How much do you spend for each dc for xmas presents?

[LollaLaLuna]

Just that really.🤔🎄

Probably about £100–£150 each. They are 2 and nearly 5. However, the last 2 years most of that just got put in a junior ISA for DC2 as they were too young to understand the whole present thing! We do a stocking (£20ish), 1-2 presents from Santa, 1 big present from us and then a few bits and bobs like pyjamas, craft stuff, face paints, books, DVDs etc

Two teens 15 & 16 and £100 each always been that the odd year a bit more. 😱 at those who spend £500 per child.

Our total budget for Christmas is £720 including all presents and if it’s our year to do Christmas Day the food.

We’re not poor and could happily spend more but why.

At 3 I bought mainly stuff that got used up like chalk, playdoh, paper, stampers, glue etc and stuff for outdoors like trampoline, bike etc. (Not all at once!!!)

Fisher price imaginext toys are popular at that age and ELC happyland?

My kids will be 7 and just 11 At Xmas and we probably spent about £400 on them but ds will get some of that throughout the year as he wants a contract phone.

We’re not poor and could happily spend more but why.

Well, inflation for a start. :o

So do your DC not have any big items such as laptops, consoles, bikes, phones etc? Or if they do, when do they get those?

**We’re not poor and could happily spend more but why.

Because it's Christmas!!!

This will end up as they always do with people proclaiming that £20 is more than enough and giving people the idea that that is the norm and then not saying that their DC get a new pony and computer every year from their GPs.

I also waiting on that stupid little rhyme that justifies being mean for means sake.

None of this is directed at people who are on a tight budget and doing their best to give their DC a good Christmas, It's not about the gifts in the end but about the generosity of spirit that they are given in. Being deliberately parsimonious and encouraging it in others really isn't in the spirit imo.

We don't like going overboard on presents, and grandparents and aunts etc will all send largish presents too. We spent abut £70-£120 on each child for a main present, then maybe 1-2 other smaller things like an item of clothing. If they wanted say, a garage, at £40, then that would be their main present that year, we don't feel the need to make it up. Another year it might be a bike at £120. I also spend about £10 each on stockings.

One's a toddler, one's at junior school.

I actually feel a bit sorry for the DC I read about on DC for whom Christmas is all about expensive presents.

But anyway, I've always just bought my DC what they want...one mean present, and Father Christmas fills their sticking with small items.

It's always worked, until this year and DS2 wants a £2000 bike. It's not happening. There will be compromise,

We have no set amount, but nothing outrageous.

Lynette why do you think Christmas is all about expensive presents for some kids? I haven't read that here. My kids for example do get what I consider a decent amount of money spent on them but we also value the time together over Xmas and the stepping out of the routine part of it as no work here either during that time.

Also a mean present sounds a bit, well, mean

I don't think there are many DC for whom Christmas is all about expensive presents. My Dc tend to get their main things at Christmas or Birthdays, they don't get anything of significant value from anyone else. They are lucky to get get small monetary gifts from their Aunts and Uncles (usually £10 ish), they tend to put these in the bank to save for things they want.

If we didn't spend more than £100-200 then they wouldn't have any expensive things that most teenagers have without them being bought "just because".

However they also enjoy the family time, the meal, playing board games, going to the panto etc too.

It varies from year to year depending on what they want and need. I never spend the same amount on each child though, I try to balance gifts. This year main presents are a camera for DS7 £100, iPhone SE for DS14 £300 and iPhone 8 for DD16 £700. So they all have a main present to suit their wants and needs. Same with smaller gifts, I just pick bits and bobs up as I see them.

We don't have a budget for certain people which includes the dc , they are now both 18+ but the amount spent has always varied and I also don't price match between the 2 . I figure it all works out over the years and I never give money or vouchers . I would say the least amount I've ever spent on one of them is £160 and the most probably nearer £1000 .

I think at that age the unwrapping is the fun bit so I buy quite a lot of cheaper things and wrap them all separately and then it looks loads-jammies, DVD, books, toiletries, small toys, crayons, hair bows, hat, scarf etc. The main more expensive present is the one from Santa usually.

I definitely understand that amount money matter of dc age. There's no doubt that gifts for older dc cost more, just because they're simply at this moment trendy or are just pricey. My to my opinion it's not only about pricey gifts but always about Christmas atmosphere and that kind of magical moment, which I had as a child and at that time we hadn't much money and since I remember I didn't really cared or even realised.😳Which is good sight I guess.🤗🤔

I once heard that the main gift only really needs to be 10x their age. So a 3yr old would be looking at £30, a 9 year old £90 and a 16yr old £160. That way it takes into consideration that older children need/want more expensive stuff but in a fair way.

Obviously I don’t follow this but if I was to start again I probably would.

It varies Dd is 10, and this year wants some more Lego Elves and Lush bath bombs. Also wanted a Smiggle advent calendar and at £25 that also comes out of ' the Christmas budget' . She had a very expensive bike for her birthday, and there's nothing 'big' she wants so to speak. Saying that GP's have asked if they can buy her an iPad !! So it's also relevant how much extended family will buy.
At 3 years old I'd probably go for a biggish Happyland/Playmobil type gift each that they can play together and then a stocking with a couple of add on's plus teddy, book, matey bubble bath, sweets and chocolate type of things.

My DSC children get £100 each from their dad, my DH (plus obviously presents from their mum and all her family etc)

Our DS who is 3, I spend maybe £150 on him.

DH pays for the DSC (4 of them so £400) and then I do DS, it's easier that way and works best for us.

They also get £100 each from MIL and £50 each from DH's Nan, so spoilt rotten.

Sometimes they lump it all together if there is a big ticket item them want.

(And I do not feel guilty that DS gets a little bit extra as DSC get much more from their mum and her side. They are old enough to understand why and tbh, wouldn't have a clue as they are so happy with the mountain of stuff they have got that they don't pay much attention to his things anyway!)

About £150 each which doesn't include stocking fillers but I don't really notice that as I pick up little bits as and when I see them throughout the year. Randomly, I've nearly got all the kids stuff quite early this year as I went to smyths when they had their offer on last week so feel like they will be getting quite a bit for their money. I'm excited 😀🎅🏻

We'll probably spend about £50-60 on each dc as that's all we can afford. They have lots of extended family who will each spend about the same on them.

I have one 4 year old. Id say between 150/170ish but ive been picking up bits and pieces for months. Weve spent about 70 on stuff for train set about 25 on board games, another 20 on some educational bits and then hes got colouring/ activity/sticker books and a couple of reading books, then 15 on stocking stuff, im going to get him some lush christmas bath bombs as he loves bath bombs then that will be him sorted

Not much. Maybe £20/30 each.

Around £300-£400 each depending on what they've asked for that year. I try and balance out the number of presents rather than cost as at their ages they don't really understand the value of things.

About £120-150. I buy things throughout the year in sales etc., including stocking bits. DD will get a stocking which prob. costs about £20; a larger present from Father Christmas, and a few more things from us. She will also get about four presents costing about £30-40 from family, which is more than enough! This year I am going to ask one set of grandparents to take her to the panto rather than buy a present. She will be 5 but last year she was overwhelmed and ignored some presents for days, there was too much (and we don't even spend a lot by comparison with some families...) I have asked her what her favourite things about Christmas are, and the top things are lights, the tree, etc. - presents were quite far down the list! So I don't worry too much about getting her loads - in fact we will try to cut down this year.

Usually 300-400 (which I think is ridiculous but still find myself doing it )
This year we are taking them away for xmas so ideally no more than 250!
We use it to get big things like bikes / tv / iPod etc .

Mine are 18mths and 5yrs. On presents to open Christmas Day £70 each, then a toy advent calendar (another £20 each) tickets to Father Christmas (£10 each) and a Panto Christmas Eve (£20 per person) get added to their 'presents' too.

All in, that's £120 each. I'd spend less if I had less (I'd cut out the advent calendars and go to a cheaper Father Christmas for a start) Not sure I'd spend more though, they get so much from other people anyway.