Have just added up how much I’ve spent on DC stocking…

[MantisAndCrumpet]

And am utterly shocked it’s come to £90!!!!

Am trying to rationalize that actually a lot of the items are things I’d have to buy for them at other times anyway (stationery for school, hand cream, lip salve etc) and I can afford it, but it just surprised me when I added it up.

Has anyone else had a similar shock? Or are you sensible enough to not add it up

There's no need for any rudeness.

Same

Sorry, you're completely correct. I'll include box of celebrations to apologise.

£90 sounds very good to me 😳. I refuse to add it up but it's probably double that. Everything fits in the stocking but that can include jewellery, perfume, computer games, CDs, makeup. Plus 'fillers' that can still easily cost more than a tenner for each like a set of nice socks and some nice shampoo and conditioner plus the fancy chocolates and the obligatory satsuma.

Which is similar to my parents, we got lots in our stocking then got an annual from my parents under the tree (we had a big family so got lots of presents under the tree from other people). We never questioned why we 'only' got an annual from Mum and Dad.

I try to stick to under £100 per person, though admittedly DSs probably cost about half that this year because it's all hot wheels and monster trucks 😂

My kids' stockings are 'from Father Christmas', despite them knowing full well where the presents come from. They generally contain a bit of chocolate and things that I'd otherwise get for them anyway, and a trinket.

Our 'rules' are that stocking presents can be opened as soon as the whole family is awake, together and have a hot drink if they want one. The stockings are placed in front of the fireplace on xmas eve (other presents appear under the tree as they get wrapped). Stockings get filled by the designated adult after everyone else has retired for the night.

This year they contain a tube of white smarties, some chocolate coins / sprouts / mini snowmen, a new book series (well below RRP, averages £21 for each child), bamboo pants (£25), and a fancy bookmark. Just under £50 each, though of that, less than £5 isn't spending which would have happened anyway (though later, were it not for xmas).

I try to keep it cheap but end up spending more that I probably should.

I wrapped the presents a couple of weeks ago, what’s inside them will be as much a surprise to me as to the kids.

The stocking was my most favourite part of Christmas as a child. Looking back, my mum must have spent a fortune on them. My brother and I would get up before anyone else and go to the other ones room to open them together. I loved seeing what he had just as much as opening mine. It was all socks, food treats, toiletries, stationery, and little toys.

I don’t have children so don’t do stockings anymore. If I did, shopping for stocking fillers would be my favourite thing to do at Christmas. I have got my niece some nice little stationery gifts as an extra to go with her present - when I got to the till, I was a bit surprised at how quickly it had totalled up, but it’s all lovely, useful bits. I think if you have the money and you haven’t wasted it on tat, then why not?

I've just pulled out some of the cheaper bits from dd's list and added a few surprises like a label maker and hot chocolate kit. Her list was about £300 total and we spent about £350.

Santa delivers stocking about midnight in our house and dd can unwrap when she wakes up but she's only allowed to wake us after 7 (she's 13). I love listening to her discovering her stocking and remembering the excitement. Tree presents are after breakfast is cleared away and we all have a drink in hand (except she can pick 1 at random once we're all up)!

Stockings are a big thing in our house. The kids are teens now but still love putting their stocking out at the end of the bed on Christmas Eve and waking up to it all full and lumpy! They agree a time in the morning that they will get up and open them together in one of their rooms. I’m not sure how much I’ve spent on each of the stockings, but probably around £60-£70. This year, they all wanted jellycats. 3 jellycats, even though they were the small ones set me back £60 - eek!

My 3yo’s stocking is quite flat/ tight and not stretchy so can’t fit much in. Probably for the best! She has:

Kids peelable nail polish
Stamp pens
Surprise Sylvanian
Card game
Lush bath bomb
Temporary Tattoos
Electric Toothbrush (necklace size box)
Gingerbread man
Jelly Bear Sweets
Chocolate reindeer
Chocolate Santa

The nail set and toothbrush could have been replaced with 2-3 smaller things like hair clips, bobbles, lip balm etc but I’m happy enough with those being in, I think she’ll genuinely find them exciting. Spent maybe £50 on stocking.

I mean ... You say that ... But those items could easily come to over £50 and are still more than probably most people would put in a stocking

Another one here with young adult DC where the stockings are a main part of the presents. This year the DC have literally one present each under the tree, their stockings, and £ in their bank accounts.

One of the reasons why I do it that way is that DH and the rest of the extended family get bored with the present opening phase, and used to start making comments about ‘so much stuff’, wandering off, and generally spoiling the vibe. So now the DC and I can enjoy the stockings without grinch type commentary, and tree presents later are a quicker affair.

I just put everything else into or on top of the stockings!

DD 23 has:
silver earrings
mini lipstick pack
lip salve
water bottle
chocs
choc coins
perfume
small cocktail
packet of prettystraws
a necklace
a book
pack of cards
and a few other things I can’t remember

DS 20 has:
choc coins
other sweets
gloves
socks
fragrance
bottle opener
book
pack of csrds
water bottle
lip salve
silly toy
and more that I can’t remember.

How old are your dcs?

Mine are 9 and 6 and stockings are mostly bath bombs, sweets, cheap jewellery and keyring so about £15 each (smiggle Keyring tips it over!)

But I expect when dcs are teenagers that the stockings will be around your price as I assume dds will want some make up and beauty products etc and I'd put those in the stocking.

I have been buying stocking gifts since August so the cost is spread (I used to start in Jan when they were tiny as it was mostly small bits for toys they already had like Lego figures etc)

I won't be adding them up but I think I've spent around £20-£40 each. I've probably bought slightly more this year as their main presents are nothing wildly expensive. I'm ashamed to say I have used SHEIN and Temu far more than I'd have liked to cut costs but I don't feel good about it.

I have only bought things I know they will use.

All of DD’s gifts are in a stocking of some sort - she has two that were mine from when I was a kid which are big enough to fit her in 😂 and one I had for her plus a smaller stocking with her Santa gifts in which has things from her wish list - slippers and a notebook, plus chocolate coins and socks. Socks in our Xmas stocking is a bit of a tradition in my family!

Stockings have always been a big deal
here, I know for some people it’s more just a few sweets and a comic but ours have always had proper presents in as well.

I’ve cut down loads this year (quantity wise) and am worried they’re going to be a bit disappointed. Been resisting the temptation to add more as I’ve already spent slightly more than previous years on what I’ve got, just because everything is more expensive.

@Peggimmytchell yes teen.

Also realised that a big chunk (£10) was on stickers from a niche website that I know dc will like and I purchased partly to support the artist.

We don’t really do stockings. But I have spent a fortune this year. I don’t even want to add up what we have spent lol But we have had a shit year plus no holiday, so they deserve it. Merry Christmas

My dc are 15 and 17 and stockings have been halved in size this year and so I assume in cost as well, though I don't keep a track. It wasn't a conscious decision but there is very little they actually want and I don't want to buy for the sake of it.

Ds17 has:

history of art card game
History more or less card game
Famous painting socks
Fancy cheese
Reeces stick
Mint aeros tube
Chocolate coins
Latte sachets
Can of fizzy pop in thrilling flavour (tradition from when they were rarely allowed pop - he doesn't drink or I would update this!)
I think there is one other thing I've forgotten.

Ds15
Is it legal card game
Spotify voucher
Taylor swift candle in a jar
Cute dog socks
Cat desk hoover
Purple Bic pen
Christmas Smarties tube
Chocolate coins
His fave expensive pot noodle - some fancy brand.
Sour sweets.
Chocolate milkshake sachets.
Fizzy drink can - sour apple.

Not loads but I think around £50 each for the non-consumables and then probably another £10-15 each on those, so not really far off OP's spend. You can't get a lot for a little these days, especially if you only want certain things.

My DD’s was about the same but she is 19 and like expensive skincare and I like to treat her to it at Christmas.

I'm not sure how much. But in our house the stockings are stuff from Santa and are left in their rooms. We then go downstairs and there are presents from mummy and daddy and maybe a few more from santa.

My ds has an X-mas Eve box

Pjs
Socks
Hat and gloves
Chocolate
A prime drink
Craft stuff
A book
A small Lego set
Cinema tickets

I think it cost about 40 in total.

Daughter is 5 and stocking prob came to about £40 - she has a few make up baubles from Claires, stickers, a few bags of sweets, mini Magic Mixie, mini LOL bag, bath bomb, Lego Santa, chocolate mini Santas, a mini bat & ball and a snap band.