Christmas Spending

[Rxt156]

As little as possible without it looking like I haven’t bothered

 

[rainbowlemon]

If I had family who I knew was struggling I honestly wouldn't expect anything from them even if it was the done thing.

I stopped buying presents for my parents three years ago, I don't get anything for my brother either and this year I'm not planning on getting my younger sisters anything. When I did two years ago but they're at that age where they really don't want or need anything.

You could give a small box of chocolates it really doesn't matter though I can understand the pressure to keep but as I've gotten older I just can't be ar**d anymore.

I've only bought a £5 M&S shortbread tin which I always give to a family friend each year and for another I'll order a £5 ALDI gift card by post. With people who matter you really don't have to try hard at all.

 

[Hastaggifted]

To be honest my family is similar! We try to budget somewhat for holidays and birthdays because it seems like the normal thing to do, but realistically, we often end up giving each other random gifts throughout the year for no good reason and there is no budget there (i.e.: saw a good deal on something and I knew you wanted this for a while!) and even the holiday budget is often not adhered to. There's never a right or wrong way to do this, though I have to say giving your family large gifts and putting that up on social media incites a mixture of "wow that looks great," snarky comments as @judsmum mentioned, and silent jealousy, so it's good to be cautious about what you share if you spend a lot.

Yeah totally. I can't stand the show off "he's been" pictures of mountains of presents. Makes me cringe when people share those on fb, or the million pictures opening every single thing

 

[Abcd123]

What budget do you set for your child/children always interested to know and especially this year when lots of us will probably reevaluate what we spend

Probably £100 (he is 2). I mainly buy second hand toys and clothes. So that £100 goes a long way and I buy bits and bobs throughout the year and out them away.

I buy for all of our other family and spend about £80. That's for both sets of parents,4 siblings & partners & 4 kids. I spend on average £6-7 per person... I always buy bits in the sales too and shops like b&m & home bargains are great! It always looks like I've spent probably double what I have on each person.

We earn about £65k as a household so could easily spend more but I've always been frugal and for me Xmas is about presence not presents!

 

[ChubClubThug]

I’ve asked this on another thread but what do you get a 7 year old (relative). I don’t want to aks him as I want it to be a surprise. What are 7 year olds into these days

Have you tried the gift finder on the Smyths website? You can narrow down your selections to suit age/budget. I always broaden it to the next age bracket to get a wider selection

 

[Youre a wizard Harry]

Oh I like the idea of a secret santa generator.

We use a site called Drawnames , I also use it for our work secret Santa. Put in the names and email addresses, once everyone has accepted the invite it will send out an email to each person with a link to the name you can set exclusions too, so for example on our family one as partners are involved too, we set exclusions to make sure couples don’t get each other. Makes Christmas so much easier!

 

[cosmo girl]

£300 each.. Both are teenagers. I buy just one main gift each. Then give them stocking fillers.

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

I’m definitely struggling this year, budget wise. I don’t have young kids or niece/nephews to buy for, but it’s the ‘done’ thing in our family to buy gifts still for the adults. I can only afford £15/20 each and there’s about 9 to buy for Since Covid, I have come to realise its not about the material things - you can’t take any of that stuff with u when u pass away - and it is more about the time spent together etc. So I think I will try handmade gifts or restaurant/shop vouchers this time round.

If you feel comfortable raising it I would. I refuse to believe any adult (especially if you’ve got kids to deal with) enjoys the idea of buying 9 presents for adults. Even if you just say look I need to opt out this year, pls don’t buy me anything!

I saw someone on Facebook mention they’d received a kids party invite that asked for no presents, or a gift to charity. Loved that & will be copying for my LO, we all have too much stuff we don’t need more.

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

Spend what you can afford and buy wisely is my advice. Dont get into debt and dont brag on social media if you can spend more.

We dont have a budget but try and buy what our kids would like. Ive bought my eldest a PS5 this year. They have mentioned it but have said that they wont ask for one as they know how hard stock is it to get I have played along with that so I really hope they are surprised.

For relatives we usually buy restaurant vouchers / hotel vouchers. Stuff they can enjoy.

 

[Hastaggifted]

Speak to your 14yr old (and maybe your 9yr old too) and explain that you’ve spent the same amount of money on each of them but because your 14yr old wants more expensive things, they’ll have physically less than the younger ones because their presents are cheaper, therefore they’ll have more but they’ve all had the same amount spent on them.
This is the approach I take with my older kids, I have two teens and two toddlers and my eldest is asking for an iPhone so they’re very aware that there won’t be much else IF they get that and that the little ones will have much more. I do spend less on the little ones compared to the teens but they get the same budget and they know this.
It’s an approach that has worked for me as they’ve got older and they’ve accepted it.
Hope that helps x

Thank you I have said to 14yr old that his pile will be much, much smaller, but filled with all the expensive games etc he has asked for ( if he's been good ) so he will understand. I understand. It's just mum guilt when you see them wrapped up compared to the others. I just need to stop spending and give my head a wobble .

 

[Elles20]

Our baby will be 4 months old and won’t be getting any presents from us. Might seem mean but he’ll get them off family, I’d rather save and have a longer maternity leave with him and he already has so much stuff.

Not mean at all. Christmas is not about presents and it shouldn't be. Saving for a longer maternity leave is so much more special!

 

[Daisymai]

So I need someone to come and give me a shake. I have 3 children 14, 9 and 6. The 14 Yr old has asked for xbox games and similar which are £55 a pop where as 9 and 6 have asked for toys meaning I can get way more for the price. So I got my daughter a massive barbie plane, and a barbie mansion thingy and it costs the price of 4 games, but will be much more wow factor at Christmas. The needing a shake is because now I've wrapped them all, the 14 year old pile is shocking, although I've probably spent £500 + on him in total , I feel like I need to buy him some more to top up the amount of presents. know that's ridiculous but

My brother’s pile always looked pathetic compared to me and my sister’s pile but we always knew that Mum spent the same amount on each of us. His was usually games with chocolate and smellies to pad it out

 

[Lollipop2123]

Probably about £200 per child. Myself and my partner don't usually buy for each other but donate to a local charity instead xx

 

[#hicklet]

No honestly don’t re-evaluate! Everyone has a different approach to Xmas so do what you makes you happy, as long as you can afford it then it’s no one else’s business!
We are very similar to you - 3 kids, and although every year we say we’ll set a budget . . . it never happens! I just buy what I know they will like and make sure they have an even amount each, that the extent of my plans

We're exactly the same, have 2 children and I bought the eldest 4 bits of make up yesterday with 15% it still came to £84, but I could spend half that amount on the youngest and would get loads for her

 

[SunshineDreamer]

We spend a lot on Christmas (and birthdays) I’d say when we are done it’s probably around £1000 on each child, in you include pyjamas, Santa gifts etc. We’re lucky to be in the position that we can without it impacting us financially.

 

[mcfeez]

Out of curiosity, what do you do on Christmas day?

Not the OP, but my husband and I don't have kids either and don't enjoy celebrating Christmas so we like to travel at this time of year. On years we don't get away, usually reluctantly do dinner with our families and just generally chill at home. Its just a free day off work for me.

 

[summersuzy]

What budget do you set for your child/children always interested to know and especially this year when lots of us will probably reevaluate what we spend

 

[svdwoodsen]

Yeah totally. I can't stand the show off "he's been" pictures of mountains of presents. Makes me cringe when people share those on fb, or the million pictures opening every single thing

Reminds me of this.

 

[Raininvain]

We dont have kids in the family and dont celebrate Christmas, I think if your not religious its a waste of time and the same thing every year. I dont want bubble bath, candles, biscuits etc either.

 

[Hastaggifted]

I’ve asked this on another thread but what do you get a 7 year old (relative). I don’t want to aks him as I want it to be a surprise. What are 7 year olds into these days

I buy my niece and nephew a voucher so they can enjoy an activity later in the year. Last year it was GO APE, the year before it was rock climbing