How much do you spend on the children?

[weaselsquirrel]

Before joining mumsnet I thought most people spent £100s on each of their children, but now I'm noticing threads which are making me think dh is right and I go over the top. So without wanting to cause an argument, do you have a set amount?

LadyFlumpalot Please don't be . We are on a tight budget too this year, and they will have about £25 between the 3 of them & I have another £25 put aside towards food.
I have had a few truly lovely people in my life recently, and I feel Christmas will be a great day. Its not the money, its the experiences. As long as the dc have a few presents to open, everyone will be happy

Am aware I'm babbling a bit. I hope I'm making sense?

My dc are 2 and 4. They have had around £100 each this year purely because I saved all year. This is the first year I've saved and not put on the credit card, so I feel really pleased for planning in advance and probably bought more than they need because it was "allowed" from my savings (park vouchers). They will also be given money from grandparents which I will swap for present I've already bought so they don't end up with loads and loads.

I've also increased my vouchers for next year as dh and I aren't buying each other presents this year because we're trying not to spend too much money (credit cards cut up earlier in the year so we can't over spend any more) so it'll be nice to buy each other something next year

Have only just started my Christmas shopping but will probably spend around £80-100 on each daughter (17 months and 4). We could afford to spend more but they don't really need anything big this year and that should give them plenty to open.

Oldest son who is 22 about £300 (most prob more as hes getting driving lessons)
Youngest who is 13 approx £350
Foster child who is 1 approx £250

Thats not counting stocking fillers/sweets/clothes as still need to get them.

None of them get bought much throughout the year unless its really needed.

I had always spent around £50 on my own children until we became foster carers. Then we were told that we had to spend £150 per child on the fostered children. I thus increased the amount I spent on my own children to around £100 (they are now adults) and it has stayed at that.

I don't spend a set amount... I just think about what I want to buy so it massively varies.

This year is a bit crazy because we bought DD1 an iPad, Disney infinity and loads of characters, all the frozen dolls big and small, and went to Florida last month so bought back 2 big suitcases of stuff for her. Then there's the list stuff she's actually asked for which is an extra £200 or so...

Maybe a thousand pounds on her. Probably 3-4 hundred on DD2.

Next year in going to spend less because the pile is ridiculously enormous and I'm feeling a bit weird about it actually...

My friends little girl was looking at getting nothing this year, so I gave them our Snow Glow Elsa. Then I looked at the bank statement for my DD's and felt like a prize dick.

What a lovely thing you did curious, I bet you will make that little girls day

This year, it's about £120 on DS, most of that on a Lego remote control train. I've spent £300 on DD but £200 of that was on a musical instrument we were going to have to buy for her anyway. That's a lot for us. It's normally around the £100 mark for both of them.

It depends on how much I can afford. This year I have spent 420ish on each child including dsd although I have now separated from her father so not sure how Christmas day will pan out there. I know her dad hasn't bought anything so he will probably bring her to mine and she can open the presents that Santa has left here.

That probably makes me sound like a mug but I am just glad we will get to spend some of Christmas with her still and I can't imagine suddenly treating her differently.

I've only spent about £20-25 each on their main presents (DD - 5 and DS - 1). Not because I'm a tight arse or because we can't afford more, but because I had things in mind that I wanted to get them and pounced when I saw them on sale. We're not quite at that stage yet of having a list and expecting to get things, and DD doesn't seem to have expensive tastes.

I'm sure we'll spend far more in future years so I'm quite happy to get them inexpensive presents this year and keep the money in our savings account in readiness

These threads make my teeth itch

Oh dear dave - why not try ignoring them then? That might help.

We've spent £75 on DD (3)

That's £40 on stuff from us and £35 on her Father Christmas stocking.

Older kids £100 all in and younger kids £60 all in

Dds are adults so probably about 300 on each which includes things like perfume and theatre tickets.
Ds is 12 and probably 200 on him.
We have had many many years when we have been unable to so this so its nice to be able to this year. They also all make gifts for each other - Ds will make sweets or cookies and the girls do photo montages for each other. They also love making Christingles out of oranges and going carol singing with the Salvation Army so its not all about being grabby!

This year between 200-300 each

Dc are nearly 7, nearly 2 and 5 years old

LittleRobots, you mentioned feeling sad that some children don't get treats throughout the year in favour of a big blowout at Christmas - I don't know if that was in response to my post about not buying things throughout the year or just a coincidence, but in case it was the former, DS gets plenty of treats throughout the year, we just don't buy him toys etc. we have lots of days out, holidays etc. he's not short of treats by any stretch. He also gets a fairly modest amount in pocket money which he uses to save up for things throughout the year, and is lucky enough to have a summer birthday .

It looks like it will be around
£175 - DC1 (5)
£125 - DC2 (3)
£50 - DC3 (1)

Last year we spent too much. They didn't want to open it all. Last year we spent about £250/£300 on the elder two. We won't do that again until they are a lot older.

Around £250 - dd is our only so not multiple expense and her bd is Christmas as well. She will be 5 - major present iPad mini at £149. Then party dress and couple of small things - oh and a hundred squinkies and a stretchkin she begged for

We spend £500 on each of our 3dds they are 11,9 and 2, we then buy them a surprise at £200 each and £40 on chritmas eve hamper, i find they are pretty average here.

none of that is including pantos, grottos, christmas part outfits etc.

I daren't say!

£54 on DS (2).
He gets a lot from family though

We'll probably spend another £100 on food and loads on presents for other relatives