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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:
Original poster
Adelecarberry87 · 11/12/2015 10:09

Libindious Turkey. I got majority of DD presents on black friday but i just count the value of what i spent rather than the price it would of been of any other day. The stuff i wanted for DS wasn't really on offer but still got afew bits for him in the sale. I always shop around to get the best price. My parents always spent equal amounts on us and still does even our DPs get the same as me and my siblings and all GKs get slightly more but the same as each other. I think this why i have always kept a record of what i've spent on each. I think it stemed from.my DF childhood his parents debilerately spent more on his DB and DS so he wanted to ensure we all the same.

OP posts:
BaronessEllaSaturday · 11/12/2015 10:20

The two eldest are getting very big ticket items this year I will not be matching it for the younger 2 this year but it's swings and roundabouts their turn will come one day, last year it happened to be the youngest who had the most spent on them but again it was due to buying something that the others have already got. I try to keep things fair but that doesn't mean they are always equal mostly because the age range means what is suitable for 1 isn't for another

Bumpsadaisie · 11/12/2015 10:38

Mine are 6 and 4. We set a budget, and that is how we know when we have "bought enough". We are spending £60 each on them (includes £10 on stocking).

fuzzpig · 11/12/2015 15:47

I've just messed about with my spreadsheet and added up the individual DCs' presents, and was surprised there was only £8 difference. £133 for DD, £125 for DS. And another £124 on things to share (mostly instruments and books). That includes everything like stocking fillers and Xmas eve PJs, but I've not included a board game that is a family present (Christmas tradition - DH and I take turns to choose it) even though hopefully they will enjoy that too if it's not too complicated for them.

I'm quite pleased with that, as I'm confident that what I've got will be well used throughout the year.

Not quite done yet though. Xmas Hmm Problem is, now that I've added it up, I'm kind of thinking oh it's not as bad as I thought, so I WILL get those last few bits I was thinking of... Xmas Blush and boom, that'll be another £30-50 gone...

fuzzpig · 12/12/2015 11:45

I quite like this picture I saw on facebook once - kind of demonstrates how spending the same on everyone isn't necessarily the best thing :)

Christmas presents how much do you spend on DC?
Buttons23 · 12/12/2015 11:54

£70 for 2 year old ds. Retail value was over £150 so he has a fair amount for the money. Most of it is in Christmas sack, apart from his Woody toy story doll which is in special paper and is from Santa.

Sallystyle · 12/12/2015 12:45

This year it will be around £200 each (5 children)

Two DD's have 12 presents each. I did not try to make it equal, it just turned out that way. DS 14 only has two presents from us to open.

I never feel like I have enough. 12 presents for a nearly 7 and 9 year old should be fine, but I never ever feel I have enough. I need to get over that. My mum used to feel the same but I always thought we had loads for Xmas.

I happily spend more on one than the other if I think it is appropriate. My app tells me how many presents everyone has.

afreshstartplease · 12/12/2015 12:49

300 each ages 2,6 and nearly 8

Little one looks like they have a lot more than the older ones but their presents cost more per item

FuckyNell · 12/12/2015 12:56

I spend loads as usual then hope my dh bonus in March covers our mahoosive credit card bill

madmotherof2 · 12/12/2015 13:03

Roughly £200 each. This year they are sharing a PS4 so they've also got a few individual bits

DS2 will look like he has more than DS1 as he's still into toys whereas DS1 would prefer clothes, which cost considerably more.

Ds1 has about 6 presents to open and DS2 11.

I've spent abit more this year, DS2 is undergoing chemotherapy at the moment so I wanted to spoil them a little Blush
They'll have a little stocking ( but I don't know what'll be in it yet!! )

TweeterandtheMonkeyman · 12/12/2015 13:18

About £70 -80 on each. They are 3 and 6. We could afford to spend more but I think I over-did it last year, and as usual the smaller, cheaper stocking fillers were the big hits. I expect the cost will go up as they get older though.

I am finding this thread fascinating and certainly don't judge anyone else for the amount they spend.

ChristmasEvePJs · 12/12/2015 14:13

We go for equal value but not equal cost. A jumper for teen DS costs a lot more than a jumper for his pre school sister.

By the time you include gifts, stocking, party clothes and shoes then the Christmas eve hamper it soon adds up.
For 3DC's we have been over £1250 Xmas Blush

fuzzpig · 12/12/2015 14:27

TBH Christmas I would quite happily spend that if I could! There is looooads of lovely things I'd love to get them if I had the means to. [santa]

fuzzpig · 12/12/2015 14:28

*are, not is.

DragonsCanHop · 12/12/2015 14:30

Equally amount of presents but no idea how much I've spent

superbfairywren · 12/12/2015 15:00

I'm actually a bit surprised at the amount people spend on their kids but I might just be a bit clueless. My DD is 1 and I have got her 3 presents.. Total cost was about thirty quid and I only got those because she's never had a new toy before, just secondhand stuff. I had thought I could do similar for the next few years and then she won't know any different. I don't remember getting loads of expensive presents when I was a child and I loved Christmas, my stocking presents were little card games and satsumas. I know its gets difficult when they're older as they ask for stuff, games and consoles and things. Think I will encourage her to ask for money and save up for things she wants.
I suppose also, it is entirely dependant on household income and how much disposable cash you have for Christmas. I doubt our income will change in the next few years so we will be spending as little as possible.

fuzzpig · 12/12/2015 15:14

Nowt wrong with that plan superb it's not clueless at all. There are loads of ways to do Christmas and there's nothing inherently better about any one of them!

My DCs get pocket money BTW and that's really helped with the saving thing. Although what's really interesting is seeing the difference between my two DCs. My DD started getting it at 7 and managed to save for a couple of things early on (about 6 weeks saving each time IIRC) but now will spend every last bit of her money each week, on sweets or whatever, and doesn't really manage to wait for anything. DS started getting pocket money when he turned 6 and he's already saving. He decided he wanted a particular transformer toy and refused to buy anything else, even when in a fancy sweet shop and I said he could still have enough saved if he spent some of his money. He just said no, I really want the transformer!

fuzzpig · 12/12/2015 15:17

(as in, it would've only taken 1 week longer to save if he'd spent a bit)

MrsAmaretto · 12/12/2015 15:23

Our Santa system is drained so as I don't overshop!

They each ask Santa for 2 presents & a surprise, get a stocking at the end of their bed.

They get £10 max to spend on each other, and £60 each spent on presents from us.

They are only 5 & 2. They get more than enough with above!

I could never understand why my parents only got us a selection box for Xmas :) So they get books & clothes they will grow into from us.

Cost of Santa present varies, this year the 3year old has asked for £40 of toys but the 5 year old wants/ has been primed to ask for the next stage scooter & it's expensive Micro Scooter but will last him years.

I'm lucky as they are summer babies so all year round I refuse to buy toys as it'll soon be their birthday or Christmas!!

Millie2013 · 12/12/2015 15:23

DD (2) has a shop/cafe from asda that was £35, a toy trolley (£22) some wooden food, etc (£20 ish), happyland bus (£18), grandad dog's garage (£12) and various stocking fillers (£20 ish). I didn't have a budget (within reason) and the only thing she asked for was the bus. The shop/cafe, she will love abc it'll be a great surprise

ProfessorBranestawm · 12/12/2015 16:07

Nantucket why do none of the adults get presents? Don't your older children want to get you presents? DS(10) loves choosing presents for the rest of the family, and has done for a number of years. Don't your children think it strange that adults don't get anything?

I was wondering the same thing. I can understand not doing presents for each other (or getting the DCs to choose something for their parents) if money is tight, but I don't really like the idea of children getting absolutely loads and not even choosing a present for their parents just because of the idea that Christmas is all about the kids.

I love to spoil my DCs at Christmas but DH and I spoil each other too (I don't mean with massive expensive gifts, but things we put a lot of thought and effort into finding) and we each spend time with the DCs choosing something for the other parent. They get really excited about choosing something for family members and are always desperate to see the recipient open them. They're just getting to the age now (6 and 8) where they are coming up with ideas all by themselves and it's great, they come up with things I wouldn't have even imagined.

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 13/12/2015 10:03

Way too much as usual! There's no real big item, just lots of smaller bits I think the most expensive present was £20. I just kept seeing bits I knew they would love.

Before stocking fillers ive spent £240ish each on dd's 7 and 3.5. this amounts to 2 extra large reusable bags full each full of bits they will love, clothes and a few books. Im wrapping the stocking fillers tonight so will add that up soon :)

Christmas growing up was always a room full of presents and I want to recreate that wonder and magic with my girls. May not be right in everyone's eyes but works for us :) and dd1 the other day said her favourite part of Christmas was spending time with family and the roast dinner.

LovelyWeatherForDucks · 13/12/2015 11:23

I don't entirely keep track, but around £100 for DS (3) - though lots of offers and use of nectar / tesco vouchers etc. A main big present (Imaginext pirate ship this year, only £15 real money!), a few medium presents (marble run, Woody and Buzz, Ali express paw patrol vehicles, some toy figurines and books) and a stocking (chocolate coins, lolly, wooden train, mr men book, matchbox car etc - all £1-2 items).

Baby DS is getting hand me downs and I've only spent money on some new 'essentials' which will be wrapped - sleepsuits and weaning things. So £30 max.

DH is also getting around £100, including some Lego which I feel is an investment for DSs when older...! Also a book, some PJ bottoms, Photobook of DSs.

Family (parents, siblings, nieces/nephews) get around £10 each on average but usually spend a bit more on my parents as they do a lot for us in terms of childcare, DIY etc

pretend · 13/12/2015 11:29

A frigging fortune.

DD has a birthday around Christmas, so I buy lots and divide in half. She has 15 birthday presents from me.

Evidently over the last few months I've bought her around 30 presents BlushBlush

I might rein it in a bit next year.

NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding · 14/12/2015 01:45

I say that every year pretend Xmas Blush Xmas Grin

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