Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Flip

1 2

Original poster

How much money do you spend on your parents at Christmas?

46 replies

shoobadoo · 20/12/2016 15:47

Every Christmas I feel guilty as my parents (both separated) seem to spend hundred of pounds on us and our DCS whilst I budget £40-50 for each parent. DS doesn't have children of her own and will roughly equal what our parents spend on her, whilst I just can't afford it.
I feel like I sit opening present afree present after present from my parents, whilst I give them 1or 2 each. I've asked them not to spend so much, but they don't listen, they also can't afford to spend so much.
How much do you spend on parents in comparison to what they spend on you?

OP posts:

Ginmakesitallok · 20/12/2016 17:23

My mum sends me a cheque for dp and me (£700 this year), I spent about £70 on her.

ClarkL · 20/12/2016 17:24

My parents have separated. In terms of amount it really does vary year on year and what the gift is.
I've spent a bit less on my Mum and more on my Nana this year to get them a joint gift (spa day) so about £100 as my Nana has always wanted to go to a spa, so the day will give her a taster and I know my Mum will enjoy it also
Whereas my Dad and partner I am paying for a night away in a hotel, by the time I've covered food and drinks it'll be about £200 (thank you Hilton winter sale, I couldn't afford it at full price rates!!) but I am also going away to the hotel at the same time. We go each year as it's close to where he lives and he can come visit, I know he'd love to stay there but last year I could only afford to cover his meal when he came to see us.
If I am buying people physical gifts as opposed to an experience I do tend to spend less. Last year everyone got homemade sloe gin and a hamper with other home made stuff which probably only cost £20 each

Redglitter · 20/12/2016 17:26

I've spent about £140 on my mum this year. She'll have a fit!

dontcallmethatyoucunt · 20/12/2016 17:27

I gave my parents £1k this year. I'm much better off than them. I would not want their money. They buy for my DC's and not for me or DH. My PIL get a secret santa and that's it as they are very well off.

dontcallmethatyoucunt · 20/12/2016 17:31

I should add PIL don't buy for us we all do secret santa. So the same amount really.

Patienceisvirtuous · 20/12/2016 17:40

About £40 each then a big bouquet for my mum too because she is our cleaner

We get around the same back.

Spend similar on pils and get similar back. Mils favourite shop is the poundshop though so we get a sackful of tat each for that 😁

SarcasmMode · 20/12/2016 17:45

£50ish.

They spend about £100 on me and probably near £200 for the DC.

Gwenhwyfar · 20/12/2016 17:59

I think it's quite normal for parents to spend more on their children than the other way around, unless maybe if the children have more money.

NoahVale · 20/12/2016 18:07

my DM budget is £20,
i seem to have also spent £20, which I find a lot

tribpot · 20/12/2016 18:12

Blimey - is it just me who spends £0 on her parents? I should say of course this is at their request. They don't want anything (or rather, just buy whatever they do want during the course of the year) and don't want the hassle of more stuff.

I also don't buy anything for my siblings, we were just exchanging vouchers so it was pointless. We just buy for the children.

Bobkinyoyo · 20/12/2016 18:16

£100 plus roughly £100 towards the food shop.

Bobkinyoyo · 20/12/2016 18:17

And about £30 each on siblings.

Unless you're broke I'd feel mean not buying for adults, I think it's a bit stingy to only buy for the children. I love pressie

Helbelle75 · 20/12/2016 18:19

Our unspoken budget has always been about £50 both ways, but dm has spent more than this the last few years and I'm pregnant this Christmas so I think we may get things for the baby too. I kind of wish she wouldn't but I know she wants to. It's never been expected from dsis and I and we'd be happy with a new pair of pyjamas each!

Sung · 20/12/2016 18:38

This is for the PIL (as my parents are no longer with us) - about £40 - given and received + we buy all the food and drink for Christmas/pay for the meal out if we do that. Would love to stop this exchange of stuff no one needs but...they like it.

bretonpuffin · 20/12/2016 18:58

I spend about £25-30 on each parent. They however spend hundreds on me, DH and DD.

It does make me feel guilty but they are in a completely different financial situation to us. Hopefully one day we will be able to treat DD the same way.

AvocadosNotGooseberries · 20/12/2016 19:01

£25-£30. I spend more on their birthdays.

Madbengalmum · 20/12/2016 19:01

Usually about £350 to £400 on my mum.

Bobochic · 20/12/2016 19:02

My parents are dead now but I used to spend a couple of hundred pounds each.

Taranta · 20/12/2016 19:19

Same as you tribpot we only buy for the kids - my DM will get a school photo of DS from us, but we won't get (nor do we expect) anything from her. Same with MIL. Very glad as it seems expensive enough as it is totting up all the kids gifts...

CaoNiMerrilyOnHigh · 20/12/2016 19:22

I spent 25 quid on my dad (whisky tasting set) and 40 on my mum (Clinique perfume). I'll probably pick up some stocking fillers too if I can face the crowds in town between now and Christmas!

TataEs · 20/12/2016 19:31

£100 on each (divorced)
my mum will spend less on me but more on the kids.
my dad usually pulls some insanely expensive gift out the bag, ipads and laptops, a dslr... got everything crossed for a bmw x1 this year lol.

Flip

1 2