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.

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime

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.

Yes definitely Roblox, Minecraft and Among Us!

Kids don’t care about value.

I usually spend around £400/£500 for Christmas but that’s just because of what I’ve chosen to buy the last few years has been iPads/switch/PlayStation as well as other small bits.. however if everything he wanted was say £100 then that’s what I’d spend. I go for what the present is and how many I can afford.

Mine is 6 yr old.

I'm with you OP, a £140 laptop just to watch YouTube is a bit insane when you can do that on any number of significantly cheaper devices but as you say you can't really say much in your situation. Annoying if it's left you short though.

stocking wise may I suggest a piece of fruit - usually a tangerine here

Do people really still put fruit in stockings i thought that was a thing of the past when foods were rationed and hard to come by after the war? You can buy a bag of fruit in Aldi for 69p every week its hardly a Christmas treat these days especially not if a laptop is affordable

I always put a satsuma in the stocking, and some monkey nuts. Dc always eat them too. Nothing in the stocking costs very much it's just all part of the tradition.

Always, always have an orange, an apple, chocolate coins and 50p in the bottom of the stocking!

I’d probably just get a few other little bits - 99p bubble bath, chocolate coins, glitter glue, cute socks, sparkly pen - you could get something for a £1 a week until the big day if that’s affordable.

@100percentpeachynessa

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.

I know I was heartbroken I said to her let's build a chimney for Santa to get in to drop the presents she told me I was being silly and Santa was made up so children like Christmas more but obviously the 'adults' buy my presents!!! I was like oh no I think I believed until I was around 12/13

I feel like all kids want to do these days are sit on phones and laptops I wanted her to have rollerblades haha but it's not about me :( haha x

@midnightstar66

I'm with you OP, a £140 laptop just to watch YouTube is a bit insane when you can do that on any number of significantly cheaper devices but as you say you can't really say much in your situation. Annoying if it's left you short though.

I know right absolutely insane but in my situation it's not my call :( I just hope she's very happy with it wish me luck haha x

I would at minimum spend another few quid on some small extra gifts that are more 'kid' based and fun, another £5 spent in a trip to poundland etc... will really make a difference.

For people saying a laptops great for school and homework so she should be thankful, newsflash no kid has ever wanted school work for xmas, even my dad in the 50s didnt get 'work/chore' items for xmas thats litrally never been a thing... if she asked for a computer I'm pretty sure it will be to play on not as a work thing.

For people saying xmas isnt about gifts... shes 8 ffs, stop being a grinch xmas certainly isnt about 'not giving' - you should WANT to make your child happy.

@3littlewords

stocking wise may I suggest a piece of fruit - usually a tangerine here

Do people really still put fruit in stockings i thought that was a thing of the past when foods were rationed and hard to come by after the war? You can buy a bag of fruit in Aldi for 69p every week its hardly a Christmas treat these days especially not if a laptop is affordable

I made the mistake of putting toffee apples in the stocking one year and the kids didnt eat them right away and forgot... cue me finding rotting mushed sticky apple in the toe of their stocking a few weeks later, its lucky we didnt get bugs - well never again lol

the closest to fruit now is a chocolate orange lol

Get her a few other titbits too

Can you print off a home voucher for a family day out to the zoo or cinema etc that you would at some point in the next few month do anyways. Then she has a brilliant present that doesn't coz cost just now.

Also get a toiletries bag from the pound shop and put some toiletries in the that again you'd buy anyways, maybe throw some lipgloss etc in

My DD is getting a new phone same price as your laptop and a pair of trainer that she asked for and a couple of little bits like lip gloss and a hand sanitiser holder thing.