How much money do you usually spend on your kids at Christmas?

Question

I don't want to buy too much because my kids already have alot of toys and have no more room for anything, but they are little and I feel guilty if I don't buy them alot on christmas

Answer 1

I have a son who was born 16 days before Christmas so its kinda hard. We always figure birthday are HIS day. So he gets about 300-400 then. At his age (will be 3 soon) most is clothes or toys. For Christmas we spend about half as much. Christmas is a shared holiday so the gifts are not as big.

As for the toys. I know how you feel. My son has his own toy room but the toys were just too much. I couldn't imagine having toys for two children (especially if they are different sexes). At this time of year there are SO many places that are taking toys to give to children whose families cannot afford them. This past week I had my son sit down wit me and go through all his toys (literally threw them in a big pile in the corner and sorted one by one for almost 2 hours). For every toy he kept he had to give one away. I was not sure how it would go over, but my son was SO great. He even went with me to deliver the toys. We donated the toys to a school where my mother in law teaches. They have a daycare there (its a continuation high school). So many of the moms cannot afford toys for their children and were happy to take some of the toys. The others that were not taken by the moms were left at the daycare for the children to play with when they are there.

This year we have decided not to get anymore toys because family members will do that. My son has a Vsmile game system (about 50 dollars w/ games running about 20 each). We will just be buying him more games to go with the system and other eduacational items. Your children can never have too much educational items. No child can ever have enough books either.

Try items that would stay on the floor. Many stores sell foam floor pads that is the whole alphabet and numbers. (I suggest the 12in squares). There are so much many fun games to play with them. They can learn colors as well as letters and numbers. Take all the letters and numbers up and put them in a pile and let the children name them and then find where they go. They only get to put them in the right spot if they can name it, otherwise it goes back in the pile. For boys maybe try a city scape rug. They are tough to find but we found a very nice sized one at Lowes for 20 bucks. They are easy to clean and take up no storage. They have roads and buildings so they have a place to go and pretend.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Usually about $100-$150 but this year I got a a bunch of things under $15 each so each of them are getting 5-6 items they really wanted for a grand total of around $70 each.

Feeling guilty for not buying alot is more about making up for something that is lacking. The holidays are about a lot more then spending money. The amount you spend does not equal love.

Answer 3

You should never have a set amount for children, especially when so young otherwise they will "EXPECT" alot every year!
I was always tought to appreciate the small things in life, and any gift received was "the thought that counted". If they complain of this then sit them down and explain that there are alot of children in this world with No toys, No clothes, and alot even with No families or homes, sorry to sound dramatic but the earlier we teach them the "values" of life they will appreciate just even a cuddle in the end!
Always remember " Money CAN'T buy Love"!

Answer 4

We spent $30 on my daughter. She has so much and gets so much from her grandparents, too, so we didn't want to overload her. From us she is getting a little tea set, a toy iron, and some dress-up clothes. If we had more room I would get her a Kidcraft wooden kitchen ($139), too, but we don't have anywhere to put it. I usually think more about what she actually wants and needs than how much I am spending, though I do rule out things that are super expensive. My daughter will be 3 in March.

Answer 5

we have 2 children, and we try to spend around 150 per child, because we get them toys and clothes. they are almost 2 and almost 5, so they pretty much share some stuff. we go to toys r us though because they have a few isles with cheap toys that the kids love...20 bucks and under!! don't feel guilty if you don't spend alot on them, it's not how much money you spend that matters, but how happy you can make them with what you have to work with

Answer 6

I have 2 twin nieces. They are 3. They get tired of toys quickly. Except for Elmo. I would say get them alot of cheap toys. Wal Mart preferrably. That is what i am gonna do. Lots of cheap toys all together means more for them to play with. They will have lots of toys. My nieces get tired of elmo too after a while. They love cell phones though. I know there are toy cell phones at wal mart. My nieces just open them and say hello, and laugh. What the parents do the kids wanna do (lol) Also all kids i know love stickers. I know most parents don't but i just bought some spongebob 3-D foam stickers for my nieces and i know they r alot easier to get off than regular stickers and kids do love them.
I say if they have old toys they do not play with maybe u should have a garage sell. I know my nieces have a room full of dolls and they will not play with them. They prefer little toy cars.

Answer 7

Don't feel guilty about what you can or can't spend on your kids... Christmas and the holiday searson is what you make of it. Giving your kids a great Christmas isn't about the gifts, but what you do with your time together. We set a limit of $100/child for our children.

Answer 8

Well, christmas is not about how much we recieve, teach them that. Show them that there are children in this world who are lucky if they get one bowl of rice a day and even have to play with camel droppings as toys. I am sure they will be more greatful. One good way to give more if quantity is what you worry about.. is to buy a wine box or a shoe box and fill it to the brim with individually wrapped small items... (99 cent or 1 dollar items) they will think they hit the motherload whithout you making a huge dent in your wallet.

Answer 9

approximately 215 on our sixteen year previous and a hundred and eighty on our 8 year previous. yet, for our sixteen year previous, we offered him one element he somewhat needed and the different presents have been issues he mandatory like a sparkling iciness coat & headband, new denims, a sparkling pair of advantageous sweatpants. Our 8 year previous have been given an archery set (because of the fact we mandatory him to start doing extra issues outdoors) and we've been given him different presents which will shop him busy being innovative. right that's the element nonetheless.....my teenagers are good teenagers. They artwork annoying at their training and that they do no longer argue or backtalk and that they get alongside somewhat nicely and my sixteen year previous is beneficiant along with his very own money at Christmas, yet he's frugal many of the time and is saving for college. our toddlers somewhat savour their presents and it feels good to have the flexibility to advantages them for being the coolest youthful adult men they're. yet we actually rigidity that Christmas is approximately Jesus and kinfolk time or maybe nonetheless they the two in basic terms have been given 5 presents a bite, they have been extra effective than happy. Already, they have been bonding at the same time outdoors in the freezing chilly shooting my youthful son's bow on the objective we've been given and my sixteen year previous needs to get a bow so as that they are in a position to spend extra time at the same time doing this. in comparison to the quantity of money my husband makes, this became no longer plenty to spend yet we don't prefer our toddlers to enhance up thinking Christmas is approximately beginning a ton of issues they do no longer choose or prefer.

Answer 10

I guess its not money that counts its the effort. You could invest a little amount of money for gifts but spend a lot of innovation and practicality. but if you really have the money, it would be 1 year's worth of your salary. Funny how Christmas was placed on December: so you could save money from January til Christmas comes.