Is my budget for the children too stingy?

[BretonStripe]

We have two dc, approaching 3 and 6. We're ok for money, plenty of savings. Have always thought £100 for Christmas is plenty, but am going to struggle this year as dc1 would love an £85 Micro scooter, to replace his battered cheap scooter (which he uses almost daily).

By the time I've bought nice pj's/onesie, pants, books, a bit of Lego and a board game etc my budget is nearly gone, so wouldn't be able to get the scooter.

I grew up fairly poor; council house, Mum struggled to pay rent/didn't have fancy things etc so think I struggle with being spendy sometimes.

What is an average Xmas budget for people who are not poor, but don't want to spend loads? (Can't understand people who have to spend £300+ on each child each year).

No it's not.

Sorry to disagree.

Ohfuckoff

It's possible OP was referring to.fuckity rather than you.

Some people have been pretty unkind to her, really.

I did a strike through too

Ahhh thanks Even

Ah, you asked people to call you unkind if that's what they meant.

So that's what I did.

back at you baby!

Thanks Even and OhFuck, yes I did mean it was Fuckity who came across as a bit harsh imo and asked why I was being "So judgmental" when I wasn't.

I was going to use commas when saying some posters were being a bit unkind, then changed them to strike through. Meh.

It varies from year to year, dependent on what ds needs/wants and what I can afford. I'm not about to spend £300 on random stuff one year because I spent that much the previous year buying something that was much wished for.

Anyway... A scooter is a fab present OP, hope you all have a lovely day

Hope your DC have a lovely Christmas OP. I'm sure the scooter will go down brilliantly!

My DD will be 11 months this Christmas and has more than she needs already so we're putting present money in her savings fund and she'll have lots of gifts from Grandparents, Aunties etc.
I'm more excited at the prospect of starting family traditions and being with friends/extended family. I don't think kids need loads of presents (we never received much to open on Christmas Day) but having fun and being with loved ones goes a long way.

A mini micro scooter (or maxi micro) is worth every penny. If taking a maxi to school then invest in a lock too.

At that age I'd spend similar but more on 6yos and much less on the 3yo, as half her presents were hand-me-downs from ds and dn (excellent dolls house, for example).

This year we're investing in an Xbox for the family but mainly ds, but his only request was £50, and while dd's requests are cheap she's also getting a bed with tent under - she needs the bed but the slide and tent will make it special.

Mine actually like getting new clothes, too. They ask for socks each year...odd children!

By the time I've bought nice pj's/onesie, pants, books, a bit of Lego and a board game etc my budget is nearly gone

I’m pleased to read that you decided to get him the scooter in the end. But I can’t help but think you’ve got this present buying thing the wrong way around entirely. I’d buy the requested toy first and then think ‘oh well, only £15 left to buy the pants, onesie etc.’. I certainly wouldn’t buy all the sensible but dull stuff and then decide that due to the expense of these the thing my child actually wanted for Christmas (and that I could afford) was now out of budget. Just seems a bit parsimonious to me.

I agree with BuntyFigglesworthSpiffington

I think you have been given a hard time on here. The scooter sounds fab & I think lots of people give PJs/pants/DVD/board game as fillers. Some people are very defensive about spending a fortune & imply that because you aren't short of cash you should therefore spend £300 or so on the kids. I can see why you don't want to go OTT. It's not necessarily about whether you have the cash available, but more a case of whether you want to go mad at Christmas. And you don't & that is your choice & it also sounds like they will be getting plenty from others. Enjoy!

We probably spend about £200 per child. I don't. But DH is a great one for buying 'little' extras for the stockings at £20 a go (Tee shirts, rare CDs etc).
Get the scooter. They're useful. Don't worry about spending the same on each child. It evens up over time.

£60 each on big present then maybe £20 more on bits here. Can't afford more really

When DC were younger we spent what Polka spends. Teens seem to need/want/expect higher price things

My girls are 4. Main gift is £75 and we are spending another £80 on each of them.

We've literally spent 40 on DS who's 1 not because we can't afford it but because we have no more space for toys in ar

In are living room

Sorry he keeps hitting post I had planned to get quite a few things but he's just had his birthday and was spoilt by other family members. We both came from big family's and I'm one of eight. So any thing we had thought of he got for his birthday. He showed no interest in the presents whilst they where wrapped either so I had to open them all for him.
Plus I brought though out the year so these nothing he needs. He also has enough clothes including Christmas jumpers/ pjs and seeing as he doesn't like unwrapping toys ATM I think I leave the clothes in the cupboard.

I think £100 is more than fine.

I'd probably buy the scooter and not worry about the other bits and just get some sweets or something to go with it. Better one present they love, than several things that they don't want.

And re spending more, TBH, when I hear of the huge sums some people spend, I just think it's tacky. Do people somehow think spending hundreds equates to loving their kids more, or is it about showing other people that they are liberal and can afford lots? I think that this is sometimes the thinking....somehow they feel it will lower their prestige to spend less. It's a bit like wanting to spend loads on expensive trainers, or a huge TV or heavily branded goods - a lot of it is about show, and somehow it is what seems to validate them and give them worth. In my experience, itsniftennthose who really can't afford loads, who spend loads, because they are in the mistaken belief that money spent=love and they are trying to buy value/worth.

I was at Bluewater shopping centre the other day and it made me feel a bit sick - it really is a temple to consumerism. Most kids will get presents from relatives as well as parents,mso parents themselves don't need to he
Get loads or spend loads, some of the piles of stuff are pretty obscene in my view.

And as some have said, many kids who don't have huge amounts spent on them have fantastic Christmases. It really isn't that your enjoyment of Christmas is related to how much was spent on you, but to lots of factors. It is a lie that people allow themselves to believe, that Christmas is somehow the be-all and end-all and that the lack of £000s spent =deprived childhood, and they will resent you forever. Get beyond this!

For most kids, Christmas being a joy is made up of the anticipation that comes through December, the school plays, the decorations going up the advent calendar, the school party. It comes from the family traditions of making mince pies or biscuits, of going to choose a tree, of going ice skating or to see a Christmas show, or for a day in Oxford Street and looking at the lights. It comes from seeing family over Christmas and spending time playing games and watching Christmas TV together. Yes, there is present opening too, which is fab, but it's a small part of it.

It is down to you as the parent.

We spend no more than £50 per child at Christmas. If we over indulged at Christmas we would not be able to afford holidays, school residential trips, theatre trips.

I am generally fine until I log onto Mumsnet and read about parents who spend £500 per child AND take them to the theatre, Winter Wonderland, Disney on Ice etc etc.