How much are you spending on Christmas?

[Itsbrtnybish]

I want to preface this with a) this is not a competitive or flex post b) we all do what we think it’s best for our families and we’re doing the best we can and c) I don’t believe Christmas or anything really is worth getting into debt over.

now with that said, how much do you spend per child?

I have 2 lovely dc. Due to personal beliefs we don’t really celebrate Christmas too much, more really due to my parents. In the past we’ve been guilty of overconsumption. January is an expensive month for us, 2x car insurance, MOT etc. I was going to do a big (£250) joint present for the kids and then just smaller cheaper bits, but I missed the window for Xmas delivery for the big present in question. So we went to a toy store yesterday and got presents for them, all in all £250. All things that they really love, play figure sets and playmobile sort of thing. We have a few other bits at home already, chocolates, pjs and socks.

queue husband moaning we’ve overspent yet again and he didn’t want to spend this much. Giving me a bit of a hard time. BUT I think it’s less than we were planning to spend with the big shared gift plus additional little bits. It’s £125 each. And we’re not getting each other gifts.

come home, DM visiting, showed what we’re getting them after kids had gone to bed. Then she starts having a go at me for being tight and them having nothing to open. How unlucky they are, how I’m spoiling the magic etc. How she was never this tight with me. Laying it on thick. Feel like I can’t sodding win.

im now simultaneously worrying I’ve over spent and feeling like I don’t give them enough.

how much do people tend to spend?

It’s probably the cost of living or the fact that they’re not older, but I’ve found that my spending on my dc has increased as the years have gone by.

They’re 11 & 15 now and I’ve spent £300 each this year which is the most I’ve ever spent.

I've spent £60 on DD, she's 14 months old and doesn't have a clue about Xmas. Just got her some things I know she will play with, I don't feel bad at all.

It's not the amount you spend but the thought you put in to the present.

Sounds like you've got them thoughtful and useful gifts.

For context my daughter is 3 and has a mixture of 2nd hand and a few new toys - spent around £80. Her GPs get her a token gift plus cash for her ISA, which is going to be more useful later in life than mountains of plastic toys!

Now I'm a parent, I can only remember the time my parents spent with me rather than the gifts. I really appreciate how they raised me on a shoestring.

2 DC age 5 and 9 - £200.00 each for stocking and main present. I've gone £25.00 over budget on both DC, we had originally planned to spend £100.00 each on their main present and £75.00 each on their stockings.

I’ve not added it up but we spent more than we wanted, mainly as mine are really into Lego (4&6) which is expensive!

I do think there’s too much pressure at Xmas - ours have already got way too many things (some bought, some passed down)

We’ve probably spent about £500 on our two sons ages 4 and 18 months. We wouldn’t usually spend so much but we’ve moved house recently to a new home with a huge garden (had tiny patio before) so have bought quite a few things for the garden such as a little wheelbarrow and toy lawnmower each, a little ride on car each etc.

I think you are on track spending wise IMO - playmobil is lovely

dh needs to lighten up

your mum - well that’s the last time I would share too much with her.

DS turns four just after Christmas so this time of year is a bit overwhelming.

Ive spent about £300 for presents in total (across birthday and Christmas, including stocking) so just need to work out what to give for each day.

He’s probably had another £200 spent by family.

Newborn DD has about £50 of token presents and is also getting practical things like nappies and a baby monitor.

Did you put a gun to his head? Say thanks mr hindsight but the time to speak up was in the shop, or before. Your mil, absolutely nothing to do with her, how does she even know?

Yeah I could’ve but I dithered thinking I should I or shouldn’t I get a big wow gift for a holiday we’re not meant to celebrate in the first instance- time passed me by and the decision was taken out of my hands is fine because I can always get that present for one of our religious celebrations

no we didn’t have a list. But I know what they like, so we want to the toy store with them and told them they’re allowed to choose their Xmas presents, pretty much knowing what they’d choose and I was right. They love playmoble and these animal figure play sets but this German brand so chose them

He said we had lots of presents at home, but I’m not sure what he’s on about.

dm was visiting so we showed her in the evening to avoid duplicating any gifts

23y.o. DS 169$ for apple airpods 115$ for wustoff knife to add to his knife block which i started when he graduated from college
26 y.o DD laura mercier face powder 30$ 250$ towards bracelet she her dad and i are purchasing. She has a NOV birthday and received gifts then

nephew 169$ apple air buds Really only 85$ as grandpa and i are splitting it

DH 99$ on special hat and 28$ on fleece
lined work pants. I would like to eliminate gifting each other but he wants to.

DD bf 120$ (on sale) dress shirt and tie. First year for gifting him.

i host every holiday and while everyone brings and helps i make the holiday happen
i bought myself some clothes in october for the holiday and i often visit my children who live in different city (DS) and state (DD) Basically i spend money on them in some fashion all year around. I am close to where i wanted to spend gift wise but will still
spend $$ on groceries and that always ends up feeling like the bigger spend .

I spent £38 for our 4yo (only child). Then we budgeted £20 for each family presents (mum, dad, MIL, FiL, SILs…). I overspent on DH with a fancy set of wool socks (£50). Total budget was under £300. We are high earners but we always try to be very mindful, especially at Christmas where overconsumption can be a bit overwhelming.

£400 for 2 year old DS and £200 for 7 month old twin DD’s. We can afford it so no going into debt.

This is really wise and truthfully what I should try to emulate

Let me tot it up.
Boy (21)
Book (£7)
Footie team hoodie (£50)
Phone case (£12)
Puzzle (50)
Bracelet (30)
Neck warmer (6)
Journal (10)
Cash for clothes (100)
Total: £260ish

Girl (19)
Projector (£110)
Book (10)
Personalised sleep shirt (26)
Ring (30)
Funky mini lights (11)
Crochet throw (made by me but £30 in yarn)
Gloves (8)
Hair clips (10)
Total: £225 ish

They may get a gift from my siblings but their remaining grandparent doesn't give gifts after 18 and their much older half siblings don't give them gifts either (I give my step grandkids gifts from all of us). My parents (long since passed away) were of the 'one main present a few bits' generation. The main present being equivalent to say £30 today, like a doll or something. Times were tough and the 'bits' might be a chocolate bar or a dress for the doll. I do think people go overboard these days, £125 on young kids sounds perfectly reasonable.

I think it depends on your disposable income or savings you've made for Xmas rather than a fixed amount. DD is now 7, one year I went a bit over the top gift wise and tbh it wasn't any more fun for DD than the last couple of years when we've had one main gift and a good selection of Santa gifts (and gifts from friends and family members). My mother used to have a saying 'something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read' so we pretty much follow that, I put stuff in the Xmas stocking that Id buy her anyway or that she needs like new socks, craft materials, something she's said she wants etc wrap it nicely and try to create a nice Xmas ambiance around the season rather than focusing on just the gifts. I'm sure when she's older she will start asking for bigger gifts but just now we barely break £150 and probably less - she is an only child so I spend loads of extra time over the Xmas hols playing and baking and crafting with her (tbh Id prefer to be lying face down on the sofa with a prosecco IV and not doing any housework cooking crafting or childcare during Xmas hols). But she absolutely LOVES the extra attention.

We have teens and have spent a lot. We always do as I worry about them being disappointed. But all paid outright.

For those that are really mindful of keeping costs down ie under £100 per child.

Does this mean you buy more through the year?

My daughter is 2 and I worry about her getting something new every month and at least it makes sense at Christmas. Ie we've got her a balance bike (and helmet) a doll, arts and crafts, books, magnetic tiles, wooden play food.

We've spent a lot more than I'd like to set the tone for, but it's within budget (several of these things are actually things we held back from her birthday recently)

Things like scooters / bikes / arts and crafts / books etc if you don't give at Christmas / special occasion does your child get used to new things all year? I'm trying to work out if that's better and whether to hold some back to spread it out over the next 6 months or let her open all now.

A lot of these things are also for me, I'm a SAHM so like to have a variety lf activities to do with her indoors and outdoors - so with more time entertaining at home maybe that's all contributed to ending up with more than I feel is right in the scheme of 'things'

Love to hear thoughts!

@daysfilledwithdappledlight we generally buy what they need when they need it but I wouldn't say they get loads and we try to buy second hand if possible. Part of that is due to having winter birthdays so we can't spread it out.

Same here. As much as possible second hand and winter birthdays definitely don't help do they!
Hence me buying things for summer for Christmas!

Maybe less at Christmas and spread out is a better approach, was always worried she'd get spoilt regularly (once a month etc) getting 'new things' (new to her). A bike feels like a big deal so feels like it needs to be associated with a big celebration!