Page 2 | How many presents do your kids get

lemonbonbon35 · 2014-10-05T11:18:15+00:00

Hi all just wondering hpw many presents your kids get at christmas off you and how many alltogether including from other people. How much do you spend on each kids presents too? Thanks xx

sillymillyb · 05/10/2014 20:09

I spent about £400 last year and it was ridiculous, ds was totally overwhelmed and it took about a fortnight for him to open everything.

I've cut back massively this year and have got him 4 games he REALLY wants, some books and then his stocking.

He will get some small presents off gp, but his father and I aren't together and he is buying him an iPad apparently (ds is 2.5)

MidnightDinosaur · 05/10/2014 20:54

We don't really have a set amount of money for each child. They do have a set amount of presents though.

They get stocking and one present each and one joint present from Father Christmas. Then 5 presents from us (some thing they want, need, wear, read plus 1 extra) Also one each from grandma's x2 and 1x Aunty (if she remembers to order)

So a stocking, 8/9 presents and a joint present. We do spend a bit more on their stockings though as they are from Father Christmas. So books, wooden puzzles, craft kits, science kits, schleich figures and die cast trains, new rash vests & sun hats (summer here at christmas) as well as the giant golden chocolate coin and the Orange.

This seems plenty at their age (4 and 5) and they really enjoy what they get.

We did go way ott one year and it was a disaster. They were so overwhelmed with it all, presents were left unopened, toys scattered around and none actually being played with a major tantrums all day. We soon learnt to keep it simple.

TheHouseonHauntedHill · 05/10/2014 21:12

I dont know, I have an idea what to get then try and get it for as cheaply as possible, look at various sites, sales and so on.

I also am not averse to getting from charity, car boot, freecyle.

So I don't really have a budget...or present limit but there needs to be some spread under the tree.

I have to admit though buying cheaper things is becoming more challenging now dc are older.

HOWEVER family do not spoil our dc with gifts so it is down to us to buy. its a small family.

VinoTime · 05/10/2014 21:40

I'm already up to £180 for dd (14 presents) and £20.00 for her stocking (17 bits and pieces). Still a ways to go yet

306235388 · 06/10/2014 00:19

My kids get as much as we can afford and as much as they will use.

The year before last we only used the first maxim and it was a disaster we spent way too much , the kids were overwhelmed and stuff got opened then forgotten about. Doesn't help that ds's birthday is. 23/12.

Both kids get a stocking from Santa and a big present from Santa - this isn't always big cash wise just the thing they've asked for the most ( eg probably fifa 15 for Ds which is £25) then they get some more presents but only things I know they will really use , appreciate and like . On Christmas Eve they get PJs, DVD , snacks, reindeer food etc.

They also get a huge present from my mum who goes overboard, about £75 from in laws and then quite a bit from ALOT of aunties and uncles. However , now the kids are 4 and 7. I'm trying to steer then towards craft stuff for dd, experiences (eg tickets), after school clubs, cinema vouchers etx ,

We've put a lot of effort into decluttering the past year and it is NOT going to be in vain.

Our kids get quite a bit more for Christmas than birthday and I have to say they have never once remarked on it or been disappointed on their birthday. When they're little at least I think mostly they get excited about the magic of it all and everyone being involved and family time etc. At least, I hope that's what my kids enjoy . I know if I asked them for Xmas memories they wouldn't talk about presents they'd talk about visiting family, christingle , watching Xmas DVDs, making decorations etc and we are by no means a Walton type family with angelic kids!!!

WalkingWolf · 06/10/2014 09:41

My DC are 3 and 1. Although I could afford a lot more, I will only be spending about £100ish (£50
Each) as they had far too many presents last year and I just think it's excessive. Tbh they have so many toys that's I'm struggling to think of anything to get them.

User100 · 07/10/2014 15:48

I've had a budget of £100 each in previous years (dc are 5,2, 5 months) but I think I've usually gone over. I'm also quite good at getting bits cheap / second hand so they usually end up with tonnes. This year I'm cutting back big time. It's too much. They don't play with it all, too much to open on one day and too much to store.

We cut down for ds's birthday this year and it worked much much better. So going to try and really hold back for things they'll love only, no crap just because.

Seems to be a lot of us in the same mind set, maybe we need a support thread? :)

Rumandcokeplease · 07/10/2014 15:57

My two are 2.5 and 1 and I have probably spent around £120 in total, that includes clothes. They've got hell of a lot tho I think really as I've bought pretty much everything from ebay so have only spent 1/3 of what things would cost in the shops.

FixItUpChappie · 07/10/2014 16:04

Oh I go overboard but am totally fine with it. They only get gifts at Brithdays and Christmas so by winter I'm chomping at the bit to get some new things. This year our eldest son is 4 and has moved into a whole new type of toy - father christmas will be quite generous.

I'd say overall though the layout look something like this:
1 x "big" gift from mom and dad. (ie. a playmobile castle)
1 x "large-ish" gift from Santa. (ie. a scooter)
1 x medium gift from mom and dad (ie. a duplo set)
1-2 x medium gifts from Santa (ie. a board game and maybe an action figure)
1 x medium gift from sibling (ie. a truck)
and a bunch of small gifts from Santa in and around the stocking. (ie hotwheels cars, a bath toy, a DVD, a playmobile accessory etc).

Plus my brother will get each one toy. My husbands side will get them clothes if anything. My mother though goes way OTT - I do wish she would scale it back so that WE, the parents, don't have to.

enormouse · 07/10/2014 16:37

DS1 (3 in a few weeks) will get a small scrambler motorbike for his birthday (around £50) so that's his big present for this year.

For Christmas he'll get 3 medium sized things - a little jcb, a toy tool box and a drill and then a stocking with around 10 things in it - books, penny toys, a few sweets, corgi cars, socks etc. I've budgeted around £50-£60. I'm hoping I can bring it in for less. He is mostly sorted though.

DS2 (9 months) is a little harder to buy for as he has a lot of larger things from DS1 so he'll probably just get a stocking. I'm thinking board books, bath toys and a few happyland figures. I'm aiming at around £40-£50.

I'm trying to go for restraint this year and not overwhelming them with stuff.

lurkerspeaks · 07/10/2014 17:14

One big present and some smaller mostly useful presents in our household. I hate present overload and am well aware of friends buying stuff for their DC to even up the piles or amounts spent.

The small/useful presents will almost inevitably include stuff they would have got anyway - new PJs, toiletries etc, maybe a book and the craft supplies always get topped up too.

Big present budget depends on need eg. New bike year costs more than when only a board /computer game is asked for. It all evens out over the long term though.

We have a small family but grandparents and aunts/uncles will add one present each budget between 20-50quid. We do lists too so they usually get something they want.

In case this all seems a little parsimonious we do buy presents through the year too as and when it they are needed but comparisons at school do always make our household look relatively underprivileged.

disneymum3 · 07/10/2014 17:25

My 3DC get:

1 main gift from us and 1 main gift from Santa (costing upto £100 for both per child)
A Santa sack each with stocking fillers in (costing upto £70 each)
A stocking full of chocolate (costing up to £20 each)
They then also get a present from there siblings (costing upto £20 each)

And about 10 presents from family members

JerseySpud · 07/10/2014 17:26

I have to admit the amount ive got for what ive spent is loads. But i have no issue with mine having loads as i dont buy anything for the sake of it or because it looks cool. i take the lead on what they use/play with through the year and then buy what i think will go down well.

zobey · 07/10/2014 22:28

My lo usually gets massive amounts spent on her in excess of 1000! This year the bill is at around 735 before I get her clothes and her dressing up outfits and accessories. She's not got half as much. I doubt it will even fill under the tree! But the difference is that in the last two years she's had mainly 2nd hand toys this year at 3 years old she wants barbies and they are more expensive so she's got less.

nic013 · 07/10/2014 23:03

Yay. Love Christmas! We have one child and we spend approximately £30 pounds on his present, which will normally be lego or train stuff. In addition to this, I will make him a few cuddly toys. He would have extra stuff in his stocking which would be a mixture of sweets and handmade stuff so the total money spent, including the main presents and stocking stuff would be about £40

TheFantasticMrsFox · 08/10/2014 07:23

no idea really......
DS is an only child and an only grandchild so can err towards being spoilt very easily
This year we said not too much as he's going skiing with the school at Easter for a frightening amount of money. He was happy with that and several of his presents will also be skiing related- stuff I would have to have bought anyway but which can pad out the pile.
We also don't spend a lot throughout the year aside from birthdays so it probably equals itself out over the 12 months :)

stargirl1701 · 08/10/2014 07:26

From us, four:

Something you want,
Something you need,
Something to wear,
Something to read.

One from Father Christmas plus stocking.

We try to buy second hand as much as possible as a general rule.

Godparents and grandparents give gifts too so each child has 4 gifts in addition to what we provide.

sandgrown · 08/10/2014 07:36

Sweetsomething I am seriously impressed that you have a spreadsheet for your son's Christmas presents!

Altinkum · 08/10/2014 08:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

marne2 · 08/10/2014 08:05

Those of you spending around £1000 and not having much to show for it, what are you actually buying? I have never spent more than £200 and it fills our living room, I don't by cheap tat either and if I buy clothes it's usually good brands. I'm spending around £200 on dd1 this year and it won't look much but if I spent another £100 I could probably fill the room like previous years , I love Christmas but previous years have got out of hand with the amount of stuff bought.

dustybinlydia · 08/10/2014 15:40

This is ds' 1st Christmas. He will be 10 months old. We have got him about 25 presents. None of them are big, expensive presents, they are just nice little things I can see him getting a lot of fun out of. For example a toy picnic set, wooden bricks, plastic zoo animals and a set of skittles.

Due to how we are celebrating Christmas this year, he will be opening these presents over the course of 2 days, so I don't think he will find it an overwhelming amount.

I am happy with what he has got present-wise now I think.

VikingLady · 08/10/2014 16:28

Christ, I feel tight! DD (2.5) is getting one present from us for Christmas, and that isn't costing us anything! She's getting my old Sindy house and everything for it, so dolls, clothes etc. she'll love it!

MIL will get her a £25 trampoline that we know she'll use but will probably buy her loads of broken plastic tat from charity shops. DM is buying her first grown-up bed.