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.

Yes agree @Legofigure. Its like saying you bought your teen an iPhone 3 ten years ago for £50 and that would only cost £25 now.

Well yes, sure - but an iPhone 3 wouldn't be much use to anyone today! And the equivalent gift in modern days would be more like buying an iPhone 7 or 8 version which would be more than £50.

Between 150-200.
But I have an exceptionally small family and I'm a single parent so what they get off me is pretty much it.
I don't however set this figure in stone, I won't buy to get to this amount... I just make sure I put that away just incase!

You are ENTIRELY missing the point.

I got a bargain (regardless of when) because otherwise we could NOT have had it.

Modernise it we do NOT have a PS5 because we cant get one in budget... I dont understand how your cant grasp that not everyone can just 'up the budget' - you are LUCKY not everyone else is.

I can't AFFORD £500, no matter how many times you say a brand new console costs that its NOT DOABLE thats why we DONT HAVE IT we certainly cant afford 2 thats why we do not have them.

Its not because we are superior martyrs choosing to be faux humble because we dont want to look 'lower class' but equally my DS isn't a horrifically done by charity case for not having the brand new latest phone or console though.

He still plays with his friends online on exactly the same minecraft they have and isn't behind his peers at all.

You comments that you it cost more than £100 to get a big item are simply wrong, we have managed to get something decently big every year within our budget the £60 xbox is one example you have latched on to but if it wasnt £60 we would have got something else big IN OUR BUDGET.

@mam0918 I don't think the posters talking about being faux-humble are referring to people in your situation- they are referring to other posters back in the thread who made comments about how spending less tends to be a 'lifestyle choice' of 'people like them' who are very well off, and that people with larger budgets tend to be those without very much in general. You sound like you are doing well at providing for your children with the budget you have.

No, I am not missing the point. I haven’t commented on anyone’s budget, my own included, and I certainly haven’t said anyone should spend more or that they need to buy a new console. Please quote where I have? I didn’t mention £100 or buying a brand new console either, did I? I don’t think I am the one struggling to comprehend things.

I have pointed out you cannot compare what you paid for a gift 8 years ago to now, because, well, you can’t. Your argument is flawed, things now cost more than they once did and technology changes. Yes, you got a bargain, but you cannot compare it to now. Someone buying an equivalent Xbox now would not get one for £60, regardless of how much of a bargain it was. You were the one that specifically mentioned the £60 Xbox, if you didn’t want anyone to comment on it perhaps you shouldn’t post about it.

There is a difference between buying the newest, top of the range model and one that is older but not obsolete. There is middle ground you know. Not all games support cross platform compatibility and not all games are available on Xbox 360 including some commonly played by teens. For example, many teens play FIFA 21 or 22 with friends online which they wouldn’t be able to with an Xbox 360, they wouldn’t even be able to play it offline.

No need for the shouty capitals.

You are coming across as judgemental towards those who choose to spend more. Just as judgemental as those who spend more so think everyone should spend more.

I dont care if people spend more its the fact that several who spend more are attack us with lower budgets saying you cant have lower budgets with teens, of course you can.

8 years ago an xbox 360 for £60 when it was RRP. over £200 was relative as a bargain but regardless of that we got it because it was IN BUDGET, Im not sure why you think because its older now that changes anything.

I live by the argos hub and the have a clearence outlet, I could have got a new switch lite for £98 in their 50% off sale a few weeks ago, I didnt because we dont need one and my kids show zero interest in nintendo but I could have got it if I wanted - a fairly equal equivilent in modern times.

And its not 'laughable' at all... its simple a FACT of what happened.

You are trying to discredit my REAL life experiance for some utterly bizaare reason based on dates (as if it being a few years ago suddenly makes it impossible or untrue) but it cant be 'flawed' because its true regardless of if you want to believe it.

Totally killing the mood of the Christmas board guys 🙄

No quotes then. Strange that.

I am not discrediting you. I am not disputing you got a Xbox 360 for £60 (again please quote where I have). I am saying it isn’t comparable, which it isn’t. Your comparison is flawed “regardless of if you want to believe it.“ I am not the only one on this thread to think that. Your ‘bizzare’ use of capitals doesn’t change that.

8 years changes a lot. It changes the price of things, it changes what technology is obsolete and what is useable. It is laughable you think a Xbox 360 bought 8 years ago is comparable to buying a Xbox 360 now.

If you really thought the model was irrelevant you wouldn’t have bought a Xbox 360 8 years ago you would have bought a Xbox, the previous model, which would have been cheaper.

You have just proved my point, you can’t buy a games console that isn’t obsolete for £60.

No one has “attacked you”.

probably around £1000 between 2DC. More on pre teen as needs a new bike (I’ll then sell on old bike so may recoup £100ish) less on younger one as no big single gift.

I have tried to rein it in a bit over last few years but can’t help myself.

Ignore me answering the question when I hadn’t realised the whole thread had descended into a bun fight… 🙄

I will have £500 saved and i think £100 in gift cards kicking about
Thatll cover 2 kids 11 and 6, parents, neice and nephew and dh
Definitely reigning it in this year no expensive advent calendars this year for a start

Normally say £250 but if I am honest it tends to creep up-to £300. This year he has asked for a Chrome book as he wants to be able to do school work on it and also practice coding, so it’s going to be a more expensive year.

I know it’s a lot, but he is an only so we can afford to buy him more. Also we are massively into Christmas here and save all year for it. I aim to have £1500 saved to spent on Christmas but we don’t go on big holidays or drive, Christmas is our choice for splurging.

Usually £200 each on presents and £50 on each stocking. They’re young, so it’s definitely going to be more expensive. This year a new bike is on the list for the older one and a kindle fire for the younger one!! So those will be from me and DH and then Santa will bring other presents.

I love a toy sale and keep an eye on prices on Amazon, so it stretches quite far.

Nope, it needed your post to get it back on track!

I usually budget £200 each for my 3 including stockings. I have always come in under that.

I'm budgeting the same again this year but planning to hopefully come in closer to £150 each.

They're in that age bracket where they want pricier gifts, video games etc so they need to get used to smaller piles.

4 kids, the older 3 about £800 each and my youngest probably £400

£150 each on my three adult DC. Over the years we’ve had lots of they all got a PS1/2/3/4/5 or a new TV years.

We put money aside for holdidays and Xmas.
By Xmas we should have around 500 but that's also for food and any shows/panto. To be honest probably just panto this year at cheap local place.

Agree with others re spending. I make a list,get them to male one ,they know fc gives surprises...

And they get at least one thing off fc list.

Previous years about £500 for my son ( now aged 11)
this year will be ALOT less . He has most things he needs and I’m not buying for the sake of it .
I will focus more on having a holiday with him next year instead

£200 per child or so (aged 3 and 2).

That allows for a main toy, a few smaller ones, books/jigsaws and then I’ll likely add some clothes in there of some nicer bits than their every day comfies.

They get spoiled by their grandparents so that’s why I’m adding clothes in as I know they’re not typical “gifts” for toddlers, but it’s a good time to add some new bits in for the new year.

Myself and my partner usually have the same budget for ourselves, too.

Also, regarding the disagreement up thread.

As long as people aren’t getting into debt over Christmas, people can spend what they like. Some parents like to buy throughout the year, others like to focus more at Christmas and birthdays. Everyone has a different budget and priorities.

I see the same comments every single year and it grates on me so much. Just because you think someone is spending too much/too little, you don’t need to vocalise it on a thread which is clearly a bit of fun.

Forgive me as I may have already posted this but I'm quite excited that I've got my budget down quite well. My gift list was at £900+ for 3 children but I have realised that I am being a bit snobby and am buying them things I want them to have or using suppliers I want to use when in reality I can get them a cheaper haul which they will enjoy more. TBH usually around £300 per child is what I expect to spend but this year with cost of living it probably won't be possible. I'm happy though that some of the things on the Christmas list have simply moved to the Birthday list which I admittedly don't put as much thought into gift wise (in our house birthdays are more about the day out and Christmas is about the presents).

Sometimes it helps to rein it in and remember how happy kids are with relatively simple things at young ages. I haven't even cut down the number of things I've just swapped some rather expensive things for cheaper ones.

Arguments aside, omg I just bought one of these for my daughter's birthday next week and my eyes did water at the £32 price tag

Must try and bargain hunt more.

To be fair I was very happy with how much I just bought for my DD for a total of pretty much £65 on the dot. Stuff that she definitely wants, and a really nice assortment of different types of things. with £35 more for a £100 budget I would be able to get her a giant craft tub which she would go crazy for and quite a few trendy/cute stocking fillers.

I was going to say that I'm sure you wouldn't be able to do the same for older children but I don't think that's necessarily true. Sure it won't be a pile of tech but lots of kids have interests you can tap into to make a really nice and genuinely wanted pile of presents, even if it doesn't include big ticket items.

You could be me, that is exactly the same as what we do! Same age children too!