How much is too much for an 8 year old at Christmas

[Newmum2020F]

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering what you guys think a reasonable amount is for Christmas for an 8 year old we have just spent 140 pounds on a laptop and honestly with our own bills rent and baby supplies that's a lot of money.

But my partner says we can't just give her that for Christmas?

How much more should we spend I mean the 140 has left us short anyway and it will be the next payday before Christmas but is their a limit or do you just buy because that's what makes her happy?

Thanks in advance.

Could you do a small stocking too?

But don't if you really can't afford it as Xmas is one day and not worth getting into debt for.

Fill the day with fun and laughter, play silly games, sing songs, go for a walk....that's what your child will remember.

I'd get a few little gifts as well.

If that's all you can comfortably afford, then that's all she gets. Maybe some sweets but that's it.

I do not understand people who get into debt or down to the last few quid for kids at Christmas. You have bought her and amazing gift, she's a lucky girl.

I think she needs some other little bits to go with it to be honest but if you can’t afford it then you can’t do it!

A chocolate orange. Some sweets. Put that in a little stocking.

That is an amazing present and a lot of money

I wouldn’t get an 8yo such an expensive present, but as you have already I’d just get a few little bits to go with it. A laptop’s not very exciting to an 8yo! There’s a website called Toys for a Pound that does really cheap bits.

I'd at least give a stocking but if money was short I'd have got something less expensive and more fun so there are a couple of gifts to open. An 8 year old doesn't really need a laptop and as above it's not the most exciting gift when it's the only thing to open on Xmas morning Could you return it? If not add a few craft bits from £ shop etc

I think it depends, did she ask for a laptop? If so maybe explain pre-Christmas that it is a big expensive present and so Father Christmas/you (depending what she believes) will only be able to get that one thing instead of lots of things.

If she really wants the laptop and is happy with that then if you can afford you could do a few little extra bits that only cost around £20/30 altogether. Maybe little useful things that you would buy her anyway.

At that age if I could only afford that I would wait until another year and get smaller bits so they have a few presents to open.

I'd do a stocking (chocolate, sweets, cheap nail varnish/lip gloss, hair clips, stationery etc) and a couple of inexpensive gifts as well. But ultimately do what you can afford and absolutely DO NOT get into debt over Christmas!

If a laptop is what she wants, and not primarily for schoolwork, that's a big present and she's old enough to understand that it comes instead of lots of toys and plastic rubbish.

I'd bulk it up with some PJ's, and a small stocking. Maybe a couple of books.

You can do the stocking really cheap in the likes of Poundland and home bargains. Can pick up PJ's for a fiver or so.

I would buy a bunch of little cheap things to bulk out the present a bit.

Poundland often do colouring books and pencils

Surprise bags that are £2 each from toy shops

A few hair scrunchies from primark?

A teddy?

Al this stuff would come in under £20 total and make it feel like more.

Jesus wept people

You buy what you can afford and nothing more

A laptop will be useful for doing school work now and in the future. Home schooling, extra learning etc. It's a lovely gift.

Stocking wise may I suggest a piece of fruit - usually a tangerine here- some chocolate and sweets.
I also go for a book(usually secondhand).

Christmas isn't about presents.

Martin Lewis has quite a bit to say about spending unnecessarily at Christmas.

Will there be other gifts from family?

My kids love playing games on Christmas Day, generally the stuff they remember is the stuff they do with you not the gifts.
Make breakfast together, let her help with peeling veg for dinner.
Ice the cake etc.

Set her up a roblox and minecraft account on the laptop and be prepared to talk through the back of the screen for the rest of the day.

Keep any amazon boxes etc and ask friends and family for theirs, get some tape and paints and create a home made 'den' kit. If you get enough you can pile them up as a castle. My Dd would be entertained for hours with that even if its not a 'proper' present. I'm sure she'd dig out nerf guns and use it as a base for nerf fights.

Hmm thing is it depends, just having 1 present no matter how expensive can be quite hard for a kid not to get emotional about but i would just do a small stocking, I normally spend £200 per child

At the moment FB marketplace is really good for children’s books and toys. I think lots of people have had a pre Christmas clear out and charity shops are closed.
I would do a stocking too with sweets, a book, socks, toothbrush, hair stuff and a blind bag.
I’d add a couple of other things to open- an annual or other book, a game and some clothes perhaps. A laptop is a big present but if you can afford to spend another £10-20 on other bits to open it might stop her feeling disappointed.

I'd bulk it out a bit - probably spend an extra £40 on lots of little bits like lipglosses, teddies, pyjamas, that sort of thing. The laptop is great by the way.

I would be more worried about her only getting one present than I would about the amount of money spent which I think is fine! Did she ask for a laptop and if she did then does she know that she won’t really be getting anything else? If it’s yes to both of those then I really wouldn’t worry! If it’s not then I would maybe rethink things if it’s not too late to exchange the laptop.

I guess it also depends on whether she believes in Father Christmas too? If that’s what she’s asked him for then will she expect a gift from you, or vice versa?

A laptop will be useful for doing school work now and in the future. Home schooling, extra learning etc. It's a lovely gift.

It’s a lovely gift if it’s been asked for (maybe for gaming or watching YouTube) but I don’t know many 8 year olds who think like this and want useful presents.

@MsQueenInTheNorth

I would be more worried about her only getting one present than I would about the amount of money spent which I think is fine! Did she ask for a laptop and if she did then does she know that she won’t really be getting anything else? If it’s yes to both of those then I really wouldn’t worry! If it’s not then I would maybe rethink things if it’s not too late to exchange the laptop.

I guess it also depends on whether she believes in Father Christmas too? If that’s what she’s asked him for then will she expect a gift from you, or vice versa?

A laptop will be useful for doing school work now and in the future. Home schooling, extra learning etc. It's a lovely gift.

It’s a lovely gift if it’s been asked for (maybe for gaming or watching YouTube) but I don’t know many 8 year olds who think like this and want useful presents.

She is my step daughter and no I don't know many 8 year olds who ask for this too they are normally into other things but she told us that's what she wants and will be very upset if she doesn't have one so her dad brought her one straight away.

I think because her parents have separated she has learnt the old mummy does it better so my partner wants to fill the hole with stuff not the best way to go but I just sound like a wicked step mum if I say anything else.

I thought she would like craft sets and clothes maybe a new bike or rollerblades something cool but no she wanted a laptop to sit on YouTube all day incredibly unhealthy but if mum and dad say yes what right do I have none?

Personally 130 is very expensive my son wouldn't be receiving such large amounts of money like this until maybe teenage years but like I said she is 8 and that's what she's into.

Sad times :(

@MsQueenInTheNorth

I would be more worried about her only getting one present than I would about the amount of money spent which I think is fine! Did she ask for a laptop and if she did then does she know that she won’t really be getting anything else? If it’s yes to both of those then I really wouldn’t worry! If it’s not then I would maybe rethink things if it’s not too late to exchange the laptop.

I guess it also depends on whether she believes in Father Christmas too? If that’s what she’s asked him for then will she expect a gift from you, or vice versa?

A laptop will be useful for doing school work now and in the future. Home schooling, extra learning etc. It's a lovely gift.

It’s a lovely gift if it’s been asked for (maybe for gaming or watching YouTube) but I don’t know many 8 year olds who think like this and want useful presents.

And she definitely doesn't believe in father Xmas because of the internet :(

Buy a few stocking items including stuff she actually needs eg I would (at that age) buy multipack year f socks, multi pack of knickers, pjs, new toothbrush, hair clips, lip balm then perhaps a cd (times have changed!) shower gel, bubble bath, chocolate money. Whilst some cost a few £££ they are things they would need at some point anyway.

Oh I wasn’t trying to imply that she hadn’t asked for one; I just meant it was a bit of a gamble to get that if she hadn’t asked for it. But she has, so it’s a moot point!

If you can stretch to another £10/£15 then it might be nice to do a stocking for her (if that’s something you normally do and your son is having one) but if not then you’ve spent a generous amount anyway and you’ve bought her what she wanted so I really wouldn’t worry

Has she actually asked for a laptop?
Perhaps take it back and get an Amazon tablet which are £34 on offer at the moment, you could then get her a few smaller present to go with it.

Ahh that’s sad she doesn’t believe in Father Christmas OP I know she’s 8 it just makes me realise how times I changed since I was her age and that was only 14 years ago. I remember getting a laptop when I was about 12 though at it was a brilliant present. My parents used to put all our presents in a pillowcase so we’d usually have one big present we’d have asked ‘Father Christmas’ for then lots of little bits.