How much do you spend on your child(ren) for Christmas/Hanukkah/Yule/Kwanzaa? Thoughts/reasons? Do you think most people overspend? What is your definition of "too much"?
2007-11-11 10:09:03 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Oh, I forgot, how old are your children?
2007-11-11 10:15:48 · update #1
Well last year we spent around 50 dollars, but then she was just four months old and she really didn't play with toys. Now that she is 14 months old I am not sure how much we will spend. We spent 75 on her birthday, but I don't know how much my husband wants to spend on Christmas.
I honestly don't know if people overspend but seeing that many Americans are in credit card debt then I guess they do.
I don't think there is actual definition on over spending because you have to look at several factors.
1. how much the family makes- Christmas is a time for joy- not for going in debt
2. how many toys the child will get from grandparents etc- my daughter will get many toys from her grandparents, but when I was going up my grandparents couldn't afford to give me much if anything
3. If you give the child toys during the year. I know some parents who the child gets a new toy every week, and then others when it is only Christmas and their birthday.
2007-11-11 12:15:51 · answer #1 · answered by Starsfan14 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hi most people do overspend because they get so much that once christmas is over the toys or whatever the child's present was just lies around because they have lost interest in it.My defintion of too much is when they want more and more and more and the parents feel the presure to buy more because the kids have demanded more. In my family we generally just spend about a hundred at the most but as most of us are adults now that is all we need to spend. Over the last few years, i have asked for some larger things and i usually just recieved that and maybe a something else that is small. With younger kids you can just buy little things and separate them so they think they are getting more.
2007-11-11 18:22:40 · answer #2 · answered by woolie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son is 7. Last year we spent around $200, but some of it was clothes. He didn't have the best behavior in school last year so we scaled back quite a bit on the toys. He got some books a few toys and mostly clothes.
This year isn't looking much better. I think we are going to get him a game boy and then mostly clothes. I think people probably do overspend. Personally we like to put more emphasis on spending time with family and the real meaning of Christmas along with the spirit of giving, rather than emphasizing getting gifts.
I don't know what too much would be because it probably varies from family to family. Of course we all want our kids to have what we didn't have. I know my husband and I are guilty of that, but at the same time we don't want to spoil him (it may be too late ugh!) We try to teach him how to earn the things he wants, it's tough!!
2007-11-11 23:00:17 · answer #3 · answered by Reba 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know last year we did over spend on our daughter. Of course it was her last Christmas as the only child. We had a little girl in July so this year Christmas will be a little different. I think I have set my limit at about $100 or a little over for my oldest. I'm not for sure about her little sister because really at this time she does not need anything. But I will make sure she has stuff from Santa. By the time everyone buys gifts for them they don't need a lot because they get to much.
2007-11-11 20:35:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know I overspend. I probably spend about 500-600 per kid. They are teens and it is hard to not spend a lot since all the cool stuff costs so much. Last year they got kayaks but still had to get other stuff because just one gift would stink. I must admit, I love buying the stuff and love watching them open it. When they were younger, I spent much less though.
2007-11-11 18:14:36 · answer #5 · answered by Red Sox lover 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We're cutting back our budget this year, because we're due with #2 on the 28th. But we usually spend $100 on gifts for the little one some from "santa" of course. I think most people do overspend.
2007-11-11 18:13:54 · answer #6 · answered by Kat H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
probably $20 on stockings (if you are celebrating x-mas) and no more than $200 on other things.
When you start buying stuff not because you think your kids would be genuinely thrilled with it, but just to fill up the tree or spoil them. Or if your kids get tired of opening presents.
2007-11-11 19:42:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I only spend only on christmas on my two boys. They seem to get alot and they will this year. I am single mom and I end up with alot of money. I am trying to replace alot of their things that they out grew. My mom does over spend on them and she complains. I tell her that not my fault you could watch how much you spend and she has 8 grandchildren
2007-11-11 18:15:31 · answer #8 · answered by Me and my two boys 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋