DD1 is 7 (march birthday) and has been asking for an ipad mini for months now. I have explained to her that if she wants it for Christmas that she can but that will be it. MY budget per child is maximum of £250 (I have 4 dc). I can get this in budget as have JL discount so would leave about £15 to buy a couple of extra bits.
My question is does that seem really mean?
She would get the stocking which we say is rom father Christmas for the younger ones and mummy and daddy buy the other presents and fc delivers them. The stocking contains small items such as xmas socks, stickers, chocolate lollipop, pens pencils, maybe a magazine or small book.
She will also get lots of presents from relatives and friends.
My main concern is that it wont look much when her older brothers and younger sister are opening probably twice as many presents. the boys will have 5 or 6 presents, ps3 games, Hollister/superdry etc hoodie as they are teens and her sister is younger and so has a dolls pram baby annabell, garage with cars.
Is she old enough to understand or should I break the budget and spend £30-40 on other stuff she loves such as a handbag, purse, monster high doll.
The budget is there for fairness not for affordability, also I am not comfortable with spending thousands on each child for no reason other than its Christmas.
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Ipad mini and nothing else?
Dontletthemgetyoudown · 23/10/2013 12:27
Im often told my budget per child is small? Ragwort. I think its a large budget although doesn't go far with teens/older ones. Usually for the girls, who this year are 7 and 4 I get away with spending far less.
I've picked up a coupld of pieces in saisnburys half prie toy sale a sparkly crown for 99p, princess necklace nd clip on earrings 99p, monster high doll set for £11, moshi monsters tin for £4, so even without selling her ds or ipod touch im just about on budget as JL discount is 12.5% on electricals.
One down 3 to go 
thanks everyone, and especially for the advice re the longevity of the older ipad mini.
There is a huge range of budgets for Christmas presents on mumsnet and I guess if something is miles out of your own league that it can either appear over generous or miserly - obviously without knowing someone's individual circumstances it is best not to comment.
Personally I would feel uncomfortable spending more than £50-75 on my DS's Christmas presents (he is 12) - its not that we can't afford it, but it is not how we choose to spend our money. But that's a decision that suits our family and as long as no one gets into debt it shouldn't be an issue. 
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