How much do you typically spend on your DC

[GingerRH]

Making this post to satisfy my own curiosity.

There is no right or wrong answer - everyone is obviously welcome to spend whatever they wish on their DC, and I don't want anyone to feel shamed.

The reason I ask, is I'm on a FB group for LOL Dolls - SDD is obsessed. And I've seen several posts where children are being brought 100s of pounds worth of LOL's. When I say 100s one picture shared had £850+ worth of LOL merch for one child. Which to be is mind blowing.

So yeah, wanted to see what people typically spent. Wondering if we're being tight with her 😂🤣

Yes @sweetpeach3 I probably should have said why!

DS1 is 7 and wants a ps4 vr plus accessories so that is almost £400. Plus his extras.

DS2 is 2 so his stuff costs alot less.

Ita just worked out this way this year. I'd imagine as DS2 gets older they will end up wanting the same sort of stuff and will share the 'big present'.

Last year it ended up being about £70 each including stockings. This year its going to be more like £100.

When they were tiny I don't think we spent more than about 30 or 40. If anything I think toddlers find loads of presents irritating! They just want to play not open stuff endlessly.

Around £100 each including stockings. They get about another £100 worth of stuff from other family too.

I try not to buy too many toys (as they don't get played with enough to make it worth it. They appreciate toys more when they have less of them- at least my kids do) & a lot of their gifts will be books and clothes.

I spend around 300-400 each on my 2 DS's

About £400 on dd (10)
But shes not getting a lot of presents.
A few big lego sets (£50 each)
A couple of Switch games (£50 each)
Disney Pandora charms
Then stocking and bits and pieces
It all adds up 🙈

We spend £75 each (2xDSS and 1xDD).
They get loads of stuff from relatives and honestly we spend money on doiby stuff together and making memories.
This year we are considering doing 4 gift thing this year:
You buy something they want
You buy something they need
You buy them something to wear
You buy them something to read

@Morgan12 I totally get you! But I bet your ds2 has a lot more presents to show for that 200 then what your DS1 does for 700 lol x

We don't set a specific budget but we've got everything for DD (5) now and have probably spent £100. I was in Smyths this week buying her main present and saw loads of other stuff I could get her that she'd like, but feel we've bought her enough so I resisted. She will get plenty from family too. Last Christmas I felt sick looking round at all the 'stuff' we had acquired, I'm really trying to hold back this year.

£50 per child for stocking contents.
£20 per child for present under the tree (but this often gets lumped together for a shared present)

Just added it up:

1st December box: £30
Stocking: £25
Xmas presents: £35
Festive days out: £100

No set amount. They get 2-3 large presents of their choice and a bunch of smaller presents. Their wishes determine the large presents. Unfortunately, this usually has meant that the amount spent each year has increased as their tastes have become more expensive. Their both make Christmas lists and we purchase our choices from the list with no budget set.

This I'm limiting it to £250 for me 2 dc who are 16 & 15. I'm divorced so they also get loads from their father and very generous grandparents. It's also ds birthday on the 27th which is a killer!

A bit shocked by the rampant consumerism. Do kids need loads of plastic tat? Fair enough with the teenagers and laptops but almost a grand on LOLs?!! Unless they need something specific like a bike, we probably spend max £50 each on 7 and 5 year olds. Often less, eg a single Playmobil fire engine for £20 last year for one of them. Kids get gifts from other family members so I'm not sure why parents are getting them piles of stuff. Get them 2 toys max. Feel like we are drowning in stuff and they still play with everything they have had for the past 3 or 4 christmases and birthdays. Where are people keeping all these toys?!!

@goteam almost a grand on lol dolls is sheer madness

But you can spend a lot of money and not get a huge amount iyswim

Last year DS had one present, it cost £150 but looked a bit sad in its own. Right thing to have done as it's been played with every day.

I'd love to have got him a tri climb this year, but can't afford it with the experience day too

We have one DD (who will be 5 by Xmas) I will aim to keep spending within £100. For her it’s quantity over quality, so it will almost all be little things and second hand.

I will almost certainly break this budget by not adding up as I go along!

@Mominatrix

So your kids would get whatever they asked for? Even if they say, asked for an Xbox with games, a new iPhone 11 and a new bike and the cost came to £2k??

@EndlessAutumn well no, not in the same year. He was 5 when he got his first motorbike and he’s been competing ever since, even up to national level.

The MacBook, well, that’s down to DH, I have bought him a cheaper computer but he did need a computer and he’s used it loads this year for school work and especially when he was preparing for his 11+.

@TakeMeToYourLiar I agree, it's not so much the amounts generally but just the sense that parents HAVE to buy toys totalling the budget they have set (eg £500) regardless of whether those items are needed or wanted. I think we just consider what do DC want or need and is that good value rather than having an amount in mind. It might be a bike, in the future an electronic device but I don't understand the 'bulking up' of gifts to look bigger. I don't get why kids need these messages that more stuff is a good thing.

I reckon about £120 per child this year...my little one (18months) more like £70-80 as she doesn’t need much. I’m spending about £85ish on their main presents and then about £35 on stockings. But I’ve tried to cut back this year as things are a bit tight. Some years it might be nearer £200.

I budget £500-£600 for both DDs, it includes DD12yrs birthday presents too. I do have a tendency to overdo it at Xmas but they don't get a lot throughout the year.
DH and I don't exchange gifts, I will wrap up some items I've had had in online baskets for a few months that I've wanted.

I'm up to a total of £650 this year. He is 3yo. I will probably pick up bits when I'm out shopping too as I haven't started the stocking yet.

DS is 7 and his main present is an Amazon fire tablet (£40 in sale) plus around £60 worth of additional gifts. Some essentials in the stocking eg socks, electric toothbrush

DD 3 main present will be a dolls house, yet to be purchased but around £50 plus additional presents of another £50 some Essentials such as character pants in the stocking.

I'm not too concerned about budget being the same but at this age try to keep number of presents roughly the same.

00100001 , yes. If items are particularly expensive, they might just get 2 presents and some small items along with it. Last year DS got a trip to SE Asia and a trendy, warm coat. Other DS is younger with different tastes and his big presents are art supplies and Lego sets.

@Malooha - what have you spent on a 3yo that comes to £650? I'm curious.

Paw patrol and peppa pig play sets/figures came to £300 alone. Then 2 electric ride ons, toy cars and a toy garage made it £500, £150 was spent on random little bits like mini electric cars, garden toys and fancy dress stuff/pretend play stuff.