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Christmas

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Original poster

Christmas presents how much do you spend on DC?

162 replies

Adelecarberry87 · 10/12/2015 10:12

A friendly debate - when do you think you've bought enough?
I make sure both DC have the same spent on them but DS is 7 , DD is 2. The amount of presents DD is considerably larger to DS. Even though they have had equal amounts spent on them. I still feel like i haven't got them enough dispite DH saying they have enough.

OP posts:
jamtartandcustard · 10/12/2015 10:27

2 main gifts equal to £60 (so a £10 and a £50, or two £30 presents etc). 5 items of clothing (2 tops, 2 bottoms and a jumper. price is variable there, clothes for an 11 year old are more expensive then a 3 year old). a pair of nice pj's (£10-£20). selection box - all get the same.
stockings - socks, pants/knickers etc. all supermarket items. 1 stocking filler roughly £10. one stocking filler roughly £2. then chocolate - all equal value.
it probably doesn't sound like a lot but we will have 5 dc's (hopefully! 39 weeks preg!) so there will be a massive pile of presents under the tree! plus they already have loads of toys that they love and really don't need anymore.

Alibabsandthe40Musketeers · 10/12/2015 10:34

Roughly £150 on each child - they have one main present each, and quite a large shared present.

Then some books, and a stocking which normally costs about £20 to put together.

Why do you feel you haven't got them enough? If they are going to get something that want there is no point buying a big pile of random stuff as well.

Hatethis22 · 10/12/2015 10:35

I go for balance. I make sure they get what they absolutely must have and that they have a similar number of larger and smaller gifts to unwrap. I wouldn't feel I needed to spend the same amount of money on a 2 year old and a 7 year old any more than I'd feel bound to spend the same amount on a 7 year old and a 12 year old. Older children's toys tend to be more expensive.

WhirlwindHugs · 10/12/2015 10:36

£60 each in total this year.

Generally try and make it the same number of parcels also.

WhirlwindHugs · 10/12/2015 10:37

Ours are all quite similar in age so not too tricky to spend the same. If we're going to do a big gift we do it for their birthday.

BlueBananas · 10/12/2015 10:38

I don't go by price, I just make sure everybody has the same amount of parcels to open
Kids don't understand nor care about prices

Boutonneux · 10/12/2015 10:39

I don't tend to have a budget really, it depends on what they want and how much I can afford. They're 15 and 20 so money doesn't go as far as it did when they were little.

I've had a good few months at work and just received a nice bonus so I've spend more this year than the last few. In fact I think I might have got too much, I'm considering putting some away actually until next year Confused but then not sure if that's silly...

LizKeen · 10/12/2015 10:44

We have a budget of £300 each. Though we really struggled to spend that on the 3 year old, but she has the same "amount" of presents as the eldest so we aren't too bothered about not spending the same. Once she is a bit older it will be equal money wise.

None of the presents are things they need really, just toys and things they have asked for. They don't get toys through the year, so Christmas and birthdays are a splurge. Plus I get so much pleasure picking and buying all the things I think they will love that its just as much for my benefit as it is theirs. :o

Raxacoricofallapatorius · 10/12/2015 10:53

Dd's present was £30, DS's was £20 and their stockings were probably under £7.50 each. Plus a few charity shop books and some Christmas Eve treats. They also get a gift from Father Christmas which costs around £10. Quite a lot when you add it up!

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 10/12/2015 11:04

Just did a quick tot up and it comes to £42 for DS (3) and £7 for his baby sister. I got loads of good stuff for that though. Feeling very thrifty now Grin
We're a buy-for-the-adults family with a large amount of in laws so can't afford a lot for the kids. Relatives buy for them too so it all evens out.

Holstein · 10/12/2015 11:09

What bluebananas said.
I try to keep same number (and size!) of parcels. That's all mine would be bothered about.
Cost varies, I've no compunctions about spending less if money's tight.

Holstein · 10/12/2015 11:10

That sounds incredibly smug- sorry, my children only asked for one thing each this year, and it was the same item!

TheHouseOnTheLane · 10/12/2015 11:29

I'm interested in how MANY gifts people have for their DC?

OliviaDunham · 10/12/2015 11:42

How do people spend £60? I'm guessing it's for little kids? My 3 have the same budget, about £200 each, but the amount of parcels varies.

pippinsfriend · 10/12/2015 11:51

About £100 each

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 10/12/2015 11:52

OK TheHouseOnTheLane:

DS has 10 things from us (Three toy dinosaurs, storybook, wall chart, sticker book, foam sword, wooden robot and monster figures, new dinosaur onesie, glider). The most expensive thing is £15, the cheapest is under a pound.

DD (8mnths) is getting one- ELC sensory balls.

They will be getting loads from relatives as well. DS in particular is in for a very good haul Grin

TheSecondViola · 10/12/2015 11:56

More on the older ones, less on the younger ones. They don't know or really care about the value of things if they get what they personally want. Plus anyone who dared to complain about the relative prices of gifts would soon find their gifts taken back and sent to less fortunate children!
In age order then, approx €250 dc1, then dc2 about 200, dc3 about 100, and dc4 about 40.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 10/12/2015 12:01

Olivia £60 is loads for littlies. You can get some great stuff for a couple of pounds or less.
This year my top buy was a very handsome foam pirates sword- £3.99 from Smyth's toys.
You can get books and craft supplies from pound land. Hawkers Bazarre has stocking fillers for literally pennies.
I spent £££ on posh Shliech dinosaurs but found out later I could have got similar in Aldi.

Ninkynonkrinkydonk · 10/12/2015 12:04

There's a ten year age gap between mine and I don't set a budget or try to make it equal. I just buy what I think they'll like. It's not about cash value of stuff for them. I spent about £300 on ds1 I think and half that on ds2. Ds1's stuff just happens to be more expensive.

OliviaDunham · 10/12/2015 12:04

Unlimited that's what I was meaning, it's a lot for little ones, but the ages weren't stated. Mine are 12, 10 & 6 and I would struggle, more so with the older 2, it would only be 2 or 3 things - a PS4 game is between £30-£50

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 10/12/2015 12:12

Agree Olivia They do get more expensive tastes as they get older.
I'm really relishing this innocent time where they are so easily impressed. I know it won't last!

hampsterdam · 10/12/2015 12:16

About 120 on ds this year, main present about 60, then books, a bag, little bits and what he asked for from santa. He will have pj's to open Xmas eve. I don't buy clothes as presents to open on the day. He will have about 8 parcels to open.

ohtheholidays · 10/12/2015 12:20

5DC DS19,DS17,DS14,DD12 and DD8.£450 on each.

That's all they're presents,stockings,some vouchers for after Christmas,clothes,PJ's,shoes/boots.

vickibee · 10/12/2015 12:29

there is a lady in the news today who has spent £1,500on her kids. I have only one Dc and send about £200. Buy lots of small bits so he has loads to rip open

mrsdavegrohl · 10/12/2015 12:55

Roughly £100-150 on the little ones (3&6) and a bit more on the eldest who is 19