How much do you spend on nieces and nephews?

[kellia]

Wow, I cannot believe some people!! I will not tell anyone my kids want anything over $20, I would never want to assume they would want to spend that much on them. It makes my 12 you upset because all she has on her list is video games, but they cost at least $40 each, so I could never suggest them to people.

I don't have any nieces/nephews yet, but for my friends and cousin's kids, we all spend $15-20 for the kids. My kids get about $40-50 each from the one set of married aunt/uncle with no kids, but under $20 from the others who are younger and still in college.

 

[daughtersrus]

We stopped asking for lists. It just got crazy. We just get them a little something to let them know we are thinking of them and let that be that.

I actually get frustrated buying the adults any gifts. I wish we could just stop that alltogether.

Dawn

We're not allowed to do that with my DH's side of the family. SIL set a limit and you must spend that amount and it must be something from their list. When the kids were little, I spent a little extra on one of her son's because the item he wanted was a little more than his brother's but I wanted them each to have the same # of gifts to open. Sure enough, he counted the gifts. SIL was NOT happy with me. She said that there was a limit and that I shouldn't have gone over. I explained that it was my choice and that I wasn't expecting her to do the same. I just didn't want the younger one to feel "cheated". Besides it was just a couple of dollars. Later that night, she wrote me a check for some Girl Scout cookies that she had bought from DD and included the extra $ that I had spent.

Never again will I go over the limit!


To everyone else. Thanks for your comments! I still feel a little guilty but I think that I'll get over it!

I wouldn't have had a problem spending getting the refurbished Nano for $99.00 (about $50.00 for B-day and $50 for Christmas). I wouldn't mind going over a little, just not an extra $50.00. Plus, I couldn't do it for one niece and not the other so that would really be $100.00 over.

Thanks again!

 

[KristiA]

Our kids draw names. There are 8 nieces and nephews in our family and they just draw names. I usually get an outfit and a toy for them, probably equals out to around 30-40 dollars. I have three kiddos, so we buy for three of them.

My siblings and their spouses draw names as well. There are 8 of us total, so we only have to get two gifts. Probably spend 30-40 here too.

Trying to figure out something different to do though. A few of us are struggling and it is just crazy the amount of money being spent!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I used to spend around $20-$30 on my nephews until I found out their Dad was pawning most of their things so instead I let them know that I would be buying them savings bonds from now on for birthdays and Christmas and I am keeping them until the kids are 18.

That was incredibly rude of your SIL, I can't imagine asking someone for something that expensive, even if I thought they had the money to afford it! Whenever someone asks for ideas for my kids I always give things in the $10 to $20 range or just say something like "Well, DD is really into Hannah Montana right now, DS likes trains" things like that, let them decide what they want to buy. My MIL likes to get an Amazon wishlist, just to see what they like, then she sometimes gets what is on it, sometimes similar things, but I try to keep everything on it under $15.

 

[mindyd]

Hi,

I spend $15.00 on my 2 nephews but my sister in law picked the amount and we spend more on birthdays. I spend $25-35.00 on the rest of my nieces and nephews.

 

[maggiew]

Hmmm. I wonder if Bill Gates buys Apple products for his family?

Good one. I guess I wasn't thinking about that!

Maggie

 

[mama4]

No more than $30 each. I have 2 nieces and 2 nephews. I usually spend a little more on the nieces because they are a little older and stuff is just more expensive for older kids but never over $30.
I think I'd be pretty speechless if my sister asked for something specific for her kids -I usually have to threaten to buy the most annoying, noisy, obnoxious toy I can find for her to give me suggstions. It just wouldn't occur to us to solicit for gifts I guess. They are "gifts" after all.
In fact- to show you another perspective, my BIL (sisses hubbie) tends to overdo on gifts. Trying to impress I guess or whatever. I always feel weird when he buys my oldest son (who is the only teen in the family) expensive things for Christmas. Mp3 player one year, an $80 longboard another year. It's not my sisters idea but I can tell she's embarrased about it too. But she just says- "let him do it- he just wants to be the cool uncle." Well, I won't be buying $80-$100 gifts for my neices and nephews- even when they are teens and I'm sure they will stop with this one- in other words- they won't do it for my other 3 kids when they become teens. Or at least I hope not. Gift giving sometimes doesn't FEEL like giving anymore- it almost seems like a contest.
OP- I hope you don't feel pressured to over spend and I hope your dsis gets over it. But if she doesn't, relax and enjoy your holiday knowing that you are loving, caring aunt.

 

[Karalea]

I have 3 nephews (13,12,11) I bought them a Wii to share so about $85 each. All 3 agreed this is what they really wanted for Christmas.

I don't have any children and these are the only kids in the family so I tend to be a little generous with them. I cut back a little this year. Usually I budget about $100 each for Christmas. Birthdays are about $50 each.

 

[disykat]

About $15. We stop the childrens gifts after age 10 and they become part of the family gift. Now some of our nieces and nephews are out on their own, married and are having children. For us that means two more family gifts (about $40 each) and two more children's gifts. I'm guessing $110 more dollars and the shopping (I hate shopping!) would be no big deal to a lot of people, but for us it's starting to get out of hand again.

I can't believe how much money some people must spend on Christmas!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I have no nieces or nephews but my cousins have kids that I treat as such.

I buy for 13 kids total and spend about $50 each on them. Nordstrom was having their women and children sale and I got each one an outfit. Ages range from 1-12. Really killer clothes.

Plus I usually take the oldest ones to something special - 3 of the kids and I saw Disneys High School Musical play a few months back. One year it was the American Girl play.

The younger kids I take to Borders once a month for books and candy on me. Great way to encourage reading - every kid gets to pick out 2 books.

Thank god I do not have my own kids.... I would be broke

 

[tink2]

I have 3 nieces and 3 nephews. We spend around $20- $25 on each- this year it is $20 b/c we are trying to cut back this year- WDW trip at the end of Jan. The kids range in ages from 5 to 19. The older ones just get gift cards- it is too hard to find something they really want for $20 and that way- they can put the money towards something nicer.
Think it may be time to have a little talk with your sister- that is crazy...

 

[Davidsmommy]

DH's family - we have 8 neices and nephews. We used to spend $25 each (and to be honest, it was basically me buying gift cards right before our family party - it was too hard for me to figure out what they each liked that would cost the same - they range in age from 5 - 20.). Plus, my 2 SIL and 2 BILs.

We recently stopped doing that and do a swap (instituted by mt SIL - but we love it). Everyone picks a name (adults and kids). So, in our family, we each get a name - total 4 people. $25 each (about) so it cheaper. Plus, it is more fun to really concentrate on your person and get something they would like! It makes it better all around! We all still buy for my MIL.

My family - I have 3 step-neices. 2 live far away, and usually unless they are here, we don't exchange gifts (unless I catch my stepmom when she is packing up their boxes to ship, and I throw something in for them.) But, it is never too expensive. $15 each maybe. My other step-neice lives here and I get her something - about $25.

It is rude to tell people what to buy, although I did recently do that. Lol My mom is always annoyed that I can't tell her what to get the kids (or that I steal her ideas lol), so I saw a disney princess cash register in the target flyer for $15 and I called her and told her my DD would like it. She said she was just about done (and had another idea to get), so I was like, "Cool. I was just trying to give you ideas."

My phone rang later and it was my aunt wanting to know what it was and where so she could get it. I was embarrassed - it is one thing to give you mom ideas, but another thing to dictate to your aunt!

 

[punkin]

We're not allowed to do that with my DH's side of the family. SIL set a limit and you must spend that amount and it must be something from their list. When the kids were little, I spent a little extra on one of her son's because the item he wanted was a little more than his brother's but I wanted them each to have the same # of gifts to open. Sure enough, he counted the gifts. SIL was NOT happy with me. She said that there was a limit and that I shouldn't have gone over. I explained that it was my choice and that I wasn't expecting her to do the same. I just didn't want the younger one to feel "cheated". Besides it was just a couple of dollars. Later that night, she wrote me a check for some Girl Scout cookies that she had bought from DD and included the extra $ that I had spent.

Never again will I go over the limit!


To everyone else. Thanks for your comments! I still feel a little guilty but I think that I'll get over it!

I wouldn't have had a problem spending getting the refurbished Nano for $99.00 (about $50.00 for B-day and $50 for Christmas). I wouldn't mind going over a little, just not an extra $50.00. Plus, I couldn't do it for one niece and not the other so that would really be $100.00 over.

Thanks again!

I think your SIL is a little compulsive and controlling. Jeesh.

 

[JoyG]

I have 7 neices and nephews and it varies every year how much I spend.

Last year and this year, I've been able to find gifts that cost $10 before tax for each of them. So a total of about $70-$80.

This usually involves braving black friday to get the best bargains...who am I kidding, I love the BF madness!

Last year each child got two pairs of Disney PJ pals ($5/ea on BF).

This year, I've scoured the ads, and made a list of toys I think they'll like for $10. They're young...all under the age of 10, so I'm able to find some things in that price range (Bratz dolls, Ben 10 toys, and the ten year old is getting a couple of pet Betta fish).

 

[tonilea]

We have a limit of $20 for my neices, but my sister and I usually go a bit over. For my nephew, I usually spend a bit more. My other sister (his mother) is not good about buying him much of anything, so we tend to try to compensate.

 

[disneymom3]

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.

Okay so I have to say that I have a bigger problem with the specific price and that you HAVE to do anything related to a gift. A gift is a gift and IMO the only reason for lists is that you might need ideas for another's gift. Not as a shopping list!

That said your sis was way out of line.

 

[blana]

We set the limit this year to between $20 & $25 for nieces & nephews for my family. I spent a little more on DH's nieces since their parents will spend more on DS, but WISH they'd do a similar thing. (Ah, well. I finally got them to stop giving US presents....)

 

[jckdisneybound]

Now I want to say we bought my nephew a PSP for his birthday BUT, me and my siblings along w/ Grandma and Grandpa all went in on it. Normally I spend between $35 - $40 on birthday/Christmas gifts for my niece and nephew. I only have 3 of them though.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

we spend $15-20 on each nephew and that's what is spent on my kids too. IMHO, it's not the Aunt/Uncle's job to supply their neices/nephews with presents. That's up to mom/dad and grandma and grandpa.
I think your sister was out of line. Actually, $150 is more than we spend on each of our own kids.