How much do you normally spend on your own children for Christmas????

[Minnie_me]

We do about $400-500 each, on our two DDs. They are 8 and 11, and we're very guilty of going way overboard on Christmas. I grew up with very meager Christmases (underwear, socks, pajamas, winter coat and one toy), so I *need* to do this for my kids. We also do not buy them toys or other extravagances during the year (except for one birthday gift each), so this is huge for them.

 

[mom2princessj]

We always overspend. We have a christmas club but I buy even before it comes so we end up with TONS! Christmas was always big for my family so that is where I get it from. We probably spend about 500 per kid...that is also clothes for the following winter not just toys. We can afford to so we do but if the time ever came that we couldn't we'd probably just budget 200 per kid and they'd be good with that. We buy them so much throughout the year and dd's b-day is right before christmas and ds's bday right after so they don't go long without getting lots of stuff.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We always overspend. We have a christmas club but I buy even before it comes so we end up with TONS! Christmas was always big for my family so that is where I get it from. We probably spend about 500 per kid...that is also clothes for the following winter not just toys. We can afford to so we do but if the time ever came that we couldn't we'd probably just budget 200 per kid and they'd be good with that. We buy them so much throughout the year and dd's b-day is right before christmas and ds's bday right after so they don't go long without getting lots of stuff.

It's funny that you say that, because I do the exact opposite. I was lucky enough to grow up in a very affluent household - we didn't want for anything, but my parents tended to show love by buying us things, instead of with real affection or quality time with them. So, now I have 4 kids and I am a stay-at-home mom that goes to every school function, teaches sunday school, is president of the PTO, and make a big deal about our quality family time and not focusing on the material things. My mother, who marched on Washington for women's rights and now is the director of surgery for the largest hospital in our area, still can't quite understand my decision to stay at home with 4 kids and "waste my degree." I love her, but I will never be able to make her understand! lol!

 

[christa112]

We don't usually have a set amount either. We kinda wing it and try to spend around the same amount on each child. I guess I would have to guesstimate around $250 per child. It is definately getting harder as they are getting older and want more expensive gifts.

 

[dijid]

OMGosh people! Holy spending limits! I was freaking out because I totaled everything we wanted to get our three kids this year from the guy in the big red suit and it was nearly $400. Not $400 each - $400 total for the three of them (ages 9, 7 and 5). I was hoping to get it down to $100 per kid + a clothing or shoe gift from DH and I. We gift exchange within families, so they'll see a gift from each set of grandparents, one Aunt/Uncle gift from DH's side and maybe 3 more gifts from my side of the family.

I'm not even sure what I'd buy with some of the amounts I've seen in this thread!

 

[deb24k]

We go overboard too, but I don't buy toys for the kids throughout the year with the exception of outdoor toys, since both of my children have winter birthdays. We spend whatever is within our means without going into debt. This year we spent close to $500.00 for my DD (6) not including stocking stuffers and about $300 for my DS (2 1/2).

 

[Narnia]

I spend about $100 a kid which is about $500. I buy early and get great deals: a barbie princess house was $100 paid $15, gamecube games and game boy games @$2.50 each. I bought the kids wii fit and 5 wii games @ under $20 each too much to list! Shopping early means that my kids get alot more then if I waited to holiday season. My kids have never asked for anything yet ( my DS 7 asked for a hermit crab this year!!! I have never been told they wanted anything). I figure it's because I can read minds and they end up with what they wanted

 

[Longsx3]

We have one, I usually spend about $1000 but typically she gets large items. DD (12) never has really had a Christmas list and I think that I usually spend more because of it.

This year I think she will get a Camera, the new Gwen Stefani Perfume, a Few Wii Games, a new Vera Bradley Backpack, A gift card for the Book Store and I already bought her Guitar Hero on Tour...I think that is probably close to 1K

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

This is my first year and it is shaping up to look like I will spend around $300 on DD.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

We usually spend around 300-500 per kid. This year is will likely be around 300. They both want the Nano IPod in the new colors, so that and an IHome takes a big chunk then they will each get one more decent item then thats it from us. They'll get stuff from DH's mom and my mom. We always go with the theory that Jesus got 3 gifts, you get 3 gifts. If it was good for Jesus, its good for you.

 

[dreamer17555]

We spend $100 on each child and I thought that was a lot. Truth be told I shop early and our Disney Store closing (though I was so sad) did help a lot with getting some outstanding deals. My Dad normally spends another $50 each on them and my mom probably over $100, we also have my husband parents, and all of our grandparents (their great grandparents) and lets just say they get so much stuff every year I cannot find room for it all.

Every year I try to cut back (this year I thought I had) but every year they have so much stuff I feel almost sick about it all. I love my children but I want them to learn that "stuff" isn't important- people are.

-Becca-

 

[kydisneyfans]

We do between 500-1000 for our only child. It will likely go above that this year with the Wii sitting in our closet. He receives a small gift from my parents and that is it, so we make up the slack.

 

[clownchk]

typically about $100 per kid, including "Santa" gifts, our gifts and stuffers. THis year will be closer to $600 total (3 kids) since 2 wanted a nintendo DS and after buying that, the accessory kits and 2 games each, it came up more then we had planned, but still are not in debt over it.

Santa only brings 3 gifts each (Baby Jesus only got 3!!) and their stocking and we only get them 1-2 gifts each.

BUt my family (mom, dad, 4 sisters, a brother and several nieces and nephews, MIL, FIL, BIL, SIS and several nephews) plus 2 close family friends all buy for them.

Fortunately we have always impressed quality over quantity. That does not, however, prevent the stupid dollar store toys from creeping in throughout the year ROFL!!

 

[taximomfor4]

$75 to $125 per kid (towards the $125 as they get older). DH and I generally don't buy anything for each other, but sometimes we'll spend $30 to $40 on each other. Grandma buys each kid about a$15 gift. Nobody else in the family buys them gifts at all. We're fine with it, they only THINK they need more "stuff."

 

[deedeetoo]

I would say we spend about $250/kid. They each get one expensive gift (last year ds7 got a nintendo ds and dd10 got an ipod) and then we fill in with other smaller items.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

WOW! Some spend a lot of money!!! My kids pretty much only get from us (my grandparents too.) We have no extended family that they get from, so it is all on us.
Thanks to all of you, I am going to show this to my DH if he says I spent too much!!!

 

[DawnM]

I have always done the shop early and get great deals thing.

But this year they are quite specific on what they want. They want a Wii, but probably won't get it. They also each want a Nintendo DS Lite and games. None of those things will be bargained much less than what the price tag currently is. Sigh.

DH says to give them each $75 gift cards to Best Buy and let them spend their saved allowance for the rest of the cost and then get them a few other little things.

DH won about $80 in Dave and Busters in $10 incriment cards, so that is a freebie that will go in their stockings.

It isn't that we don't have the money, we are going to Disney in January and typically I let them each buy something at the Lego store at DTD becuase they would prefer that to a Disney souvie.

My older boys both have birthdays within a couple of weeks on either end of Christmas as well.

Dawn

 

[genius118899]

Santa buys three presents for each kid, and then our parents usually give us maybe one full outfit. There are five of us, and I'd guess 350-400 is spent on each. I'm the oldest at 19, but still in college and pulling Christmas benefits! Last year I got a Wii plus a game or two and a sweater I think. This year, I'm betting on a camera (my dad keeps asking how I like certain types, and when I ask why, he just says, "oh, no reason. just curious", lol). We'll get maybe one big item and then accessories for it.

 

[Darcy03231]

About $100/per child and then another $25 in stocking stuffers. My children are older and love to travel so we do a big family trip each year (there are 6 of us) rather than spend a lot at Christmas. The one year we opted not to do a big family trip we spent about $250-$300 per child.

 

[disneybound2010]

Thankfully, DS is only 2 so while I have spent around $200 for him(so far) this has gone a very long way. I keep thinking about how much pricier the holidays are going to get as he starts getting older. DH is still a big kid at heart so it's almost like having a teenager and a young child in the house.