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!

Somewhere between £100-200 each (2 dc) but that's everything - Xmas eve box, stocking and presents. It also sounds a lot more than it really is as a lot of the stuff I buy would need to be bought anyway (new socks, knickers, slippers, some clothes to replace outgrown stuff, school bits like pens/notepads).

I've spent far less than the ex-husband but the kids prefer what I do. They like the little traditions even though they know most of what they're getting each year.

I don't call a safety hat "lifestyle wear", more lifesaving, but there you go!

You are obviously incredibly judgey and class anything that you personally don't have experience of as being materialistic.

@housethatbuiltme How judgemental

I think there is a moral element given the impact of climate change which is hugely impacted by excess consumption

My children are really mindful of this, and we are in all our buying decisions. Doesn't mean life has to be joyless but it also means we would take no joy from mounds of gifts for the sake of it.

Our neighbours spend a fortune on Christmas and fill an entire skip each year with gifts they no longer want from the previous year. They don't even bother to donate them to charity. Just endless mindless consumption.

Absolutely don't feel bad. We all do our best and at the end of the day the toys are probably played with for a few days at most and then left there. Mine are always more excited about their selection boxes , what santa ate and drank and where the elves have gone to!

£500 for 10 year old but that includes a new bike with was nearly £400. We had saved for it though as we knew she was due one. Next year will be much less!

We don't have a price limit. But we have a present limit. DC get three gifts from us and one from Santa. (So four essentially)
Then a stocking with little sensory toys, edible goodies.
Cost will vary year to year depending on our finances.

Around £600 on 5 year old and £250 on 1 year old. Didn’t really have a budget just a list of gifts I intended to get. Obviously 1 year old has had a lot less spent on them but they have all the toys we saved from our 5 year old and didn’t need much. When they are older/ understand then they will either have the same amount spent on them or the same amount of gifts (depends on age).

Exactly the same here. About £100 between 2 and 6 years old. Some amazing brand new bargains on Vinted!

@Itissunnysomewhere But we've no idea if that's applicable to anyone on here in the first place. In fact I imagine that a lot of the high sums on here are the opposite: people buying individual high-cost items: iPads, mobile phones, ear pods, laptops, all of which tend to be used for some time. Not £1000 worth of plastic figures that go in the skip. That just sounds like poor and thoughtless gifting generally, regardless of the cost of them or amount.

And I'm never sure what 'buying stuff for the sake of it' means. I've never bought anything for my kids that I don't think they'll use and enjoy. What would be the point?

Ah virtue signalling. You are morally superior to everyone else on this thread

Oh nooo 😭 I actually noticed on Amazon that it asks if you want it in original packaging (to save the planet) or their packaging . It probably defaults to original packaging for big items like this. Ah well, at least your dd knows that the Barbie house is from you I guess.. the man in the red suit won't be getting the gratitude for it!!!

We don’t get any presents from our parents now we’ve got our own kids. All the adults in the family decided it was pretty pointless buying presents for the other adults in the family and just do a secret Santa instead so get one to open. I think it’s a great idea rather than wasting £30 plus per person for parents, siblings, aunties, cousins etc!

I'm also unclear how buying safety equipment for a hobby is 'materialistic'. It's the opposite really as you're buying something to enable you to take part in an ongoing experience, not because you want the material possession itself. I think the phrase that poster really wanted was 'unfair because I can't afford it therefore am going to insult you instead'.

Thank you, that's such a good idea! I'll check those out! I think I feel a bit bad also because the biggest present my 4yo will receive (and it's probably going to be her favourite too) is the doll's house that our lovely neighbour is handing us down, so I hope she won't realise "oh, mommy got me those 2 small things, but this amazing big doll's house is from the neighbour!" And maybe think she's better than me? I knoooooow this is a stupid way to think, I'm just really, really tired and teary 🤣🤣

@MagnoliaGirlie I've been doing a hamper for DS since he was small ( he's 19) now it's mainly sweets, it's still his favourite thing, I think I'm going to be doing it when he's 40!

We’ve scaled back this year as none of us need anything very exciting! I’ve bought dd some uggs and one of those bloody Stanley cups and some pyjamas, ds has some new ear pods and running trainers.

I would imagine when it’s all done it’ll be about £200 each. Dh and I will probably spend about £100 on each other although the only thing I’ve asked is a book.

Adults are presumably earning there own money.
Why would they need as much spent on them a school children?
Even students should understand their parents are spending a small fortune supporting them.

Oooh that's so cute! My mom does socks and chocolates, and I'm always so so happy to receive those (well, mostly the chocolates, as she always finds hilariously ugly socks that I feel a bit old to wear, but hey).

@Happiestwhen in our house Father Christmas only brings the stocking so our DC can thank whoever properly.
Yeah I probably should have read the listing properly as its bloody massive too

I’m not sure you understand what materialistic mean.

I have a hobby with ridiculously expensive equipment but that I’ll use week in, week out for years and years. That others can’t afford to do that doesn’t mean it’s materialistic that I can 🤔

I'd love to know their ages and what sort of stuff you get for the 2k :)

Also nobody should feel bad about what others do or don't do.
There are many reasons why people spend what they do including me like the shitty childhood I had so now I go overboard and that shitty childhood gave me mental health issues so I'm not always being my best & over compensating comes with that so it's not all sunshine & roses.
I'm pretty sure my children would prefer a mum who could play with them instead of one that buys them things instead but that's not the case so 🤷‍♀️

2 children,
14 year old will have about £500. So far just got her an iwatch and have a few more bits to get

baby is a newborn Soabout £100 on keepsake bits mostly. I’ve put £150 into her savings account too

Due my second so lots of craft kits /home activities that should hopefully keep us entertained when I’m feeling too round/too close to my due date for long days out… more than I’d usually spend but hopefully will keep us busy and sane!