How much do you spend on teenagers presents?

[Teifion]

Small kids are so easy to buy for cheaply but everything my teens want is really expensive. Do you set a price limit for presents for teens? Does it mean they end up with a tiny pile compared to others?

€200-€300 is our range and it will probably be closer to €200 this year. I’ll tell them the budget and they’ll let me know what they would like. The last couple of years ds has wanted bigger Lego sets (you don’t get much for your money anymore) and added some of his own money to that budget.

I really like how straightforward it is with teens because they understand how money works.

I set a budget. Tell them what it is and let them come up with a list that fits. Then I buy stocking fillers on top which are surprises - mixture of silly things, chocolates, sweets and things that I would buy anyway like pants socks, toiletries etc

I try and spend roughly the same amount on both kids but I’m not to the penny in trying to make it even. There are 4 years between my two at 8 and 12 so I’ve spent the last few years on the run up to Christmas drilling it into elder dd that she may have less presents or smaller presents as hers tend to be more expensive than her younger sister’s and she’s fine with that and understands.

This only works as we did Father Christmas brings the stockings and one present off their list (normally something mum and dad wouldn’t normally buy) and the rest is from us so they understood why there was a discrepancy in pile sizes.

DS (15) is an only child we have never spent more than £250 on presents, has always seemed more than enough lol. Some Christmas's we go away and then he only gets a stocking as the holiday is a family gift. This year we're going away and he's off on a very expensive school trip next year so no presents as such from us.

They are perfectly capable of understanding that stuff costs more. And if you do "piles' of presents that there's will be smaller. Its a good life lesson if they dont.

Wow, I must be a cheap skate. But I’m a single parent working full time plus UC to top me up. I’d always tried a £100 limit on the main present. They year they wanted a Nintendo switch my mum went half with me. So still worked out more but not as much as both of them getting a full priced switch purely from me. Then other relatives got them games.

Now as teens it’s more about the make up and jewellery for my youngest who likes Pandora and nomination for their bracelets they were bought by different grandparents last year. She also likes horse riding brands such as le Mieux for when she rides. Eldest hates brands and never really wants anything. She’s autistic. She’s 16 but not really into what most 16 year olds are. She’s been offered a new phone off her dad for the last few years but she won’t change the one she has unless it totally dies. Same with her school Chromebook. The scheme the school has means they buy one for y7 and it’s covered in a warranty for 3 years. We then get offered to buy another in y10 under the same principle. She refused. Now in sixth form and qualified for a bursary so was actually given a new one. The only thing she does like is theatre tickets but they end up becoming a family present so we can all go- youngest enjoys them too and I need to take them!!

I try to keep stockings fairly cheap but the costs of the basics that go in the have risen - basics like underwear pack, toiletries, nice sweets, stationary.

I guess it’s each to their own. Spend what you can afford. I won’t go into debt for Christmas. My kids understand we have less income into our home than many of their friends.

£50 for birthday. Christmas varies from year to year depending on how much I have available. They are old enough to understand that a) money is tight and b) money isn't everything. A few years ago, my 10 year old daughter wanted to decorate the Christmas cake. Instead of "Merry Christmas" she wrote "Family" across the top. Pretty much sums it up.

God I probably spend £300 each on my 2 and 5 year old! I can imagine it will only get worse 😂🫣
Quick edit- we don’t just randomly buy toys throughout the year. Christmas, birthdays and maybe a small present on holiday is there lot.

My son is 11. He doesn't want anything for Christmas! Unless he thinks of something he really wants, he will get a zookeeper experience as he loves animals.

Christmas would be £200 maximum including stocking fillers.

Ours are now adult but we’ve never set a budget and like a pp we get them what they have asked for / what we think they would like rather than trying to price match . I work on the swings and roundabouts theory that eventually it will even out . This year I’m probably going to spend £250 on one and about £700 on the other judging by what I’ve heard / observed so far .

They don’t yet everything they want regardless of budget and it doesn’t matter the size or number of parcels.

Isn’t Christmas a big thing in everyone’s house? Doesn’t mean it’s essential to spend huge amounts.

We don’t have a budget but do the want/need/wear/read plus a stocking so they only ever get four presents each plus the stocking. I’m hoping this sets us up well for the teen years as they are not used to massive piles!

Should caveat that by admitting they do have a huge extended family so get a ridiculous amount of presents there but in our home under the tree there are only four each

My dd is 14. She wants an iPad. I have told her that will be her only real present. She’s fine with that as long as she gets some fluffy socks and a bath bomb in her stocking. The oldest is going on a month long holiday next year and just wants cash - so she will get however much the iPad costs. I was going to get second hand iPad but looking at he price the new ones came down to in prime day I may actually just get a new basic one.

My daughter was 11 this week, although not a teenager this is the first year I’ve thought to myself that her pile of presents was rather small! But that’s because she asked for a White Fox hoodie, new crocs, a couple of jellycat stuffies and some rather expensive skincare. So obviously it’s going to look like less physically. It’s just the way it is now. No doubt that pile will get smaller and smaller. Spent around £200 I think.

We dont have a set amount, so just depends what is on the want list. Last year DD got wanted a double bed and DS1 wanted a games console to take to uni with him (as up until now things like consoles have always been shared items). DS2 wanted a glass display cabinet from ikea to put his fossils in. His presents came to less than the other two. Whereas this year he wants yo go halves on a new gaming PC, DD wants a record player and I have no idea for DS1 so he will have less spent on him as not really a things person. However he is getting ££££ from us every month for uni expenses.

some years one of them gets an upgraded phone - which as we pay monthly isnt really a big purchase but it is counted as one present wise.

I just don't have the money for a big Christmas so I'm hoping to do all 3 kids' gifts for £100, less if I can. Even that is a lot for our current finances. They'll all get something nice though.

You are indeed not the only one! We are relatively “comfortable” financially and there is no way we spend that much! I reckon between £75 and £100 - and not with cash on top as well. Mine are 14 and 16 and in no way deprived!

You just can't compare with other people. Being honest, that's probably what my parents spent on me. I cannot afford to do the same. It's not about the money, but of course people with more will want to give as much as possible.

You say you’re comfortable and your kids aren’t deprived. That means they probably get stuff they want and need throughout the year. For some people like myself if my child wants an expensive item of clothing or a new bike then it has to wait until Xmas or birthday. I don’t have the funds available to just buy it on a random day of the week. I don’t understand why people get so bothered about what strangers on the internet spend at Christmas spend £100 spend £1000 who cares every family is different there is no right or wrong.

Depends what they want. I don’t spend a set amount. They all get the same number of gifts. Because with our age gap a the prices can very massively.

17 year old has asked for a new phone and converse this year. 11 year old has asked for a laptop and uggs. Both have smaller gifts but same number of gifts as my 8 and 5 year olds. But their piles look smaller as they are much smaller gifts then a gabby dolls house box, or a scooter box that my 5 year old has asked for. Both gifts are alters then the cost of said phone or laptop as well.

My newborn however has a lot less gifts which is noticeable. So I’m hoping my middle 2 don’t question that. 🤔

So far we have gotten vans (£70) perfume (£115) and theatre tickets (£50 each)
We don't have a budget per se, but we know when to stop

I find this hard. This year my teen wants something for his hobby that is about £200 and I know that I (not him) won’t feel comfortable if he just has that to open when our younger child has a pile so will end up adding stuff in, even if it’s practical things like clothes that I would get him anyway.

There is no one size fits all. Teen DD has asked for one gift but it’s £190/200.
She will get a mix of other gifts like perfume, make up, clothes, concert tickets etc to the value of around £500. Her stocking, December 1st pyjamas and advent calendar add up too.

I try not to buy ‘filler’ gifts and get things I know she wants/needs/will use etc. Its never expected, she is always genuinely grateful and never one for posting awful hauls on social media.

We usually aim for around £400 max but then the sticking fillers and small gifts always add up and we still do the Christmas eve boxes, and advent calendars this year are over £100 each so its probably around £550 altogether.