if you spend a lot on Xmas presents for the kids - do you really not spend throughout the year?

[motherxmas]

Just that. Following on from another thread on here. We have little kids so tend to buy them stuff as and when they need it. This is mainly because they change so much during the year and it keeps them happy etc. But then I only spend about £150quid each for Xmas (more for their birthdays which I think are more important). Is that unusual?

I do this, rarely buy throughout the year unless something breaks and needs replacing but go all out at Xmas.

I'm like you - they change so much when they are small. DS1 was scribbling in January and couldn't draw anything. He now writes in sentences

He has also gone up 2 shoe sizes and 2 clothes sizes.

That means that stuff like pencils and art supplies or bigger character pants/pjamas go into the supermarket shop regularly.

Normally we don't buy a great deal throughout the year and try to get them most of the things on their Santa list however we bought a lot of things back in April during initial lockdown - we had spare cash going as holiday cancelled and helped stave off boredom. Wouldn't do that in a regular year though!

interesting. Until reading MN I've never really thought about it but am now wondering whether DCs feel left out at Xmas. They obviously don't get as many presents as their friends. but then again they get toys, books, clothes and stuff like bikes, scooters, games throughout the year. I am also not very good at predicting what they will like when the time comes, so all my efforts to buy ahead tend to fail.

At what age did people start doing it? When DC were toddlers, it was just a huge difference one year to the next

Saving presents up makes more sense to me (a whole load of magic instead of a little sprinkle of magic throughout the year), but do people really not buy clothes, underwear etc.?

About £150 here too, maybe a bit more on birthdays bit less on Christmas. That will buy a bike or tablet with a few smaller gifts.

Christmas is not all about them, though, whereas their birthday is. At Christmas so much of the magic is not about gifts at all, and the gift giving and receiving is a two way thing. I try to get my children as excited about gift giving as Santa's magic sleigh.

But I do buy bits through the year. I like to support their Changing interests, and supporting their education. But even if I cut down I still wouldn't go OTT at Christmas. I can't imagine spending hundreds or even thousands of pounds. There's always the argument about tech, but the thing is it's usually best to not buy brand new models of phones (because the bugs haven't been sorted yet) and buying them second hand in great condition can slash the price with no change to the product at all. And you can get phones on a contract for a teenager, therefore meaning they get the option to upgrade.

Christmas has cost about 600 so far. So guessing on maybe 200 per child, and 200 for everyone else? Food is separate.
Books are normally from the library or christmas, but I've just bought them this year. H&M or supermarket clothes as required. More upmarket stuff for christmas.
Toys, games are for birthdays or christmas (luckily spaced quite far apart). I wouldn't buy things like that without an occasion.
Kids will probably get 3 gifts that arent from their parents at christmas. It doesnt stop them being excited - they dont see the facebook present mountains other kids get! I'd rather 5 carefully chosen presents that are used than 25 things that get shoved to one side.

I buy essentials such as clothing and footwear throughout the year but wouldn’t go into a toy shop and buy toys just for the sake of it. They save up pocket money if they really want something.
At Christmas I really spoil them and make no apologies for it, I love Christmas!

The younger ones I buy toys throughout the year but the teens interests don’t really change. I’ve spent just over £200 each on the small ones and £350ish on the teens. We don’t buy clothes or shoes for Christmas, they’re as and when needed/asked for.

We buy the things that they need throughout the year (clothes, shoes, school/art supplies, books, coats etc) and I don't gift these things at christmas.
What they do get at christmas and birthdays are the things they want like computer games, toys, ridiculously overpriced branded trainers etc.
Up until the age of about 4 I think I spent roughly the same amount on birthday and Christmas and then obviously they started writing lists to santa around that age with a list of things they wanted and that's when I started spending more on Christmas.

What do you count as spending 'a lot' on their Xmas presents? We have spent £350 in total for both DCs for the last few years, but this year it is £400 as DH wanted to get something for DD1 last minute (most of my Xmas shopping is done by the end of Oct). That has bought them plenty with a good mix of toys. They are 6yo and 4yo.
Outside of Xmas and birthdays, the only toys they get are either something they have saved up for and bought themselves, or a very rare prize for achieving something they have been struggling with and need an extra incentive - the prize is set in advance, never more than ~£20, and happens on average once a year per child.
Anything that is a need rather than a want ie clothes, shoes, stationary is bought/given as they need it.
We will have days/activities out 'just because', but these will be something like swimming or softplay, not big ones like theme parks which would be saved to form part of a birthday present.

What?! I've never heard this. I always buy what they need throughout the year. Occasionally they have treat of a toy when we do days out. Then at Christmas they have special thoughtful presents. My kids would be confused if they opened a new coat or some pants, they are essential no? They have spending money from grandparents they have free rein to spend on whatever they want throughout the year. I would average a guess and say each child gets about £150 spent on them.

I buy way to much through the year but a fair amount on marketplace

Xmas I spend about 500 each on the 2, 8 and 14 Yr old.
The 11m old has about 100.
Never include clothes in that except the 14 Yr old who wants more expensive

I do what my parents did for us. And prob more. Although this year I've cut back a lot
I don't hoard though. Even though I buy lots I clear out a lot through the the year and donate to those in need. ( have a friend who works with families in difficult times so she always has someone in need)

We have a nearly 5 and nearly 3 year old. January and February birthdays, so Christmas is a long way to go from their birthdays.

I usually pick things up in the year and save and then add to that nearer Christmas with what they want. I don't buy clothes for Christmas or birthdays. Sometimes pjs but usually I just buy what they need when they need it.

Craft, puzzles and the odd game I will buy during the year if I see something or we need more age appropriate ones. I will sell toys to buy some new ones too.

The oldest gets pocket money now and will save for a toy. Sometimes doing some extra helping to get it a little quicker. When dc2 is old enough to understand this then I will do the same.
I think when they are young their interests change and if you save everything till Christmas they don't get as much play with it.

I say to just go with it but they get a decent amount of presents for Christmas and birthday.

I buy clothes, pyjamas, books etc throughout the year.

But don’t buy any toys apart from at birthdays or Christmas. They get more presents at Christmas than for their birthdays as they also get a cake, and usually a party or family get together for their birthday. Though they still get plenty.

They only get big presents for birthdays and Christmas.

I don’t consider stuff for school, clothes, shoes etc presents so they get them when needed, unless it’s something specific and/or quite expensive such as a football kit.

Mine are older though so understand, this is part of your Christmas present.

"A lot" is so interpretive. I would say £150 each is quite a lot!

In truth, I think I spend quite a lot on the dc both at christmas and through the year. But I imagine my "a lot" is a lot less than some other people's.

Mine are 4 and 6 years old. They get roughly 150£ spend on them for Christmas and birthday. Clothes and shoes are essential here so not part of presents unless it's a specific item eg this year dd4 wishes peppa pig sleeping bag, so she gets that from her great great grandmother. But items for activities, craft, books, stationary, clothes and books get bought when needed. They also get toys during the year if there's an item they really wish and could benefit them. We also buy used and sell/give away items that are no longer played with/needed.

really interesting to see what other people do. somehow we grew up with birthdays being more important but even so my parents just bought us stuff like toys, books, bikes etc as and when. so for example my kids are allowed a small toy whenever we go to a museum...so thats weekly and then if they suddenly get really into a particular thing then i just buy it.never think of waiting till xmas

Very dependent on age. When they were younger (up to about age 7) we bought more through the year, and they wouldn't get clothes as presents just when they needed them.

Now (young teens) if they actually need something through the year then we get it for them at the time, but if is is a want rather than a need then they can either buy it themselves or they can put it on their birthday or Christmas list (without any guarantee it will be bought). We then buy partly from that list, and partly things we think they will like but haven't asked for.

We don't get much during the year unless needed. Mainly as we can't afford it.

Christmas is still minimal, but try and get one good present each (£150 or so) but then there are 5 kids (4 step kids and one of me own).

I spend about £150-200 per child at Christmas AND don’t buy much else through the year

I buy clothes and shoes as needed, but fancy/character stuff is only at Christmas.

I rarely/never buy toys or games except for birthdays and Christmas.

I obviously buy my DC clothes and shoes throughout the year but I don’t buy toys or console games any other time than their birthday or Christmas. I’d say I spent around £150 for their birthday’s and probably £300 each for Christmas. I have 5 DC so it’s a lot of money .

I posted on the other one too.
I tend to aim for £100ish for the older, £50 for the younger (7 and 3) but it's more about getting them stuff they'll enjyy and a reasonable number of presents each. We've gone for 7 this year from us parents, plus stocking and a few from extended family will arrive.

I will add things like electric toothbrush heads (frozen ) into the stocking, and might wrap up eg a new coat for the younger one if we needed to up his present number for equality, but generally I'd buy these throughout the year.

I buy bikes if needed, also sensible shoes and clothes, pj's throughout the year, but might buy eg sparkly pumps or something more frivolous and label it as Xmas.

I'm happy to buy books whenever they want throughout the year though do prefer libraries obviously! Books normally second hand off ebay rather than new.

Toys... Will buy them the off treat on a special day out / give them £20 to choose something from a toy shop on our yearly holiday, and maybe once throughout the year the older one will remember she has some birthday money and ask to be taken to a toy shop to spend it, but I don't buy them toys throughout the year as such.

Except lockdown, obv. We all needed to keep our sanity then so some extra toys were purchased