What do you spend for Christmas?

[luvsJack]

OP, you sound like us. We have always bought a lot of clothes, personal stuff like razors and shower gels and the like, plus their toys and such.

Does everyone else figure any clothes bought for gifts into the budget amount?

 

[inkedupmomma]

I hate to admit it, but I am not even sure.. I just buy what I like for them. and buy the things they really want. i spend more because I want to, not because t hey ask. i'd say, I spend at minimum 300 for my 3yo and 500-600 on my almost 9 year old

 

[kellia]

Boys- 6yrs about $150 each. DD 14 yrs- about $200. Unfortunatley, her stuff costs a lot more, though, so the boys will have lots of gifts while she'll only have a couple! She understands, though.

Honestly, I think that is more than enough. I walk through their rooms and see all the junk they have, they really need nothing else and I don't want greedy, ungrateful kids. And we don't need any more garage sale fodder!

 

[inkedupmomma]

Boys- 6yrs about $150 each. DD 14 yrs- about $200. Unfortunatley, her stuff costs a lot more, though, so the boys will have lots of gifts while she'll only have a couple! She understands, though.

Honestly, I think that is more than enough. I walk through their rooms and see all the junk they have, they really need nothing else and I don't want greedy, ungrateful kids. And we don't need any more garage sale fodder!

why does buying children stuff = having ungrateful, greedy kids??

 

[Anne34]

When my kids were younger (under 10), I usually spent $100-150 per child. Now that they are older 16, 14 & 12 -- the amount has risen to about $300 per child since they want video games, ipods, etc. We don't give clothes for Christmas (grandma does) since I buy them all year whenever they need them. I don't wait for holidays to give them necessities.

 

[quentina]

I spend alot.....I am a Christmas freak. I start early...June or July and pick up a little at a time.

I do get my kids all of the main things that they want.

 

[eandt]

Boys 18 and 12........get them the usual electronic stuff, video games, cell phones, ipods, got one of the bestbuy $249 laptops this year, clothes etc. We save during the year for Christmas. Spend about 700-800 each probably give or take but they generally don't get things other on an as needed basis during the year save for their birthdays. We don't spend nearly as much on eachother but we feel as long as we are not going in debt for it we spend what we can on them. They are only here for a short period of time.

 

[jana616]

My kids are younger (5 and 2), but one thing that I do without any embarassment is give them gifts from garage sales and craigslist. If I can find it opened and gently played with for 75% off, why wouldn't I do that? My ODS really wants Star Wars stuff for Christmas, so I scoured craigslist and found the huge Millenium Falcon for $35 (retails for $160). That is going to blow his mind Christmas morning, and he couldn't care less that it isn't new in the box. I'd definitely check that route with your 5 year old, maybe your 10 year old as well!

 

[happygirl]

My kids are younger (5 and 2), but one thing that I do without any embarassment is give them gifts from garage sales and craigslist. If I can find it opened and gently played with for 75% off, why wouldn't I do that? My ODS really wants Star Wars stuff for Christmas, so I scoured craigslist and found the huge Millenium Falcon for $35 (retails for $160). That is going to blow his mind Christmas morning, and he couldn't care less that it isn't new in the box. I'd definitely check that route with your 5 year old, maybe your 10 year old as well!

There is nothing wrong with getting stuff at yard sales

 

[tiggertabi]

I would say you do this. PIck a few things that are cheaper for each kid (individualized.) Then pick 1 or 2 games that you want to give the kids as a JOINT gift. We always did that, it brought some unity to the gifts, and there was no fighting over 'well it's MY game so you can't play it" plus kept cost down.

My parents always bought a couple of gifts for each of us, stuff the stockings full of goodies (on the cheap) and gave a board game and a video game and a movie to the family. We loved it that way!

 

[tyniknate]

I, also, don't believe spoiled ungrateful kids really comes from how much you give them. I believe it's more of a parenting (or lack of parenting) issue. My kids are happy and grateful for everything they are given. My original post was not because I was a afraid they would freak out at being given less, it was about helping me to make the most of what I'm able to spend this year and to get some ideas that I maybe had not thought of. My kids will be ok with whatever they are given.

 

[wdwfan16]

OP, you sound like us. We have always bought a lot of clothes, personal stuff like razors and shower gels and the like, plus their toys and such.

Does everyone else figure any clothes bought for gifts into the budget amount?

We look at basic clothes as a need and we do not give needs at Christmas time. Once the kids are teens they most likely will get clothes but they will be special clothes that are not basic and not needs. If I had a teen girl and she wanted Ugg boots, that would a Christmas gift. A pair of boots from payless would not.

Boys- 6yrs about $150 each. DD 14 yrs- about $200. Unfortunatley, her stuff costs a lot more, though, so the boys will have lots of gifts while she'll only have a couple! She understands, though.

Honestly, I think that is more than enough. I walk through their rooms and see all the junk they have, they really need nothing else and I don't want greedy, ungrateful kids. And we don't need any more garage sale fodder!

As others have said stuff does not equal greedy and ungrateful. Both are attitudes that are a result of lack of parenting. Children are born self centered and the parents teach them to share and be thankful for what they have.

 

[inkedupmomma]

I, also, don't believe spoiled ungrateful kids really comes from how much you give them. I believe it's more of a parenting (or lack of parenting) issue. My kids are happy and grateful for everything they are given. My original post was not because I was a afraid they would freak out at being given less, it was about helping me to make the most of what I'm able to spend this year and to get some ideas that I maybe had not thought of. My kids will be ok with whatever they are given.

We look at basic clothes as a need and we do not give needs at Christmas time. Once the kids are teens they most likely will get clothes but they will be special clothes that are not basic and not needs. If I had a teen girl and she wanted Ugg boots, that would a Christmas gift. A pair of boots from payless would not.



As others have said stuff does not equal greedy and ungrateful. Both are attitudes that are a result of lack of parenting. Children are born self centered and the parents teach them to share and be thankful for what they have.

agreed! i hate that mentality! kids who have stuff are stuck up snobs and ungrateful greedy lil' monsters! what a mean and hurtful way to think.

 

[My2Angels]

I love how lots of you are giving to others and serving others this year. We are doing that as a family also. We have always given each child 3 gifts each at Christmas, just as the 3 wise men gave baby Jesus 3 gifts. They have never expected or asked for more.

For those interested, take a moment and watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkTyPzRzuwc&feature=player_embedded#
This is the emphasis we are doing in our church this year. Very moving and inspiring to me!

 

[WantToGoNow]

We usually spend between $250-$300 per child. This year they have been told that Disney is their Christmas so they're not really expecting anything else. Of course, they will still get a few gifts but the budget per child is more in the range of $200 this year. My ds8 has given me an idea of a few things he would like to have but dd5 said she would be happy with whatever she gets (I hope she stays like this). Dd25 wants a couple of Wii games.

 

[sarcasticfiesta]

We plan on spending about $150 on each of our children (3,4 & 5). One larger ( a scooter, a train set, and a bike) and a few smaller things.

 

[RobinFabulous]

We don't have gaming systems, but my best friend is the manager of a Movie Gallery and she told me yesterday that some of their previously owned games are supposed $4.99 the day after Thanksgiving.

Also to cut the game expense have you thought about getting them a gamefly subscription? I've heard it's like Netfix for games. Movie Gallery is doing a similar thing where you pay X and get so many rentals, and that can be a good deal for gamers. Or you could do giftcards to local movie/video game rental stores?