How much do you spend per child at Christmas?

[ClarasMummy]

Baby due in early January but have 2.5 year old DD and I want her to have a nice Christmas. I was having a conversation with DP who was raised Jehovah's witness and didn't celebrate Christmas, about how much is typical to spend on one child at Christmas and it just got me wondering how much other people usually spend per child on presents.

Opinions would be appreciated

A 'nice' Christmas is really not about how much money you spend on your child.

I'm aware of that, but it just got me to wondering how much is the average amount to spend on presents per child.

at 2, I probably spent about £30 plus stocking fillers, some of which would have been secondhand, and some would have been useful things, so socks, toothbrush and paste, crayons - things I would have bought anyway.

Now my DC are much older, we do tend to spend more, but not excessively, still a main present from us, (last 2 years camera and DS) and stockings which are nominally from FC. Again stocking are full of useful things: pants, tights, socks, wash stuff, new pens etc plus books that we have picked up cheap from Book People or similar, and some treats sweets, cheap DS game or CD's /DVD's.

DC get presents from other family and friends and I don't want them to be completely swamped with stuff. Stockings are a tradition, which as I said I use to provide stuff I would buy anyway, and then one decent present from DH and I.

I really don't think that there is an average - one year DS had a farm set with loads of animals - cost me £10 secondhand. Once he grows a bit more we will buy him a decent bike - that will probably be over £200, but we wouldn't usually spend that much.

You will find that people will admit to anything from 50p to eye watering amounts in the hundreds.

I spend about £100 per child, but at age 2 it was mainly practical stuff they would have got anyway like a new car seat.

I think it always good to have a maximum you want to pay in mind but I do not think there should be a minimum, as long as you find something that pleases the child who will get it.

I think opinion is usually split between those whose children will get lots of presents from friends and family and those who won't . Mine don't get very many presents from family etc so we probably spend £100+ per child, depends what they want and how solvent we are.

I do think that at 2 they will be pleased with anything tbh IME they don't really get Xmas yet.

This year my budget is £120 per child (2 DCs). DS's (3y) main pressie is Buzz and Woody figures (£50 total) and the rest is being spent on new clothes/xmas day outfit, dressing up, jigsaw, stocking fillers etc.

DD (6y) is getting her first big bike this year (after putting up with a 20 year old raleigh for the last 4-5 yrs) which takes a chunk but managed to find a deal and only spent £80 - the rest, again, will be xmas outfit, books, stocking fillers.

Not exactly frugal but personally don't think that's excessive and I do a lot of bargain hunting, 3 for 2 offers etc.

I tend to spend £10-15 each on everyone else (friends and relatives).

I aim for £20 each, but including the 'little extras' it usually come to £40.

I didnt buy my DS anything specific until he was 4/5. He was too young to notice and he got presents from friends/relatives anyway.

I prefer to spend my Christmas budget on the meal rather than presents.

My in-laws spend a fortune on their DCs and have raised spoiled brats as a result.

Was mostly second hand stuff when dds were younger but this year they are 6 and nearly 5 and I have already bought them a scooter each - in sale - and a few bits and pieces, prob £50 each.

Tbh, I don't think you can have an 'average' as such as there are so many different variables.

Firstly, the age of the child will affect the amount spent - their presents get a lot more expensive as they get older!

Some people will spend less but only give toys.

Other people spend more, but include essentials that the child needs to have anyway (such as slippers, pants, vests etc).

Some people buy their children toys and gifts all year round, so don't spend so much at Christmas time.

Others do not give presents except for Birthdays / Christmas, so tend to give more on those occasions.

Some people spend equal amounts on Birthdays and Christmas, whereas others I know spend far more on Birthdays and just do a few small presents for Christmas (or the other way round).

As for me, I tend to spend about £200 on my children at Christmas.

But this includes one big present of about £50, at least £50 gets spend on essentials that they would be getting anyway - they just wouldn't be wrapped up. It also includes a couple of nice outfits and then a few toys, such as DS or Wii games etc.

Also, you have to bear in mind, for Birthday they get a party so they have a max of £50 spend on presents and I do not buy them any toys / gifts outside of birthday / Christmas. If they want it outside of bday / Christmas - they have to save up for it themselves.

What you spend is only relative to your own circumstances. If you can afford to spend £200 on your kids then, brilliant. If you only spend £20 but get everything your kids want then equally brilliant.

This topic comes up every year and some people feel the need to justify what they spend, some people judge others for spending too much/not enough.

Spend what you like, it's nobody else's business and there is no "set amount" you have to stick to.

At 2.5 I think they are still young enough to be overwhelmed by too many toys, more excited by the box, and a bit confused by Christmas.

I would be thinking of myself in this situation - it might be a good idea to spread the present giving over December/January so that you can hand her something small and entertaining at regular intervals towards the end of pregnancy and when you have a new baby. If you want to buy a big present, something like a play kitchen might keep her occupied.

Re: spending amounts - for us it depends on the year, however, I saw this on the web last year and liked it - "something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read".

They won't remember it until they are about 4 anyway.

It varies from year to year. One year they might want something "big" eg a new bike or a games console, another year they might just want a bit of Lego.

This year is looking like a comparitively low cost year as so far they have asked for small things such as board games, books, lego and accessories for DD's dolls house. They are 4, 6 and 8 BTW.

So I think this year I will probably spend about £75 each on them.

£500 each
They are 14 and 11.

To follow on from my previous post I should have added.

I spent next to nothing on them while they were toddlers for two reasons
1 I knew small kids are happy with bits of stuff and they had everything they needed.

2 I was stoney broke and having a bad time financially.

They are older and I have more money so I spend more and I am very happy to do so.

I think unless you are including essentials 30 pound is a good amount for the 3s and unders. DS who is 4.3 now has always got loads of presents from family but has only ever opened about 4 or 5 on Christmas day and then just plays with his favourites and refuses to open anything else.

I dont think cost comes into it its the "play value" of the toy. Ive seen friends spend hundreds on tat just so to spend their "max budget". What is the point? DS1 now 5 never allocated a max value to christmas I've given it some thought and bought basic toys (mega-blocks etc). And once I am happy that that will fulfil him thats it. I may also buy an outfit and he's delighted. I may only spend £20 and at 2.5 yrs old what more do they want? Friends and family also buy the odd gift too. Most of it isnt played with so usually I request clothes.
Believe me there is so much rubbish out there that will get mixed up and eventually bined.
For DS2 1st birthday - think I spent £10! I bought a lovely megablock truck from ELC and a bag of balls. Perfect.
What I hate is seeing family buy the children gifts that are far too old for them just because the box states from 4+ but I always say add 2 years to that.
I also bought Tikes outdoor toys second hand for DS1 birthday - He doesnt care and saves me a fortune.
Christmas to me means the best luxury food. Rather spend it on fab family meals and socialising than more tat.

You are so right. Last year DS got some Knex stuff that was aimed at 3+ He can't do it now and he's 4.3

However there's also a Mega Bloks thing which is 3+ which he has already outgrown in less than a year, so the add 2 years rule doesn't always work. He would have been able to play with this toy from 2.

DD1 aged 13 prob about £200-300 on clothes and a telly (joint birthday December).
DD2 aged 2 about £20 at the car boot sale on fisher price little people.