How much do you spend on Christmas presents for your kids?

[Eltonjohnsflorist]

So is it about minimalism or saving money? Because if your children have the same as everyone else, just a cheaper version, then how do they have less materialism/ more memories?

Sorry been thinking a bit more about this- I find it really interesting that you equate spending less money with making memories. To me it’s just a fact if life that it’s the opposite- especially at Xmas, the more money the more magic.

So all other things being equal (same family etc) children are going to make far more memories / joy out of ie visiting the North Pole/ winter wonderland/ Christmas at centre parks/ Disneyland etc etc than They do seeing father Xmas at the local garden centre and having a hot chocolate etc.

 

[AE110]

All 3 of mine are late teens and early 20's now so very different than young children. I put money away from Jan - Nov so I can give them £300 each which they can then spend how they wish.

 

[Tublet83]

So is it about minimalism or saving money? Because if your children have the same as everyone else, just a cheaper version, then how do they have less materialism/ more memories?

Sorry been thinking a bit more about this- I find it really interesting that you equate spending less money with making memories. To me it’s just a fact if life that it’s the opposite- especially at Xmas, the more money the more magic.

So all other things being equal (same family etc) children are going to make far more memories / joy out of ie visiting the North Pole/ winter wonderland/ Christmas at centre parks/ Disneyland etc etc than They do seeing father Xmas at the local garden centre and having a hot chocolate etc.

Totally disagree and if my children were ungrateful enough to think that a trip to the garden centre to see Santa and a hot chocolate wasn’t good enough, I would be tackling that straight away.

 

[Eltonjohnsflorist]

Being ungrateful isn’t anything to do with what I’m talking about. It’s about what “making memories” is, and where the strongest, fondest memories come from

 

[Tublet83]

Being ungrateful isn’t anything to do with what I’m talking about. It’s about what “making memories” is, and where the strongest, fondest memories come from

Yes and they come from family, friends and love not necessarily splashing the cash

 

[Definitelyme]

Totally disagree and if my children were ungrateful enough to think that a trip to the garden centre to see Santa and a hot chocolate wasn’t good enough, I would be tackling that straight away.

Agreed! And I have found my children remember the small things, that I haven’t even noticed at times, as much as the big things. The idea that you need to spend a shed load of money to make good memories is ludicrous. My Christmas memories revolve around being with family and the fun we had together- I don’t remember any gifts etc I got as a child.

 

[Eltonjohnsflorist]

I think you’re deliberately misunderstanding what I’m saying. The same situation, the same families. It’s lazy to think expensive experiences mean none of the friends, family and love experience happen either.

You enjoy family time as much seeing Santa in Lapland as you do in the garden centre. But be Honest with yourself, one IS a more exciting, memorable experience than the other.

 

[Oohthedrama]

To me it’s just a fact if life that it’s the opposite- especially at Xmas, the more money the more magic.

Wow. This is.......incredibly sad to read
And completely untrue.

 

[Eltonjohnsflorist]

If you genuinely think children find as much magic in garden centre Santa as they do Christmas at Disneyland, then rock on with it. It blows my mind that anyone truly thinks that though.

 

[Oohthedrama]

You enjoy family time as much seeing Santa in Lapland as you do in the garden centre. But be Honest with yourself, one IS a more exciting, memorable experience than the other.

not for a child, a child in the garden centre sees as much magic in that experience as a child in Lapland sitting on a real reindeer.
Children don’t compare like that, unfortunately that’s something we learn as adults

 

[Definitelyme]

I think you’re deliberately misunderstanding what I’m saying. The same situation, the same families. It’s lazy to think expensive experiences mean none of the friends, family and love experience happen either.

You enjoy family time as much seeing Santa in Lapland as you do in the garden centre. But be Honest with yourself, one IS a more exciting, memorable experience than the other.

I am not misunderstanding, I just 100% disagree with you I don’t believe that my child will have better memories of seeing a more expensive Santa, or that it’s more exciting. My kids find a ride in their dad’s van exciting. It’s what one of them asked to do on their birthday. It’s not up to adults to dictate what is more exciting for kids.

 

[Eltonjohnsflorist]

also what I think is a little sad is claiming that your children have better memories because they get very little spent on them. Presents are neither here nor there- I agree they’re forgettable. But making memories? Yes that’s where, like everywhere in life, money can help.

memories of close happy family Christmas’ Are wonderful, but fairly standard in most families. You’re not making them better by giving your children fewer pressies

not for a child, a child in the garden centre sees as much magic in that experience as a child in Lapland sitting on a real reindeer.
Children don’t compare like that, unfortunately that’s something we learn as adults

at the time yes. But memories are something you look back on later in life.
Would you remember the 6 garden centre Santa’s or the 1 year you all went to Lapland, in the snow, sledding, met santa, went on a husky ride etC?

 

[Renegadedancer]

One of the things my youngest daughter enjoys the most is a visit to Santa at a local dept store £5.00 per ticket and she gets a present and a pic with Santa. We then go and have a hot chocolate and a cake. I wonder if there will be any Santa’s to visit this year .

 

[Mememememe]

I don't have a set budget. I buy them what they want/what I think they will like. I'd guess its about 300 each ( I have 2)
Christmas is a huge celebration in our our and I LOVE being able to spoil my children and I'm not ashamed to do so. I'm incredibly fortunate enough ght to be able to do it.
That said... We arnt the family to buy toys all the time etc. Big things. (games consoles etc) will always be for Christmas. Any toys they want though the year (besides birthdays) they save their spending money for.

 

[Eltonjohnsflorist]

I am not misunderstanding, I just 100% disagree with you I don’t believe that my child will have better memories of seeing a more expensive Santa, or that it’s more exciting. My kids find a ride in their dad’s van exciting. It’s what one of them asked to do on their birthday. It’s not up to adults to dictate what is more exciting for kids.

Ok but you also know that a ride in the van isn’t making memories, you’re just referring to what they find exciting. I used to love a ride in the van too.

 

[Detty pig]

Wow. This is.......incredibly sad to read
And completely untrue.

I actually think the intensity of how much there is to do and spend at christmas has taken away from the magic.

 

[Mememememe]

I also save throughout they year in a separate account if I went and spent 600 quid on them in December it would sting a little

 

[Definitelyme]

Ok but you also know that a ride in the van isn’t making memories, you’re just referring to what they find exciting. I used to love a ride in the van too.

It will be memories for them though. They’ll remember the exciting times they got to do it. The fact you dont get that says a lot about the type of person you are.

To be honest I find that idea that you can’t make memories of every day things absolutely mad. Your insistence that you must spend money to “make memories” is something I cannot comprehend. I do not understand that level of materialism. What about families with little money? Do they not get t make good memories? We didn’t have lots of money growing up, we never did anything expensive or exciting and I have lots of wonderful memories of “every day” things I find exciting - my dad taking me swimming, my mum making me cheese on toast after school. Those are the memories I value. Time with my parents, effort from them to be with me.

I’d rather give my kids that than a trip to Lapland.

 

[Casperron]

I’m shocked, I’ll be spending about 70£ on my 1 year old

 

[ReginaPhalangee]

I pretend to my husband like I’m going to stick to a budget but actually I probably go a bit over it I do buy stuff throughout the year and keep it in the loft till Christmas, and my oldest gets more spent on him as his presents are getting more expensive (computer games, branded football boots, lego etc). Plus my youngest is very little and has all the toys from his older brother still in great condition, so doesn’t really ask for or want piles of stuff. I would say it’s between £300/400 for my older one and at the moment my younger one has less spent on him at Christmas, but more at his birthday so it evens out.
If you can afford it and you want to, then why not
I like doing the gift tree donations at Christmas, we usually try to find a couple of tags for children the same age as ours and get them some nice presents that they’ll hopefully enjoy.