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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

How much do you spend on your teenager at Xmas?

24 replies

Twobigsapphires · 23/10/2023 16:36

And are you cutting back due to col crisis. I have three teens (well actually one is now 20). Religiously tried to keep to £200 per dc at Xmas, £250 max but struggling to see how that covers more than a couple of presents now.

When do you switch from treating them like a ‘kid’ with a good pile of presents, to an adult I.e. one or two gifts with a much lower spend? Or is it a gradual decline? My eldest works full time and earns a good salary so I’m wondering how much to spend on him now he can essentially buy what he wants, but will struggle with my own mum guilt of not getting him as much as his siblings.

OP posts:

Nodashians · 23/10/2023 17:07

I found teens were the peak Christmas spending years, Xboxes etc, then I decreased the spending and froze the amount when they got to about 20/21.

reluctantbrit · 23/10/2023 17:45

It always depends on what is wanted/needed.

Last year DD got a new phone, this year it will be more cheaper things like books, make up, some clothing and jewellery (the girl is like a magpie), luckily she loves simple and costume jewellery.

I don't think I will treat her like an adult relative until she has a job after uni.

jocktamsonsbairn · 23/10/2023 20:15

My DS is travelling so will be away and just getting money. As he'll be needing it I'm keeping to the £200 budget even though he's 21. Will start reducing it when they are properly earning!

Dd is 20 and will be getting £200 spent on her - £150 has already been spent on a Taylor Swift ticket so there will be no piles of presents here despite the budgets!!

Lovemusic82 · 23/10/2023 20:36

My dc are 17 and 19, they haven’t asked for anything and I don’t plan on spending a fortune. Dd1 is at uni in a tiny room, has an iPad, laptop and phone so doesn’t really need anything big. Dd2 hasn’t asked for anything yet. I will probably spend around £150 on each. We do stockings which dd1 says is the best bit, usually fill them with favourite food items, a drink bottle, socks etc..

CoffeeChocolateWine · 23/10/2023 20:51

I have one teen DS who turns 15 next month and two younger DDs (11 and 5).

I keep looking at the list of things we'd like to get him (stuff he wants too but hobby-related so there is a certain 'need' there too) and his wishlist (basically PC equipment and cool stuff for his gaming set-up) and trying to work out a balance. It's hard 😩

We can't spend more than £250 each on birthday and Christmas (that's really stretching it) but even that doesn't go very far when he wants and needs a few big items. And then there's trying to keep it vaguely fair with his sisters who don't need such expensive things yet (although older DD has asked for a more expensive item this year).

At least I won't have more than two teenagers at the same time! I'm hoping that by the time my little one sets her sights on pricier things, DS will have a great job and earning £££ so won't need so much stuff from us and can maybe afford to buy his sisters nice things too!

Sugarfree23 · 23/10/2023 21:20

I certainly think when they are earning their own money sort of around 20/21 is a good time to scale it back.

Now I'm a while off that stage but it's something I have thought about. I have a 6 year gap between my kids. So at the moment I don't necessarily spend the same on them. But stick to the same number of things to open. And that's probably the thing that ill stick to until they are both adults.

Sometimes the things to open can be small things box of matchmakers, for young adults you could get box of beer or bottle of wine, novelty socks etc.

Soapyspuds · 23/10/2023 21:33

but struggling to see how that covers more than a couple of presents now

Maybe buy cheaper stuff?

Seriously79 · 23/10/2023 21:33

2 kids DS 15 and DD 4. We have decided they will both get £100.

DS is old enough to understand this, it's his b'day 2 weeks before Christmas, and DD will be happy with anything pink!

Hotandsunny · 23/10/2023 21:37

I have a £100 budget for my 16 yo's main present(s) He wants a CD player which will use it all up. He then will get a stocking (around £20) some clothes (£50) toiletries, sweet treats, books and a few small surprises (£50ish)

I also have an 11yo DD otherwise I would probably cut it back a bit.

Original poster

Twobigsapphires · 23/10/2023 21:39

Luckily mine don’t ask for much but it all adds up. Dd18 wants some cash to go towards a mini break over Easter with her friends, I’ll probably give her £100-£150. Have already got her some new walking boots she picked out, £50, a hoody £40 and by the time I’ve got her a few stocking filler bits that’s it isn’t it?

OP posts:

Original poster

Twobigsapphires · 23/10/2023 21:40

Seriously79 · 23/10/2023 21:33

2 kids DS 15 and DD 4. We have decided they will both get £100.

DS is old enough to understand this, it's his b'day 2 weeks before Christmas, and DD will be happy with anything pink!

What are you planning to get ds? My ds is 16 and clothes etc are so expensive.

OP posts:

Seriously79 · 23/10/2023 21:46

@Twobigsapphires for his b'day he will be getting a laptop.

For Christmas some gym clothes, smellies, books, and maybe cheap trainers. He gets thoroughly spoilt by his dad, grandparents and extended family, so I know he will get loads of other stuff.

We just had to put a cap on it this year, as everyone knows, things are just so expensive. He's old enough to understand, and to be honest he's a good boy, and he does get it.

stayathomer · 23/10/2023 21:46

Have 4 kids, 2are teens, 13 and 15. 15yo loves runners and I’m literally shuddering that he keeps leaving the Nike website open. I don’t want to give him a pair of runners only but we can’t afford to give any more than that so will have to figure it out

ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 23/10/2023 21:50

I was chatting to Ds1 who is 15yo about this earlier this week. His little brother still enjoys toys, so he gets the big boxes (lots of packaging!) which make up such an impressive looking stack. DS1 has asked for a game for the switch, some headphones and a new school bag. So that’s what he is getting! He wasn’t remotely bothered by the thought of having a very small looking pile as long as he got the headphones (he will get all three things he asked for but he’s clearly focussed on the headphones).

My parents will get him a board games and some theatre tickets (so not impressive looking when wrapped).

I will involve him in other Christmas related things to maintain the Christmas vibe, but I think the days of a stack of gifts has long gone.

BatshitAndBrazen · 23/10/2023 22:02

I have an 18 year old and a 4 year old.

I have already spent over 200 on my teen and that was for a coat and a pair of trainers. I spent 80 on two tickets for a gig. I'll also get her some band merch coz that's what she's into. Other than that, some little bits and pieces and I feel that's enough.

My 4 year old is so much easier to buy for! 😂

junebirthdaygirl · 23/10/2023 22:11

Stopped buying expensive stuff when they starting working their proper job...not holiday jobs. We agreed among ourselves then to keep to a low enough budget for everyone's sake.

TheOwlChronicles · 23/10/2023 22:16

What I spend varies. This year it will be £500 as he's getting a tv. The tv will be around £350, the wall bracket is £70 and I'm adding in sky multi room - so it soon adds up

My eldest is 25 and earns a very good salary and has her own house. So I won't quite match what I'm getting the 17 year old I doubt but I'll still buy what she'd like or what I think she'd like

I'm lucky in that we can afford it although I do start putting away a couple of hundred a month from about august so I don't feel it so much come December

HalfBloodPrincess · 24/10/2023 00:05

I usually save £1000 for Christmas presents so about £250 per child (I have 4 - 20, 18, 6 and 4)

my 2 oldest both have jobs and more disposable income than me this year! So I might cut back on them a bit as they tend to buy everything they want/need themselves.

my younger 2 are both autistic and specialist sensory toys for them that they will love and actually play with cost a fortune, so will stick with the same budget for them, maybe more if there’s something over that I know will get played with.

bullseyeboat · 24/10/2023 00:35

When do you switch from treating them like a ‘kid’ with a good pile of presents, to an adult I.e. one or two gifts with a much lower spend?

When they moved out.

smilesup · 24/10/2023 01:02

£150 each. Mainly second hand stuff. Teens so one big present and some little stuff from vinted etc

Dizzy82 · 24/10/2023 01:11

My son's birthday is Christmas eve, I tend to spend same for both days, about £200. He's 18 this year and has a new computer as a special present which was extra. His last computer's motherboard failed and after using it daily for 7 years it definitely needed replacing.

CeeJay81 · 24/10/2023 09:45

Usually about £200 on my DS14, I'm hoping that the Xbox series S will be on sale for £200 or less on black friday🤞, as that's what he wants. Other than that all he will get is a £20 spent on a stocking. It might not look much but as teenagers, they know how much things cost and DS doesn't care about lots of presents, as long as he has his new Xbox.

Craftqieenie · 14/12/2023 04:02

I have one teen and Iam the only one who buys for my teen. So £500 cash and some small gifts

adventadvent · 14/12/2023 05:11

DS(16) asked for a new steering wheel. That's his main present, he'll have a few bits to open on the day
DS(15) has asked for an expensive aftershave. Again, on the understanding that it's his main present. We have a very small budget this year off around £100 each

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