Realistic only child Christmas budget

[BulbsAndLampsDiffer]

I am just trying to gauge if I am being reasonable. I haveone child age 7. Single parent. Average to low income. I am looking at budgets for Christmas presents. Is £400 to much. For context I buy them very little in the way of toys all year as I prefer to go out and do stuff. Child does not have any technology at mine so was looking to buy a switch. So with this in mind only leaves around £150 for other gifts.
Christmas events are not in this budget.

For clarity their dad will buy them stuff for their house.

I would buy the switch as a main thing then maybe odds and ends, £400 is quite a lot of money especially if dad is getting presents too. It is up to you though.

I would just spend what you can realistically afford to spend. I wouldn't say £400 is being tight, I think it's a reasonable budget. Plus they will also get presents from their dad and possibly other family members.

I find often people go overboard, get themselves in debt and have nowhere for all the new things anyway. I've been guilty of that myself.

I think £400 on lots of little things would seem excessive but for a switch and some other smaller bits to open, £400 is okay as long as you can afford it. My budget is usually £200 per child but if they wanted a big present such as a switch/bike I would stretch it

If you can afford it then it’s fine to spend what ever you like. I am on my own with 2 older dc and I spend quite a bit on them. One dd is getting an iPad so by the time I have got her some art supplies and done her a stocking it will probably be close to £500, her sister is older/adult and wasn’t a annual pass to somewhere which is £150, I will get her a few other small bits so will spend around £250. Money doesn’t go far, especially when you are buying tech/game’s consoles and it’s hard to say ‘no’ when most children have them now.

Great replies. I have seen many articles saying £100-£150 is right per child. Buy as others have said this does not go far. So didn't want to go over the top.
I will definitely not be getting into debt. I plan all year as its an event that I know will happen.
I will definitely not be feeling guilty now.

£400 is plenty. He's only 7. I have an only and he's 10 when I've had to buy main things like a PS5 it adds up quickly luckily I purchased one in the summer. I will spend a bit more on DS this year only because his main will be around £400 alone. Christmas is about having a nice time and I also get finicial help from his dad so tbh I plan to use the money he gives me next month to buy his main prezzie.

We are a very high income household with an only child. Typically spend maybe that, we don’t do screens so expensive gifts would be a bike or skis etc. We don’t buy toys outside of Christmas and birthday and generally find DC can’t even get through what they are given. For Christmas we will probably do one biggish gift, 3-4 smaller ones (like a board game, books etc) and things like a big bucket of glitter chalk or art supplies that are used up regularly. If I was on a lower income, I cannot see a world where I’d spend that much.

I end up spending about £400 on my only child. Just filling a stocking easily costs £100 I find, and £300 doesn’t go far on other presents. I’d rather spend £200 in all but it always seems such a measly pile that I end up getting last minute things just to see the awe on his face on Christmas morning. So I guess I’m buying my sense of satisfaction and ‘magic’ really! I did go way too overboard with him after his dad died but life is too short to not enjoy the moment.

I would take into account what I could afford, what is wanted/needed and what anyone else will be gifting. If you have a large family who will also be buying, I would be buying less than if it was only me buying.

I don't keep to a set budget and it ends up depending on what they need/want each year. One year it was a trampoline, which was quite pricey, another a Barbie house. This year I reckon it's maybe £200 that I've spent on advent bits, stocking and mains. If you are buying a switch then £150 for the other bits seems reasonable.

Spend whatever you're happy to spend and can afford :) my son is a huge gamer so I understand how it is, like a single game can cost 40 pound these days. I think with the context of having the switch as the big hit present then money on other bits its totally reasonable x

How low is income ?

will 400 be a stretch for you ?

im a single parent to an 8yr and tho work and earn fairly good money - I can’t imagine spending £400 unless something really wanted /lots like bike - new one / PlayStation

I wouldn’t spend 400 on little bits

I would get the switch as the main present, it will last for years and you can afford it. I always wrap things like pyjamas and bath bomb sets too, so it bulks out the wrapped items, but are things I would have bought on a normal month anyway.

I think it depends how much OP has to spend out on other people and Christmas as a whole? I only buy for a few people, I put back a bit of money each month over the year so by Christmas I have around £1000 saved to cover Christmas. If OP only has her son to buy for then £400 is doable on most incomes?

Switch is a perfect present from you, and father Christmas can bring a few little bits / stocking. Xmas sorted!

I would say 400 is a very healthy budget. I have an only and we don’t spend this much (but we don’t buy electronics so that helps!). As long as this isn’t too much of a stretch financially then I would say that sounds perfect.

If you're stretching for it I'd look at the opportunity cost of spending now vs saving.
Would there be an option to spend 3/4 of it and put the rest in a junior stocks and shares ISA? If you could do that every year you could give them a decent lump sum that might cover something like the first car to get them to a summer job.

I have been putting off electronics for a long time. However I am concerned that they are missing out, compared to their peers.

Financially doable. Just want to do the right thing. As previously said they get very little throughout he year.

Lucky I only have child to buy for so not too much pressure on that front.

The child already has a healthy savings pot that is added to monthly. This is important to me. I am a believer of living though, so would rather have a weekend away than maxing junior ISA every year.

We have one child, this year we have spent about £300 on 2 main gifts, though one of those gifts is tickets to a hot wheels show for the three of us. We will probably end up spending about £450 once we have bought some other bits and bats. If you are buying a new switch (which is not cheap) plus a couple of games, £400 wont go that far. I don't think it is excessive.

I’d say it’s more than average for that age group and it’s more than plenty. I wouldn’t say it’s too much as games consoles are so expensive. I would probably try to cut the £150 to £100. At 7 there’s loads u can get for £100 so he still has a pile of pressies to open. You said he still has presents to get from his dad too and I assume some family.

It’s reasonable to spend whatever you want and can afford to spend on your child. £400 that has been saved for Christmas and you won’t miss is not unreasonable, £400 on Christmas and bills not paid or getting into debt is unreasonable.

I really didn't want a Switch. My husband bought it from a work mate about five years ago. I worried it would kill his ability to play.

But I was wrong. It did help him with friendships. He was quite lonely and isolated before as painfully shy. He's now 12 and all his pals still pile into the front room where they all bring along the switches.

But over summer holidays and October holidays it was hardly used so it hasn't taken over life.

I like the fact they are portable. It comes on caravan holidays and places without WiFi. Again not all day but for an hour in the evening it is great. Kids can play together despite a four year age gap and have built some amazing things in Minecraft.

Also if it breaks during warranty period Nintendo have a very good repair service and will collect it from your house.

For someone who hates computer games, I've sold it well there 🤣

But if you do get one buy a decent hard carry case with a handle. Well worth the extra tenner