Is £150 enough to spend for christmas...

[YummyorSlummy]

For a one year old? We were thinking of spending £150 on ds's xmas presents and the same for his birthday which is on the 23rd but I don't really feel like this is going to get him very much.Dh was even questioning if we could afford that (he's a bit tight thrifty)What do people think??

When my children were 1, they got presents from car boot sales/charity shops - and loved them!

Put the money in a savings account for him, he'll appreciate it far more when he's a teenager.

I would probably spend that amount for a present on an older child, a good bike for example (though DD's was £2.20 on Ebay so I haven't yet) but it is absolutely a complete and utter waste of money on a one year old and really you might just as well roll up at least half of it and set it on fire. Much better to save it as there will be plenty of useful ways to spend it in a couple of years.

Seriously Wynken that's really harsh!

She might be planning on a playhouse or a swing which would cost over £100 but will last years. As she hasn't actually said what she'll spend it on you can't say she might as well burn it.

That just makes you sound a bit silly IMO.

i dont get whats so bad about spoiling your children a little at a magical time of year, Im not religious, the only meaning in christmas to me is doing all the fun stuff and that magical warm feeling that fills my whole body from around mid november.

I dont think £150 is very much. But by the time you've added on new pjs and dvd for christmas eve, new outfits for p[arties over christmas and the day, decorations, visits to santa etc, it mounts up to a decent price. But they are only small for such a short time and its worth every penny. I do plan to spend more as they grow older, closer to a £1000 when they are teens. Things cost more when they are older so its only logical it will cost more at christmas. I dont see the problem.

Its only 76 days to go so get shopping people x hehe

"I do plan to spend more as they grow older, closer to a £1000 when they are teens."

I don't believe for one moment you can afford that. You can probably "afford" it if you get everything on credit/credit cards/christmas club etc etc but that isn't really affording it. If you can afford it, why not put £1,000 a year into your child's trust fund? Will be a bit more use than piles of tat. The only reason why you would need to spend anything like £1,000 on stuff for a teenager is if everything is Bench this, Tommy Hillfiger that, Juicy Counture that and the other (yuk yuk yuk).

(And before everyone starts with the "how do you know she doesn't?" blah blah blah, come off it. You just know she does no such thing.)

And everyone wonders why this country is close to economic collapse.

dont have credit cards DH works very hard and we dont have flash cars or a massive house, we owe nothing other than a managable mortgage. We live for our kids, same as my parents did with me, holidays birthdays and christmas, magical events, the rest of the time very normal subdued but its worth it because we all always get so much enjoyment from it. We have a savings fund for when they are older. its only money and you cant take it with you, i enjoy spending it on my kids. still dont see the problem.

You wouldnt believe what i spend on my pets for christmas lol x

DS had I think £40 for his first xmas and £10 for his birhtday.

rampant materialism makes me heave. Each to their own.

Scrooge

Ha ha I think we all agree everyone has different priorities and as long as they are not getting into debt I don't really see the problem.

No I wouldn't spend £1000 on a teenager but yes I would spend £150 on a baby.

I think you're being way stingy? I mean, you're only one once. I should book a huge a party with a children's entertainer too, if I were you.
Some decent fireworks.
A fur coat or two.
See if madonna's free fro a spot of kareoke.

If you have the money easily and are going to buy something big - like a playhouse - it might not be obscene. But if you just feel it's what you need to spend on a number of toys, it's far too much.

There are lots of good toys you can get at one which will be played with a lot before your child is two (I also have a Ds with a December birthday) but whatever you do, don't spend £300 on presents aimed at one year olds. You won't get enough use out of them.

Buy a playhouse, a wheelybug, a big wooden fire engine, some musical instruments and some duplo. Or maybe a little wooden farm/dollshouse with animals/people to put in and out. And next year buy a wooden kitchen, a garage and a balance bike.

They honestly do not need very much at one, or even at two, and will be happy with a few favourite things. It's such a terrible waste to feel you have to spend to give your children what they need.

We have so many toys that are rarely played with at three and five, and I really fought to keep the quantity down for the first few years. The volume of possessions does become obscene, and does just breed wanting more, instead of finding new ways of playing with what they have.

Oh dear god, £300 on a one year old? I can remember how naively I thought the kids would be about 12 before they started wanting specific things for xmas, so thought I'd be safe buying half price toys etc till then. But ds1 will be 6 next month and he is so desperate for particular things as gifts. What I'm saying is, keep minimal and cheap while you can! And if monrey isnt a problem, also bear in mind that while buying huge bulky presents is a fun novelty for you now, it wont be long before you're dying to chuck it all out and regain control of your home! Like other people have said, your child will get so much from other people. For the first two xmas/birthdays, you can get away with not buying anything yourself; they dont notice who bought what anyway. Last year it took ds1 two days to open his birthday presents bcause he had a party, and so he got 22 presents from friends aswell as our family ones. I actuallly felt quite sick about the amount of things he had. When we do parties I always respond to parents asking about gifts by saying just spend £1-2 on a pocket money toy or a book, so they have something to open; happy child, without spending ridiculous amounts.
This year, ds1 is getting his party as his present from his Grandad, and he's very happy with that. Last year, he got a day out at Bodyworld, also very pleased.

Sorry, I'm really waffling

DS will be 2 in December, his birthday present is one of those plastic seesaw things, cost £6. I can't think of anything he would enjoy more and am not going to buy more stuff just so I've spent a certain amount of money.

For Christmas he and dd are getting an easel and a roll of paper between them- £17. It's the stockings that cost more, probably £30 each (but they do include things like toothbrushes and bubble bath).

£150 is fine if you have a particular present in mind that you know they'll love but not if you are buying stuff just for the sake of it or to make it up to a certain amount.

I have to say an amount as a cut of, not a limit to aim for. We budget through the year so i know how much there is to spend, i dont go over but i could quite easily. it could be done cheaper but i dont go to carboots or charity shops. I always have the kids with me so have to order their stuff or they would see it and ruin the surprise. Im getting excited with all this talk of christmas, im going to put jingle all the way on!

I spent a tenner on DS for xmas when he was a one year old.. he got other pressies from family (not loads) but he didn't have a clue.. loved all the wrapping paper though
£300 in 2 days is bloody ridiculous... I don't send that much on my 2 kids let alone a one year old.

£150 is the budget I have for our 3dcs presents this year.We will also pay £50 each into their savings accounts. A lot of the gifts this year are coming from charity shops, I love them! I bought dd1(8) 2 books yesterday for £1 each- they look brand new!

I have spent more in the past, but have finally realised that they don't need very much. They don't play with a lot of the things they've had in the past and tbh, a lot has left the house and gone to charity or other peoples' dcs.

It's is dd2s 6th birthday the week before Christmas and we will be spending around £150 on her as her main present is a bike. Ds birthday is a couple of weeks after Christmas and we will be spending considerably less than that- he already has a bike that was my nephews.

I think when birthdays close to Christmas it's wise to think 6 months ahead. Buy something for the garden, or something he can use when he is walking. And definately think about putting some in savings

babydubs, "new outfits for parties" I must live in another world. I wouldn't dream of doing that now, never mind when DC were babies. Also DVD and visit to Santa - we are talking about a 12mo here.

It's hardly essential that he watch the latest HSM movie is it

Obv should add rider that people can spend what they like. But the OP's post does read as tho she is saying "I must spend £150 x 2" rather than "I want to buy a playhouse for DS is it a good idea?"

Fair enough Scattykatty, that is your opinion, I'm sticking by mine. I agree that at some point a playhouse or swing set would be lovely, but a 1 year old needs one of those bucket swing things as is too young for a swing set and isn't old enough to get the full benefit of a playhouse for sometime which is why I said in my opinion to wait for a year or two.

I still feel to spend that amount of money at 1 is a complete waste of money as they really are too young to appreciate it and it could be put to better use later.

If that makes me sound stupid then so be it, personally if you would spend £150 on a baby then I think you are a bit stupid so we will have to agree to differ. That's the beauty of MN isn't it, getting lots of other opinions on the same subject and seeing if you still feel the same about your values following them as we both clearly do.

My children will be getting a lump of coal and a clementine.

I do love the anti-materialism of mumsnet.

But in real life surely you all know lots of people who spend at least a £100 on their children at christmas and birthdays.

TBH I don't know a single person who will not spend that on their children this Christmas, they may start out saying they won't, but they will!

Oh and Tracey... Clementine is my 'special' name if I ever have a daughter so I love that you DC's will be getting them

me! I won't spend that much on christmas - because I simply can't justify it. DS is only 12 months. After seeing his reactions at his birthday recently, however, I WILL be collecting and giving him lots of cardboard boxes, plastic and paper to mess about with on christmas morning - he thought that was absolutely AMAZING.... totally 100% better than ANY toy!
I will probably spend £80 on DH as he needs a new watch + some chocolates for him, but that's more than usual. For everyone else I'm making delicious, handmade truffles. I did charity gifts (goat, school supplies for people in underpriviliged areas...etc.) 2 years ago and books last year.

ps scattykatty - I love the name clementine, too I have a friend with that name, she goes by "clem", but I always call her "clementine" because I think it's so pretty.