Don't hate me. I need your help. How much do you buy for a 9 year old for christmas without going OTT or looking like scrooge?

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCake]

I have gone OTT for the last few years and I looked at how little my neighbours child had last year and was shocked as he only had 5 presents, is this right?. I know that christmas isn't all about presents but is there an amount that is just right? I never intend on spending alot but it always looks like soo much. I'm going to give myself a limit of something. ARGH!

[MinkyBorage]

yes

[aGalChangedHerName]

You said anyone who spends shitloads on your dc is pointless,spoils them and is chavvy.

So i spend shitloads on mine. It is not pointless,they are not spoiled at all and we are not chavvy.

[Eniddo]

I do inwardly tut when I hear that parents have bought loads of shit for kids under 4

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

I don't think it's chavvy but I do think she's making a bed for herself that will be difficult to get out of.

As agalChagedHerName say's, is it chavvy to buy your child books for christmas? A telescope? Define chavvy.

[MinkyBorage]

OK, you have a point, I think I mean that buying shit loads of presents is pointless and chavvy rather than the actual cost, although shit loads of presents do tend to cost shit loads of money.

[aGalChangedHerName]

My dc (the big uns) tend to have around 5/6 maybe 7 presents to unwrap. That's because when they are big they want expensive stuff but not large amounts of tat.

I would rather buy them something they want and get the use of whether it be an xbox or whatever than something at £30 or whatever.

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

True. You can spend your money on a load of plastic crap just as easily as a load of books or a microscope. I'm sure some parents will buy their children crap because they will have more to open. My nephew had a DVD/TV combo, cd player, bike etc for his second christmas. I thought this was really bad. They must have spent £500 on him. I was reallt shocked, not just at the cost but at the presents. I suppose this is chavvy no?

[MinkyBorage]

I agree
Like I say my dc are a lot smaller so they aren't actually requesting much at the moment, dd1 wants a cow, and tbh we can't afford one and would have nowhere to keep it anyway because we live in a flat in London, but I do see people who buy just loads of pointless crap, which adds up to being a load of expensive crap, just so dc have loads to open and it is a waste of time and money

[Trafficcone]

Quite apart from what anyone thinks is too much or too little, to my mind, the most important things that affect the parents spend at Christmas are

1. How many other people, relatives etc will be buying for the child.
   
2. Do you buy your child anything, dvds, toys, books etc at any other time of the year apart from Christmas and birthday.
   
   to answer them for my family.....
   
3. 2, my parents and my brother, neither of whom spend more than £20 per child. I've seen so many parents on forums smugly say "We never spend more than £50 on little Tarquin" and then mention in another thread that their parents are buying the child a £75 gift and that they have 8 uncles and aunts all buying for them.
   
   
4. We only buy the kids toys, dvds, colouring pens anything non essential for B'day or Christmas. What they get in Dec has to last them and keep them happy all year, so I'll buy DS games for Xmas knowing they'll be their favourite toy when we do a 8 hour car journey to go on Holiday in August.
   Again, I've seen plenty of people on forums say they've bought their child a toy or a dvd when they've been doing the supermarket shop of a weekend. To me that's far more likely to 'spoil' a child than a nice big pile of gifts on Christmas morning but each to their own.
   
   And as most parents of older kids know. When your video games cost £39.99 each buying just one of those and a selection box does look tight. £39.99 on Fisher Price plastic for a preschooler will actually get you 4 or more toys if spent wisely.
   
   still staggered by the £200 spend on a baby hilarious!!!

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

Lol! Am loving the cow! A toy farm maybe?
It's folk like this who make christmas into the money spinner for the shops it is today. I remember watching the Railway Children, one toy train set, an orange and an apple. We went wrong here didn't we!

[MinkyBorage]

kids today eh? A plastic one just won't cut it I'm afraid! I shall beat her soundly before breakfast and give her gruel for her lunch then she will be grateful for the second hand crayons, and if she's not, I shall make her sweep the chimney

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

Ahh. That's how it should be! They should all be off outside after breakfast, the nanny can give them supper and bathe them and I shall see them for 10 minutes before they retire to bed. Where did we go wrong?

[bellavita]

Myself and my DS's are not chavvy - and if I want to spoil them so be it.

However, it is all relative really, what some people regard as spoiling is normal to someone else.

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

Quite right Traffic.

[Eniddo]

i have 3 kids

if they have 6 presents each that is still 18 presents to open which takes bloody ages

[morningpaper]

For those of you who don't want (not can't) to spend lots of money at xmas time,what about when your dc want an ipod or xbox or whatever gadgets are around by then?

I suppose it depends what you mean by "can't". If they wanted someone that was EXPENSIVE but I thought of as an Important Investment in their future or in one of their passions (i.e. a telescope! or tickets) then I can imagine saving us and buying it. But if it was something that was purely for entertainment then no, sorry, I see that as a waste of money and wouldn't invest in it.

[aGalChangedHerName]

Really MP? Oh well i love seeing their faces light up when they see presents that they really wanted even if it is just for "entertainments" sake.

I often buy stuff for myself for entertainment too.

[Jampot]

i usually allow £100 budget for each (i have 2) but I do buy stocking presents wisely throughout the year. I have bought ds some Burberry Touch EDT for £5 from Boots a couple of months ago as a stocking present - it was drastically reduced. He is 12 but will like it. Dd (15) has a huge collection of beanie babies (although all in a box right now) so I have bought her as one stocking present a BB from Entertainer for £1. Given their ages and the fact they no longer play with toys it will possibly be easier. DD wants a Sidekick phone as her main present so will have to look around for one of those, ds doesnt appear to havea clue. I also buy them some Christmas Eve PJs which will be soft and cosy. Oh I LOOOOVE CHristmas!

[blossomsmine]

I made the mistake of buying loads and loads for my dc when they were little, a big stocking each and piles of presents under the tree. It gets harder as they get older because to keep making that 'big pile' gets more and more expensive as teenagers things are usually alot more expensive. Also when you have one child it is alot easier but as the years go by people usually add to their family and then of course you have more piles to buy!!!!
Over the last few years i have made a point of gradually shrinking the amount of pressies they get because of the expense. It is easy to get over excited when you have a new baby but remember to be a little careful cos they do get used to it!!!!
Mine are good kids and i have had to spend less the last few years, especially this one!

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

Thanks all. I've given him £100 limit so he can choose himself, this way if he gets 3 boxes of Lego and leaves no money for anything else he can't moan at me.

[MarmadukeScarlet]

MP, I'm glad I'm not the only one who gives pants as stocking presents (and vests, socks, tights, toothbrush/paste) FC often brings a new coat and sometimes a hat and gloves if there has been a massive growth spurt! You have to buy this stuff anyway - so why not wait until Christmas.

She then gets a few other presents as well - last yr a DS lite plus a game, a few books and craft bits.

We once went to stay with SIL for Xmas, I asked her in advance how many presents her DDs would have and she replied , "oh lots" so took DD's up with us. On Christmas morn it became apparent that her 'lots' and our 'lots' were different - so poor DD only got to open pants, vests, socks, tights and a coat, hat, scarf and gloves on Christmas morning or she would have been nekkid/cold for the 3 days (as hadn't packed anything knowing what FC was bringing).

[PhantomOfTheChocolateCakeAvena]

I stopped buying ds clothes for christmas after he told me he has an overwhelming feeling of sadness when he opens a present to find clothes and he finds it hard not to cry. I just give him the clothes before christmas unrapped so he gets less presents.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

Other than the new pj's on christmas eve, we dont do clothes for christmas either. I always remember my brothers feeling their pressie when they were little and they hated the clothes ones. DH said he did the same so never done it for DS.

[blossomsmine]

Thats another thing about when your dc get older!!! They LOVE getting clothes, will my girls do anyway But that is a little annoying cos the things they want are quite expensive.....
Our stockings are full of knickers, socks, bras!!, deodrants all that kind of stuff!