Page 4 | Christmas budget

snowmanshoes · 30/11/2021 21:56

I agree with maybe putting some towards a few treats ie ice skating/cinema/bowling with an unmumsnetty trip for a hot choc afterwards maybe??
I do understand the feeling of wanting to make an impact especially when there aren’t many gifts coming from elsewhere so yes buy what you feel she would love and don’t feel guilty about it. It is also ok to treat yourself too

Welcometothejingles · 30/11/2021 22:02

Don't embarrass your dd by walking round in scruffy clothes ffs while you blow £500 on her! I say this kindly, take care of yourself as well. Spend £150 - £200 on your dd and then spend a £100 on yourself. The remainder can be for her birthday or towards the rainy day fund top up.

Definitely buy your mum & dB token gifts especially if they're hosting you as its good manners. M&S do nice bottles of wine, chocolates & biscuits for under a tenner.

ChangeNameagain2 · 30/11/2021 22:08

Lego friends £80
Harry Potter Lego £90
Ipad £150
X2 LOL £80
Polly pocket backpack £40
Earphones/ipad cover £30
X2 jojo siwa bows £20
Harry Potter calender and diary £10

It's easily done, the money all adds up. That's for a 9yr old. One of 4. The 15yr old is getting Jordans which at £200 at least. I don't know why people are so horrified at the cost of things. If you have saved your own money, spend it how you want.

Comedycook · 30/11/2021 22:16

@ChangeNameagain2

Lego friends £80 Harry Potter Lego £90 Ipad £150 X2 LOL £80 Polly pocket backpack £40 Earphones/ipad cover £30 X2 jojo siwa bows £20 Harry Potter calender and diary £10

It's easily done, the money all adds up. That's for a 9yr old. One of 4. The 15yr old is getting Jordans which at £200 at least. I don't know why people are so horrified at the cost of things. If you have saved your own money, spend it how you want.

In this example, I wouldn't buy my DC both Lego sets and the iPad...they'd get one of those items and then the smaller bits.

BeardyButton · 30/11/2021 22:42

Spend your money in the way you see fit. There will always be people who think “that’s too much”. There will be people who spend far more.

Live according to your own lights.

Malibuismysecrethome · 30/11/2021 22:53

Perfectly reasonable, Christmas is for children

Ragwort · 30/11/2021 22:57

I think it's very sad that you feel guilty about spending money on yourself, don't you respect yourself? Don't you feel you are worth it? You are sending an odd message to your DD if you don't value yourself and only want to spend money on her. How do you think your DD sees you? Just as someone who buys her lots of stuff?

Original poster

Beachbreak2411 · 30/11/2021 23:16

@ChangeNameagain2

Lego friends £80 Harry Potter Lego £90 Ipad £150 X2 LOL £80 Polly pocket backpack £40 Earphones/ipad cover £30 X2 jojo siwa bows £20 Harry Potter calender and diary £10

It's easily done, the money all adds up. That's for a 9yr old. One of 4. The 15yr old is getting Jordans which at £200 at least. I don't know why people are so horrified at the cost of things. If you have saved your own money, spend it how you want.

iPad for £150??? Where did you find that please? X

OP posts:

Original poster

Beachbreak2411 · 30/11/2021 23:19

@Welcometothejingles

Don't embarrass your dd by walking round in scruffy clothes ffs while you blow £500 on her! I say this kindly, take care of yourself as well. Spend £150 - £200 on your dd and then spend a £100 on yourself. The remainder can be for her birthday or towards the rainy day fund top up.

Definitely buy your mum & dB token gifts especially if they're hosting you as its good manners. M&S do nice bottles of wine, chocolates & biscuits for under a tenner.

I don’t embarrass my dd by looking scruffy. I’m a good seamstress and fix things and everything is always clean and tidy. I can let out seams or bring them in to fit me. I darn holes and embroider over to make them pretty.

OP posts:

Lacesaskew · 30/11/2021 23:40

Fwiw I think 500£ is too much for a 10 year old. I would put that money away for when she is a teen as things only get more expensive then: phones, tech, travel, study etc.

MrsBerthaRochester · 30/11/2021 23:45

Do you darn the holes in your shoes? This post is hmm.

GreenLunchBox · 01/12/2021 00:11

@CoffeeRunner

My DD is 10 & I've spent £350 without even trying. She already has a switch so 2 games for that have cost £100 alone.

I don't understand these "oh we're very wealthy but wouldn't dream of spending more than £3.65 per child" posts either.

I think well off people buy their kids stuff throughout the year as and when they need/want them, whereas less well off people will save up and wait until Xmas and bdays to buy things.

GreenLunchBox · 01/12/2021 00:13

Why have you not had a hair cut in 8 years?

KeyboardWorriers · 01/12/2021 00:21

Why not spend some of the money on adventures together?

It's an insane amount to spend.

We are very definitely not skint and I can't fathom spending that much on Christmas.

ChangeNameagain2 · 01/12/2021 00:39

beach it's not an actual apple ipad, it's a lenovo tablet, I just call them all ipads! And at 9, she knows no difference.

Cherryrainbow · 01/12/2021 08:43

You can split it however you want, I assume the amount is just for presents not anything else like food, decs etc? I was going to suggest maybe keeping some aside for some Xmas events/ day trips/ meals out or something to experience with your daughter.

We spent about 200 each on our boys and 100 on put baby girl this year (that's with my OH paying half towards as well, so we put in 250 each).

crochetmonkey74 · 01/12/2021 09:08

I think once you have saved a big amount it's always good to hold some back- I think a budget of £250 would be good- That would enable a big present or two and lots of smaller ones and stocking fillers.
Then keep the rest for whatever you want to do with it - or build a bigger emergency fund. Especially as her uncles treat her well anyway

mam0918 · 01/12/2021 13:00

@Beachbreak2411

I have £500 saved and probably £150 spare from this months pay check. I’m a skint single mum and saving the above has been hard. Am I completely unreasonable spending the £500 on my daughter and splitting the rest in my parents, brother and my boyfriend?

You can spend it how you like it's your money but £500 is seriously overkill IMO as I spend less altogether on 3 kids and they get loads.

mam0918 · 01/12/2021 13:04

Im also not remotely rich hense not spending £1500 on gifts... you have to either be rich or bad with money and obsessed with keeping up with the Jones to do that and since your saving and cant afford to buy basic for yourself Im going to guess your the latter.

UniBallEye · 01/12/2021 13:10

I think it's actually very easy to spend that sort of money, if you have it.
We have a teen now and even filling a stocking for her is expensive as it can't be filled with cheap stocking filler type toys anymore.

We've always prioritised presents for dd, without going into debt, we never use credit cards for Christmas.

If you have it and you're happy to spend on her, then do.

And I hope you both have a great Christmas

Daisy829 · 01/12/2021 13:16

My DD is 10 & ive spent about £350 on her. She’s got loads for that. I would save some if you can it’s a v generous budget for 1 child. Maybe even keep £50 for a treat for yourself. Well done in saving so much.

Egghead68 · 01/12/2021 13:42

It is your money but I think £500 is a ridiculous amount to spend on one child, even if you can afford it. Why not spend £150 and keep the rest as an emergency buffer?

Welcometothejingles · 01/12/2021 14:26

Honestly spend that spare £150 on yourself, new clothes and a haircut. You deserve it.

Trixiefirecracker · 01/12/2021 14:35

When did Christmas become about so much materialism? Does a child really need £500 spent on them? It’s just perpetuating this rubbish that we have to overload our kids with lots of expensive tat that ‘they can’t do without’. Why not create some nice memories instead? I’ve skating, tickets to the panto, etc

Tiredalwaystired · 01/12/2021 14:45

Not skint, but spend £200 ish each on the children and £30-£40 on the adults

Never had a word of complaint - they’re always happy with their lot (and also get loads from other people anyway)

They’re 13 and 11

This seems a massive amount to spend on gifts if you’re skint unless there’s a real hearts desire item in there.