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 don’t spend loads at Christmas but I do like picking little things up here and there during the year. DD has been really into her toy kitchen this year so I found a shopping basket and loads of toy food on fb marketplace for a fiver, she was over the moon! I think when they’re little toys and activities benefit you as well because life is easier when you can keep them entertained xD I got a few arty bits and some more duplo at the start of lockdown for the same reason

We buy more at Christmas and birthdays. DS doesnt really get much throughout the year. Hes 2.5 we've always done this. He doesnt get bored through the year as I do toy rotations.

Clothes arent Christmas or birthday presents though, I get them throughout the year for the next year.

We buy DS what he "needs" during the year for example clothes, shoes, stationary for school etc plus he might get the occasional treat like a new Xbox game (certainly not every new one when it's released though!)

But things he "wants" like scooter, bike, games console, tablet, designer trainers/tracksuits are bought for Christmas and birthday

I spent £130 on Christmas this year and about the same on birthday. I don’t buy any gifts for the rest of the year, there’s already enough tat lying around the place. I could afford to buy year round but it’s just excessive, wasteful and unnecessary. I don’t count clothes and shoes as gifts though - they’re essentials, same as food.

We don't buy things like toys through the year. Clothes we do, and books we'd never refuse but tend to treat as a reward for something so they don't think they're getting just because. We go all out on Christmas and do quite small birthdays (about £50, 3 or 4 gifts max) but can hand on heart say that's not far off it for the year. We do plan ahead though so some Christmas bits I know they'll get more joy from in about 6 months or so!

We only buy essentials during the year, clothes, shoes/trainers, stationary, educational supplies- we get the budget friendly versions, if they want upgraded/expensive brands then they ask for Christmas or Birthday.
We use a library for books, except this year, we did purchase books during lockdown.

DD15 usually asks for expensive trainers and fancy art supplies.
DD12 usually asks for books and art supplies.
DS2 asks for bubbles.

Its a choice rather than a financial constraint, I sometimes feel a bit tight BUT it was how I was brought up, I do feel like it's right for my children's needs. They haven't known any different so to them it's normal, they are genuinely very happy with branded clothes and books as gifts, otherwise we wouldn't get them as gifts (they get other things too).

Spent £150 on them each (a little less on toddler) but would spend double that if they are desperate for something more expensive. I'm just really lucky that they don't have expensive tastes.

I think buying a new toy every week is going to get to be quite a lot of toys and also building a throw away culture where you get bored of one as you'll get another toy next week. I really dont think buying toys every week is a good idea.

I go a bit crazy at Christmas with gifts. They get nice birthday presents but I don't buy toys at other times during the year.

I spend £250 each at Christmas give or take a few pounds, they get stuff for thier birthdays anything else they buy with thier own money. If they get a good report I sometimes surprise them.

I spend a lot at Christmas but they don't get any expensive non essentials throughout the year. To me things like iPads, bikes and £100+ trainers are a Christmas/birthday gift so I wouldn't just randomly buy them. I know people who do though.

My eldest is a summer birthday so we have always done presents for birthday and Christmas otherwise not much in the year. I buy books, craft stuff and the odd thing (eg garden toys in summer) but big items would be for Christmas. I spend maybe £200 odd for a bit present, toys and always include some clothes and new shoes (not to be stingy just what I always had as a child and it’s something extra to open). I would never buy my DC stuff as a rule when out at a museum etc especially if it was weekly but maybe if we went to the zoo etc which is a yearly treat. Youngest is only a baby but she’s March- I doubt I will buy her toys through the year though as she gets all older DCs passed down!

Mine are older but we have never restricted new things to birthdays and Christmas.as there’s a long time in between .

Clothes, books and essentials are just bought when needed or I spot something in their tastes.

Essentials throughout the year. Special things at Christmas and birthdays.

I have four DC’s (6,5,3&nearly 2) and spend about £150-£180 each at most on Christmas presents. It varies though each year. Two have birthdays close to Christmas the other two are late spring and mid summer. They get essentials throughout the year and if we go to a bookshop, days out happy to get them stuff for a treat or if it has a use. I don’t restrict getting them things solely for Christmas or Birthdays. Dc3 got a new bike at the start of lockdown, as it was wanted, needed and she was ready for it, didn’t want to wait until her birthday.
I don’t like buying stuff for the sake of it either and don’t always get equal amounts spent on presents, they get the same amount but of differing value. Spent about £60 on toddler but have plenty of ideas for his birthday.
My two eldest DC’s asked for very little this year, and it has been a struggle to buy them stuff this year, so have spent less.

For toddlers they need stuff regularly as development just changes their needs and interests so fast. Also depends on when their birthday is - my all have A/W birthdays so they are not nicely opposite to Christmas in the calendar. So for example I don't really ever plan on getting scooters or bikes for birthdays or Christmas as it will be too cold.

But in general yes as they get older I put off or rather try to pre empt what they want or need so I can save it for Christmas. I am the opposite to you in thinking about birthday/Christmas presents too - Christmas is way more important present wise in our family and birthdays are more about days out and experiences.

I can honestly say as they get older, and they are still little, I do by less and less toys between these occasions. I just don't see the want or need to buy toys throughout the year and it always confuses me when people say they do that. I just stock up very well at Christmas with the view to mainly see them through the next year, but it does take planning. The exception obviously is craft supplies, so should always be stocked up at all times :)

I don’t buy much during the year in the way of toys and games but we do go away and spend money on treats such as eating out and activities. If DD’s want something they can use Christmas/birthday money of saved pocket money. So we do kind of spend quite a lot on Christmas (not as much as some it seems).

I dont usually spend crazy amounts on my dc, it can be anything from £150-£250 usually (birthdays and Christmas). This year I spent £500 each plus £100 on stocking gifts. It included a Nintendo Switch Lite and a game each.

My reasoning was that they didn't have a birthday party, our summer holiday was cancelled and our trip to visit their grandmother and cousins (who live abroad) was also cancelled. They haven't been to a movie this year, soft play or done any other activity that we usually do. No panto, theatre trips etc and they didn't complain about it, even once. I just decided to spend the extra money we saved on Christmas and spoil them. Usually they only receive gifts at Christmas and birthdays.

I buy clothes and shoes when needed obviously. She sometimes has small things through year but it generally either waits till bday/Xmas or she saves with pocket money.

Mine are older and we don't buy throughout the year really (will buy replacement art supplies, obviously school equipment and clothes when they need them). They have had perhaps £350 spent on them but DS has a new bike and helmet which was £190 then most of his other presents were £25+ each so it soon mounts up. Dd asked for an art desk so that was just over £100 so she probably has only had £250, maybe £300 at a push. I haven't kept a close eye on it this year, I usually write down as we but things and the price but didn't

I usually buy some small toys and lots of craft things/play dough etc throughout the year but then save any big requests for Christmas, except this year where we went a bit mad at the start of lockdown and spent around £1K on things for the garden for our 4 and 1 year old DDs. DC both have summer birthdays so it’s a good gap between Christmas and Birthdays. I don’t spend as much on birthdays as I do at Christmas as that’s how my parents did things, we usually do an expensive experience for birthdays as they both fall in summer holidays like a short break with a theme park trip in etc. We don’t do clothes or shoes at Christmas as I don’t think these are gifts, although we have bought DD a ballet outfit as it was on her list and she wants to start dancing once things open up properly. This year the main gifts are barbie dreamhouse for DD4 and new toy kitchen for DD1 as the old one was falling apart. We’ve also got them a 2 seater electric ride on which was £450. We’ve probably spent another £100 on the toddler on top and another £200ish on eldest DD. I track prices throughout the year as I can’t stand buying something for more than it usually costs, so got the Dreamhouse for £170 and the kitchen was £30 on sale down from £100.

I would never buy ‘ pants or socks’ and things I see listed here as gifts. To me that’s basic essentials. Same with a toothbrush..

Generally I think Xmas if for buying just a few select items someone really wants and the odd luxury. But basics for small children like clothing, art stuff, books, garden bits all bought as and when.

I mean it’s a bit weird buying a bucket and spade as a gift in December if your first Sandy beach holiday is in August, I would just buy it at the beach that week

Yes I don't buy much through the year. Strangely, they don't really ask for stuff (that is changing slowly as eldest is almost 13, although she gets pocket money and that seems to keep her happy). I think the stuff they get for Christmas and Birthday's lasts them. I buy clothes when they need, but that doesn't seem that often either these days.

This year hasn't been the same as previous years. At the start of lockdown I bought stacks of science books, and signed us up for nat Geo kids magazine. I got lots of paper and craft stuff that is normally a treat.
Previously my children have had quite modest requests (one year they both wanted a suitcase on wheels as their main present, kids are odd). This year one is getting a kids smart watch with a lot of game features, and one is getting a tablet. They get lots of Lego and toys from other people so we are just doing modest stockings (bath bombs, books, chocolate). The years they had very modest main presents they had more in their stockings (eg CDs).

We have 1 teen and spend a lot on Christmas presents. We also buy during the year - shoes / trainers / makeup / clothes / coats (hah! as if she wears them), books / art supplies

For Christmas we don't give those things as presents apart from books or the odd very specific branded hoody or merchandise from something she likes.

We give things she wants rather than needs. In recent years the main present has been technology - phone, airpods, tv this year..

And then other stuff that she will enjoy - hotel chocolat velevtizer, impractical platform trainers, merch hoody / tshirt / backpack
special beauty things - make up brushes, palette from a brand she can't usually afford etc. Unusual snack foods from Japan / USA etc so I guess 'luxury' items as a teen would perceive them (not my idea of luxury)

Most toys and computer games are bought for birthdays/Christmas. Given for my son, they are both 3 months apart (October and December), we tend to sometimes buy things around Easter (e.g. a new bike this year). For us that spaced things out, as he wasn't going to a Switch and a new bike both at Christmas!!!