"Typical" Birthday for kids.

[3Gsandme]

Wow, OP, I have never seen so many responses of people that say one gift. Almost every single poster said one gift, and some even said none. As you have read on the previous Christmas threads, that is not very common. I'm not sure why you have received so many of the same response. As I said, I think your gift selection and amounts look great. Happy Birthday to your DS!!

It is unusual, isn't it?

I know my kids get a LOT loss when the "how much" threads start. Dh and I decided a long time ago that there was no value in putting a million things under the tree if no one ended up liking them. I focus on three quality Santa gifts an I think I've only ever struck out on one. So much less pressure this way.

 

[It'sOffToDisneyWeGo]

My kids get one gift or a birthday party. They also get to pick a restaurant to eat at the night of their birthday.

 

[Anne34]

I don't have a set number of gifts, but don't usually spend more than $100 per child on birthdays. That could be 1 or 4 items. When they were under 10 they usually had a party too. If they did that then gifts were in the $50 range.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

My kids (17, 15, 12 and 6) get $10 each to spend at the dollar store (if they so choose) and a family/friend birthday party with pizza and cake. That said, we do buy them things they want throughout the year "just because" and especially if I find a "deal" on them, but I'm floored by the amount of gifts my fellow DISers buy for birthdays and especially Christmas.

 

[descovy]

Mine are 13, 11, 9... we don't really do gifts for birthday. Maybe 1-2 small things if something inspires me.

However you are king/queen for the day on your birthday. Anything you want for meals, anywhere you want to go for fun. The van holds 5 more friends.

And cake.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

I can't believe how many people do 1 gift. That has never occurred to us, I don't know anyone (except maybe some adults)that do that.

I give my kids about the same as OP. They are now 17 and 15. The party now is just family with dinner and cake, but they still get to pick the meals and activities of the day.

 

[ZoeBell]

When my kids got to be around 13, I started to bribe them. I asked if the wanted a birthday party and a small gift or $100 with no party. All 3 picked the $100 with no party. So they've been getting $100 from me from then on.

 

[lauradis]

One is the normal here too, plus they pick what the want for dinner with cake. Sometimes the next day I let them eat cake for breakfast.

Not really a dollar about for the present, normally big. Parties I put a limit on how many people they can invite unless its at our house. Parties tend to be the bigger expense.

200 bucks in tokens at chucky cheese is fun, but crazy.

 

[Leighbra]

I can't believe how many people do 1 gift. That has never occurred to us, I don't know anyone (except maybe some adults)that do that.

It also is completely foreign to me. It never occurred to me that people do that, either. Online & off, I've never run into that.

It's a pretty refreshing contrast to the "My 3yo got an iPad & a Power Wheel tank & a pony & a new wardrobe & a trip to space for her birthday!" posts. Even if it's not what I'd consider right for us.

My husband & I don't set a limit on a budget or quantity exactly, but just do what feels right at the time.

OP sometimes at birthdays & holidays, if I feel I have too many smaller items, I put them in the "gift drawer" for stocking stuffers. For instance, that stress ball would go perfectly in the toe of a stocking!

 

[Chelley00]

One gift for birthdays and our budget is $50. They get to pick where we go out for dinner.

They only get a big birthday party on their 8th, 13th, 16th and 18th birthdays. Other than that, it's just family for cake and ice cream (maybe a friend or two)

With four kids we can't really afford to do huge blowouts for birthdays and Christmas unless we don't want to travel or do other things the rest of the year.

 

[crisi]

I can't believe how many people do 1 gift. That has never occurred to us, I don't know anyone (except maybe some adults)that do that.

I give my kids about the same as OP. They are now 17 and 15. The party now is just family with dinner and cake, but they still get to pick the meals and activities of the day.

Adults don't usually get birthday presents in our house. You get to maybe go out for dinner if we are organized. My mother in law will sometimes get me a gift - she's a gift giver and a birthday person - but I didn't get anything from my husband or kids (my birthday was last week). I managed to get a call from my mother, father AND sisters ON my birthday this year - that NEVER happens (though the youngest was at the other sisters and just yelled "happy birthday" at the phone ).

This year I had kind of a big birthday because Amaluna happened to be in town on my birthday and we bought tickets - so I called it my birthday present - but we almost always go to Cirque shows - this one just happened to coincide with my birthday.

 

[Patience]

My youngest gets a party (which usually costs $200-300 depending on what type of party she wants) and one nice gift and my oldest who is in college now gets dinner at a nice restaurant and one nice gift. For Christmas, they get a lot of gifts but we have always done birthdays this way.

 

[ceemys]

When I say one gift, I mean from me. Her grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins get them gifts. For example: this year my 6 y/o had home made cupcakes, a splash park party at the free city park and one gift from me. She got gifts from others. My oldest got one gift and lunch with the family at Applebee's. Everyone pays for their own dinner. Adults don't get gifts nor parties. Maybe lunch but that's it.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Our kids typically get 2-3 gifts from us (parents) and one from the brother, plus whatever they get from family. My family is close and we give birthday gifts all the way 'round, so my kids will have 1 or 2 from my parents, from my sister's family and from my brother's family. My parents and sister's family all live in the same town as we do, so we celebrate birthdays with dinner and cake no matter what. My in-laws send a check and part goes to savings and they get about $25 to blow at Target.

I'm done having big birthday parties for them -- too expensive and not worth the cost. I have been known to offer money for big "wants" (ipods, etc) when they forego the big party. I always come out ahead on that deal.

I don't feel like we go overboard with Christmas - each child gets one thing from Santa, but not always the biggest or most expensive item, and stockings are filled. The rest of the presents are from Mom & Dad and I usually will have 6-8 per child, but varying prices. Some are $10 t-shirts, some are $8 books, one will be something they really want and some will be just because. This year, we're thinking of getting them each a new computer, so I won't buy as many "just because" gifts.

 

[wendow]

My dd turned 13 a couple of months ago. From us, she got a couple of books, couple of shirts, a personalized mug and ring from Disney. Total spent was about $60. She got a dvd and a couple of books from one set of grandparents. She got a $50 check from other grandparents.

 

[kayrosek]

Thanks for all the replies. I have thought about one gift before but have never managed it. It is interesting to see how many do. We do not do parties, too epspensive and too much drama. They pick dinner and dessert at home on thier birthday and an activity or a few they want to do, depending on price, over a weekend or two near thier birthday. This year my son and the oldest girl whos birthday is at the end of November both chose pretty inexpensive activities so they will be spanned over a couple weeks. It will probably feel like birthdays all month. My son chose to go camping, to the amusement park we already have season tickets to and to have freind over one night. The soon to be 17 yr old chose a christian rock concert at a church, a community theatre production and a moderate priced dinner out. 17 yr old DD will recieve an android phone, cross pendant, a few small art things, a couple t shirts I got on clearance, a dvd and some hair dye. Grandma on DHs side is planning on getting her jewlry, scrapbooking stuff, more art supplies and maybe a dvd or two. For DS this grandma is thinking a shopping trip for new Nikes as well as lunch, some sports stuff, and perhaps some small toys. My mom will get DD a google play card every month just like DS.

 

[angierae]

Our "one gift" is usually around $100, so it's not that different than someone buying four $25 gifts. We also did parties with friends (laser tag, bowling, etc) until she was 16.

 

[katie111]

It really depends on what they want or need around their birthdays. My DS10 wanted a new lacrosse head (about $70) and I also got him some Under Armor shirts & a Patriots jersey, and new sneakers which he needed anyways. I really don't buy my 2 older kids (ages 10 & 11) much in terms of clothes, sneakers, etc anymore except at Christmas & b-days so they usually get a lot of clothes for those holidays and then some toys as well.

For my DS6, he's happy with pretty much anything. This year we were in Mexico on spring break for his b-day so I just got him a couple of dollar items from Target. He was thrilled & said it was his best b-day ever! Made me realize that kids don't really need a lot of stuff to make them happy. I am going to try to really scale back at Christmas this year as we just don't need anymore clutter but not sure how that's going to work with the whole "santa" thing.

I think every family is different & only you know what you can afford, what your kids expect, and how much they deserve.

 

[vikster1]

My kids are 15 and 16. Generally they get 100.00 cash and 2/3 small gifts to unwrap. The past 6 years we have been on vacation during her birthday. They were spent at MK on her day. I stopped parties a few years ago. They get to pick where we go out to dinner and pick the cake.

Christmas usually contains a large gift item. Computer/New game system etc. Plus 25 -30 other things. I know this because I number them so it is equal gifts for each. It also slows down the mayheim. They find each others number under the tree and give it to the other. They say Merry Christmas every time. I also try to have similar gifts as a number. game/clothes/books/giftcards

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

I guess we are the opposite...my 13 yr old got 13 gifts (today is his birthday!), and my 11 yr old got 11 gifts. We do their age in gifts. There have been years when one of the presents was a pack of gum. . Regardless, it is a tradition (until they are 18) to get the number of presents that represent their new age.

This year, son got 2 books, 3 video games (for computer, DS, and gameboy), minecraft sweatshirt, DS holder, mouse, headphones/microphone, Bluetooth USB plug for his computer and 2 $20 dollar bills (wrapped separately). Oh, and he got a phone early (that we would have needed anyway for my piece of mind).