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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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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:

jumpinthepuddle12 · 14/12/2015 07:11

Rarely is it equal. It depends on what each would love. For my DD one year it was a hamster and cage- total cost £30. She was delighted. I spent £300 on DS.

This year DD will get Ugg boots and an iphone6. Ds will probably get half the amount in gifts but be equally happy.

Cressandra · 14/12/2015 14:04

I think the hamster is a brilliant example of why you can't just go by cash amount. The real gift there is being allowed to have the pet - plus the months ahead of you buying bedding and food, cleaning out, any vet bills.

We once gave a 4 year old my old phone as his main birthday present. It was an MP3 player with child friendly interface, speaker, fully portable, with a couple of games. The fact it hadn't technically cost anything was beside the point, it was one of the best things we've ever given him.

CoffeeChocolateWine · 14/12/2015 15:48

About £100 each (2 DC). About £30 is on the stocking and then usually a main present of about £40 and then a few other bits. They get a lot of stuff from family too. One day we might be able to spend a bit more on a main present but at the moment we can't. They will be thrilled with what they've been bought though so I'm happy.

Galaxymum · 14/12/2015 16:18

I have an only, and both my parents have died and I am an only..... here is me justifying my spending. And basically I think it should be up to the personal circumstances as long as you can afford it and feel it's right for you. I used to share the spending with my mum and now always get a big present as if in my mind it is from her. DD's grandparents on DH's side have 5 grandchildren so she gets about £60-70 spent on her. I go overboard and then tend to put things away for later in the year. No presents from my side of family as no one close and money from her two lots of cousins on DH's side so I justify what I spend. This year around £400 but I know I will put away some for her birthday! And as I say, in my head, some are in place of what she would have received from my mum.

Galaxymum · 14/12/2015 16:19

I should add in years when we couldn't afford it we didn't spend as much. I spent around £100 her first year and £150 her second and third.

StrawberryMouse · 14/12/2015 18:10

This year about £50 each on a stocking and then around £150-200 on presents. Last year was about the same, perhaps a little less.

I have spent more on the eldest than the youngest this year but they won't really notice as they have the same number of parcels etc.

superbfairywren · 14/12/2015 19:37

No need to justify galaxy, its entirely a personal thing! I'm trying to get away with spending as little as possible but I buy DD clothes whenever I see ones I like and she has so many toys already(handed down to her) so I know she wont be bothered by more stuff(this year anyway!). I'm saving while I can and I know in the future I will struggle to spend so little. I have a big family but we don't spend loads on each other and I have only ever bought nephews and nieces small pressies so I know if she wants something big in the future I will fold and get her whatever she wants.

witsender · 14/12/2015 21:24

Meh...not masses. Have a 5 yr old and a 3.5yr old. So a giant Grimms puzzle between them which was about £60...then assorted other gifts totalling about 40 each. Stockings about 20 each. So £90 each at absolute most? Haven't counted presents or exact money as not too concerned about being exactly equal...we just get them what we think they want or need.

We have 4 neices and nephews at 15 each, token gifts for 6 other adults at 10ish, 20 per grandparent and a sister...assorted bits for a couple of cousins etc. We don't spend much really.

NeedSomePeaceAndQuite · 14/12/2015 21:44

My DD is 3 and I've spent a lot over £500 but this year is a big year for us. I'm financially a lot better off were settled in our safe home and saved well for Christmas to spoil her and go over the top if I wanted, I don't buy much throughout the year there's no one else that will buy her and it's the first when I can afford to spend more and I'm allowed because there's no one to tell me I can't

Marzipanface · 15/12/2015 01:28

I've just totted it up. I've been buying over the last few months to ease the financial burden.

Total for two kids, one three and one five has come £138, including stockings.

It is the most I have spent on them at Christmas. Last year was less.
They each have about ten presents to open. I was very careful with money and shopped around to find the best price for a particular toy, and other items have been bought second-hand but in good condition (xbox game)

Is that a lot? To me it seems a lot until I come on these threads!

ChristmasEvePJs · 15/12/2015 08:16

Marzipan it is a lot. My Dc's have around 10 parcels each to open plus their stockings. My spend is only more as one is now in adult clothing, shoes, aftershave etc.

pretend · 15/12/2015 08:21

No one should have to justify what they spend on their kids.

I'm a single parent, but I only have one child, work full time and am pretty well off. I love watching her face when she opens her presents and that's all the justification I need for buying her stuff.

Doesn't matter if others do things differently.

peggyundercrackers · 15/12/2015 12:24

marzipan no I don't think that's a lot to spend on Christmas - a lot of people will spend £138 on a single present never mind 10 presents. it doesn't really matter if other people think that's a lot of money or not - its what you want to spend and that's fine.

Original poster

Adelecarberry87 · 15/12/2015 12:28

Pretend no one is judging as stated in my OP its a friendly dicussion. Its interesting to see how other people do things and others have said how help the post has been.

OP posts:

DownstairsMixUp · 15/12/2015 12:34

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Beth2511 · 15/12/2015 16:00

Spent £350 each on my DD and DSD. We dont buy throughout the year and my DSD has commented a few times that im wuite strict on not buying whenever she wants but she is starting to realise she gets spoilt at christmas instead!

revealall · 15/12/2015 16:34

I think Christmas is the time to get a main gift that they really want. So if that's a £150 iPad then that's what they get. They will be waiting all year. DS gets something smaller for his birthday as I spend on the party or day out to celebrate.

I don't under how some spend so little. Lego costs £20 a box alone.

I've spent £180 onDS main present but as a "seconds" as it was a return costing £265 originally. It should last him years (assuming it works fingers crossed ).

kayderjo · 15/12/2015 18:45

Were finnished and have spent about £650 or just over each on 3 dds (12,10,3) we don't get into debt or use credit cards etc if I had to go down that road i would reduce the amount per child.

imwithspud · 15/12/2015 19:14

I've probably spent somewhere between £100-150 on dd1. This is the first year she really gets christmas and I can't wait.

Dd2 is only 6months old so I've spent a lot less on her, probably around the £30 mark.

ShesAStar · 15/12/2015 19:25

I've just finished wrapping the DC presents and the final amount is £185.00 on DS (7) and £205.00 on DD (3). I've spent about £40.00 each in their stockings. They have about 12 presents under the tree each. I don't care at this age about the amount spent but because we all open our presents in turn it's important they have s similar amount to open.

NowBringUsSomeFuzzpiggyPudding · 15/12/2015 21:07

My spend is going to increase massively because we are going to buy the DCs some clothes. They really need some anyway, but they'll like having some as a surprise. It adds up so fast though (and I'm mostly buying from supermarket ranges so not high end pricey stuff)

Saz12 · 15/12/2015 21:52

I feel I've really over-bought this year for DD, but the total spend comes in at about £120.
The big over-doing-it item is a trampoline, which she was desperate for. I managed to find a nearly-new one on gumtree for £20.
I also bought gifts that I'm sure she'll love but with good discounts (eg half price or better), so she has a big pile of gifts (ie excessive pile of gifts?). Even though the overall spend doesn't seem too dreadfull.
Mumsnet Jury, should I hold some back for her birthday? I can afford it, but can't help but wonder if she's getting too much Stuff.

imwithspud · 15/12/2015 22:41

My view is that if you can't spoil your kids at christmas, when can you? If you can afford it then let her have them. That's my take on it anyway.

buckingfrolicks · 15/12/2015 23:02

I have spent far far too much as a result of MN and getting the impression back in November that buying early and avoiding the stress of last minute panic, was a good idea.

The result? I have bought steadily for about 6 weeks ...

Also they are older teenagers and I have the stupid idea that this is our last christmas with 'kids' so have used that as a justification i think.

About £1000 on each in total. That does include laptops for next year's uni though. Gulp. They and my mum are the only people I buy for DP having made it clear 20 years ago he hates getting presents of any sort.

DD clothes (loads), boots, Urban Decay makeup, books
DS emergency stuff for his car, music, stuff for his guitar, clothes.

Chrisinthemorning · 16/12/2015 06:55

Just added up and think we've spent around £200. We have one DS who is 3. We didn't set a budget as such and I have been shopping gradually since September to get good deals.
Wooden Thomas railway stuff is his main present and that's quite expensive but looks small.

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