I have a 12 year old son. Who knows there is no such thing as Santa, but still only requests pretty expensive items. I also have a 6 year old who thinks I don't have to pay for anything because Santa is going to bring it. Help!! I have spent $800 on the two of them so far and it doesn't look like very much stuff. I don't want them to be disapointed. What do I do?
2006-12-09 18:29:15 · 19 answers · asked by The Pig! 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Wow $800 very nice! Take about 30 or 40 more and buy a bunch of cheap things like candy, playing cards, stuffed animals, more candy, magnet sets, toy hats, cool little cheap $1 toys from wal-mart etc. Add a bunch os small cheap gifts to your expensive gifts and you got a pretty cool package!
2006-12-09 18:32:26 · answer #1 · answered by Bob W 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I have two little boys, one is 18 months and the other is 6 months. I am trying to spend the same on both of them, and so far have spent $300 on each. However we just dont buy toys. This includes things that they will need as well, like for my 6 month old a new carseat, that hes too small for right now. Everyone seems to go crazy this time of year. But if you spent that much it is plenty. I also always feel like there isnt enough there, and if I could I would make sure my kids had everything and anything. But I think there should be limits on holiday spending with kids. I think it goes back to when I was a kid and my parents spent so much. I think I want to out due them. But its not what the Christmas season is about. Maybe you should try letting them do charity work or something. Best wishes!
2006-12-10 00:45:26 · answer #2 · answered by michaellandonsmommy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 12 yr old daughter and a 16 yr old stepson. We try to limit them to $200-$300 each. This year, our 12 yr old asked for an iPod Nano. I explained to her that she will not only meet, but also exceed her limit for the year if we purchased the Nano and the speaker dock. In turn, we had to extend the budget for the 16 yr old to meet what we spent on her. But she knows that she won't be getting a ton of other stuff...only the iPod and speakers. It was her choice that way, and there are no surprises. Simply tell your kids that you aren't made of money and they simply must not expect you to exceed your limits. Explain to them that just because it's Christmas doesn't mean that you can put everything else on hold...still gotta pay the bills, etc. I told my kids that it's polite to ask for 3 or 4 things, and if there's one expensive item they really want, they need to understand that there's a budget we work from.
Little tip: Next year, get some envelopes and put names on them for each person on your list. Write the limit you're willing to spend next to each name, and stick to the limit. Don't go over the amounts. And don't use plastic. Put cash in the envelpopes, and work out of those instead. It's much easier to keep the budget in check that way.
2006-12-09 22:33:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Things really do add up don't they?
Everything is so expensive these days, and unfortunately, kids tend to start thinking...ok, what do I want next, before they even enjoy what they have. It's today's, high technology and fast pace world.
There is just one PROBLEM.....
Your son is going to be a teenager in a few years, and the gifts are going to become even more expensive.
Your setting yourself right now, whether you know it or not.
A child who gets everything he just about asks for, will expect it when he is in his teens.
A car, cell phone, expensive shoes, clothes, entertainment games, etc. etc.
Your children need to learn that gifts should be within reason, and that a gift means a thoughtful one, not a "this is what I want".
Your kids are too young to understand the value of a dollar.
But, you will start to feel a bigger pinch at some point.
Take a few dollars right now, and tell you son, he is going to buy some gift for someone who may not have a toy this year....and have him donate it to a shelter, or to a child who is in hospital and unable to go home this Christmas.
Best of luck to you mom.
2006-12-10 02:12:05 · answer #4 · answered by sweetcitywoman2002 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
$800!??!?! Wow! Christmas sure has changed since I was a kid! (and I grew up in a rather well-off family).
I think 800 bucks is plenty. They must be pretty decent gifts if there aren't too many. They should be grateful even if they just got ONE cool gift. If you get long faces, maybe it's time to teach them a little about the value of non-material goods, and how some kids in the world don't even have enough for a decent meal each day.
As for your original question, my budget for my little girl is about $60-80. Then again, she's only 3, so I'm thinking one really nice toy and a number of cheaper, just-as-fun ones.
2006-12-09 18:35:45 · answer #5 · answered by catwomanmeeeeow 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would hust like to say that I disagree with the answer about the "Ask them what they want, and that way they wont be disappointed".
This is not true and I know from personal experience. A few years ago I asked for a Gameboy Advance which I got but then after about a day felt really bored with because I only had 1 game.
If you're American (which I assume) and you're spending 800 bucks, the you are spending way more than my parents (not to say that I dont love them any less......... cough cough)
2006-12-09 21:47:21 · answer #6 · answered by ya_face_sux 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My partner and I have spent $800 also and we have an 11 year old and a 4 year old. Every time we'd buy something else we'd say, "We have got to stop." But we don't, we see one more cute thing that you only see at Christmas time or something that is on sale and you just can't beat the price. It seems ok for our family, since we budget for it and we only have one set of grandparents that give them other presents. So to each his own!
2006-12-10 11:32:26 · answer #7 · answered by Nuttie Nettie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can afford it, spend as much as you would like. These people saying they only spend $100-150 seems impossible to me. You can't even buy a new outfit forr $100 anymore. I spend about $500 on each of my 2 kids (ages 6 and 3). This includes clothes and other necessitites as fillers. Just set a spending limit for yourself and if your children want expensive items, just let them know that it will be all they will be getting. They will not be dissappointed when they get what they asked for. Thats how my parents did it when I was growing up, and thats what I plan to do as my children grow older.
2006-12-09 21:37:46 · answer #8 · answered by A P 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
$800 Is a lot to spend on younge kids. You should teach them that christmas isnt just about presents but happiness, joy, family etc. Also that they are luck to get presents - take them to give some of their old toys to charities and tell them that is what christmas is about, giving. If you have already spent this much i think they will have a very merry christmas!
Enjoy the festive season
2006-12-09 18:36:35 · answer #9 · answered by yahoooooooooo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can only do your best. My parents were like that but they were to afraid to tell us they didnt have money and would feel bad. All I needed to know was that my parents couldnt afford much.
I would say you get one big thing, and I will work on the small stuff.
Don't be so hard on yourself. There is more to Christmas. They need to know that too. Teach them that posessions are not whats important in life. Love and family is.
2006-12-09 18:38:36 · answer #10 · answered by idontknow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋