Ok, how much have you spent on the kids?

[Kibble29]

And did you stay within your intended budget?

I just finished ordering the gifts for my (just turned) 3 year old and is came in at about £250. This was pretty much bang on what I intended, and this also includes the stocking and that bastard Christmas Eve box that I wish I never started.

Of course the amounts will vary wildly in the thread, I’m just curious really!

Averages at about £450 each. We have 5 kids from 8 years to nearly 1 so some have more money spent on them than others.

Stockings are capped at £40 each, the same for DH and I which is a fun challenge.

So far we're on budget, I just need one more big present for 4yo DD which is good going.

We did christmas eve boxes for a couple of years but I just struggle to find what to fill a box with. This year they're getting Pjs on christmas eve and a hot chocolate station (different toppings, flavours etc) as more of an event than a gift. They don't need more tat!

This year we've scaled it back, trying to stop buying so much crap and be more thoughtful with where our money is going. I haven't bought anything that isn't from a small/independent business.

I spent FAR too much and I wish I hadn't.

Around £500 each here plus stockings. One collects quite specific things so I have learned not to attempt surprises and the other has a few bits put away and then we are going shopping on the weekend. We don’t tend to do the Christmas box type stuff but I did diy them advent calendars which were a bit special this year.

You (wilfully or otherwise) misunderstand what virtue signalling is.

Climate change is a very real and looming threat and the best thing we can do as individuals is reduce excessive consumption. That's the moral code I live my life by. I don't see why it's unacceptable to talk about it. Are we all meant to just stick our heads in the sand?

@Itissunnysomewhere It's good then that no one has mentioned buying lots of useless stuff

It's not just useless stuff that is the issue though

Virtue signalling: the public expression of opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or social conscience or the moral correctnesa of one's position on a particular issue.

So yeh I think I've got it pretty much spot on. Who on here has said that they don't believe in the same things as you? You are the only one making sweeping assumptions about what everyone else is buying and lauding your own moral superiority.

@Itissunnysomewhere So people haven't to buy anything?

I think probably about 400-500 per child. I don't really have a budget as such. I just buy what I think they'd like.

There's a sensible balance somewhere isn't there....

But a lot of the time we are just buying stuff for the sake of it. And the best way to reduce our impact on climate change is to reduce our consumption considerably. My son's present is second hand this year, he's aware and totally happy about that. He got far more as a result and we haven't contributed to the cost of manufacturing and shipping endless stuff.

Its making the statements when not acting on them. I live by those sentiments I don't just assert them.

It seems we have a very gloomy outlook if we can't even talk about climate change. It should be part of everyone's consciousness by now surely

Ah that's a really good idea and will help other kids feel better to know that they aren't the only ones who didn't get loads. That's the worst for me, the poor kids who don't get much or maybe nothing at all. They are wondering why other kids get loads and think they must be bad 😭 My dd got the dreamhouse last year for her birthday ,it's amazing isn't it 😍

Who said it wasn't? What I object to is comments about materialism based on am assumption that everyone but you are buying plastic tat.
You are placing yourself in a position of moral superiority when you have no idea of what posters believe in outside of 1 Christmas thread.

@Happiestwhen yes my DD loves it & Im sure she will play with it for years to come so it was a good investment

Ds1 (20)wanted a hoodie which was £50ish. And a body pillow.

DS2 (18) wanted a lego set which I found reduced for £70.

I could easily find more things to buy, DS2 in particular wants all the lego. But they quite like the rent being paid and having food. So I don't.

My teen wears vintage clothes only and is very individual. He's into 80's rock and metal, plays guitar in a band and has waist length curly hair - no Air Jordans or conventional trendiness here!! He also can't stand TS! Spending more than £100 doesn't mean it's spent on materialistic stuff or trends. Each to their own though.

@Itissunnysomewhere " my son's present is second hand". Smashing

This has really made me think!
I spend around £4-500 on my son who's 9 and I never thought that was excessive but seeing all the replys makes me realise people do Xmas for a lot less (and I'm sure just as amazing!)

I expected as he got older it would cost a lot more as he start asking for more tech, bikes etc.

Without trying to sounds tone deaf how do you manage when the teenages start asking for the expensive stuff ( xboxs, pcs, airpods, bikes, phones, expensive clothes, ipads etc). I'm not going to get these things any other time of year so I see xmas as the time to buy these.

I know some teenagers don't want these things but from what I can see the vast majority do. X

DD is 15 and I started out with the best intentions, but I've probably spent £500.

Why is that so terrible? He's really excited about it.

We are wealthy and have been for generations so don't feel the social pressure for everything to be brand new.

(it's a sailing dinghy)

I didn't say it was terrible

I don't see why I should be prevented from talking about my approach to Christmas. It's just as valid as someone else's. If it touches a nerve that's on you. If you can polish your eco halo then surely you would be glad to see others talking about this issue.

Oh God so now you are playing the old money Vs new money card? The vulgarity of the nouveau riche
Interesting that you are old money but can't understand a sport whereby safety equipment costs ££ 🤣

I've spent about £200 on DD5 and just over £300 each on my DSD and DSS who are both teenagers. I try and keep it even between the older ones but DDs toys at cheaper so she doesn't need the same about spent on her.