To ask how much you spend

[PixieDustt]

On your children at Christmas?
Of course you don't have to answer!
I have a DS and I feel i could be spending too much then I worry it isn't enough because toys are so expensive now!

Oh I want some of those superhero figures, so will add these to the list, thanks!

Maybe i'm too harsh as I don't see the point in buying loads of sets at the same time or the same thing eg one wants all the mighty pup vehicles but they already have all of the non mighty versions so I was just going to buy the characters. I had a big clear out of toys last year (only grandkids & nephews/nieces on both sides) & they haven't missed anything. Apart from puzzles & games they tend to play with the same stuff pretty much. Maybe it's genetic as I only ever played with Barbie or Slyvanian! I worry about spoiling them.

I used to spend about £400 on each child until just after DC5 was born.
Now I spend about £100 per child. This includes everything except a gift from Santa and the Christmas Eve box which contains pyjamas, socks and a family bots game. The gifts from Santa are £10 each.

To save my children from having to spend loads on gifts for each other in the future we have been doing Secret Santa for the last few years. We each buy one member of the nuclear family one decent gift, rather than them having to buy something for everybody.

My children receive no presents from aunts/uncles or paternal grandparents, but they do receive a small gift from my parents.

This year it's @ €500 each, dc are 10 and 8. A few years ago we would have spent that between them and they'd have received the same number of gifts but as they get older their tastes get more specific and usually more expensive. You can buy a huge tub of lego for a 4 year old for €30 but that same amount won't cover the cost of a medium/large themed set unfortunately!

Mine will get 10 - 12 gifts each on Christmas morning which I know for some MNers is a lot but I honestly don't know anyone who does the poem only or one gift plus stocking. That's not a criticism at all, it's just not the norm at all here IME (Ireland).

We've luckily managed to steer them away from overpriced hatching/shitting/dancing/farting fads over the years and we've never just bought toys - they always get nice but useful things too such as items for their rooms like a cute lamp or cushions/throw, a much wanted pair of trainers or sweatshirt and always a pile of books as they're both enthusiastic readers. I'd say our selection of gifts loosely falls into want/need/wear/read but definitely more than one of each category . DDs books alone will easily be @ €100 though I think that's money well spent!

Like a pp I think children who get a lot of toys through the year 'just because' can get a bit blasé so while we do buy the odd thing (and regularly top up crafts and books) we mostly wait for birthdays and Christmas and then maybe push the boat out a bit. I'm all for delayed gratification .

We save all year for Christmas and our entire budget for gifts for everyone is £500!

Our 2 DC probably get £80-£100 spent on them. As the day approaches I always get twitchy and want to gift them more because they are such great kids but I manage to restrain myself. Don't want them to be spoilt or to give into consumerism and create waste.

I have (today) finished shopping for my three kids (DD7, DS5 and DD3).

They each have 11 presents, including stockings (12 including a lindt reindeer I'll buy in the next tesco shop).

I've tried to buy second hand for the toys, where possible this year, as often they just don't get much play, and we only tend to keep them for a year or so and then sell them on.

We then have maybe 6 other people who buy for them.

As you can see, we keep the basics the same and then they circle the (entire) argos catalogue with other things they would like.

DD7:

Hand Luggage
Pyjamas
Book
Socks
Water Bottle
Glow Sticks
Craft Bits
Candy Cane
Baby Annabelle Hospital
Specific LOL doll (2nd hand)
Frozen Lego
TY Beanie Leopard

DS5:

Hand Luggage
Pyjamas
Book
Socks
Water Bottle
Glow Sticks
Craft Bits
Candy Cane
Lego Roller Coaster
Captain America Costume
Football
Hot Wheels Track

DD2:

Hand Luggage
Pyjamas
Book
Socks
Water Bottle
Glow Sticks
Craft Bits
Candy Cane
Umbrella
Rosebud Farm
Doc McStuffins Doctors Kit
Teletubbie
Ninky Nonk

Sorry - missed the budget completely - I've spend a max of £150 on each child.

It largely depends on the age of your dc, your finances and what he will receive from others (family, friends).

I have spent £800 on a (few) teenagers because they need ipads/laptops for their education. I have spent a total of £30 on a toddler (most being second hand toys from a local fb site). And £0 for babies (They get toys appropriate to their developmental needs throughout the year). There is no "ideal" sum to be spent on a hypothetical child.

We'll spend about £70 on our one DD (aged 3). About £50 on her main present and she'll get a stocking. Trying to be strict as she had a kids kindle fire for her birthday this month, that almost feels like enough but then I feel a bit mean as it is Christmas after all!

As others have said, everyone spends differently depending on their situation, so what seems like a fortune to some, will seem like nothing to others.

My spend varies every year depending on what DD wants. One year it was a £120 kindle, another year it was a £70 lego set.

I spend a lot of money on bits and pieces for her, but under £100 and always on books, toiletries, craft stuff etc.

Last year the main gift was a £50 pooping unicorn. She played with it twice. This year she wants more lego and dolls again.

I also do surveys and use top cashback to help pay for things, so don't mind spending more when it is free money.

Normally around £70 but this year the eldest wants a specific lego set and I know it will get tons of use.

It's selling for £110 most places but I got it on sale for £85. I'll spend £100 all in by the time I get some stocking fillers.

The baby should still be around £70. I've bought some really cool wooden toys second hand that I think he'll love.

I love reading how different families do Christmas!

I have a budget of £200 for DD(2). This includes a present from Santa (this year a balance bike and helmet) and a present from us (this year a big second hand sylvanian families bundle, I’m considering keeping some back for her birthday). She has a stocking which I’m planning on filling with things she’d use anyway - crayons, stickers, sweets, bubble bath, hair bobbles, socks etc. We’ll also buy a book, PJ’s, slippers and then a fair amount of clothes that she’all need anyway (probably around £50 of the budget on that). I know not everyone agrees with clothes as presents but I always loved it as a child and DD is always excited by new clothes too. I will probably spend more when she’s older and into tech etc, but don’t want to set massive expectations of piles of things. Plus I’m trying to think of the planet.

We have a fairly big family. She’ll also get presents from grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles... I’ve suggested just one present but I’ve a feeling there’ll be some filler bits too.

I don’t buy an advent calendar. She has a lovely wooden one with little drawers which will contain a sweet, as well as the odd little note for treats on certain days such as ‘today we are putting the tree up’ or ‘today we are visiting Santa’. We have a couple of Christmas outings planned, and as a PP said, these are the things I remember from my childhood, not the mountains of presents.

OP, I would advise to hold off buying too much if your ds is young. The danger is if you buy lots in the early years, it gets really hard to think of things to buy as they get older!

I have DS1(26) DS2(22) DS3(18)
I spend £150-£200 on each plus a stocking each
They don't get much from anyone else though( including their Father!)

About £200 each on my partners older 3 dc (17, 16, 9) have finished for our dd (15 months) and have spent about £120. Plus a stocking each. The older DC expect more because that's what theyre used to, they also get alot from their mother. But in future years I want to spend less on our dd, I'd rather she thought about what she really wants and was grateful for it rather than end up with a house full of crap that never gets played with

One toy that they've asked for (usually a big ego set in both cases), a couple of books each and some Smiggle stuff. Then a small stocking with choc, hair bits, stationery etc. It's more than enough I can't understand why people spend thousands

On average about £500, maybe more for older one and less for younger.

About £200 per child

Probably about £350 per child (13&9) plus Xmas eve box £30 total. Also do a Christmas show, panto etc.