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How much do you spend on your children for Christmas?

Posted: Dec 21, 2012

I know the whole, "better to give than receive" and "Children should know the real meaning of Christmas" etc., I was just wondering with the prices of items today how much does a personal typically spend on their children for Christmas? My husband always complains and says I spend too much on ours and I tried to cut back this year, but still ended up spending around $1500 on two children, ages 9 and 12 and really it looks like they are having a very small Christmas. I am not complaining, I am just saying with the prices of items, it is nearly impossible to get them lots of gifts. Even the X-box games they play, those are $60 bucks each for the newer ones, five of those costs $300 alone. My goal this year was $1000 bucks for the two of them together and even going $500 over it still looks like they will have a very small Christmas.

;

Gifts for kids? - P

[ In Reply To ..]
I did not spend as much on my kids as I did for some dearl little friends of mine, girls 8 and 10. I bought early Christmas gifts as knew they would not be here then and I bought the younger one an Ipad and the older one some sort of phone she wanted, don’t ask me what kind, something she can listen to her music on and does not require monthly charges. The cost of those were almost $900.00. Needless to say after I told my daughter (who is grown, out of the house and working on her own) she asked me how much I paid for the Ipad, said she wanted one and now was jealous. Oh, well- she never told me she wanted one. My daughter bought her own, a cheaper version although she loves Apple products.

Expensive gifts - RC

[ In Reply To ..]
Call me old fashioned, but what is wrong with giving a bunch of inexpensive gifts that might occupy their time better than video games? I understand what kids want, but I'm not sure that coincides with what they need.

When I was a kid, I got books, clothes, maybe a big gift like a bike. The tree always looked pretty dang full to me!

Could you maybe give them a bunch of reasonable gifts,and then tell them they can earn the video games by saving chore money, etc??

Christmas spending on children - Guitar Picker

[ In Reply To ..]
I have three daughters who are 6, 9, and 11. We got away with spending about $350 for each of them, including their one "big" present, which I bought for around $120 apiece because I got them as Apple certified refurbs through Apple's website and not brand new. They are around $200 apiece brand new. My oldest daughter's pile of presents is very small, especially when compared to her 6-year-old sister's pile. Little kids tend have bigger things to wrap. We tried to offset that size issue with finding my oldest daughter something big but not expensive. We also did this for my 9-year-old daughter in the form of a Christmas bear with the year stamped on its foot. She is one that actually loves the annual bears. Those things are huge when wrapped.

X-mas gifts - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
On our 12yo boy we spent about $350, on on 22-month-old girl we went about $200 and on the 24yo boy we are giving him $100 and a few small things to be wrapped. Both boys' birthdays are in November and the baby is in February, so they just got gifts or are getting gifts soon. The 12yo just got an eliptical machine he wanted as well. We are trying to spend less this year, as we just got a new kitchen, which is our gift to ourselves. My husband just bought me a top-of-the-line set of All Clad cookwear this past spring, which was super expensive, so I'm good in the gift department. I am going to pick up some sandals for hubby so he has something to open.

It's all relative - Ayn

[ In Reply To ..]
I think it all depends on your own individual budget & your priorities. Some years we are able to spend a little more and some years a little less. Of course, like all parents, I'd love to be able to buy my kids everything they ask for, but even if I had the money, I'm not sure I would. Sends too many "wrong" messages IMO.

It also depends on their ages. X amount of money buys a big pile of toddler toys compared to 1 video game for an older child. However, as they get older, they also (should) appreciate $ more and the cost of things, so they realize & appreciate the value of the gift they receive, not just the number of gifts or the status of a particular gift.

Generally, we spend around $200-250 each on our 4 kids, including gifts, stocking stuffers, and $ to the younger ones without jobs so they can shop for their siblings. Older ones with jobs spend their own money for the sibling exchange.

I think spending 1500 on two kids ages 9 and 12 - IS INSANE

[ In Reply To ..]
And you call that a very small christmas? UNBELIEVABLE.

If she is not spending your money - then

[ In Reply To ..]
You don't get to have a say. You can have an opinion, but it won't change her life at all.

You are - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
Really rude. I highly doubt the poster was trying to change the OP's life. What is your problem? I wonder if you're really the OP.

$1500 for Christmas - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
$1500 bought my son a guitar and amp. He is very good at guitar and needed a new one. He also got clothes and two video games. My daughter got a laptop, clothes and one video game. THAT is what $1500 dollars buys you these days, not insane in the slightest bit.

Wow... I feel like such a - cheapskate!

[ In Reply To ..]
Due to being unemployed for three months, just getting back into a working routine with three different MT jobs now, but still not being able to meet my financial obligations with that, and only getting about $350 every two weeks, maybe, I have three grown children and three granddaughters all in their teens. I am giving my children $25 each, and purchased ITunes cards for 2 of my granddaughters at $25 each, and a small game and set of 12 different coco's to the third granddaughter for about $25 each. That's a total of $150...half of a two week paycheck, and it is killing me that I cannot do more and still make my mortgage, groceries, etc.

When I was making good money though, a few years back, mom/gramma bought and paid for everything, expensive gifts, large birthday bashes, footed the holiday food bills, etc. They came to "expect it," and when mom/gramma lost her good jobs due to EMR, etc, they really don't want anything to do with me and rarely reciprocate in the gift giving department. I guess they got spoiled by it and now that I don't have it to give, they don't want me around either. Money has taken over what used to be a very special holiday and I don't think anyone is doing their family any good by spending tons of money on them. They just do not appreciate it any longer. I am really not enjoying the holidays this year.

That is very sad...sm - KC

[ In Reply To ..]
If it's true that they really don't want you around anymore since you can't lavish them with expensive gifts, I don't think I would bother spending half my paycheck on them! They aren't small children, after all. I feel for you, especially at this time of year, and it's hard to imagine that there isn't a deeper love there that would overcome their disappointment over your not buying expensive gifts. It's also hard to believe that their indifference could come solely from being spoiled in the past (they're all old enough to understand that you aren't in the same situation anymore!) - unless they have some other issues going on that could be contributing to their behavior.

Again, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this during the holidays!

Most I spend is $350 a kid, $750 each is way too much - sm - XXX

[ In Reply To ..]
I get games expensive, etc. I cut back this year some though, about $300 on the one and $200 on the other (we just dropped $1200 on re-doing her bedroom, so she was told that was part of Christmas). I only spent about $150 on her. I bought my one daughter about 5 games....USED...not new....much cheaper that way. Tried to keep my total christmas under $600, but think it will hit about $800, that is the 2 kids, my husband, my in-laws (3). Did a lot better than last year for sure. If they want a big ticket item then that is pretty much all they get (laptop), maybe a few small things under $50.

Again, not your money - not your call

[ In Reply To ..]
You do your thing, let others do theirs.

No, but it's an opinion and she's entitled to - it no matter what you say. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

the poster asked everyone about it - should we all not reply?

[ In Reply To ..]
...

$1500 is 2 months' pay for me. Good thing I don't have - kids- theyd likely be selling pencils in the snow!

[ In Reply To ..]

I saw the neatest thing this time last year - grits

[ In Reply To ..]
It popped up on Pinterest a lot.

One thing they want
One thing they need
One thing to wear
One thing to read

I think it's all about expectations. I doubt you could get away with this after spending $1000 on 25 gifts last year, but I find the common-sense approach pretty appealing *as an adult.* As a kid, though, I guess it would have taken some of the fun of anticipation out of it, as I'd have figured out the formula.

Still, if a parent's looking to rein in crazy holiday commercialism/greed/spending, it's a good jumping-off point.

The more we love someone, the more we spend on them? sm - my opinion

[ In Reply To ..]
It's really shallow and doesn't teach the kids anything. When they get older they'll expect a sports car for their 16th birthday, or a spouse to shower them with expensive treats for every occasion. I think it's ridiculous. No child needs hours of opening gifts every Christmas morning. They'll never appreciate anything.

I've never spent more than $150 per kid. sm - Mom in NY

[ In Reply To ..]
When the kids were little it was easy to do quantity over quality. As they got older we started having conversations about quantity versus quality and they knew that the more expensive gifts meant fewer gifts. They are now 23 and 21, but since they were adolescents we've usually done one or two "big ticket" item to total about $125 and then a bunch of smaller, inexpensive things. They've turned out to be very giving people, and this year, as we're all way squeezed for money, they were the ones who suggested spending less. I couldn't love them more!

My grown children are the same way. This year, we - wannie

[ In Reply To ..]
to not exchange gifts among the adults and just focus on the grandkids (I have 2). We were all a little strapped financially this year and this was the best solution for all of us. It doesn't mean that we won't enjoy celebrating the holiday together, though. We can still be together, have good food and just enjoy each other. I have to admit it's been a little tough for me to not give gifts to my children, but sometimes you just do what you gotta' do to keep your head above water. I'm very thankful that my kids are understanding and in full agreement and still want to spend time with me during the holidays.

Everyone at my house got 1 gift. We are - really struggling SM

[ In Reply To ..]
and it is ridiculous to spend money you can't afford to spend. I personally hate how commercialized the holidays have become and I am continually fighting it. So many people go into debt and it's sad. I guess if you can afford it and you want to load your loved ones with gift after gift, it's cool. How nice it would be if we "gave" to the Salvation Army or a local shelter to the kids who have practically nothing.

Not that much - grinch

[ In Reply To ..]
We have had issues with Christmas the last two years. We moved it to June one year, just because we literally couldn't afford presents or the meal in December. This year, I was able to pay cash for everything, and was less than 1k for a family of 4, including some food.

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