How much do you spend on nieces and nephews?

[daughtersrus]

My SIL (married to DH's brother) set a limit of $15.00 to spend on each niece/nephew about 18 years ago. You also have to buy something from their list. Once the kids turn 18yo, you no longer buy and they go to the adult grab-bag (she's trying to do anyway with that as well.) They have 3 children (one now considered an adult) and we have 3 children (one also considered an adult).

Now, flip to my side of the family. I called my sister last night looking for some gift ideas. She also has 3 children (one considered an adult but since we only buy for children, they are still included). All of her children have birthdays close to Christmas (Nov and Jan). We've never set a limit but we normally spend around $35-$45/child for their B-day and Christmas.

My sister called me back to say that the two girls (14yo and 11yo) each want an iPod. I said that I would be happy to get them either a refurbished Shuffle or Nano from Apple. If I get the Nano, it would be their birthday and Christmas gifts together. She said that would be great until I told her that the Nano's are not the ones with the video. She said that they really want the video. I apologized and said that I'm sorry but since they are $150.00, they're out of my price range. She seemed a little upset but I would never expect her to spend that kind of money for my children.

She also said that DN(11yo) would like a Nintendo DS. I haven't priced them, but I'm guessing that they're not cheap.

Now, I'm feeling a bit guilty so I'm wondering what most people spend on gifts for their nieces and nephews.

 

[budbeerlady]

That is alot for nieces and nephews. We spend around $20, I shop all year so I usually come up with $30-40 worth of stuff for $20. But they are only 4 right now so it is easy!

 

[christinadei]

IMO your sis was completely out of line. That is rude to ask for those types of gifts and then she had the nerve to get upset? Rude, rude, rude! I am all for getting things that the kids want, within reason. I ask for suggestions and try to get things that they like.

I usually spend around $20-30 max. I shop all year and get stuff on clearance/sale and usually get close to $100 worth of stuff, but I'd never expect or ask for something like that from anyone else. If people ask for suggestions, I try to give a few things in the $10 range or so. Grandparents, I'll ususally give something in the $20-50 range, depending on the circumstances, what they watn to spend, etc.

 

[Sandy321]

Wow - will you be my kids aunt???

Seriously, it struck you as odd because it is - its tough communicating during this hectic time, but if she cant afford the ipod or the Nintendo ($129 w/o games!) why or how can you - you have the same number of kids - I dont get it - $100 a piece or even $50 per gift per kid? (Christmas/birthday) - that is indeed generous -

what happens to the spirit of Christmas? You really need to communicate with her - not be judgemental, do the "I feel" statements...

 

[Trish Bessette]

Wow, I'm speechless reading these threads where people flat out "tell" the others what they expect them to get their children/spouses/etc. for Christmas.

I spend about $50 on my neices/nephew birthday gifts. For Christmas I spend about $30 and we also stop buying once they hit 18 yrs old.

I'll tell you now, Nintendo DS Lite's are $130.00 as I got my DD one for Christmas and that doesn't even include the 7 games I bought to go with it!

I'd buy each one of them a gift card to Best Buy for $25 and say "this is to go towards their iPods, Nintendo DS" Merry Christmas!!

 

[WE<3MICKEY]

I only have 1 nephew, we usually spend $50-75 on him, but once more kids are added to the family, I will probably have to adjust that.
I agree that your sister was a little bit out of line to get upset that you aren't willing to spend that much.

 

[mamalle]

I have 5 nieces and nephews now. I was spending like $50 in the past but since I have more now- It will be like $35 a piece. I still have to paying shipping on top of that for 2 of them..

 

[EthansMom]

I agree that your sister is out of line. If she wants her kids to have video Ipods or a Nintendo DS, then she should pay the money and get them herself. IMO, it would have been much more appropriate for her to ask for Itunes gift cards for the daughters and a DS game for the son.

Just tell her that you aren't planning on spending more than $40 each on her kids.

ETA: I have 6 nieces and nephews. I spend $20 or less for each of their gifts for Christmas and birthdays. None of them need anything... too many toys as it is.

 

[maggiew]

Wow!! I'm shocked. It is totally unrealistic to buy iPods for your nieces and nephews (unless you are Bill Gates or something).

I spend about $30 each on my 3 nephews. But they are all preschoolers, so they are usually easy to get something nice for little $$ for them. I give my niece (tween) $50 cash to go shopping. We live out of town but go to the inlaws for Christmas. We usually have "Grandma's shopping day out" where we go to lunch and shopping with my mother in law - usually between Christmas and New Years. She gives each of the granddaughters $100 to shop with. So I give my niece her money then, so she can have more to shop with. My SIL gives the same to my kids.

Maggie

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I use to spend around $50.00 on each of my nieces. When after several years I never recieved a thank you note or even a phone call of thanks, I started to reduce the amount . This year I spent $26.00 on each of them with that great deal from bath and body works.

 

[kathi29]

With DH's family, we pull names - kid and adults. The budget is $40. Without the budget, I would still spend $40 - $50 each. I also take into account "retail" prices in figuring out the total spent.

On my side of the family, I only have one nephew to buy for. I usually spend $50-$60 on him, but I have been known to spend more if it is something cool that he really wants.

 

[Faerie]

I don't have kids of my own yet and one niece (5) and one nephew (2 in Feb). I spend about $100 on each child for Christmas and $50 for birthdays. I spoil them both rotten but I am able to.

 

[Tippythepooh]

My brother has 3 boys 5,8,10. I have in the past spent $150 each on them. That included 1 toy, 1 outfit, and 1 pack each of socks and underwear. They don't have any Grandparents on either side (all are deceased). I always felt they were getting cheated at the holidays. This year I am going to try to limit it to $40 each. Whatever that gets it gets. The oldest 2 I can buy a video game for them to share. They little one has so many toys I think I am going to skip that route. I work at a school so they always get books. (Book fairs) They don't really need anything! It gets hard because you feel you are obligated. Especially if it your Brother/Sisters kids and you are close.

 

[Benducci]

That is alot to spend & your sister should realize that she is asking alot. The Ipods are expensive & the Nintendo's are expensive.
We spend about $25 each on nieces & nephews.

 

[eeyoremum]

I use to spend around $50.00 on each of my nieces. When after several years I never recieved a thank you note or even a phone call of thanks, I started to reduce the amount . This year I spent $26.00 on each of them with that great deal from bath and body works.

I did the same when no thank you came my way...although I was a bit more severe...I stopped buying for them completely.

 

[punkin]

No No No. That is really WAY too much. I got my niece and nephew refurbished i-pods from apple last year for $29.99. DD also got one (I think it was for her birthday though). They were both very happy with them.

I would buy a DS game, but NOT a DS system. WOW.

 

[jekajekalynn]

We usually spend 20-30 dollars a piece for dh's nieces .

What really grinds my gears is that my dh's brother and sis in law (mostly the mean and snobby sister in law) are really snotty cheapskates who won't spend any money on there own girls (yet buy themselves fancy cars/ atv's etc..) or on our ds5 on Christmas, but ALWAYS ask from us or my dmil for HIGH end crap for the girls like Power wheels and stuff .

 

[LynnTH]

We usually spend about $60-$75 per niece/nephew. A few years ago we went together with my other Brother and got my one niece and nephew $200 I-pods. (My sister-in-law works for Target and gets 10% off, plus she had a coupon for another 10% off). So, we were able to get these for them.

We only buy for 3 nieces/nephews plus nephew's new wife. (Don't exchange gifts on DH's side, so that helps). Also, trying to decide when to stop buying for them, but is hard not too. We stopped on Birthdays at 21. Decided to go til 25 on Christmas (that may change). Hard to have everyone else opening gifts and nothing for them. We all get together on Christmas and exchange gifts and have dinner and spend the day together. Plus my nephew and wife are 23 and just married with a baby - they are the ones who could use the stuff the most.

 

[KelNottAt]

With DH's family, we pull names - kid and adults. The budget is $40. Without the budget, I would still spend $40 - $50 each. I also take into account "retail" prices in figuring out the total spent.

On my side of the family, I only have one nephew to buy for. I usually spend $50-$60 on him, but I have been known to spend more if it is something cool that he really wants.

Exactly. Same here. Except, on my side, it's 2 teenage nieces instead of one nephew.

 

[MEM]

I spend nothing on mine. Two of my three siblings and I each have 2 children. None of our children needs anything and for my sibs' kids Christmas had become a feeding frenzy. We decided a few years ago just to exchange cards with each other and use the money we might have spent on each other's kids to buy really great gifts for our parents.