How much is your budget for your mid-teens?

[Alrighteo]

I've spent £300 and her Dad will probably spend a similar amount - well £200 at least. She didn't need any of the big ticket tech items this year (thankfully), so it's mainly clothes/trainers and makeup.

Are we in the 'normal' ballpark for a mid teen?

She's good in that you give her a budget and she'll stick to it. So she picked out 3 items she wanted. There's another item I wanted to buy her and before she got back to me about what she wanted, I ordered a very expensive trio of contouring sticks by Fenty (£60!!!!) which I couldn't cancel when she said she wanted clothes. So my original budget was £200, but it's ended up rounding up to £300. It will mean she'll get two surprises, but my credit card bill was quite the surprise this month too

£500-600 sounds a lot but it does add up fast. I’ve spent £250 on my 12 year old plus another £100ish in shared gifts (plus we have just invested in a new family computer so def not hard done by!). I usually aim for around £350 on each child. That said you aren’t talking about piles of gifts and I think if you can afford it it’s fine.

100 each. We usually do 75 but have had a good year

200 each

I’ve probably spent around £200 and they will get £100 spent from their dad. I haven’t got much to show for my money as DD1 wanted clothes, one hoodie was £50 then she wanted a dressing gown £21 and a onesie which was £20, she then has a few smaller items (a bag, hat, purse etc..), all mounts up but to be fair it is stuff she needed just better quality than what I would normally buy.

Dd2 is almost 14 and still likes Lego but the bigger sets so £100 for one set, plus clothes similar to her sister, so at least £200 spent.

Dd 16 doesn't have a budget as such we just buy her what she wants/needs that year so sometimes it will cost a lot and other times it won't cost a great deal as she never asks for much.

Stocking value = I spend what I feel like, and £80 for main present. Same budget for all ages (youngest is now 11yo). I sign in as the thread miser.

This year we have upgraded her ipad and bought her an apple pencil (she hasn't asked for these) as she likes drawing on her graphics tablet. She asked for pokemon shield for switch and a board game to play as a family and that's it so she will get what she asked for and a nice stocking which is always her favourite thing.

About £300 each.

£300-350 here made up of £100 cash and gifts for the rest. Her dad will probably spend £200 ish. GPs give her £200 for the sales.

I buy the things she needs when she needs them so new laptop not saved for Christmas etc., etc..

Dd is 15 and the budget is £100. In fact all dc have the same budget and it's the same every year, for both christmas and birthday. Dd knows the budget as well so doesn't ask for anything over. And If there is an expensive item she wants, we give her part cash and ask for family to do the same so she can save up.
Spending £500 on clothes and make up brushes is insane imo.

About £200? Stupid stocking stuff adds up - novelty chocolates, bits of intresting tar from IWOOT or Firebox.
Mine wanted cash so did £100 on a money tree. And another £50 on Lego or small tech like a watch or computer stuff.
Everything else they wanted I told family to buy as they had no clue as to good presents for them.

I don't have a budget I just buy things I know they will like. I think that is more important than trying to squeeze (or fill) a budget.

Mine aged 14 and 15 have a budget of 300 each, they'll probably ask for clothes but won't get much from that. Then I spend another 50 on stockings - designer pants, scent, socks, sweets. They'll get about 100 cash from extended family. And surprise gift is a puppy they've been begging for

@Leflic what’s a money tree?

Are we in the 'normal' ballpark for a mid teen?

You must know that that’s a lot of money. Given that many people are struggling to provide any sort of Christmas gifts for their kids, I think this is in poor taste. #HumbleBrag

We don't have a budget, but I just totted it up and we've spent around £300. It's mostly tech stuff related to a hobby he has (which is also related to some of his school subjects and what he wants to do when he leaves school).
We don't bother with plastic/novelty crap for stockings. Stockings are for chocolate, pyjamas and books!

DS1 is 14, I'll be aiming for £80 ish for his present plus some bits and pieces in his stocking.

I think it's hard to compare with others, as it also depends how much money you give them / spend on them throughout the year. DS needed a new musical instrument a few months ago, which was pricey.

You always get someone on these thread reminding us how poor some people are. Yes some people are poor but does it ever stop people from spending? Not really. People work hard to be able to afford Christmas so why shouldn't they spend what they like? I'm sure a lot of us donate to charity, but extra gifts for those who can't afford too??
I spend what i can on my dc's and I donate what I can to food banks and charities, who are you to judge what is right and wrong?

My Dd is 14 so far we’ve spent around £300 but I’m planning a visit to Victoria’s Secret pink for a few more bits so will probably end up around £400. Quite a few of her presents are very small but expensive make up etc so it won’t look much compared to her younger siblings!

HalfManHalfLabrador A money tree was just my way of presenting the notes the year he just wanted cash.
I stuck them on a 3D tree shape folded like leaves. So it looked like a bonsai tree in a pot at the end.
He knows the expression “money dosen’t grow on trees” but this was Christmas magic.

I understand the comment that talking about spending is crass. However as long as the child gets something they actually want and maybe a stocking I don’t think they worry about a mountain of presents. “Other people’s families” always do thinks differently don’t they, from bedtimes to what food they like.
Once they get to secondary and don’t believe, its much easier to have the conversation about scaling back if you need to. I forgot to buy presents for DS one year - they were all in my baskets waiting for discounts etc and I had mentally ticked them off but not actually bought them ! I was feeling desperately sad for him and he was and is absolutely fine about it.

£75 for main present ( usually clothes) then about the same again on stocking stuff which is pants, socks, bras, smellies, stationery etc.

I dislike the commercial aspect of Xmas and try to ensure that every present is minimally packaged and practical.

Also avoiding internet purchases and trying to buy from local independent stores/ craft markets etc.

Imagine the boost to our UK economy if we all did that, ESPECIALLY considering the amounts some of us are spending.

I did try a "made in China" boycott a few years ago...

I've spent 300 pounds on DD - probably would have been 350 but I always look for discounts and codes (got her a 75 quid pillow thing from Urban Outfitters for 56 quid as you can currently get 25% off if you join their UO Rewards and got Body Shop membership which gives 30% off)

(Sorry stupid pound sign isn't working on my laptop!)

I dunno, too much. Trainers, handbag, scarf, skincare. All expensive but small items. Am done now though. Teens can be costly these days. At her age I was wearing market stall stuff as were all my friends.

Oh gosh

Far far FAR too much again on dd 15.

I said I was going to cut back this year but I’m rubbish at it.

Having said that, a sewing machine (£100), Melanie Martinez vinyl set (£80), two cavetown gig tickets (£40) and the new Pokemon switch game and it’s almost £300 before I’ve bought a chocolate orange 😕

About £300 each max, including stockings, plus more from grandparents and family.