Anyone else wincing at the cost of things?

[29andLost]

Nearly £300 for this and there doesn't even look like much there!
That's with shopping around, using coupons and sales 😖

I agree! I saw a thread the other day - lots of people budgeting 50-100£ and I just thought I must be doing something wrong as that would be 2-3 things (my children are only young too so not expensive teenage brands/tech!)

I haven't actually totted up what I've spent on each DC, I'm not sure if I'd be pleasantly surprised or horrified.
I'll go and do it and come back.

Absolutely. I keep nearly buying things and then changing my mind because it feels too expensive, even when it’s a special offer. I need to get my head straight about how much stuff actually costs now.

Oh FFS it's about £250 each for the big ones and £100 for the wee one.
Thats outwith stockings and new jammies on Christmas Eve.

We've also got a Christmas trip which started off as me booking tickets for wicked which was going to be a down and up in the same day kind of trip but has escalated to two nights in a hotel, royal yacht britannia, Edinburgh dungeon, zoo trip and our wedding.
Most of that is covered by gifts to be fair as grandparents and family members are buying them vouchers for the various trips and visits.

I've only got to buy a few bits for my daughter and youngest son's stockings and their Christmas sweeties, which I will do nearer the time as they'll get eaten.

there's nothing 'wrong' with budgeting £50-£100. Children need to learn to be grateful for what they get.

Yeah stuff like Christmas Eve PJs or boxes we don't do and never have. Wasn't a thing when I was growing up or DH so doesn't cross our minds to do this (and add to the cost....)

Well I think we will have to lower our expectations of Christmas. This won't improve

Little things have 'gone' in our house and have been going as kids got older

They are not missed

We no longer buy loads like in the photo. A couple of bigger things and a couple of smaller

The stocking ends up costing more so that's gone now. Tree chocs at £3 for 5 pieces....gone. Don't buy Christmas crackers anymore. Don't change colour schemes.

Never did Xmas eve boxes or pj's either!

No, I just don't spend money on things I can't afford tbh. Financial stability is more important than showering kids with gifts they'll forget about in a week.

U changed colour schemes!!!!!

I like them to have new jammies on christmas eve, I had them way back when as a nipper and it was one of my favourite things about Christmas Eve.
They don't get Christmas jammies as such as they'll be worn right the year through.

The £250/£100 has got them six really good gifts each, Hopefully they'll love them.

I (don't think) I usually spend as much as that but we've had the worst year ever and I want it to end with lots of fun and experiences and not lots more stuff.

If you have the money then go for it. Luckily our 4 love whatever they receive and enjoy the family time more and games etc so for 4 ours is £100

Aw I absolutely love buying my children loads. It's my biggest down fall because they don't get much through the year
Don't do stockings

This was last Christmas 🙈 but I've always loved a big pile for them and I would never go into debt for it

I am trying to scale it down this year though

I don't think that looks like a lot OP, certainly not loads.... you are doing better than you think.

@PinkRoses1245 No I mean I must be shopping wrong- people had brought 10+ Bigish items but saying they’d spent about £50. I wish I was able to scout such good deals - I never seem to find them! I personally don’t really budget as such and just get 4-5 things each I think they will really like- sometimes that’s more or less but I just try and avoid adding too much stuff in my house!

We usually do £150 ish per dc - £30 on stocking and the rest as their main gift/gifts then other family members buy for them. This year the twins are in secondary and need laptops so that’ll be their main gift and they won’t get much else as it’s much more than usual budget. Never understand the stress about buying lots though, I’d far rather get them a few things they’ll love. Their recent birthday I got them a nice going out bag each (different colours to go with their tastes) and they love them. They cost £17 but were their favourite gifts.

Things have gone up alot! I just thought it was because my dds have got older.

My budget is £300 each inc stockings. My dds are 15 and 11. I'm trying this year to focus on what they would really like rather than buying extras that don't get used and end up a waste of money.

I have got alot for my eldest as shes into manga/anime. I've been scouring vinted daily with alerts set and got all the books on her wishlist. RRP would have been £300+. I paid £125 all in perfect condition. I've bought her merchandise from vinted (figures etc) plus some pin badges, stickers etc from temu and shein. So alot of for the money but all things she will love and use.

Dd2 is trickier as not really into much right now but we are thinking a TV for her room. I will be waiting till black Friday to see what offers are about. But I have been checking Facebook marketplace too. I'm also hunting a free/cheap mirror to do up with lights (picked up for free).

Stockings are budgeted at £15-20 each.
We usually only give one gift from us but DH got a bit over excited already 😂

I think you are buying too soon. Things seem cheaper around end of October, then there is another dip late November beginning December. Also look out for Black Friday deals.

Jesus my kids (2 and 4) must be hard done by. they get one present each and a bigger one to share (this year prob a 2nd hand electric piano so they can start lessons next year). I do buy educational items/puzzles through the year though.

Prices have gone up and the value of money down, I read that £100 in 2000 would be about £215 now. It doesn't seem that long ago even if it is 20 odd years!
Dd gets one main present (bike, trampoline etc) and then a decent stocking. This year I think I'll end up spending about £230ish as we're getting her a Barbie Dreamhouse and luckily I found a 2022 version at a great price about a month ago.

That looks like a really fun quality haul OP! I think your children will be delighted. 🙂

It's crazy how things have crept. We have a Christmas Eve box but it just contains the same sleighbell each year, reindeer food and a new book (second hand from Abe or Amazon). We have a special Christmas Eve nightie which just gets shorter with her (from Smock). The tree is the same each year from treasured ornaments - i only thought the celebs changed colour scheme!

Most everything has shot up in price - and won't be coming down. Vinted (and similar sites) are your friend though. I've been buying (and selling) things on there for the last couple of months - and made money and got some great gifts too.

Where are you shopping, I work at Tkmaxx and looking at what you have there if you'd shopped at Tkmaxx I would have guessed at £180.

My DS's birthday is near Christmas so it's a bit of a double whammy for me!

I have already bought quite a few 'brand new with tags' stocking fillers off Vinted at a fraction of the original price - all in original packaging. It is really worth a look.

But yes, tech is just off the scale expensive.