When did Christmas start becoming more expensive?

[Betty94]

Hi all,

I have a baby due in January (so he's not getting anything this Christmas well not in the traditional sense anyway) but it got me thinking when does the cost really hit?

He'll be 11 months next Christmas so wasn't thinking of getting him too much as they don't really understand and don't really need that much anyway IMO.

I'm probably over thinking it but was just wondering how it changed over time and what people thought about it?
I know obviously the more kids you have the more it costs but he's an only at the moment (and thinking of staying that way).

This has kinda been inspired by someone on Facebook posting a mountain of presents for her 2 year old and I thought I'd have more time before I really need to dish out the cash

Also, to make it more fun if you want to post your Christmas list below and ages of children then go ahead. Might give people some good ideas x

It's only as expensive as you choose to make it. No need to keep up with anyone else's Instagram piles. For all you know they're empty boxes!

I remember getting piles of presents a child. Difference was, there was 3 oe 4 photos taken over the whole day, and maybe not processed for a couple of months until the film was finished. Then ended up in a photo album, not published for the work to see.

It's just a lot easier to judge people these days.

Speaking from experience - you want to out do yourself each year - so start small!!! They really do end up with too much and babies are absolutely not interested in opening presents!

I didn't get much until they were about 3 when I picked up a cheap trike or something. This year is the first year weve spent a bit (aged 7)

And to add comparison is the thief of joy.

It’s ok if you want to buy - it’s ok if you don’t!

Many people don’t do piles of presents, including us. Christmas is a really lovely occasion and we don’t end up with lots of tat and nowhere to put it.

It's absolutely up to you. I have a December baby who got a few presents first Christmas. Personalised bauble, socks and main present of a swinging chair all things I would have bought anyway. And it was the same year after. Mostly things she would have gotten anyway. Now she gives me a list for Santa with 5things on. Then I buy her some things she needs and somethings she wants. I also buy lots off fb as it's loads cheaper and I can often get like new for 1/3 of the price. Her Main present this year was £10 would have cost £45 new and it is in perfect condition. She'll be so happy and is 5 so doesn't notice if things are not in their box at this age.

I don’t think presents have to be expensive - we have two, one of whom is going to be 11 months this Christmas, and we don’t plan to spend more than about £50 on him! And we could spend less, but his older brother will notice if he doesn’t have anything to open.

What I think is “expensive” is Christmas outings, like to see Father Christmas. That is where the spending really seems to rack up. We have one Christmas thing we do each year which costs almost £50. It’s our one treat as we don’t do pantomimes or anything (yet). I thought that was pricey - turns out it’s not!

Also you might be aware of what relatives do. My mother is an over gifter. So my kids get loads from her. Sometimes more than I've gotten them myself.

I didn’t have lots of presents when I was little and I try to avoid spoiling my children too much . It doesn’t have to be expensive. If someone is worrying about how they’re going to pay for Christmas then they’re probably spending too much .

For 11 months just wrap up some of their existing toys- the boxes and the wrap is more exciting. They will get enough gifts from other people and don't have a queue what Christmas is

Or a metal helium ballon in a box- unlimited fun for less than £5.

I have 4 DC and the eldest is 6, Christmas is as expensive as you want to make it to a point. I would set your stall out early on. There are always kids who receive more or less, plenty of social media posts of present piles but take no notice and do what is affordable and comfortable for you.
Ours get a decent haul, not everything and we try not to buy for the sake of buying. This year they are all getting a little extra than ‘normal’ as have forfeited many experiences & had a very difficult year.

Many friends say as they get into their teens it gets more expensive as the presents become less but the item more pricey.

DD will be 3 3/4 this year and it will be the first year she really understands the concept. She'll probably get a few smaller toys from us (more wooden rail tracks, Duplo or similar) and some toys from family. We're financially comfortable but I wouldn't spend huge amounts or buy plastic tat just to have a big pile of presents. She gets bits and pieces throughout the year and has a a good amount of toys already.

With each of mine, for their first Christmas, I bought a keepsake teddy with the year on it and a Cherished Teddy Christmas tree ornament with the year on it. They love getting these tree ornaments out each year - it’s a bit of a tradition. Make their present small and meaningful.

I've spent £250 each this year. Normal limit is about £100. But like someone said above, we haven't been anywhere or done much this year. Children are high school age now. At pre school age I probably spent about £50 all in and mostly second hand.

@AlyssaJ12 how old is your daughter? There’s something to be said for giving your children everything they need but not everything they want (but then my DD is only 2 so I’ve a newbie at this parenting park 😆)

The children in my family want presents, of course they do.
I think piles of presents is gross personally and no reflection on how good a parent you are (can be the opposite).
What children really want is a loving family having lots of fun and quality time on Christmas Day.
We strive for that instead.

I’ve overspent wildly compared to previous years on the thing my teen ds really wants (a decent gaming pc and equipment) rather than waste money on presents I think are nice but he wouldn’t really get excited over. I do tend to spoil my dc a bit at Christmas but wouldn’t be so crass as to post piles of presents on social media, especially not this year when so many people are struggling financially.

Indent think ds (12yo) has ever asked for anything. This may be quite unusual, I grant you, but he really isn’t materialistic. He is happy with what he has and it is a real struggle to get him to put anything at all on his Christmas list.

I wish I’d discovered local selling groups on Facebook earlier to buy second hand bikes, scooters, wooden kitchen etc. These things don’t have to be bought new and your Dc won’t realise.

The build up to Christmas things that aren’t expensive eg baking, crafts, making decorations, throwing everything at the tree, are all things that we still do year on year and DS is 12yo.

I agree that the lead up to Christmas can be pricey though with things like panto tickets, father Christmas visit etc.

I'd say around 8/9 is when Christmas starts to become more expensive. It's when bikes are bigger with gears so more costly, it's when they start wanting consoles.

Ages 1-2 they have no clue. Buy what you think they need
Ages 3-4 they ask for the most random stuff. I love asking parents what kids of this age are after. Most memorable are a pink duck for the bath, and a real hippopotamus
Ages 5-8 They are conscious of other things they know Santa brings toys. This is the big bits of plastic.
Ages 9+ They start wanting tech,

When my DD was 2/3 we had a big pile of presents but it was literally everyday stuff we needed for her anyway and could get away with giving her as presents. She has a December birthday so always needs next size clothes around Christmas and at that age she was still excited to be opening socks and clothes and bubble bath and pretty much anything else. I think you've got a good few years to go before they start asking for specific toys and you can't get away with that anymore 🙂

Id say up to 5 years old I would have spent £100.
Like pp said there are other costs too. Eg seeing Santa
We are doing something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read.
I want them to know how lucky they are but maybe just I have to know that.

I remember having sacks of gifts.

Pre school most of my DS's toys were second hand.

He has second hand DS at 7, second hand xbox 360 about 10, a couple of years ago he had a Xbox one...

other years he has had not so much one year he wanted a guitar. I used to be able to buy second hand games but now as a teen he wants specific games that are the latest out. A Christmas T shirt from primark was great and whilst he does wear some primark stuff a gift I would expect he wants a label..nike/ addidas type ..

I agree with pp we all do it differently..My DS doesn't get a lot except christmas and birthdays.

First Christmas special bauble, a couple of toys. all they need.

I think it gets a lot harder and more expensive once they hit senior school, the comparisons with what so and so got start, they all want the latest stuff and brands. The pile of presents looks tiny but cost a fortune, so I end up getting a few filler presents, cheap bits I would have to buy anyway, skincare etc just to bulk it up a bit. The last few years I have really tried to reduce the number of gifts, not necessarily the amount I spend but definitely the number of gifts, as I did go a bit crazy when they were younger.