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

[mirandag819]

My daughter (3) is the only child, only grandchild, only great grandchild on all sides of the family. She gets so spoiled by everyone else, I really don't have to shop. But I LOVE to shop, especially for toys, and I love to wrap presents. My husband jokes I shop some more just to have new things to wrap.

My parents always went overboard when my sister and I were kids, and DHs parents had a very simple Christmas (and taught him not to believe in Santa).

I tend to spend about 600-700 from Santa and 500 or so from mommy and daddy. I don't want Santa and grandparents to get all the credit, so I shop a bit too much from us. I remember how great it was to come in and see the room filled with gifts from Santa, and I just want to see that same magic in her eyes. Plus DH is sad he missed out on Santa as a kid, and over compensates with gifts for our daughter.

I know I go overboard, but we don't ever spend money that we can't afford, so I figure it is okay. I do have to clean out her playroom before Christmas and donate the toys she doesn't play with much anymore.

 

[Hayloburger]

My 7 year old wants 3 items, each costing about $100. I told her, we are going to Disney (early December) so, mom can't afford these larger gifts...she informed me "don't worry mom, Santa will cover those expensive things!". ha!

So, I handled that by telling her that even Santa has limited resources and that she can only ask him for one of those items. Santa will bring a Nintendo DS.

We have two girls...this will be our most expensive Christmas yet, because they are getting a little older and know what they want (they are 7 and 5)...
I have been lucky up until now. They will both get the Nintendo for their main item and then I will fill in with 2 or 3 cheap sale items: board game, sweater, make up kit, art kit....etc. So, I am guessing that I will be spending about $200 each (ouch! that sounds like alot for little kids, but those darn DSs!). In the past we have spend $100 each (maybe). We usually save our money for a nice annual vacation.

They have two grandmothers that are generous and three uncles too.

 

[dakjoskaimiksmom]

I'm pretty lucky. We don't spend Christmas at home, since we visit my parents and dh's parents in other states. EVERYBODY buys for my kids, so we don't need to spend much at all.

My mom goes REALLY crazy, spending about $300 per kid (for all 6 grandkids!), plus the gifts she ships to my step-kids (she spends a little less on them, since they spend Christmas with their other grandma, who also buys tons of stuff).

I also have 3 sisters who buy for them, plus dh's brother and sister and parents do, so they end up with a LOT of presents.

Last year we spent MAYBE $100 per kid. This year I'll probably go a little cheaper than that, since my mother went more berserk than usual. Plus my sister is taking Kai to the American Girl hotel thing. It's crazy.

 

[nessz79]

About $100 per child, not including stocking stuffers.

They tend to get quite a bit from the rest of my extended family as they are the only grandchildren on both sides.

We are trying to get everyone to cut back. They have so many toys that they don't play with and it just makes me sick to see so much wasted.

We grew up relatively poor. My parents went as all-out as they could as Christmas, and we always had lots of gifts.

I want to buy my children some nice toys, but not when they have so many (mostly from grandparents) that they don't appreciate what they have. I can't stand seeing expensive toys that their grandparents bought just sitting around for months on end.

 

[barnaby1]

I almost didn't reply to this as my response is going to be so different!!!

I grew up in a household without a lot of money and my parents spent around $20-30 Australian on each of us (4) at Christmas. Mum still only puts $20 in my bank acount now each Christmas and birthday and I am 39!

I have actually carried this forward to my dd who is nearly 3. She gets 1 present from us and one from Santa with no set value but approximately £40 worth. I would never dream of spending $200 - $1000 (or the £ equivelant )on her. We do buy her other little things through the year and take her to Orlando twice a year though.

I feel like mean mummy of the century.

 

[adoptionmomma4]

I used to go completely Christmas crazy I waited a long time for my kids, they are all adopted from foster care and had crappie Christmas' with no gifts or even family time prior to our home. That being said the first 3 Christmas' with us they were getting upwards of 70 gifts EACH It was insane! They were overwhelmed, over stimulated and honestly had so many things they didn’t know what to do with any of it. All the pieces ended up lost, broken or not touched. I would only let them open one or two things a day to try to have some order and they were opening Christmas toys at Easter.

The last 2 years I have not set a dollar limit, but I did implement a 3 gift limit from us (we don't do Santa). I will admit it was hard and I probably bought closer to 8-10 things, but it was a start This year I am trying to get closer to the limit of 3. My kids do not even know what to ask for. Well, my youngest two have a list a mile long of things they have seen on TV or in catalogs, but nothing they are longing for. My DD 11 asked for an I-pod which she will get and I got a docking station on clearance at target. My DS 9 wants a cell phone, but has absolutely no need for one, so I am stumped. I am ordering some great stuff from a catalog that has more old-fashioned toys that I think they will really love. As another poster said I am trying to teach them that Christmas is about people and being with family and less about stuff. Now if I get the grandma's to understand this and not buy 10+ things each we would be making real progress

 

[Disney 'Ohana]

Last year we spent approx $400 per child, we have 3. We'll probably do the same this year.

 

[mercydisney]

2 words "to much".

I love my kids I teach them to care and give through out the whole yr not only just on Christmas.

 

[Whipperwhirl]

I also have a gift limit - each one gets 5 items they really want. probably around 200.00 each. Now if you count the surprise disney trip this year we are up to about $6,400. ouch.

 

[cruiseletters]

We have four kids and usually spend 300.00-400.00. They don't get much the rest of the year other than a gift on their birthday.

 

[Grendalynn]

I am cutting back this year. We tend to spend about $300 /400 each but for their younger yearss it was far less. The older they get the more expensive their gifts get.

I think America as a whole has fogotten about the Real Meaning of Christmas.... I soover commerciaized!! All the kid ar " I want, I want,I want!" Its not tangible things, or expensive things, its about being happy, healthy and with your family. Yes, is magical to see your kids eyes on Christmas Morning and the presents all round, but its not what its really about. Our boys pickout several gifts and the bring them to Toys for Tots to help them understand.

I hate the crap! I hate buying it for people and I hate getting it! I hate the idea of buying "something" just forthe sake of buying. I am on a kick to get people to buy less and spend more time with family and freinds. Dont get me wrong, I am not anti-christmas or a Scrooge, but am trying to focus more on the real meaning of christmas and so my kids will too! I want my family to Spend the money on family dinners and get togethers, not plastic crap from China. Thats my soap box for today! Thanks for listening!

 

[h518may]

I guess we will be spending about $150 each, probably a little less. I decided to figure out what they would like( 5 and 3yrs old). Then I figured about how much that would be for each. Happened to come out even, with each of them getting 4 gifts plus stocking stuffers.

 

[blessedby3]

Wow, some of you guys really spend the money
We have 4 kids and the ages are very spread out- 18,13,10 and 1. We get each of the kids 3 gifts.
The older two kids want more expensive things of course. We dont like to go over $125 for them. If they want something that is really expensive (like DS wanted xbox360 last year) then we will put our max towards it and they can put their money for the rest. DD18 got a laptop last Christmas (and this was needed for college) so we put a bit more in at $300 and she paid the difference. Then they will get two very inexpensive gifts (like a CD, Gift Card or shirt) for their other 2 gifts. Earlier this year I bought DS 2 Nike hoodies marked down to $4 each anticipating that DS will pick something expensive again this year. I will give him these two hoodies as one of his gifts.
The younger two kids gifts cost much less.
I will probably only spend $40 or so on the baby. DD10 will probably want things totaling $75 or so.
They each get a couple of movie ticket vouchers in their stocking as well as nice little things I pick up during the year.
We have a large family so they get more gifts from them. Too much total IMHO.
I would say that for our 4 kids we spend about $500 or less depending on the year.

 

[RahRah573]

Wow, some do spend a lot of money! I don't have a set budget, but probably will spend about $100-150 this year for DS4 from Santa....both sets of grandparents go way overboard, each set spending close to $250-300 on him.....so Santa brings just a few things and I, Santa's helper, start way early looking for deals on things I know DS is going to want (or I hope he will).

 

[DISNEYNV]

This Christmas we are going to Disney world as a family gift to us and my parents so that trip will be the bulk of our gift giving budget but we usually spend about 150-200 on each child. Ds1 dd4 and step daughter 14. I don't think that the dollar amount should matter as long as you are buying item or items that the child really wants and will appreciate. Creating Christmas family memories is what really counts and what they will remember most! Have a good one

 

[pixiepower1971]

I will freely admit that I spend a lot on my kids and I love every minute of it!

But every time I read threads like this I get so annoyed with the comments about how much money some people spend. What if someone posted that some of you are really cheap?! Isn't it the same thing?! Its all personal choice. Some have more then others. Everyone allocates their personal finances differently. Why is everyone so amazed at how much some people spend? I am amazed at how little some people spend. But I normally wouldn't comment on the lack of presents under your tree...I just couldn't help it this time!

Can't we all just be happy for each other instead of making this into have/have nots, meaning of the season, I am better then you because....type of thread?

 

[gr8leg8]

holy moley people!

As a kid my sister and I each got one big gift from mom & dad and some candy in our stockings from Santa.
One year it was a bike.
My dad always over bought for my mom. It was his way of showing her he loved her.

My husband, on the other hand was showered with gifts.
TONS of gifts at Christmas. My MIL says at least $1k each on dh and his sister.

Fast forward to our only.
First grandchild.

The grandparents get her what ever catches their fancy, but they try to make it one thing.

The first few years, the adults all ran around trying to get "something" for everyone else.
Now we do a name draw for the adults.

Last year all DD wanted was two mix and match mermaid fairies from ToysRUs. I think they were $10.

DD's birthday is in January,
so we ask that the grandparents give her "adventure" gifts.
A day at the beach, movie date, etc.
Last year we went nuts and the whole family
went to Disneyland! chaos, but fun.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

 

[richmond282]

I only have 1 child so we spend a little more on her than if we had more. That being said my usual budget is $300 for my DD4 and $300 for my DH.

 

[MO Nurse]

Last year we spent about 1500 on our 3 children. This year we are still sending approximately $400 on each child. They are 13, 13, and 15. My son will have a birthday 3 weeks after Christmas. We are also using our March trip as part of Christmas and they will be getting their souvenier money as a Christmas gift.

 

[chemysterygal]

I freely admit that I spoil my kids at Christmas. I can afford it. DS 14 stopped believing in Santa only a year ago because he did not believe we would spend that much money on "stuff". That comment might give you some idea of how the rest of the year goes.

I have to tell you, I burst out laughing at that last line!

To keep this on-topic, we spend approximately $175-$200 per child for Christmas, but sometimes less on the younger one as she just doesn't have the same "requests" as our six year old!

Edited to add that this includes presents from Santa and from mommy and daddy...