Do you keep things even between kids for Holiday gifts?

[wishesuponastar]

DD14 wanted Uggs for Christmas (for a few years) so we finally got her a pair to the tune of $180. That also included the cleaning kit.

DD10 didn't ask for Uggs and really, her list doesn't add up to $180. It's about $100 and I think I will just keep it like that. I am used to spending the same amount and I don't think I should feel guilty about it.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I always have the same number of gifts for each child, but I don't worry about spending the same amount. It's usually somewhere in the same ballpark, but it's not something I worry about in terms of making it even. They would notice, however, if one had more gifts than the others

 

[goofyredraider]

We do same #, but not same $.

 

[moonpie85]

I say the same amount of gifts not the same price. But at the same time I probably would buy both kids a large gift if one got one. I don't think I would count the uggs as a wow gift though. I'm sure the youngest has no clue what they are worth.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Agreed....over the lifetime it might even out....but for each Christmas it does not. DS5 just told me he was asking Santa for a DS so if he decides to bring that, it might make it a lot more even

 

[Disneybuckeye]

My kids are very close in age, 3 1/2 years between the youngest and the oldest. When they were little I did same number. Now that they are older I give each the same dollar amount. I also no longer buy stuff just to get to the right dollar amount. Usually one, two, or even all three get a check for the difference up to what I planned on spending on each of them.

 

[js]

I do the same number of gifts, not the same amount.
I get my dd what she wants and my ds what he wants but it is always the same number of gifts, not an even amount on cost.
My kids are 17 and 13 and it is still this way.

 

[brookmey]

Right now while the kids are young, the number of gifts is more important than how much is spent. They have no idea how much things cost right now, in fact they think Santa makes everything so nothing has a dollar value!

When they're older and understand the cost of things more, the amount we spend will become more important than the number of gifts.

 

[rentayenta]

Number of gifts? Amount they cost? No.

 

[angierae]

If they believe in Santa, the same # of gifts. Once they knwo where they're coming from, and have more of an understanding that asking for an XBOX is not the same as asking for a cd, then $ amount. At least that's how my sister did it, I only have one. (And she knows that I spend $300 on Christmas, so if she wants something that costs $200, she's only getting $100 in other gifts.)

 

[momto2inKC]

We always make sure they have the same number of gifts to open. I guess we are lucky because the amount spent is usually about the same, give or take $20 or so.

 

[indimom]

Teen gifts are always pricier than gifts for younger kids. Your youngest DD will have her day... in a few years.

 

[luvdisney00]

I have 3 DDs and when they ask for something like UGGS or a northface jacket, I count it as a Christmas gift, but only figure part of the cost out of their Christmas "budget". I figure that a nice warm pair of boots is something that they need and I would buy, but I could get a much better price on another brand. Same with Northface, they need a warm jacket, but don't neccasarily "need" that brand so I figure what would be reasonable to spend and count the difference into what I spent for Christmas. My budget for each child is usually around $400.

 

[Marionnette]

I have always tried to give them gifts that total the same dollar amount. When they were younger, I also tried to have the same number of packages for each as well. I cannot imagine spending more on one child than the others. They might not know have known the difference but I do.

 

[pigletto]

We spend roughly the same amount of money now, but it doesn't always end up to the same amount of gifts. DD is almost 7 years older than her little brother. She wants teen stuff and he just wants toys. She understands that her items simply cost more.

 

[Patience]

My kids are 13 years apart in age. Prior to this year, I kept the number of gifts the same but this year, my 17 year old is getting a pricey MacBook Pro so she will definitely have fewer gifts to open on Christmas morning than her 4 year sister. I know she will know that the MacBook is very expensive (she doesn't know she is getting it- I can't wait to see her face!). I think the teen is getting the MacBook, a pair of riding boots, a pair of Toms and the perfume she likes, so four presents to open versus 8 or 9 for her sister. They both get stockings too but with inexpensive items in them. I only spent a little over $200 for the little one's gifts and almost half of that was for the LeapPad I bought for her. Stuff for teenagers just costs a lot more than stuff for preschoolers.

I am pretty much done shopping (yay!) except for buying the Mac and gift cards that I need to pick up for my oldest nieces and nephews. I may hit Target on BF to pick up a Leapster Explorer game or two for the LeapPad while they are on sale but I might not. It depends upon how tired I am after Thanksgiving dinner.

 

[luvmy3]

When they were younger I used to make sure they had the same number of gifts, but now that they are older its changed to the same amount of $. I don't make sure I spend the exact same amount, just get it pretty close.

 

[mindyd]

My kids are less than two years a part I always spend the same amount on gifts and it usually ends up quite even with the same amount of presents also.

 

[kinntj]

We go by $ amount. The # of gifts tend to be pretty close.

 

[foltzy]

Right now we have a budget for each kid and we always make sure they have the same number of presents (3 from us and 3 from Santa). However, they're 4 and 6. Number is the most important thing, we don't want more for the one than the other. Because they're so close in age their gifts usually end up within $20 or so and I don't spend more than $200 on either of them.

I do see this changing as they get older.