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Christmas

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Original poster

This may have been done to death but if you haven't commented yet, how much do you spend per child?

48 replies

WhereWolfTheWildThingsWere · 21/10/2008 09:20

I just keep reading of what seems to me quite large sums of money. (I am not judging that, each to his or her own)

I will spend about fifty to sixty pounds on ds 4.

And maybe ten pounds on dd 8m.

Am I scrooge?

OP posts:
Gobbledigook · 21/10/2008 09:25

It's not to do with being a scrooge and it's not to do wtih loving your children any more if you spend more.

It's either about what you can afford, or it's about what you think is reasonable.

I suspect we spend a lot less than people who earn much less than we do because a) I have 3 children to buy for and b) I've bought way too much in the past and it's just overload, the kids get bored of unwrapping it, they can't possibly play with everything, I don't want spoilt children, I spend the money on other things (that the children benefit from even if they don't see it that way)....

Everyone is different. IME, within my family, it's those with the lowest incomes that spend the most. Tis bizarre.

PsychoAxeMurdererMum · 21/10/2008 09:27

no. I have no idea what I spend on each TBH, I just ensure that they each have the same amount to open, which this year will be 5 gifts each under the tree, and maybe 15 small gifts in their rather large stockings!

this often means that the older children will have more spent on them as the gifts cost more, but I find it all balances out in the end. Also, age has a lot to do with it, as an 8mth old will have no idea she/he has presents, let alone that it is xmas (altho the pretty lights might give a clue that somehting special is happening).

I have a (sounding huge in todays climate) budget for all the xmas presents this year of £1000........but I have been saving hard all year and have saved £20 PW into a christmas saving scheme run by my SIL. I am very lucky I know, that I can afford to have done this from january anyway!

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 21/10/2008 09:28

I have saved £600 worth of vouchers this is for dd1's bday, all xmas pressies and food for over xmas.

Though I already have dd1's main birthday present (an mp3 player I got for a tenner after seeing a thread about it being on sale) and her main xmas pressie will also be bought online and is about £30.

Gobbledigook · 21/10/2008 09:30

YOu also need to consider what other people are going to get them. That's where I've gone wrong in previous years - looking at the 'pile' I have got and thinking 'oh I need to get a bit more' forgetting they have grandparents, great grandparents and umpteen aunts adn uncles that are adding to it.

This year I am going to be really sensible about it - I know they have a wii already from their nan so tbh, I don't think I need to get very much else as that will be the focus of their attention over the Christmas period.

darkpunk · 21/10/2008 09:33

about £100 each.

mazzystartled · 21/10/2008 09:34

My 2 will have a stocking each, and two presents each under tree from us. Trying to do the lot for £50. dd is 20 months so its easier.

bythepowerofgreyskull · 21/10/2008 09:36

I never think about the financial worth of the gifts. This year DS1 (4)is getting a marble run thing from us (plus stocking fillers) I will buy him a little something from his brother.
DS2 is going to have a toy of some description

I have kept a note of things that DS1 has said he wants to put on his father christmas list and have distributed the list to family members.

Sorry but I really don't think having pounds and pence list is helpful to anyone..

the only thing that is helpful is to be guided not to spend what you haven't got..

Tortington · 21/10/2008 09:37

if you dont spend lots of money you dont love your children

stretchmarkSCREAM · 21/10/2008 09:40

DD1(6) £75
DD2(3) £75
DS(5 months) £40 (but that's going to mainly be clothes)

We have never spent more than £80 on them.

My parents are spending less this year as well, as they now have 4 gc, whereas last year they only had 2!! My bf and I have also agreed to only buy each others dcs a selection box as we are all broke!!

When I was growing up, my parents used to say we each had one big present every 3 years (there were 3 dcs!!) So, first year I got a bike, then the next year my sis got a bike and I got smaller pressies etc..then my bro. It worked for us!!

Original poster
WhereWolfTheWildThingsWere · 21/10/2008 09:48

Custy, will I be judged?

I have a friend who has to spend the same amount per child.

Last year she was running around trying to get up to £150 buying anything she could think of.

OP posts:
mumeeee · 21/10/2008 09:49

About £50 on main present and £30 on stocking,
So around £80 per child. But my children are now 21,18 and 16, We used to spend less when they were little.

ChopsTheDuck · 21/10/2008 09:49

I don't like spending lots of money on stacks of presents. Last year they only had £20 each. We saved up all the money wqe could have spent on Xmas and spent it in Florida (only actually paid for flights oursleves, rest was a gift, btw!).

This year I've spent £50 each, so a total of £200. Won't be buying presents for dp or anyone else, and I'm saving up to take them to Holland and Germany at Easter.

I don't get the idea of spending £1000s on Xmas, though I suppose if people can afford it, fair enough. I'd rather save the money for experiences and memories that they will remember for years to come, than a toy that will be in landfill by June.

ShowOfHands · 21/10/2008 09:53

Me and dh don't buy for each other and we have a £5 limit for everybody else. I have overspent on dd though. I've bought her a wooden trainset for £5.99

pagwatch · 21/10/2008 09:53

it varies hugely as I buy ( as best I can ) what each child wants.
Last year DS2 wanted me to get him Tarzan on VHS which I could only get on ebay and was about £1.50.
Two years ago DS1's present was more than £800.
Varies hugely as what they want is never determined by cost but by their personal choices.
Which is how I like it

hecAteTheirBrains · 21/10/2008 09:54

Dunno what I am going to spend on them. I have saved up £650 for christmas gifts this year. That's going to do everyone, so I shall see what I can get for me money

hockeypuck · 21/10/2008 10:00

I spend about £50 each on actual gifts for them and then a fair bit more on PJs, Wellys, jumpers, tights, socks, pants etc that they get in their stocking. It's things I would have to buy them anyway as they just keep growing! but I use it to bulk up the christmas stockings a bit.

Pawslikepaddington · 21/10/2008 10:01

I don't know-it is literally just dd and me this year as my mum died and her dad no longer sees her, so I will probably spend £80-£100, but on lots of little things and a fur real dog (don't ask!), as she will only be getting presents from me this year, so need to bulk them up a bit. Do you buy a present from them to yourself?

Gobbledigook · 21/10/2008 10:03

I could be making a big mistake today by giving my 3 an Argos catalogue each to look at the toys

I will make it clear it's a 'wish list' not a 'this is what I will get' list and then they are going to do cutitng out and sticking.

MrsMattie · 21/10/2008 10:32

I had budgeted £150 for 3 yr old DS (incl stocking). DH laughed heartily and knocked it down to £100. In the end, I've managed to get everything I wanted to get for just under £80, so quite chuffed. It still feels like a lot of money to spend, though.

MrsMattie · 21/10/2008 10:34

p.s. I will have a 4 week old baby by Xmas, too, but am not buying anything for him/her. I will take lots of pics and make a little 'keepsake' album of his/her first Xmas instead. I'm so over buying presents just for the sake of it.

HappyMummyOfOne · 21/10/2008 13:16

As long as you are happy with what you have spent and havent got into debt, who cares what anybody else thinks?

I love this season with halloween, fireworks night and xmas and love to make it as magical as possible. I dont add up what I spend as only have the one DS so can afford to spoil him at christmas. We have very little family so other than a couple of presents for them and teachers gifts I only really have DH and DS to shop for.

sweetkitty · 21/10/2008 13:19

DD1 £125
DD2 £125 (but this is actually a bit less with 3 for 2's) so in "real terms" about £90 each
DD3 £20 she will be 5 months so it's more like she has a stocking from Santa too

amanda12 · 21/10/2008 13:20

We don't really set an amount but are planning on getting each ds one big present and then a couple of little things. We have decided to cut down this year as we are going on a big holiday nxt year.We are also just doing photos and homemade goodies for family and friends.

CharleeInChains · 21/10/2008 13:22

I am terrible at xmas.

My children (2 boys ages 2 and 4) awake to a lounge full every year so does dp. I start xmas shopping in January.

Its to much for them they don't appreciate it but i grew up the same, with xmas being totally spoilt as rest of the year is tight.

CharleeInChains · 21/10/2008 13:23

Both my boys were only a couple of month old at thier first xmas's and i can't bare to ot get them anything so they got tons of clothes and things we needed i.e blankets/clothes/nappies ect. Just so they had something under the tree.

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