How much do you spend on children at Christmas?

Question

I have four children between the ages of 2 to 16

How much is fair without nasty spoiling them, and should the amounts be different per child.............

The oldest is expecting really expensive gifts but works himself now, he refused to go to college even though we can afford to fully support him.....

Should he now be treated as a grown up this year?!?!?!?!?!

HELP lol

Answer 1

i spend around £60 each, if they want anything bigger they have to use there money and shop in the sales. It teaches them value for money. Especially as they get presents from other people as well.

if they have been asking for something major like an ipod i usually say if you save up half i will pay the rest. That way i know they really want it and they look after it.

Answer 2

What do I spend? Up til now about £20 on each present and up to £30 in the stocking, but that is only for 2 children one of whom is now 22. This year things are tight so I might get out of the main present and just stuff the stockings.

The amount spent has shrunk as the children get older, because it is easier to know what will produce the wow factor and they are more forthcoming with their lists. If he is expecting really expensive presents you have already spoilt him, I'm afraid.

Oh, and by the way- my two do a stocking for me too....and it's really good...last year I had a mobile phone :-))

Answer 3

how much do you have saved up?

i would spend the most on an 11-14 year old child. about £50 on the two-year old, it's not like they'll know any different. they don't want anything too technologically advanced at that age. £100-£200 for a 4-10 year old. and around £75-£100 for the 16 year old, which should probably be his final christmas (just a few gifts next year)

Answer 4

We did about $50 last year but this year I've gotten some great deals and I think we'll end up at about $30 including stocking stuffers. That's because I'm making some stuff from fabric I got for a dollar a yard.

I don't worry about the money so much as the amount of stuff- not too little, not too much. I try to go with about three presents.

I'd always give your kids gifts since they're your kids- I'm not sure what treating him as a grown-up means, but I'd get him about as much as you get your other kids, though I wouldn't worry about making it totally exact.

Answer 5

Depending on all there exact ages I tend to spend around $100 on Christmas. I only have one child and I am currently pregnant with our second child and we say to keep it around $100 and if we can do more then we may splurge on her and if not then she has plenty of clothes and toys as it is.

Christmas is for mainly smaller children we got cut off at the age of sixteen. We would still have gifts but they would not be what we were use to getting because there were FOUR of us also. So yea your son is old enough to understand that it is time for him to be an adult and act like an adult by going to college and getting a job. He may just need a little encouragement for the college thing. Good Luck and Merry Christmas

Answer 6

Your younger ones can't support themselves and at the same time will out grow the gifts you will get them. So it would be insane, as many women are these days, to spend a fortune on the wee ones and on the young man that choses not to further his education. You shouldn't think about the price of the gifts(you said yourself that you could fully support the oldest's college funds, so money doesn't seem to be an issue for you unlike many other parents)but try purchasing things that will benefit your children and teach them, even if it means you taking them to an orphanage and having them spend their "would-be" gift money on some one else. You would be giving them a gift that many don't give but should-the gift of sharing and showing love. That, my dear, will stay with them forver and then watch what they turn out to be, it will make you proud.

Answer 7

I never really decide on a price. I buy things that my children will like but they are still young. The amounts can be different depending on what the children want and need.

If your oldest is old enough for college he is old enough to to be treated as an adult. Maybe it is time to learn that 'it's the thought that counts' and thought doesn't have to equal lots of $$. He should appreciate all that you already do and should not be demanding expensive gifts. (unless you ask him what he wants!!)

Even if parents are able to support their children they must still teach them how to support themselves. (I plan on enforcing the rule that says-- if you are in school then I support you but if you aren't in school then you can help me)

Good luck!

Answer 8

I spend exactly the same on mine regardless of age so there's never any problem with jealousy. £80 each (includes main present and stocking) Mine have never complained!

The young ones are a pleasure to buy for. Toys r us or the Entertainer has loads of special offers - so they usually get something worth more than I pay. Always a bonus at Xmas time.
14 yrs + usually want a cheque that they can put towards the latest technology.

Have a good Xmas.

Isabelle.

Answer 9

I think The ammount is different because of the ages. Older kids cost more money . I say spend what they deserve . I dont mean punish but dont go out of your way to make them happy . As for your oldest I think you should treat him as a grown up . College isnt for everyone but if he wants to not go and be an adult treat him like one

Answer 10

If the 16yr old is old enough to work and refuse college, then treat him as such. He is spoiled if he just expects expensive things. Buy only what u can afford and don't feel guilty. My mom always bought a ton of small inexpensive stuff, so we had more to open.

my daughter is only 2 and this year we are only buying her one or two things. Because she is the baby, I know everybody else will spoil her regardless and she isn't really into the whole gift thing yet, so you can reduce the spending there. young kids have no concept of price, so you can buy them tons of cool stuff for a few bucks and they'll happily play with the packaging it came in.

Answer 11

Depends on the relationship that you have with the child.
For my stepson I am spending about $40 he doesnt live with me and we barely get to see him.
For my God daugther I am spending about $50.00
For my sister in law kids I am spending about $30.00 on each.

I dont have kids on my side of the family but my husband's familiy has like 20 ranging from 6 months to 18 years... So I am not trying to be cheap, just trying to accomodate the pocket.