How much have you spent on your 11-13 year old

[user1374384]

I know, I know. Lots of people hate these posts and everyone does things their own way and guys differently all year. If you find it distasteful, you need not reply. But I've finished shopping for DC, added up how much I've spent and dd1's is quite a bit more than the others, due to things for older kids and teens generally costing a lot more (switch games, tech etc) I don't want her to be massively spoiled, so I'm considering keeping some things back for her birthday but that isn't until June. But if it's actually an average or less kind of figure I will stick with it.

Pretty shocked by this thread. We are top 5% by Bolton bloke measure and have spent £150 on our DS(13): mountain bike gear and an ssd. He will get things from siblings and uncle too.

Our older 3 are on a £150 budget too and I’m struggling to fill it. Now they are all working, they buy what they want anyway and have no big requests. I refuse to buy stuff just for the sake of it. Bike bits for DS1 and some expensive beauty products, clothes and art materials for the girls so far.

Not much, my 13.5 yr old has had about £80 x

About £500. Only child and no other family giving gifts.

Around £250 but about £150 of that is things that they would have got anyway if it had been a different time of year! They have about £100 of stuff that is genuinely "want" rather than "need".

OP- I'd be wary of buying Vans in a size up (assuming you are buying them to grow into and not some fashion statement). Her feet may well have stopped growing.

About £650 up to now on ds12 and £500 on day 7

Sorry ds 7

About £650 for each, teen and preteen. But I don’t get them much during the year. And no other family.

I am giving my three teenage dcs £100 each
They get loads from my mother and my siblings

I spent the same on my 11 year old as my baby, both £120 (came £30 under budget for both) and hes got what he asked for.

About £400, maybe a bit more.

11 year old £175, 9 year old £145 and 6 year old £160. That includes hobby and sports equipment, books, chocolate, stationery and toys. They will all have lots of good gifts. Some years I get carried away and get too much. This year I think I got about the right amount.

Niece and nephew about £200 each... Maybe a little more

Another shocked one here. I've spent about £75 per child, they'll probably get an extra £70 spent on them in total by relatives.

Jesus fuck.

I've spent £165 on mine and that's about £50 above what I usually spend. He's got loads too, I got good deals buying early.

Wow, if I had more time I’d work out the average spend on here - I’m guessing it’s in the region of £400!
I’ve spent £70 on the main present then another £50 on smaller bits. However there have been previous years when he’s had a console so have spent more. Fortunately he’s not into expensive trainers or any other overpriced labels yet.
Even if I had a grand or more to spend I genuinely cannot think of much more that I’d get this year. There’s nothing else he really wants and his bedroom is crammed full already.

13yr old girl. I spent 150 but I have not paid full price for anything so she has some lovely items.

It is daft asking the average because it varies so much based on circumstances. Everyone has a different income, some families get more from extended family (I remember being shocked at how much a friend spent on her Mum and brother but the three of them got presents from no-one else whereas I had an enormous extended family so it's all about the books token presents in my family), there's a class issue as well where the comfortably off don't feel the same need to buy piles of stuff. As I tell the DC they have a playroom full of stuff and they spend ages staring at screens so why do they need anything else.

We really don't have a set budget, last year DD2 needed a new bike so she got a new Islabike at vast expense (DH likes bikes and DD2 will be cycling to secondary school so needs a decent bike), this year she's getting something she has asked for that she thinks is really cool but costs way less than her bike did.

DD is just 13 and I've probably spent around £100. Seems minimal compared to others but she'll be very happy I'm sure!

I've probably spent 300 ish on DS (10) his main present was an xbox and 150ish on DD (13) . That was for nearly everything on her list. Last year she got an iphone and DS had less expensive items so I think it evens out.

Well my DD does not have a huge amount but I already don't know where we will put stuff so I dread to think where more things will go.

Last year I went a bit mad because they don't see their dad on xmas and the guilt got me. They have now not seen him in 2 yrs but support comes from other places not from me buying gifts to ease it. I've learnt that now!

Kindle plus case - £95
Vans jack Skellington backpack £45
Some stocking fillers are "proper" presents - Amazon voucher, paperback, import CD, Lush stuff - around £200-220 in total

DC2 is younger and the spend on her is probably more like £150, but there are "equivalent presents" ie two larger ones under the tree, and some decent stocking presents.

I have tried to steer a bit towards fewer, but longer-lasting presents, which has increased the total spend a bit. I know we are lucky to afford this choice.

I'm not that shocked by the bigger spends - teens have expensive tastes and I'm a bit relieved that neither of my DC has ever wanted a games console.

About £75 for my 12yr old ds.

My older two are 18 and 20,so both get £50 now they're adults and working.

As long as you can afford it and it’s not tat.

I don’t actually have kids of my own but I have 4 amazing nieces and nephews who I buy for...21m, 5 m, 3 f, and 17month f. They’re also the reason I’m on mumsnet- so much good advice from so many knowledgable people 🙌🏻.

With the exception of 2 years this is the first Christmas I’ll have had off in the 13 years I’ve worked for the NHS, it’s the first time all my siblings, parents etc will all be attending too. My parents have both had health scares this year so I’ve gone a bit overboard and spoilt everyone.

So I usually budget approx £50 adults and £100 to the nieces and nephews BUT this year I’ve spent approx £200 each on my parents & nieces and nephews, £120 on each of my siblings, £100 on my BIL, and £40 on my other siblings GF and the same on my eldest nephews GF.

This amount includes a personalised Xmas eve box for the nephews and nieces which contains a Christmas jumper, Christmas pj’s, a mug with hot choc, a book, gold coins, candy cane, a bauble and a soft toy. We also have cookies to decorate. Whereas the adults are all getting an Xmas eve book.

Christmas Day presents include items which will get used repeatedly such as clothing, shoes, trainers, handbags etc and the kids also have one toy to open on Xmas day.

I’m providing and cooking the food for spending Boxing Day with mum, dad, bro & his gf plus myself & will be giving my sister a monetary contribution to the cost of Xmas day meal.

None of this is expected by my family, I don’t want nor do I expect to receive as much as I give in return. I work extra shifts all year to allow me to be able spend the amount I do and I very often forget to buy for birthdays so make up for it at Christmas but the long and short of it is I don’t go away on holiday very often, I have no significant other/ dependants and I come from a very close family who I like to show
my appreciation for at Xmas. I’m also on the lowest income of all the adults who are working full time (my eldest nephew is autistic with adhd, my mum is retired and my sister only works part time at present so their incomes are lower) but I enjoy giving at Christmas.

I understand that many will not agree with how I spend over the festive period but please be civil if you can’t be kind.

Merry Christmas 🎄