How much do you spend on DC at Xmas?

[Starlive23]

I know its only September! Just wondering how much the average family spend on presents. DH thinks I'm insane for spending about £100 on each child (3 and 1) but from what I've seen on fb it looks quite reserved compared to some of my friends, some of them seem to rival a toy factory.

I think £100 each is more than enough. I assume as they get older they will want more but I still can't imagine spending more than that.

I've never been a big gift person.

I think a lot depends if you buy for them for the rest of the year.

When we were growing up my parents use to spend a lot on us for Christmas.. but we got absolutely nothing for the rest of the year besides birthday. Like they wouldn't buy us a single toy for the entire year, so it kind of just made up for that.. if you are regularly picking things up for you kids i wouldn't go so big on Christmas.

£60 including stocking. 1 3 year old ds.

At 1, £100 is far too much IMO, just because they don't really know about it, are more interested in the paper and the boxes, will get loads from other family members and be bored before half of it is open.

After learning this lesson at DS1's first Christmas, I just wrapped up few of the over bought and never played with things for DS2's first Christmas.

It's not about the money though, it's about the amount of "stuff". Baby toys are cheap! As they get older the boxes get smaller but more expensive.

It's all relative. I honestly wouldn't worry about how much everyone else is or isn't spending. Do with what works for you and your family.

Another issue with the budget just being a number is it doesn't describe what is bought...

£300 on a bike vs £300 on stuff in bargain shops... extreme example but very different outcomes.

But the point is... you can spend more on one present than multiple presents. Even at one year old (a garden playset for example)

When dd was that young then we used to spend about £50 on her - but she's 12 now and wants an samsung tab6, go pro and an oodie for Xmas so we are going to be up nearly £600 before I've even thought about anything else.

I spend about 100 to 150 each. For example this year for the eldest
I have a scooter put away and the new Manchester United kit. Soft toys. I will get plenty of stocking fillers and then a board game.

Yeah about £100 here too for main present and stocking fillers. Mine are quite young though so I imagine it will increase over the years.

£50-£100. Think the first Christmas for DS I only spent about £15 and it was all from charity shops. We usually do a big present (so this year it's a bike for DS) and then a few smaller gifts. No idea about DD as she has all of DS' things!

Last year with a 3 and 1 year old I spent £25 each including stockings.

This year with 4 and 2 year old I have spent £35 each but not sorted stockings yet.

3DC, ages 13/11/6.

Varies wildly depending on what they want.

This year all 3 want a homemade knitted blanket, it’s cost me £90 in wool. Plus the time it will take!

We have the LEGO Elf House (£85) being delivered today that we will open on the 1st December and build it through the course of the month.

DD1 wants a pair of Doc Martens which I’m happy to buy as it will stop her stealing mine

DD2 wants acrylic and oil painting supplies.

DD3 wants a kitten and a puppy - obviously that’s a hard no.

The elder two choose their main presents every year, and I base their smaller presents around that.

Between £50 and £70 each for my three 13,20 and 22.

Generally somewhere between 100 and 150, but I don't keep close tabs on budget if I'm honest, as I buy throughout the year.

My DS is nearly 2 and I tend to get some fun bits, some developmental bits and some practical bits. So for his second birthday I've got him a cosy coupe car, some threading beads for his 2 year check, books and a new dressing gown.

I try to coordinate with family so we don't end up with piles of stuff. For example this christmas I think we're going to get him a kitchen, so I'll probably ask family to get stuff to go with it. I'm pregnant with number 2 so want there to be some space left for their toys!

DD will have just turned 2. We're doing second hand. So far she has ;

Puzzle (50p carboot sale)
An IKEA art easel (free FB marketplace)
A busy book (£1)

Will keep an eye out for a Bilibo spinner. Which will be around £10.

Then that's it

In her stocking, she'll have apple, satsuma, new magic flannel (£1.50), and if I find them some farm yard animals, and some sort of chocolate.

So I reckon around £20

This year I'm spending round about £500 on dd, however it's because I'm buying her a new bed and wardrobe. She's 2 and a half, but has no understanding on Christmas and doesn't really play with toys and teddies, so I'll buy a few little bits, but not much. I'd rather buy what she needs whilst she still doesn't get it. Last year I think I spent £75. So it will just vary year to year.

Gosh this thread is very prudent, not that that is bad!. I will spend more than the amounts most people are suggesting, I didn't spend much when they were 1 or 2 though as baby toys are cheap and they don't need loads, but the 3 year old will get a bike, some lego and some paw patrol toys - which will 0robably be £150 - £200 before stocking and the 7 and 9 year old ... well we will see.

Normally about £50 but he's at the age where he likes plastic tat from his favourite shows and so I'll scour second hand sites for months to get stuff because I'm not spending crazy money on overpriced new plastic.

And by the time I'm finished, it's probably closer to £80 Inc stocking.

Twins get about that much between them because for they'll be two just before Xmas, have a ton of their brothers toys and it's just pointless spending otherwise

Usually about AU$1200 each (approx £700).

They are older teens and get nothing during the year (other than birthdays).

Wow, it's all very wide range of prices but do think at like 1 you spend less. But get to 8 ish and it could be more. My teenager is now less 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️ as its all about the xbox and that's it 😂 he be happy with an xbox voucher 😂

We do want, need, wear, read and then another want gift and maybe two or three little things like a small toy car or fancy hair clips in their stocking. It all gets too much otherwise!

These threads always seem to end up with competitive underspending vs competitive overspending 😅

It varies in our house we have a 9,3 & 2 yr old this Xmas.
The 9yr old prob gets roughly £100 -£150 because his presents tend to cost more but he understands that his switch games are expensive so he has only a few gifts and a stocking

Will prob spend about £50 max each on the 2 & 3 yr old. They will each get one or two main gifts (girls world hair styling head / dressing outfit for DD and then some sensory toys for DS2 who is autistic) and then a handful small things to open each but they’ll be to share
they are so close in age that they share a lot of stuff and have big items like IKEA kitchen handed down from Their big brother.

@peboh

This year I'm spending round about £500 on dd, however it's because I'm buying her a new bed and wardrobe. She's 2 and a half, but has no understanding on Christmas and doesn't really play with toys and teddies, so I'll buy a few little bits, but not much. I'd rather buy what she needs whilst she still doesn't get it. Last year I think I spent £75. So it will just vary year to year.

Curious as to why you'd class a bed and a wardrobe as a Christmas present?

Genuinely interested,not being mean.

" These threads always seem to end up with competitive underspending vs competitive overspending 😅"

No, I think it just shows that everyone is different. It's ok to spend £2 or £2000.

The only issue (imo) is if people are going into unaffordable debt because they feel like they have to spend ££££ for whatever reason.

It depends on what is on their Santa list and also what the need.

Last year DD1 needed a new bike but also asked for a few things. The bike alone was £300. So I probably spent about £500 on her in total. This would include stockings - I tend to also buy things they need and include them at Xmas. A couple of new outfits, new trainers, new jammies etc.

DD2 asked for a stuffed animal that cost £50 in total. But she also needed a new desk for her newly decorated bedroom so we bought that too. So we probably spent about £300 in total on her.

Usually around £60-£70 each. Last year it was more like £30 because I was beyond skint and too depressed to spend hours looking for bargains.

And yes that included stockings and they are teens before anyone says you can't get away with it when they are teens. (Which is what usually happens)