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Original poster

How much do grand parents buy for grand children?

79 replies

Marne · 19/12/2009 19:24

How much do your parent (children's grand parents) buy for their grand children at x-mas?

I often see on here people saying grand parents are buying dc * and ** and i always seem to feel a bit .

My mum spends around 5-8 pounds on the dd's for x-mas, i am very grateful (i'm not trying to sound ungrateful) but these are her only 2 grand children and she has no one else (other than her partner) to buy for, she's not that short of cash yet she hardly ever buys the dd's anything.

I know i'm probably going to get called 'ungrateful' but just wondered how much grand parents spent on your dc's?

OP posts:
Original poster
Marne · 19/12/2009 20:00

Yes Tizzy thats just it, i feel let down with the general lack of interest in the girls, she was a great mother to me as a child but since i had the dd's she shows hardly any interest, when she does come over (which is rarely) she tells me how proud she is of dd2 (she has had a tough year and overcome so much, she has Autism) yet she can't even buy her something nice for x-mas or have her to stay for the night. A few years ago she had money problems and i lent her money (which i never got back) but i know for a fact that she now has money, she works full time as does her partner.

OP posts:
Original poster
Marne · 19/12/2009 20:03

I asked her to buy dd2 a tea set for x-mas from the elc which would cost 12.00 (nothing else) but she has bought her a cheep set which she knows dd2 will destroy in a few seconds, surely its better to spend a few extra pounds for something that would last rather than buying something cheep that will be broken by boxing day.

OP posts:
moomaa · 19/12/2009 20:06

Mum gave me £20 for each DC, plus bought them a jumper and will probably get them a few cheap bits and pieces. MIL spends £100 a family and we can request how we want it split.

Earthstar · 19/12/2009 20:08

Dd (age 10) is an only child, and so far the only grandchild both sides too! My parents spend between £100 and £1000 - mainly on premium bonds/shares - not toys. Dp's parents spend around £5 on a present. For her first xmas they bought a bib that said "baby's first xmas" (she never used bibs as not a sicky baby) and a flannel . Disposable incomes are similar though both sides. I think form this that anything goes!

Tizzyjacko · 19/12/2009 20:11

My ILs were very strange about my DS1s learning disabilities (she even said "it" must come from my side of the family, numerous and irish, rather than theirs, both only children so no cousins etc to compare with)and refused to have him to stay whilst constantly having other GCs over. Later learnt she was proud of us, but she never said it

Original poster
Marne · 19/12/2009 20:15

Mum still thinks there is nothing wrong with the dd's (both ASD), so if theres nothing wrong with them she should be fine to look after them for a day or night .

OP posts:
thedollshouse · 19/12/2009 20:17

Around £50.

herbietea · 19/12/2009 20:18

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Jambuttie · 19/12/2009 20:24

I dont speak to my parents so no pressies exchange from that side of the family

My inlaws spend £20-£30 on each of their grandkids- they have 13!!!!!!

BustleInYourHedgerow · 19/12/2009 20:24

Waaay too much. FIL + MIL have bought him so much tat in the five months he's been here that I'm dreading Christmas. He does not need another musical silver snowglobe or a silver picture frame with cutesy headings like 'Baby's first toof'. Bleurrgh. Where can I hang them??

MIL knits beautiful clothes for him though, which I really appreciate, and would be more than enough for a Christmas present.

My Mum put E20 in his credit union account and got him a teddy bear. That's something I much prefer than lugging a suitcase of tat on the train from PILs house.

SnowMuchToBits · 19/12/2009 20:25

My mum (Dad died 2 years ago on Tuesday) spends about £50 for ds for Christmas, and the same for his birthday. But also buys him Premium bonds every birthday. He is her only gc though, and she is 89, so feels he is the only child she can indulge! Usually she gives me the money and asks me to buy what he would like (it's hard for her to go shopping now).

My ILs generally spend about £10 on ds for Christmas (and roughly the same for his birthday). They have 3 gc including ds (dh's sister has 2 children).

fin54 · 19/12/2009 20:25

I think it?s awful that Grandparents make differences between grandchildren if I had more than two and not enough money to spend for them all I would split the money fairly between them all, how shocking that Adults treat their grandchildren differently, I don?t make differences between my son-in-law and daughter and son either they all get the same spent on them

Tizzyjacko · 19/12/2009 20:26

Sounds like she's in denial big time!

SnowMuchToBits · 19/12/2009 20:27

I think PILs spend about the same on their other 2 GC as they do on ds, so no problem there.

herbietea · 19/12/2009 20:31

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fin54 · 19/12/2009 20:36

I must admit to cutting down on my daughter and son-in-law since second grand daughter was born, but I try to think of things they would both like, this year I got the girl?s portrait done for them (large photo framed for their wall ) as I knew it was something they both would like but couldn?t afford to get it done, the only thing I was sorry about was that it wasn?t a surprise as I had to tell my daughter I was getting it done as I didn?t know what she would want the girls to be dressed in and she was the one who was going to be looking at it every day.

dinoroar · 19/12/2009 21:10

PILS have only 2 GC (my DCs) and for each DC they get a couple of small presents and usually a cheque for £100 each to put in savings.

My dad and stepmother, about £15 per child, again my DCs are the only GC.

My mum about £50 per child, again, only GCs.

cyanarasamba · 19/12/2009 21:18

Around £20 on main toy, plus an outfit (normally debenhams) and book.

BramblyHedge · 19/12/2009 22:55

My Dad: 50 quid cash each
My Mum: 15-20 quid gift
In laws: 50 quid gift

(my parents are divorced)

Mshalfcut · 19/12/2009 22:57

I spend about 20 quid each on a main present with a few small bits as well ..is that enough?Or am I a mean GP

seeker · 19/12/2009 22:59

I have no idea - I'm not interested in how much presents cost.

CardyMow · 20/12/2009 01:00

up until last year, my mum spent £15 on each of my 3 DC's. This year she phoned in desperation saying she couldn't find anything in that price range that she thought they'd want, and could she spend £20 on each. My DD doesn't see her dad's side of the family (their choice, not mine) so I always get her something a little extra, as DS1 gets lots at his dad's from his GP's, as does DS2. She gets a £20-ish prezzie from me when they're at their dad's to make up for it. Got no clue what DS1's GP's on dad's side spend, I split up with his dad before his 1st christmas. From what I can gather, DS2's GP's spend about £100 on him, but they've never seen their other GC due to a family row, so he's like their 'only GC'. But then my ex-MIL always was a fruit loop....

slummymummy36 · 20/12/2009 09:17

MY parents spend About £30 each! They have 3 grand daughters. My 2 are older I dont think they yet spend £30 on my neice who is still only 2 partly because I am off loading all my kis cast off toys to my poor sister who is complaining about the lack of space in her house!!

MY ILs drive me up the wall because they throw money at the kids! I dont mean to sound ungrateful but I cannot recall the last time they actually bought anything for the kids. The last 3 years for birthdays and Xmases I have taken the liberty to calling them (despite my general dislike of them) and telling them that IF they wanted to get the girls anything - the girls have a list and so they could have first choice on what to buy - but no they just throw money in an envelope at the girls.

Rather annoyingly - my 11yo just had £200 from them for her birthday! I know it sounds odd to complain about it - but its not really a gift - its a kind of buying the kids kind of blackmail. They love to tell everyonelse they gave the kids £XXXX!!

Ofcourse the money is a stupid amount for children so we usually let them have a certain sum maybe about £20/30 to buy that something they really want and the rest goes into their savings but it causes alot of problems when the youngest does not get the same amount! I think I would rather they get book tokens instead of cash!

I just think its a shame that they dont put any thought into it. I think children love to open gift too!

snickersnack · 20/12/2009 11:22

My parents spend about £20-£30, I suppose. They will go to a lot of trouble to find the perfect present for both of them. In-laws spend more, though again they try and find something they think the children will want rather than checking the amount - this year it's a trampoline for their garden which will be great, though I suspect my MIL will be using it as well

OrmIrian · 20/12/2009 11:31

Depends on how well off they are at the time. My parents depend on investments for their income and atm those aren't doing to well so spending is down. But that's OK. When they have more they spend more.

Could it just be that your parents don't know what to get Marne? And as they have never shopped for something specific they don't know what their budget needs to be.

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