What does everyone spend on kids

[Flower2025]

Hey, just out of curiosity what does everyone spend on their children at Christmas and what type of things do you tend to get?

I probably spend far too much on mine, but they don't have family (no grandparents and an absent father) to buy for them, so I think that's why I go overboard.

My mum made me a stocking a few years ago and I LOVED it!! Wish that happened every year :D Usually I make a stocking for the DC and DH and mine stays empty. Been actually wondering this year if I should just fill mine myself as FC brings the stockings in our house and I think my oldest is now of an age to question why I didn't have anything. I guess I could always say I'm on the naughty list....

Why does your dh not fill yours??!!

Max £200 for my 11 year old as clothing / football kits are expensive

£80 or possibly less on my 2 year old ,main present is a balance bike from Amazon which was on a prime deal

people say i hate Christmas . I dont , I hate the pressure people put on themselves to give their kids everything. I grew up writing a wish list but was fully aware I wouldn't get everything on the list

Mainly because he's an extremely unorganised, chronically forgetful idiot! Also stockings are not normal in his culture and he's not quite adapted to it yet. Totally not on his radar until my stocking goes up and he inevitably turns a bit green and you know he's forgotten again!

He's pretty great in all other areas though so I'll forgive him not being very good at tangible generosity :P

Does he get you a gift of any kind?

Probably €400 - €500 each on my two aged 15 and 13, based on what I’ve picked up so far and the “ideas” list I’ve got. It’s more than some, less than others but we can afford it and the dc always appreciate what they get.

My parents went all out at Christmas when we were young and we loved it so I suppose there’s an element of repeating what we know. Plus I admit I like them to have a nice range of gifts to open on Christmas morning. While this year neither is in need of a phone or laptop/console upgrade, the things they are into still aren’t exactly cheap.

Send him a Amazon wishlist Beansandneedles or some online links to things youd like then all he has to do is press a button to buy. It's not right that you have an empty stocking every year and it's something the kids will notice. Does he buy you a present at all? I don't really understand how he can forget every single year

DDs are 7 and 5. We budget £100 each for presents plus an extra £25 each for stockings.

For the main presents they get somewhere between 5 and 10 each depending on what they have wanted. Then the stockings (which come from Father Christmas) are filled with lots of little things. Sweets, hair slides, character socks, bath bombs etc. £25 at B&M can produce quite a lot of stocking fillers!

DH's mum used to give them all £500 for their birthdays. None of him or his siblings needed the money but it made her really happy and she could afford it. Each to their own, I suppose.

£100ish from us, this year that's 3 presents, then we spend c£20 from Santa, she's 8.

I want to say £100-200 but it's probably more like £300 per child.

Last year though I definitely remember thinking I had got too much for them. My aim now is just a few, high quality things.

I have spent a lot so far and it still looks like nothing, I have gotten a hoodie and some eyeshadow for my teenage daughter, that’s €100 so far.

I think maybe I have stupidly gone overboard in previous years so I will try to get good quality and appreciated gifts this year. That’s the plan!! They don’t get gifts from anyone else so I suppose that is on my mind too:

I must really try stick to it this year.

This comment is very unreasonable- I buy gifts for my adult DD - it makes me happy - gifts (multiple gifts) are not handouts - it’s a bit sad that you don’t understand that.

First of all, you should read posts in context.

Second, I’m entitled to my opinion. Which is that adults who are earning their own money shouldn’t need, expect or accept large, expensive gifts from their parents as if they’re still playing Santa Claus.

Obviously if the parents in question are millionaires then that’s different but the context of my original post (which you’ve missed) was someone who had to save up all year to spend exactly the same on a late 20s DD as on a child.

Personally I think it’s grabby and materialistic. If you can only show love or feel happy by buying and/or receiving multiple gifts then that’s what is sad, in my view. And if you don’t in fact need to buy the gifts to show your love or feel happy then why do it.

But there are a lot of very entitled people around and many others who have been completely duped by consumer culture.

I always say I don't spend more than a few hundred pounds, but when I tot it all up its normally anywhere between £500-£800.

He never really asks for a lot, but I see things and pick them up, and before I know it, it all adds up.

I fully agree with your point that parents should not be going into debt or having to go without to buy gift for adult children - but I can not agree with the rest of your thoughts. I’m financially secure - why is it wrong to spend money on my DD.

My DD is fully secure that she is very much loved by both her parents, she does not need gifts to know that and I don’t need to buy them to show her that - as for why I do it - it gives me joy to find things I know she will enjoy.

I find it a little sad that you think giving and receiving gifts is grabby and materialistic but you are entitled to your opinion.