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Christmas

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Original poster

How much do you spend on each child?

125 replies

BirthdayKake · 28/07/2019 20:37

I have five DC. At Christmas they'll be 11, 8, 7, 3 and nearly 6 months.

Just wondering how much people spend? Thanks :)

OP posts:
Whatafrickennightmare · 29/07/2019 19:26

I have 2dcs age 5+2 and dss age 10.
Normally spend 200-250 on each but last Christmas the amount of presents they got was ridiculous.
This year I have booked Centre Parcs winter wonderland for the week before Xmas to make memories and they will get a £100 each instead of loads of tat !

cookiechomper · 29/07/2019 19:30

About 500 per child, four kids.

Fairenuff · 29/07/2019 19:43

OP maybe it would be best to ask what percentage of people's income they spend rather than the amount as it's all relative really.

I spend 1.6% of my income.

Also, how is any of it relevant to you?

Shopkinsdoll · 29/07/2019 19:49

Prob about 400 per child. 2 children

EdtheBear · 29/07/2019 20:13

The things to remember on these sorts of threads is everybody has different disposable income.

Some kids may get another £500 from other parent, grandparents etc other kids will get £0

Some people don't mind buying out with birthday and Christmas others are more rigid.

Some with a large budget may include lots of clothes and sports coaching things others don't include as Christmas budget.

A bikes is a bike, some will cost double others.

Some families will give an Xbox to share, only children may get one to themselves. Some kids will get a tv to go with it others will be using an existing tv.

I did attempt a few years ago to start a thread asking "How many gifts" as many people mention too many become over whelming. But had it deleted as Daily Mail made it out I was an anxious mother!
I'd deliberately avoided mentioning budget as that wasn't my major concern. My concern was more trying to cut the clutter in my house.

But it was pointed out that some would individually wrap books others would wrap a set.

My conclusion is that as if you are able to get the one thing a kid really really wants then they will be happy.

Abouttime1978 · 29/07/2019 20:15

Mine are all 7 and under so we've not got to the expensive stage yet.

We try to keep it to around £100 for main present, book and stocking.

Then they get pyjamas for Christmas Eve.

But we also buy panto tickets for after Christmas so they are added to the present pile.

But we have a lot of family and friends buying for them too.

We are starting to ask for experience gifts for the kids as our house is stuffed to the brim with toys. (That they rarely play with).

Original poster
BirthdayKake · 30/07/2019 09:12

Thanks everyone. Think I'm going to spend £200 on each, apart from the baby, who will get much less spent on her! Also have a November birthday to budget for

OP posts:
Buddyelf · 31/07/2019 13:04

Last year my DD's were 7 and 4. I spent £150 on the 7yr old and £120 on the 4yr old. They then had £110 spent on 2 joint presents. So around £400 between them.
That's more than we normally spend really but there was a specific toy that was £90 that they really wanted so we got it between them.
I won't be spending as much this year.

Raspberrytruffle · 31/07/2019 18:25

It used to be about £300/350 per child but dd1 has cerebral palsy and several health issues so she prefers a set of house keys that jangles or give her a reaction, last year we donated literally hundreds of pounds of toys like tiger fureel to charity which were either unopened or played with once as she has learning difficulties too. Only so many clothes and teddy's we can get her. Dd2 is alot older so last year we spent quite a bit more about £500 . This year we have been religiously saving with park and in two payments will have saved £1700 for Christmas but that's including everything

firstimemamma · 31/07/2019 18:34

Wow and I thought we'd gone overboard spending £60 on our son's first birthday!!!

ysmaem · 31/07/2019 18:52

500 per child. I have 2.

ysmaem · 31/07/2019 18:54

About 500 per child. I have 2

farmlotto · 31/07/2019 19:02

I have 5. At Xmas they'll be 17,17,15,5 & 3.

The teenagers get about £300 each. They have money and spend it in the sales, we have a huge family so they get presents from everyone else.

The 3 and 5 year old will have about £150-£200 each but tbf the youngest is 3 in nov so will have had lots for her birthday so maybe £100 will be spent on her.

quirkycutekitch · 01/08/2019 03:23

I usually try to spend around £300 each but usually go over - however this year I will be on maternity leave (and obviously have an extra child) so will probably be less

AltheaVestr1t · 01/08/2019 03:29

As much as I can get away with Grin

Brain06626 · 01/08/2019 03:48

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

PhantomErik · 01/08/2019 13:24

Mine are 10, 9 & 7.

I think I spend more every year but on less stuff.

Last year it worked out between £150 - 200 on each including stockings etc.

This year my ds9 has asked for lego Harry Potter sets, he's bought a few himself with birthday money & treasures them. We'll probably get the castle (approx £75) & maybe the train (approx £70). He'll have pjs & a few cheap stocking fillers including pants/socks & bath stuff. He understands the cost of things now. Father Christmas may give him the Patronus set (approx £20).

BogglesGoggles · 01/08/2019 13:31

We spend about £20 per child (stocking from santa and small present from us). Obviously some relatives like to spend more but that’s up to them. For us is just a token gift. We don’t want them to get the wrong idea.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/08/2019 13:33

Around £80 each (5 and 8 this year). Their birthdays are in the lead up, and I spend around £100 each for those.

However it's all dependent on if they have wants or needs. I've spent as little as £45 on birthday presents if there's nothing wanted or needed.

luckygreeneyes · 01/08/2019 13:38

Maybe £3-400 on 8yo and £250 on 2yo

emmac98 · 01/08/2019 13:44

No more than 700 on my daughter this Xmas

Confusedandworried321 · 01/08/2019 13:48

Wow can't believe how much some spend! My kids will be very nearly 4 (Boxing Day baby!) and 10 months though so I'm sure I've got all this to come when they want games consoles etc.

No idea what to get my older DS so following for ideas too Smile he loves "how things work" so thinking knex?

Equimum · 09/08/2019 21:25

We usually set a maximum of £130-150 to include everything. This year both children are having bikes and we would like to get DD1 a second-hand Frog. Just that will probably blow the budget, but we won’t buy much else, besides his stocking and perhaps some clothes to pad the pile out.

LegoPiecesEverywhere · 09/08/2019 21:35

I think the question should be what is your gross income and how much do you spend per dc? As it is all relative. Having said that, I find the lower the household income the higher the spend on Mumsnet. When my dc were under 3 I probably spent no more than £100.

daisypond · 09/08/2019 21:41

About £50 to £100 each. Three teenagers. But they each have phone contracts that we pay for throughout the year.