Christmas budget

[Pocketrocket31]

I'm basically wondering what's the norm??

My Ds is 9 now so the presents he's into are far more expensive than when he was younger. I've always been on my own with him & work part time. Ive generally just gotten him what he's asked for. But 1 present alone on his list this year is 800 quid.
I'm not being nosey and asking what you can afford, but what would be your budget??

I don't want him to be a spoilt brat.

I've also had the conversation ( a few years ago) about father Xmas and his elfs "not being able to make electrical toys, I have to send them to him first" so my Ds is sort of aware of the money thing & know how much stuff costs

£800???!! Ive spent £300 each on my 2 dds and I thought that was alot. My ex does usually give me half but he hasnt mentioned it yet...

What is it that costs £800? I need a new car and was looking at spending that ;)

It's a iMac, it's not so much the cost that's putting me of, it's that if I get him that that's all I'll get him & I don't want him to be a spoilt brat

Have you looked at refurbed ones? Apple sell them on their website so it would be the same as getting a new one.

No I didn't realise they did them. Will check it out. Thanks

Apple offer student discounts too. Do you know anyone who's a student who could purchase it for you?

My 9 year old knows the deal with FC so wouldn't ask for an £800 Mac. He only gets gifts from his father and me so I couldn't ask other people to chip
In.

Have you considered trying to persuade him that a cheaper laptop or PC is sufficient?

My Ds(8) will probably be about £200-£250 this year as he wants and X box360..However last year he wanted a guitar so his main present was £30... So it was probably closer to £120 last year.

At this age the are still malleable.. I would be looking at something that does something similar at at least half the price

I will spend £200 all in on ds this Xmas - he is ten.

Odds on his dad won't spend a penny but I have had to stop access anyway. There are no grandparents. Or if he does give anything it will be cash and that would be in the new year.

Ds knows he can't get everything he fancies. Unfortunately the school he goes to the majority really lavish expensive gifts on their children and has oodles of family support - even the single parents go mad, bar a few exceptions.

I don't see how overspending and constantly living in debt can send out the right signals to children and I don't agree with it.... Does anyone else agree with me on this or am I the minority?

I buy reconditioned gadgets for presents. Ebay or Amazon. This year ds is getting a PS3 and a bundle of games and also the new Fifa 16 which has just come out. Of course his two best friends already have the new Fifa! As I would appear to be surrounded by endless rich couples and I am the black sheep. :(

In our house £800 would be affordable but not an option.
At 9 years old I would expect my ds to be playing with toys at Christmas and if anyone had an IMac to be over the age of 40 ! ( moi )
Or at least off to university or something not 9 . Sorry if that sounds harsh .

Unfortunately my ds goes to a very loaded school and it isn't unusual for children there to even have an i phone 5 - FFS - at the age of 10!!

Can't wait for the secondary school to begin where there would appear to be more ordinary types who do not endlessly chuck money and goods at their children and think that is the only answer to raising them.......!

One more year of black sheep living then hopefully on to pastures new... :)