How much do you spend on your DC

[whattodo2019]

How much do you spend on their stocking?
How much on presents?

I’ve spent £100 on DD on a main present and I’ll probably end up spending another £50 on smaller gifts.
She’s only 18 month, I guess it’s easy to be fairly modest at this age when she doesn’t really know what’s going on, but I would generally like to stick to the principle of 1 nice main present and a few stocking fillers.

@Lovemusic33my son is also asd and getting him what he wants and will actually make use of is so important to him because of it. hes never rude but getting him gifts he has no use for just doesnt work for him so i would rather spend my money on the things i KNOW he wants and will use than waste my time, effort and cash on 'extras' that he wont have a use for. Some would argue that i spoil him by getting him what he wants but hes my only child so actually, why shouldnt i? hes always grateful for the effort i go to getting him what he wants and hes never yet asked for anything actually outrageous so the way we do things works for us. I dont judge anyone else and hwo they do christmas so it does upset me soemwhat if people judge the way i do it. Christmas is for everyoen to do their own way, no one should be judging anyone else for doing it differently to them

No stockings. My son always costs more because he wants specific things (airpods and an online course this year). My 15 year old daughter came up with sweets (a particular kind from a sweetie shop). When pressed came up with one other thing.
So about £500 on son (the course will give him a qualification though) and £250 on daughter (buying her some clothes). They get small gifts from my sister who lives abroad and perhaps £30 from last surviving grandparent.

£400 each (2 kids 10 and 7) it's gradually gone up as they've gotten older, started treating them more equally from the youngest being about 4 I think.

£50 each on a main present for under the tree plus £15 ish on stocking bits. We’re fairly comfortable financially And could spend more but they are both pre-schoolers who have no concept of monetary value and no need for expensive things. They will get lots of presents from other extended family so I just can’t see the point in wasting lots of money on even more toys that will just leave them overwhelmed and spoilt. As they get older we’ll spend a lot more but I’d rather get ourselves in the best financial position possible while they’re tiny so that we can spend more freely when they’re old enough to want and appreciate it. The idea of people spending £1k each on multiple children is insanity to me unless you’re stinking rich.

We try to encourage DC not to ask for things they don't really need or want. This year they have only asked for 1 item that is about £15. We will put about £200 aside in savings for them along with spending about £15 on a stocking.

Probably about £200. He's only a baby but all of his toys are too babyish now, so used it as an opportunity to get him his first jumperoo, new clothes as he's outgrowing them so fast, some other toys and weaning stuff. Been buying stuff as I go though as I'm on mat leave!

We don't have a budget as such but no more than £300. Depends what he asks for. He is 9 and for example he asked for a new stunt scooter last year so that was his big present and the rest is made up of smaller gifts he has asked for or if he hasn't asked I will pick up things I think he will like. I realise this will go up when he gets to be a teenager

I’m always a little surprised that someone can spend £500 on a toddler because toddler toys don’t cost much and they don’t need as much as say a teenager? But each to their own, if you can afford it then that’s fine.

It depends though, it would be easier than you think to blow £500 on a 3yo. The Paw Patrol tower is £90, 6 vehicles at £15 each, there's another £90, as that's you at £180 and not got much variety. Add something for outside, playhouse, trampoline, or bike that could be another £200, and on some books, art stuff, a couple of DVDs, box of duplo, games and you could easily blow another £100.

But I bet lots would buy the Paw Patrol trucks now and again with the weekly shop, so not even consider it part of the Christmas budget.

We don’t have a specific budget, but think more in terms of approximate number of gifts. Last year, both ours had bikes. They, alone, were over £200 each, and they then had a board game, helmets and a few other bits, which meant our eldest had around £350 under the tree (his bike was most of that) and the younger one, around £280.

This year, DS1s stocking totals around £40 and his main gifts, around £180. DS2s stocking is around £35 and his main pile, around £120 (his definitely looks more than the older one from a child’s perspective!).

We've blown our budget this year on Adult DD & Son in law. Its been a tough year for them this year and im so proud of the way they've bounced back up and still thought about others along the way. Adult DD we bought a new tablet and son in law an xbox series x (part December birthday part Christmas) and we've also put money on to an Asda gift card to get their big Christmas food shop in. This is a one off year, we normally spend £150 each on them. Our grandaughter (4 1/2) we have spent £100 on playmobil, clothes and books and put the same amount into her bank account.

I try and stick around 100 :) we don't have a lot of money but I love to treat her, so I shop deals and shop early to spread the cost :) this year I've spent around £120 on DDs presents. And I ended up spending £30 odd on her Christmas eve box! I wanted to make the day special as I the usual things we do we wont be able too. My second DD will only be 2 months old, I think I spent around £30-£40. I will wrap up DD1s old toys!

I personally dont get offended when people spend a lot on there kids.. it's their money they can spend it how they like. I think even if I had more money I wouldnt get them loads as i think they would be overwhelmed. But it's a personal thing! I dont know if my daughter would appreciate them all, while other children definitely would! I love reading about what people have got there children as you can tell the parent is so excited and thought about it alot :)

I budget about £350 total for both DCs and try to split it evenly along volume and perceived value. They are 4yo and 6yo and this buys them a lot although less this year as no second hand sales to visit. We are in the group that only give pocket money and things that are needed (eg shoes and clothes) outside of birthdays and Christmas, so they only get toys they have saved for and bought themselves the rest of the year. They also don't get a lot of gifts from other people as no living GPs and no other family on my side, so although their present pile from us always ends up looking a bit over indulgent to me, I am very aware that it's pretty much all they'll have.

The Paw Patrol tower is £90, 6 vehicles at £15 each, there's another £90, as that's you at £180 and not got much variety. Add something for outside, playhouse, trampoline, or bike that could be another £200, and on some books, art stuff, a couple of DVDs, box of duplo, games and you could easily blow another £100

If my dc got a bike for Christmas, they certainly wouldn't be getting a toy costing nearly £100 as well.

My dd got a bike one year...I think I added a few books, pjs and her stocking as well. Not hundreds of pounds of toys on top of it.

I think too many gifts becomes overwhelming and they end up not really enjoying them...it just becomes an exercise in unwrapping

Roughly £185 for DD (3.5) and £85 for DS (18 months).

Haven't done stockings yet though.

I'm not finished yet but I figure it will be 400-500 per child. I have 2dc.

If my dc got a bike for Christmas, they certainly wouldn't be getting a toy costing nearly £100 as well.

That's easy to say, if you already have lots of toys in the house and the kid wants the bike.
If the kid really wants the toys but the parents feel an outdoor gift is required for fitness reasons what do parents do?

Don’t really budget as such, it’s depends what they need/want - was much easier to spend less when they were little, colourful plastic toys are a lot cheaper than preteen presents!

This year we are spoiling them, we’ve moved country (without DH) so it’s been a huge adjustment for them with new schools, house, living apart from their Dad etc I’ve also been really ill and have had an operation and my 12 year old especially has been incredible - so helpful and considerate, got on with things and hasn’t moaned once about all the upheaval. He really has been incredible and we’re so proud of him. DH will be back for Christmas and we cannot wait so will be a thoroughly indulgent time!

About £60-70 total (per DC). I'm not Christian but even then I think the whole Christmas present giving in this country is completely out of control.

@Bikingbear

If my dc got a bike for Christmas, they certainly wouldn't be getting a toy costing nearly £100 as well.

That's easy to say, if you already have lots of toys in the house and the kid wants the bike.
If the kid really wants the toys but the parents feel an outdoor gift is required for fitness reasons what do parents do?

The parents make a sensible decision. They don’t buy both. And as for buying, say, Paw Patrol Tower and all the vehicles, of course you don’t buy all the vehicles. You buy the tower and maybe one or two vehicles.

Max of £150 each for everything, including stockings (which have useful things in them). They also both have birthdays very close to Christmas and will get stuff from relatives.

Dd23 £ 300
Dd21 £300
DD15 £1200

We'll be spending around £150 and that's because she wants a bike. She'll have the bike and a couple of things more, three tops. She is 3.5 years old.

It will depend on age and what each family can spend, but I am personally against giving kids lots of material things and spend a lot of money on them (presents). I wouldn't be spending £1000 on presents to anyone. I guess as a family we could afford to spend much more than what we are spending but I'd rather spend that money on a holiday together for example, and not material things.

Main about £90
Stocking about £60