How much to spend on your kids Xmas presents

[Kissesandcakes23]

I know this is probably asked every year but I am wondering what people's plans are now with the cost of living crisis.

Last year I went overboard and I really don't want to do that but I also don't want to be stingy. I know my kids aged 4 and 7 will be happy no matter what but the mum guilt of giving them likely less this year is hard to accept.

We use the much hated poem. No budget but only 4 gifts plus stocking.

I'm on low income and buy throughout the year as both kids birthdays are within 2 months of Xmas, so I tend to divide stuff up around now into birthday and Xmas piles, then get a few things they specifically ask for or festive stuff with money from 'cash stuffing' over the year ie I put aside a little each month for various things and one of those is Xmas.

For some people this may be a few pounds or higher figures, but if you can, or maybe for next year, its worth spreading and saving over the year to help avoid an end of year panic ❤️

Im one one of those people who thinks it doesn't matter if you go minimalist or maximalist over Xmas as long as you don't put yourself into debt over it x

We put money aside all year for it, and do spend quite a lot but we can afford it and plan for it. Our Christmas pot has most of the money already in it, sitting waiting.

Your kids won’t know the monetary value of what you’ve got them so focus on getting thoughtful stuff they will genuinely enjoy. At that age there’s lots of little things that are cheap but will make it feel like there’s lots going on.

I spend around £250 on my daughter (6) intentionally but then there's other bits I pick up here and there on impulse.

About £150 on my stepdaughter (16) as she gets two lots of gifts, but then, having said that, last year she wanted a £400 Lego set and I thought screw the budget and bought it.

We were already taking both kids to Lapland so the budget was kind of immaterial at that point.

I generally try to get them what they want, within reason.

I spend only what I can afford to spend. I never use a credit card or borrow and I refuse to feel guilty about it. There's too much pressure on us to overspend and the only people who ultimately benefit are those at the top who've got loads of money and want even more.

£250 per child on main presents they ask for and then another £100-£200 each. We budget for it and they don’t get much from other family

I think what you can afford without going into debt. However, if electronics, I can see that a few pounds a month for a year for an iPad or something could be easier to manage. No credit card debt.

Hi OP 👋
We only have one DS7.

We go by the rule of 4 for presents. 🎁

1. Something you want
2. Something you need
3. Something to wear
4. Something to read.

I put away exactly £16.50 every month into a separate account. So that way I've got nearly £200 for our son by Xmas and I'm not panicking then. My hubby puts away money so we can do trips out over the xmas period (which soon adds up). 🎄 🎅 🎁
And he buys him tracksuits/clothes sets etc in the January sale, so we have it for his birthday in Summer etc. 👕 🩳👟

Hope it helps 😇
@Kissesandcakes23

Another one here who does the want, need, wear , read. We don't go mad on Christmas presents. Roughly £100 per child. It usually takes the form of a lego set, outfit or pj's, book set and the need can vary.
Any other ideas they have for Christmas are then given out to grandparents aunts and uncles.
I don't see the point in buying presents so the pile under the tree looks big. It's not what Christmas is about.

We're doing a couple of shared presents this year which is bringing the total down a about, but all in Id say about £150 total for two kids aged 2 and 4

This is how long is a piece of string, how much can you afford and what do they want? No point in spending an arbitrary budget with tat they don't want or need, a few presents that they will love is much better. Also no point spending £500 if you can't pay the gas bill or have to put it on credit. I don't know exactly what we spent last Christmas to be honest, but more than 4 presents. It was higher last year because it included a new bike and we bought him a good one. This year there's nothing big he really wants so it'll be less.

My little girl has her birthday 13 days before Christmas. So what I do is I buy 10 presents for each day. Her dad does his own shopping and does around the same. I used to just buy what ever then split equal down the middle and now I just try and achieve 10 per day and last year I think I spent £550 between both.

i did plan on saving and putting a set amount on a gift card from January but we became pregnant so all money went on baby but from this January it’ll be system resumed and a set amount going on a smyths card for them both as they’ll be an October and a December birthday before Christmas even hits

I do go a bit mental at xmas. I set a budget and save for it all year. No one else buys gifts for my DC, and they don't get much through the year, so i do like to have a decent pile.

However, at your children's ages there is absolutely no need to spend loads to get things they will love. Try to avoid buying things just to bulk out the pile, and spend wisely. Sometimes the cheapest presents turn out to be the best, and try on vinted for people selling last year's unopened presents. I've found it good for dressing up clothes and craft/stem kits.

Depends on what I'm buying. Last year my eldest got a gaming pc that was 2k. This year probably won't even spend half that.

Absolutely agree! My children are adults now and they are not mentally challenged because we only spent what we could afford!
Aged primary school years it was about £100 max and more when teenagers.. but up to about £150
Toddlers/ babies about £50 max .
The silly money that people spend these days is obscene and doesn't do their children any favours when they are adults!
Children need to understand the value of money and how it is earned 🙌

I have a friend who borrows every year and it baffles me. One cheaper year and those repayments could be savings instead, earning interest instead of paying it!

Have you thought about putting it in a separate account instead so you can shop around? I use round ups on the account I buy groceries from to add to it, goes in without me really noticing it and does add up! Then I put whatever is left come pay day too.

When our littlest were little, bugger all spend, but huge piles. Paw patrol towers and Sylvanian hotels like new from FB for sale. Ride on cars. All that stuff for a quarter of the new price. Sometimes less.

Enjoy them having no idea that something that looks new but not in a box, is secondhand.

Elders/teens want all manner of branded stuff. £700 phones, £300 trainers, £250 aftershave, and the "pile" fits in my hand lol.

Make the most of being able to buy smart and second hand. You'll be spending your pennies in later years...

How old are your kids? That would be over in seconds for a 4 or 5 yr old!

Probably £400-500 per child.. (5 and 7)

In the 70s my parents spent a lot so it’s not a new thing. We always had a pile. Some of us like to splash out at Xmas and our kids don’t get much the rest of the year. I’m also not buying my kids things they “need” or will “wear” either, that’s just the stuff they need and that I provide as a normal part of being a parent. As this thread will show, everyone has their own idea of what should happen at Christmas. Each to their own

Well, we earn a lot so we can spend a lot. It's the same value ratio..

Well good for you but I just think that children, regardless of their parents income need to learn moderation! We all have different opinions.

Yeah, comparing is pointless.

Even already, there are people saying "we are restrained and don't spend much" and people saying "I go a bit mental" and both could be meaning that they spend £200.

And for that £200, one could be getting a single lego set, and one could be getting 20 things from a mix of second hand and 3 for 2 deals. And both their children could be getting exactly what they want.

I think the important thing is that you know your budget, you know your children, and you know how to do the best you can. No point comparing to anyone else.

I do something you want, need, eat ,wear, read.