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.

Op something to remember, peoples budgets might change year to year.

If this year its a big ticket console, next year might be a couple of games or accessories.

Same with bikes and scooters, which last a few years.

This is where we're also different i wouldn't be spending that much on adult children as soon as they have jobs its token gifts.

4 gifts each. Plus stocking

Yep, my oldest is 18 now so a much smaller pile, the 2 most expensive gifts are 2 games for his PS5 and they a very small and unimpressive looking.

I just cannot see how 4 is doable if your buying tech. I looked at getting my younger DS a starter phone and it will need a case and other add ons like a portable charger too (because my DS will ride a battery down to 0% without even thinking) which are just basic extras you need with these things. You couldn't gift just a phone or just a games console without the stuff you need to use it.

I don’t add it up I buy the gifts gradually until I have ‘enough’ - his bday is soon after so sometimes I set some aside for them

@WigglyPinkFlamingo how are you doing Disneyland for so little?

We don’t have a budget but don’t go overboard. Some stuff they need & want.

We aim for around £150 max (including stocking). DS is 5 so currently perfectly happy with things that don’t cost much.

I put an amount each month into a savings account through the year that covers all Christmas related things.
Usually that is then split into one third kids, one third everyone else, one third events, decorations and food.
Most years it works out about £150 a child. Sometimes more if we have managed to add any extra to the account over the year

I don't have a strict budget, but I will never go into debt for Christmas.

I really don’t get the time to open being such a factor in this.

Why though , they are still your children .

Because their adults. One off my children is now 20 she has a full time job owns her own home earns more then me and will likely have children of her own in the next few years at somepoint you have to stop. Do your parents still buy you piles of presents for Christmas morning

Now my girls are older we go with experiences

this year they have Olivia Rodrigo tickets and the grandparents have all chipped together to get us theatre tickets

I will still do a small stocking for each of them

No because they are both deceased but we are a completely adult family and buy each other more than token gifts .

Cool we don't

Mine do, and I by them great gifts too

Thats fine but I don't have that sort of money. The money goes on the children and in a few years grandchildren. Working adults can buy whatever they want anyway. Its like me and partner don't buy a lot for each other because why if there is something we want we have already bought it.

I don't set a budget and I buy through the year so I'll be honest I have no idea what it all adds up to. There is no single big expensive thing this year though, and lots of things are bought secondhand on Vinted so they are far cheaper than rrp. I might guess about £150 each?

I only buy for my dcs inc one adult dc plus nieces and nephews (some are adults). I don't buy for my parents or siblings, and DH and I each buy things for ourselves.

As a child in the 60's , it felt like we had a mountain of presents but it wasnt

We got a main present - second hand bike, dolls house parents had made , and then we had our stockings, new undies and pyjamas and a game or book

Then we had the presents from under the christmas tree - from aunts/ uncles / godparents / neighbours - they would also be of low monetary value - colouring books and felt tips, reading book, something hand knitted, a shop bought stocking of crappy plastic toys and a selection box

Then as we got older , distant family would buy WHS or Woolworth tokens - even a pound one would have bought a single and a paperback and the parents gifts would now be a full on outfit and a family board game , and something small like a diary or manicure set or purse

For our grandchildren we only buy what is needed . Eldest is now 20 and in full time work earning more then us - he gets £50 and a small pressie that's relevant to him - so maybe something that's totally useless but will mean something to him, or even packs of socks in the brand he wears

Middle is 13 - an outfit - and so far Ive picked well, then a wee bit of glam

6 yo - clothes , clothes and more clothes, Hes a wee tank and is growing like a weed m he has enough family to buy him plastic crap Their parents know we will be picking up the tab for winter coats/ boots/ clothes so they have the money free to spend how they wish on the kids

Until they were about 3, we didn’t spend very much, maybe £50 - £100

After that, when they loved toys and like certain tv shows and characters, we used to spend around £500 each on them.

Now they no longer want toys but want, clothes, trainers, concert tickets, fragrances, it could be even more. They’re both into PC gaming so their most expensive gift was a PC for about £2k. Usually it’s around £700 though, made up of some things they’ve asked for and some things we’ve chosen for them.

Our oldest is 21, youngest is 17 and I don’t know if we’ll spend less as they get older. We like buying them things and they appreciate it.

I’ve said £200 per child this year but because the older three are teens, it generally works so they will get £300 each then younger two get £150 each because their gifts are generally much cheaper to source.

I plan for approx 300 per child but with clothes, selection boxes , experiences etc it's usually around 500 each.