Siblings. Do you spend the same or not?

[Cleanermaidcook]

Just totted up what we've bought and I've spent around £400 on dd9 and only £200 on ds8.
Thing is dd has got smaller more expensive gifts while ds has a couple of big lego sets and other less expensive bits that he'll be more than happy with.
So do I now go and buy him something else or is it OK to spend vastly different amounts?
Ds will have a bigger pile, dd's cost more.
There is nothing else ds has asked for, it would probably be a bike to make up the difference.
Wwyd?

I try and spend about the same amount on the teen dc but with the younger ones I just try and make sure they get a similar amount of stuff and the same amount of big/medium/small stuff

I do match with about 10 pounds. I have twins one minute apart. I tend to do it one one main, four other presents and a stocking. The stocking I count things, 10 things plus chocolate coins, tube of sweets etc. I think if I had children with an age difference, it would depend on the age. A 6 year old wanting or a nerf gun or a lego set differs from a teenager wanting the latest phone.

Now they are older I spend roughly the same, both of them want expensive items this year so will probably end up spending £250 each on about 6 gifts.

They are 11 and 13 and have both asked for a new 2ds xl (£130 each), most of the other gifts will be things they need like clothes, stationary and a new back pack for school.

When they were smaller it was based on them getting roughly the same amount of gifts rather than price.

Yes, we spend the same. They’re 10 yo. They understand what things cost and about working within a budget.

They understand that if you ask for one very expensive thing then that might be all you get while your twin as has a larger pile.

We’ve had one child get a bike and one child a pile of presents before, it wasn’t a problem as they really, really wanted the bike.

Our children are younger but we match number of gifts not cost. DS1 is old enough to know what he wants, whereas DS2 will be happy with pretty much anything.

We don’t match cost but they both have the same amount of presents. They are 5 & 7 and the stockings are almost identical because they like mostly the same in little bits and bobs it’s just in main presents they differ.

I start off with a budget in mind but that goes out the window as the illusion of fairness is more important. I have three and it's a right headache. They want to have the same number of gifts (including stocking bits) but they are so different. They are pretty good at sharing mostly, kinda and we've had very little truly individual stuff so far, with the exception of bikes and scooters. DD is the youngest and only girl and I could buy loads for her, and my eldest DS is easy too as he's out growing things but my poor middle DS is the hand me down child. I think if I wasn't concentrating I could forget him entirely when I'm buying stuff

I try and stick a close as possible with price just to curb Mum guilt. But generally I’m more worried about the same amount of gifts, as that is what they are more likely to notice.

I have 3 DC I rarely spend the same I just get them what they ask for.

mine are still more concerned with getting the same amount to open.
(eldest is 7)

obviously I'm expecting that to change in the next few years.

Mine are 6 and 2 and I try to get a similar number of presents for them to open but not necessarily spend the same. This year I think I will have spent around £50 more on DD1. I am trying to get DD1 to understand that some presents cost more so you may not get as many but it’s a work in progress!

Thing is, if the amounts seem about the same, evening up the cost will make one child seem to have more.

While they are small, I wouldn't worry about the cost- it will even up over the years. Once they understand more about cost, it's probably worth thinking about.

This year we won't, DS is getting a bike which will be £250. DD is only one so I can't think what on earth I could buy her that would cost that much. It'll even out eventually as she'll be ready for a bike in a few years and maybe DS won't need one that year.