DD1 needed a new bike, she was just way too big for her current one, so we went an bought one. It wasn't new, but at the same time we didn't make her wait until December and then give it to her.

I need to work this out tbh, I aim for no more than £2/300 each. DC wil be 5, 4, and 5 months by christmas. However, I bargain hunt to death, so should the 'budget' be £200 cost price, or £200 value? At the minute i go for the cost price, but actual value of 'stuff' will be coming in at £4/500 due to discounts and simply buying at the right time...

They will get another each from my dad, Mil, and Fil, so that will be £150 each that i will use in the sales to replenish their wardrobes. Handful of gifts from my Sis each, (I do the same for Dn, around £20,) Then a few token gifts from friends.

I will also throw a simple kids Christmas party with a Santa, christmas crafts & party games, and christmas themed buffet fo the dc in our circle, just at the house, hardly costs anything but really good fun :)

(actually last years party cost me a carpet... fucking fake snow took the colour out of the bloody thing, but was fantastic having a conservatory full of snow!)

I'm reckoning on around £100 each (ds's will be 11 and 8). Ds1's birthday is 2 weeks before Christmas so that will probably be another £100 - December's an expensive month...

I always try to put away £100 a month from July each year - we have everyone round to ours on Christmas Day (11 in total) so although it's lovely and people do bring stuff, it still makes for a very expensive time!

For us it's the most money we spend on anything I think throughout the year, as we don't do big holidays etc. Just glad we've got enough money to put away to be able to do it - things are getting tighter but I've managed to do without July's £100 (sometimes it has to get transferred from savings back to current account ) so fingers crossed...

Probably £350-400 each. Their uncle (mybrother) always spoils them rotten too ( ipod touchs last year, laptops before that) and my parents always spend about£100 each too.
We do go a bit bonkers at Christmas

We spend rather a lot. I spent my formative years watching American films, with piles of presents under huge trees, and I think that left it's mark.

This year we'll be spending rather less, by virtue of the fact that our lot between them, already own things like scooters, DS consoles and every kind of art and craft set known to man.

We tend not to buy toys throughout the year though, so Christmas is really their only chance to ask for specific things.

Our lot all believe in Father Christmas, so when they write their letters, even a request for a small Lego set would probably blow a £20 limit out of the water.

I'm really not sure. Last year (thanks to a newly formed eBay habit) I went waaaay over the top - more with amount than price. So our main desire is just to cut down the number of presents. I got a little notebook where we are going to write everything down which should help us budget for future years.

About £100 each but that includes presents from 2 sets of grandparents and a godmother (as I buy for all). They will be 8 and 9.

Actually have no idea at all what to buy them this year. I look around and as far as I can see, they have everything.

We usually spend about £500-£600 on DD.

It may be a bit more this year though as she needs a new laptop for school work.

I know it's a lot of money but we only have DD and as long as we can afford it, we'll spend it

i spend a fair amount. i have 4 dc's but only buy toys/electricals for birthdays or christmas. i am also very good at bargain hunting so probably save as much as i spend. the boys both want netbooks so have set a budget for those of £200 each, then they will probably get another £100 on other bits and bobs. they are 13 and 11. the girls, i honestly have no idea. i have a notion of getting them a tv to share, but thats as far as i have got. probably less than the boys. they are 7 and 6.

No idea but not much. Have completely bolloxed myself with regard to Christmas. Both dds' birthdays are a day apart just after Christmas. And maternity leave will be over and not sure if I'll be able to afford to go back to work.

Anyway. I've been buying for dd1 over the year and I'll split the presents between Christmas and birthday. DD2 I don't know at all. We have all manner of toys from dd1 and it seems pointless to buy more just for the sake of it. She'll be a fortnight shy of one. She won't care will she?

About twice what we plan to, as usual. We budgeted £200 each last year and went waaaayy over budget because of a late entry to the list of iPod touch for each of them (2dcs).

I grew up in the 70s with regular working class parents - dad worked as a driver, mum in a shop. They never had much money, and we didn't get clothes, toys etc often throughout the year like kids do now, but my brother and I did have a fantastic Christmas with loads of presents. Not all mega expensive - far from it, except for the year my DB got an Atari console and I was . I guess that I try to give my DCs the kind of Christmas experience that we had.

I do feel a bit when I read on threads like this: 'I'm spending £10 each but the're getting a tangerine each and a new toothbrush.' I know Christmas is not about presents, but come on. I want my kids to have special memories of Christmas when they are older, and to us that means remembering where we went, what we did, who was there and what it was like seeing all the presents under the tree.

Milk, your use of the word "shocked" made me think you were slightly critical. Sorry.

Each to their own but kids should love xmas so I'm happy to spend a lot, even tho we're not "well off"

GWenlockMaryLacey , my youngest was 12 months last Christmas, and only recieved anything because the older ones would have wondered what was up if Father Christmas had forgotten!

When my PFB was 1, the house looked as though the man himself had crash landed in our sitting room .

I don't know how much we spend really. My kids get items during the year. And we get them what they ask for at Christmas. But they ask for silly things, like a joke set, whoopee cushion, DVD, chocolate etc. They are only 5&3. We make great memories with our Christmas elf throughout December too. I really think money in terms of value is irrelevant. If your children enjoy giving gifts and receiving whatever they get, I think that's better value. But people, in general, spend what they can afford, so there will always be a vast difference on either end of the earning spectrum. One family will spend £40 per child and another will spend £400. It really doesn't matter

I do go a bit crazy at Chistmas, it's my favourite time of year. We probably spend between £200-300 per dd, not including stockings. To be honest I spend as much as we can afford. I know Christmas isn't just about presents but if u can afford to spend more I don't understand why you wouldn't. dh would spend less but I can't help myself

My DC have a big present for birthdays and relatively small stuff (or shared presents) for Christmas. That's because I have 4 DC and big presents x 4 all at once for Christmas would be unaffordable. Birthday are spread throughout the year and it works better for us to make the birthday the big thing. Christmas is about £50 each and that includes the stocking stuff.

Anyway, when my DC were tiny, like yours, OP, I bought lots of things secondhand because they didn't mind/care/know. When they were tiny I didn't spend much but they still had quite a number of exciting presents to open.

Some of you are saying, I have bought such & such for so & so..... Are you talking about the Christmas coming up???? In 4 months?? Surely you're not that far-sighted?

Prob about £50 on DS who'll be 5 by Xmas. He's got his birthday first in October and has asked for a new t-shirt and some Sylvanian Families. I'll get him a small set for his birthday I think and if he likes it, maybe get him a bigger set for Xmas. Or if not, I'll probably get him some Lego. There's nothing big that he wants (so far anyway..) or needs this year so £50 will be plenty. And his dad and I separated earlier this year so he'll be getting two sets of presents..plus grandparents, aunts and uncles etc.

I'm picking up stocking fillers already as I see them. Oh and I'll be getting him new PJs for Xmas Eve which is not included in that total as he will need new PJs by then!

I think you can spend what you like but do think its a bit pointless when someone spends 100s on a little one that wont even remember it

My DS will be 8 this year. My budget for everything is usually £100 but he's been wanting skylanders since January and has said he's going to ask Santa for it. I think this year my budget will probably be a bit over that but less than £150.

I spent very little on him when he was a littly and agree at that age they don't notice anyway and are easily pleased.

I'm imagining it will be harder the older he gets to stay on a tight budget but as I'm on a tight budget myself he will simply have it explained to him that he can choose several medium priced things or one more expensive item.