What's your budget for your DC?

[crymeout]

Hi all,

I just wondered how much you're budgeting for your DC's this year? Obviously the cost of living has gone up so it might be less for us. Usually budget £500 for presents and stockings for 2DC (age 3&5) but I think that DP is thinking more in the £300/350 range (for both of them). Also, do you split the budget equally or that they have the same amount to open? TIA.

I have a rough budget in mind depending on what they might want/need (DD ages 13&10)
This year both want SUP’s so it will be expensive but I know that they will get plenty of use and we can afford it.
Last year my youngest only asked for a football shirt and a specific box of chocolates so was much cheaper.

We are similar to you @SillyFruit with the want need wear read thing. We also always buy a family game at Christmas which the DC open on Christmas Eve and we play together.

We have 4 DC and spend up to £100 each (it will be less this year) and that includes presents from us, present from "father Christmas" (my teens keep up the pretence for younger siblings) and stockings. Stockings are always chocolate coins my teens would riot if I stopped the coins 😂 socks sweets, a hot chocolate spoon thing and a small gift eg Starbuck voucher for older ones, toy for younger ones.

We’ve always had around £100-150 budget for Christmas. Our kids have also had Saturday jobs from 13 so any big tech Xboxes etc they’ve bought themselves.

this year not really doing Christmas but we are going on a big holiday on the 31st December in stead. (Due to our jobs we always have your summer holiday in January)

I never set a budget because if you set one you feel you have to spend it and end up buying lots of filler gifts that are unneeded and unappreciated. I buy a main gift, maybe 5 smaller under tree presents and stocking gifts. I reckon it probably comes to around £150. I'll spend far less on the 1yo. Family and friends always go nuts so the pile of presents under the tree is ridiculous whatever we do. If you have money to spend at Christmas, go to the theatre, a trip to see FC, go to a Christmas lights show, etc. DC1 never remembers what he got for previous Christmas presents but does always remember the Christmassy "experiences"

God knows this year. My ten year old wants cash for a cinema trip and visit to the comic shop, then some bristol board and some of his favourite art pens. he hates unnecessary stuff (he's autistic and let's me know politely he would have preferred the £3 to the pair of socks lol)

8 year old,.don't know. He loves polymer clay and modelling, gardening and roblox.

4 her old will just want the one or two toys, he'll get some books and he's asked.for a cuddly ginger cat 🐱. I can't really go over £100 each.

£100 ceiling each for a 4 and 8 yo.

Thanks to the PP who mentioned Deal Boy!! :)

3dc 9,6,3 about 2k but i started xmas shopping last month.
I like to spoil my kids

I don't set one as what they wants varies in price, the last 3 years have been expensive tech ( pc, laptop, PS5) but this year I have no intention of spending similar amounts as I don't think they want anything like that. I do think people saying that their budget is their maximum is quite a sensible idea.

No budget for us, I buy throughout the year in sales and deals as much as I can. Some years one will have far more than the others spent on them, over time it evens out. As long as they get their most wanted gifts everyone is happy. I do try and make the number of gifts even though.

This year probably £200 for DS including stocking. Last year costs spiralled with a Switch and a few games, so was easily £400+, but I knew that wasn’t a normal year. The Switch will last a good few years I hope before he asks for another similarly expensive present.

I was thinking about £400 for each child (9, 11, 14) and my husband (41 😂). £100 for my Mum.

We don't set a budget per se, it all depends on what we can afford that year and what the kids need as well as want. We tend to get bigger gifts at Christmas and birthdays are smaller celebrations, so I do go a little overboard compared to what I grew up with! I usually settle on about 12 gifts for each child plus a stocking, there's usually a build-a-bear, a couple of specific playsets, specific dolls in a series my girls are collecting (like a PP said, some dolls cost a lot! This year my girls have asked for 3 special editions that haven't been released in the UK, so when they were reduced to £35 inc post I ordered them from Amazon EU). I'll also include some schleich figures, activity books and so on. I'm very much of the opinion that if we can afford it, we should buy good quality items that last and my kids take good care of their toys and play with them year round. I'll probably spend around £350 per child this year, we save money throughout the year to be able to afford it. We don't have a large family so the kids only get what we give them. I realise we're in a very fortunate position to be able to do this currently, we've not always been in this situation!

😮

😲

About £100 these days (16 year old). Also has money or a present from other family. When he was younger it was less, first Christmas was second hand toys, then typically £30 to £50 until the teen years.

Obviously that could buy more up to 15 years ago.

At 3 and 5 they won't know what things cost, so same amount to open I'd say. DS typically had lego set, book, new pyjamas, chocolate at age 4 to 8, second lego set from grandparents, a small present from other relatives.

Your example of the Barbie Reveal Cuties they are on Ebay new for £17.99 (granded £4 p&p but still) nowhere near £40.

People who paid £40 for it as per my exact words clearly did not research or prepare or bargain hunt.

A lack of skill only the privilaged can truely afford to have.

whatever suits your budget.
really annoys me people get cross and call large amounts “obscene” or “ridiculous”. If you can afford it’s your business. Don’t over stretch yourself to keep up with Facebook or Instagram perfect lives xx merry Christmas x

I have 1 DD who's birthday is October (she will be 9) I used to buy way too much with a budget of £250. Now I literally buy what she wants. So I get her to chose a few things and buy them. Last year she got a switch and a couple games that was it. This year she wants a new dressing table which I will get then a few wee bits like slime and a couple teddies she seen in b&m. She has loads and has said she wants rid of her dolls 😔 she is obsessed with stitch so I'll get her some wee stitch bits she does need a new bike as hers is mega small and she loves her bike and needs a new scooter but she hasn't asked for them. She gets spoilt rotten off the family so I try to keep presents minimum now. Save for the teenage years 😂

I usually spend around £25 on stockings and around £100 on other things. We are lucky to have a big family so they get around £250 worth of gifts from other people, although this year I am going to suggest to some family members that we stop exchanging gifts (to save money) so it may be less.

I have a budget of £50 for my DH and £50 for gifts for the local toy drive but this will go up if we stop exchanging with the aforementioned family members.

Last year was our dughter's first Christmas and she was nearly 1. We bought her a bundle of toys for £20 (second hand), plus some books from the charity shop.

This year, I've bought some second hand books again, I'm making her a teddy and we are going to take her for some days out instead of buying actual gifts