Christmas

[dollypops15]

Hi guys, no hate please for already talking about Christmas. I'm a planner, so like things all sorted in advance. Just wondering if anyone has a budget for prestent for their children and if they stick to it. I have 3 children 15, 6 and 2.

@dollypops15 how old is your son? A £105 pair of trainers would be a main present here, so only something smaller with it- depending on age that might be books, stationery, a small lego set, so around £30-£40 more. I explain to my kids that they can put anything they like on their Christmas (and birthday) list, but they won't get everything and they should say if something is the most important item.

He is 15 next month x

Do you spend the same on all of them because if so I wouldn't. Teens have more expensive tastes but a 2 year old would be happy with a couple of second hand toys you picked up for £10 each. Facebook Marketplace is a great place for second hand toys.

Work out what you want to spend/ can afford then buy something within budget. It's not worth getting into debt over. I have budgeted £350 for all presents this year ( including kids friends I buy for etc). I have 2 DC and they get roughly £50 each for everything. There are already several good Christmas threads with great tips and bargains etc. Join us!

We had our first (human 😂) DC this summer and have set a budget of £50. This will go up to £100 the year that she'll be 3, but while she's so tiny and doesn't understand we're going low budget

Around £180 for the teen and £150 for the younger one.

There's really no help from MN when asking about Christmas budgets. It ranges from a satsuma to £1000s

If my teenager's single present takes up all her budget I just remind her that her pile of presents will be a lot smaller than her sibling's pile, she's old enough to understand

@dollypops15

I always think how the heck can I get a christmas so cheap. My 6 year old birthday last month cost an absolute fortune. My sons trainers he wants are £105 and that's one present

Well, you set their expectations young....

DS16 doesn't get much for Christmas because he never has. So this year he's likely to get a PS4 game and a £10 nandos voucher.

DS16 doesn't get much for Christmas because he never has. So this year he's likely to get a PS4 game and a £10 nandos voucher.

Surely not?

A £10 Nando's voucher doesn't even buy my basic butterfly chicken and sides

I'm not a fan of setting the bar quite so low.

Up to about age 10 we did £100 each, now teens so budget hs gone to £200ish each including stocking

Ds is 12, he's expecting the ps5 for Christmas. That will be his only big present though, he'll have his stocking and some extra presents to open.
Dd is 20 so will just give her cash and the usual pj's, perfume, etc. She also wants a new Fitbit too.

DH and I stick to around £100 for each other plus a crap gift competition for £5 maximum.

@premiumshoes

DS16 doesn't get much for Christmas because he never has. So this year he's likely to get a PS4 game and a £10 nandos voucher.

Surely not?

A £10 Nando's voucher doesn't even buy my basic butterfly chicken and sides

I'm not a fan of setting the bar quite so low.

Actually, Yes, it's true. And funnily enough, £10 is enough for him, he gets a burger or pitta usually, occasionally a half chicken, none of those are over £10.

We haven't all got £100s to spend at Christmas.

Besides it's not as if that's ALL he'll get for Christmas. He has 6 aunts and uncles buying for him, 4 cousins, 2 set if grandparents, neighbours, family friends, friends and colleagues.

Sorry, but I do not see the need to spend more money than we can afford when he'll be perfectly happy with what he gets.

We haven't all got £100s to spend at Christmas.

I understand that. I just can't work out the race to the bottom shit that these threads attract.

It's not a fucking race to the bottom. I'm just saying what DS16 will get, as OP has a similar aged child.

Sorry if I didn't check with everyone if it was OK to share my experience. 🙄

Sorry if I didn't check with everyone if it was OK to share my experience. 🙄

Nobody has said it's not ok. Nobody. I simply commented on your post, which is literally the whole point of a forum.

Well, I feel like I'm being attacked because I don't spend loads of money or get lots of stuff for my son for Christmas.

@00100001

Well, I feel like I'm being attacked because I don't spend loads of money or get lots of stuff for my son for Christmas.

Attacked? Fucking hell

I have a budget but don't make decisions about Xmas until end November, early December at very very earliest, because DC won't know what they want until then. I am vaguely fascinated by people who plan for it months in advance. That would not help me make good decisions about DC's gifts.

"I'm not a fan of setting the bar quite so low"

I took that to mean you felt I didn't spend enough money in my son. That my bar is too low, and I should spend more on him.
How was I supposed to interpret that comment?

Your original comment premium was not kind, especially the 'surely not' bit. When we have huge use of food banks, thousands of people on furlough or unemployed etc is it not obvious that for some people £50-60 pounds is a lot to spend on a Christmas present (PS games usually about £40-50 and the £10 Nandos voucher).

@00100001

"I'm not a fan of setting the bar quite so low"

I took that to mean you felt I didn't spend enough money in my son. That my bar is too low, and I should spend more on him.
How was I supposed to interpret that comment?

Interpret it anyway you like. Don't accuse me of attacking you though.

Your original comment premium was not kind, especially the 'surely not' bit.

Tbh I said 'surely not' about the Nando's voucher value because I thought 'surely not' - how else would I react?

Just to clarify, if someone said they were about to spend a ridiculously huge amount on their D.C. I would also say 'surely not'. It applies at both ends of the scale.

Fine. I'm not a fan of people saying I set the bar too low.

As explained, £10 is perfectly acceptable amount for a nandos voucher.

We don't all have expensive tastes.