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!

Please don't feel rubbish! I've read (some of) this thread and feel sick! This is not the bar to hold yourself to!

While I am sure lots of people spending inordinate amounts on very small children can afford to do so, I dread to think how many people on this thread are simultaneously bemoaning the cost of living elsewhere or racking up atrocious amounts of debt.

We are comfortable, largely because we are sensible but I flat out don't believe in excess for children. Apart from anything, I think it leaves them so overwhelmed that it has the opposite effect and they don't know what to play with.

I am a million miles from perfect, my children have too many toys... Many which aren't played with. I can't even imagine what is going on in households spending these sums of money for every Christmas + birthday! (Unless they are gifting expensive experiences /.holidays / etc.).

Somewhere between 500 - 750 per kid although I haven't added it up.

There are tons of videos on YouTube about how people over spending and gifting are filling a void and backed up quite well with stats too....so don't feel bad.

I got a benefit set in the boots sale that she wanted. Socks, slippers and nightwear from 25% Tesco sale plus 20% colleelague discount, a book from amazon, used but good condition plus a couple of b&m candles, bath bombs and face masks.

I spoil my eleven year old rotten, lots and lots of Lego sets plus books, maybe £400 total. He is my only child, he is always so thrilled and puts up with a lot so I'm grateful that I'm able to do it.
But I do also agree that a wonderful Christmas is not about budget, it's really made by lovely memories and small traditions such as finding new baubles each year for the tree, playing games and crafting etc.

@MagnoliaGirlie My ds (almost 6) favourite Christmas tradition is that each year I buy chocolate xmas tree decorations, and I hide one on the tree while he's at school for him to find when he gets home. He gets so excited and often gets me to re hide it a few times before eating it, bless him. It's about the memories, the games, the little special times spent with them.

I've edged closer to £200 than I'd like this year. Dd (almost 3) is getting a yoto (I've spent months building up a library for her using free resources and myo cards) and her first sylvanian bits. Ds (almost 6) is not getting anything massive this year, but a fair few medium gifts that I know will blow his mind (they only asked for 1 very moderate thing each).

I’ve spent £130 on my 4 year old and £230 on my 11 year old. My budget was £150 for the youngest and £200 for the eldest so not done too badly.

Well first of all you talk to your children about climate change and mass consomption. Most of them are aware thanks to school. Secondly you don't spoil them rotten so that they are genuinely grateful when receiving gifts. Also talk to them about marketing and how their wishes might not be their authentic wishes. Are they looking for the quality of a certain brand or just a big logo to be sandwich men.
My DC could not care less about brands. They want clothing that are confortable and look "cool" but when it comes to brands they are clueless and really don't care. I overheard one of DC's friends who said his shoes were worth 170 £. DC said "Wow. Can you imagine how many books (in x serie he likes) you would get for that." So it's a question of priorities but also teaching them integrity ; to have their proper values and don't follow trends just because friends do. And noone puts them down for it because they have solid arguments about why they don't care.

£350 each. DD4 and DS7.

No big ticket items such as bikes or play kitchens this year. So while it's more than we've ever spent before, their piles actually look smaller. I could bulk them out with art & craft supplies that I saw on offer but I'm trying to restrain myself!

I’m taking advantage of the fact that neither of mine (2 and 6) have requested anything in particular (apart from a new unicorn teddy from my eldest!). I’ve managed to get a number of lovely quality wooden toys and a micro scooter etc. second hand for a fraction of the price (plus some plastic tat and chocolates etc for stocking!). I don’t want to start a trend in our house of them expecting huge piles of presents like you can see on social media (plus I don’t want so much stuff in our house anymore) so am happy with a nice selection plus they’ll get more from family!

This year way way too much. Ds1 (15) prob about £1800 ( this is an exception to the norm as he is doing photography so that is basically camera, lens and camera bag and 2 lego sets.

Ds 2 (13) £750 but also includes essentials for his hobby.
Budget is normally between 400-500 each.

I reckon £600 on dd3 (19)
£400 on dd1&2 - independent adults

Much much less than other years.

As others have noted this year, I've gone over budget but feel like just a year or 2 ago, £250 would have been a very generous budget and covered all gifts and extras.

I aimed to spend £300 per child (I save throughout the year, we don't buy too much through the year, and we don't do loads of presents on birthdays as the focus is more on a treat day), but have gone over by about £50 each for the older 2, and slightly over for my youngest (mine are 9, 7 and nearly 5).

It's not split evenly between stockings and tree gifts, as my DD loves a stocking, and as she gets older her gifts are smaller in size so fit nicely in a stocking- though our stockings are big and more akin to Santa sacks than stockings that just fit a few chocolates in.

I'm honestly surprised how much I spent on my youngest, he is usually the money saver, but he's great and I've found some really cool stuff for him. His brother was never really into toys in the same way, so we don't have a lot of hand me down toys from older siblings, and they have all got new interests so really needed some new stuff this year.

With my oldest, I could just keep going this year tbh. But we've spent that money and there are no huge big expenses, no consoles or tech or anything. It just adds up far too quickly!

I've still to buy those last bits, I want to get my son some Vbucks and possibly a lego set, and my daughter a few bits too, possibly some trainers and a couple of bits I have missed off her wish list, like a cute diary and a specific book.

Reminds me of when my brother was at (independent) secondary school and needed new trainers. We're not into brands as a family, but my Mum knew that his friends were wearing designer brand trainers and didn't want him to feel like the odd one out, so she gave him £100, told him to go and buy some trainers and keep the change. He returned with £5 trainers from Asda, £95 in his pocket. His friends thought he was a legend for it. Who would have known Asda trainers could be considered so cool.

It’s not always easy and I do feel bad sometimes when I see what some of their friends get but generally if they want something expensive they get money towards it and have to save the rest. They are fortunate to have other family members buying for them too so they usually get a decent amount.

I wouldn’t ever just decide I want the latest iPhone or anything designer and go out and buy it for myself so I wouldn’t expect to do that for my teenagers either. We have gone over budget a few times for big ticket items but they understand that they’ve asked for something expensive so that’s all they’re getting. We do have a decent income and money in the bank but we soon wouldn’t if we just bought everything we all wanted or spent thousands on gifts at Christmas. Others may be able to do so without it having such an impact.

I just added up last night and I’ve spent £2.5k between 4 of them😳 I always lose track and overspend!

I've spent around €35 on my 12 month old and around €450 on my 3 year old.

Terrible disparity I know but my youngest has so many toys handed down from her big brother that I'd really only be buying stuff for the sake of it. I didn't buy my oldest much when he was a year old either, I don't really see the point when they don't understand Christmas anyway.

Biggest items I bought were a train set with table, a scooter and a smoby activity table. Also got books, a couple board games, some toonies and a few smaller toys.

I haven’t added up how much I’ve spent on my two DD’s (15 on 28/12 (so have a birthday in there too) and 12).

I never pay full price for anything, I shop all year round and use places such as Vinted eg; I got DD2 some trainers brand new with tags that would have been £110 new I paid £30 for them. They do have grandparents that buy for them too.

Behind all of that they have a mum, me, with both physical and MH issues. I overspend on them, I know I do. Between my physical and MH issues I’ve missed out on so many days out, school things, park trips the list is endless, when they were little a simple trip to the park resulted in me being hospitalised for over a week. Christmas presents do not make up for any of this in anyway but it’s my cross to bear. I’m lucky I have a supportive husband who understands and my DC are incredibly grateful for everything they receive. (Both my physical and MH issues came after I had my children and I also take antidepressants and am back in therapy - think that’s all bases covered).

Also birthdays have a £100 or less limit.

Around £80-£90. I didn’t have a budget in mind. It’s more than I usually spend but I kept thinking of things that she could do with right now.

To those spending hundreds of pounds on their kids, I hope you’re spending plenty on yourselves too! 😀

Oh I have managed that 😜

About £300 each. More than i have spent before but they're 8 and 10 now, into more expensive stuff, and this includes football boots and trainers that they would have needed soon anyway had they not been on their lost!

Approx. £700 each, 2 DC's (13 and 16) includes a new phone, trainers for one and replacement AirPods, a chain, trainers for the other.

About £500 on each child. To those saying the manage to do it for £50 I honestly don't know how! £50 goes nowhere these days.

To those spending hundreds of pounds on their kids, I hope you’re spending plenty on yourselves too! 😀

I spend nothing on me and nor do I receive anything. The pleasure for me is in seeing my kids happy.