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How much do you spend (not intend to spend, but actually spend) per child for Christmas?
Do you spend more on only children because there are no siblings to share gifts with or get hand-me-downs from so they need more?
Do you spend more when they're younger because they developmentally outgrow their old toys much quicker when they're going from infant to toddler, for example?
Do you buy more gifts throughout the year, or do one large shebang at Christmas?
My son's birthday is shortly after Christmas, so by the time Christmas rolls around he's in dire need of age-appropriate developmental toys, so I'm curious what other families do. While I'm typically frugal (and don't buy into Christmas marketing and love receiving gifts where we do things together vs something for under the tree), I completely blew my Christmas budget on my son this year. But I only got things he absolutely needed and thought he could use throughout the entire year, mostly things to help him with development.
I'm thinking I set my budget far too low since he gets everything all at once vs some at Christmas and some at his birthday (since they're so close together so I count the party as his bday gift and only give a few small gifts then).
$400 is my top limit + the cost of the stocking stuffers. I never include them because it's usually an impulse buy. But I usually go cheap by filling with bath products and then a few fun things, a couple pieces of candy. Maybe $50 tops. Even at years 8 & 9, they loved the bath products (boy and girl). But they don't get toys from family besides a book or two.
When I was a kid we were poor but were gifted $50 per kid which included food for Christmas. I'd get a few small random things, fruit, underwear, sock. But that's as far as it went.
I have a kid with a birthday right before Christmas. I offer my kids a family weekend trip (driving only) and the option to pick out their own gift on the trip. Or a party at an event place. They have chosen the weekend for 3 years. I'm glad because my daughter (who has lots of friends) would get 20+ birthday gifts right before Christmas. And then she was just overwhelmed with the amount of new toys. And really, she just loves playing with found objects (today she made a hospital infant nursery out of cardboard, papers and a few found objects and played with it for 3 hours. Lots of toys don't even get taken out of the package so I donate them the following year to toy drives.
Hard to say. Some of their gifts are clothes, which I don't really count. I would have bought them anyway. About $120 on a shared "big" gift (shared between 2 kids). Another $50-$75 or so each on smaller things. We don't generally buy toys, video games, or movies any other time of the year, though.
We don't usually have a dollar limit, but make sure they each get the same amount (though we don't spend much).
Two of mine have birthdays near Christmas, so I get the "nothing all year, then bombarded" thing. They get more gifts at Christmas than birthday (from us/Santa they usually get 3-4 items each plus stocking stuffers). They do have 6 other people who shop for them though too. Birthdays they usually get one gift from us and one from each sibling. We take them out for special day instead lots of gifts. Honestly they enjoy that more than presents; almost a year later and they STILL talk about our trip to the big zoo and going to the rock gym.
It's up to you want you want to do, because whatever you do will become his normal whether it's 15 gifts or three at Christmas or a big party with lots of gifts or a day out with Mom for his birthday. You can always get him something special in July just because. I was planning on doing that with my kids, but honestly they don't need it. Even with being crammed near Christmas, they still feel special on both days (and trust me, when I found out my due date with my first, it was a big concern of mine).
I had terrible Christmases growing up. I used to try to make up for it. One year I spent 10k between 4 kids (our two older kids and two fosters) and hubby plus a few family members.
The kids got bored of opening presents. I still have the urge to go crazy Christmas Eve. I just have to stay away from the stores.
I have spent up to $1000 or so. it just depends on my financial situation at the time and what my son wants that year. If I can afford it ill get what ever it is my son and wife want within reason.
I have spent up to $1000 or so. it just depends on my financial situation at the time and what my son wants that year. If I can afford it ill get what ever it is my son and wife want within reason.
I think that works. As long as you aren't going into debt. Or major debt that hasn't been paid off by next Christmas
I think that works. As long as you aren't going into debt. Or major debt that hasn't been paid off by next Christmas
Seriously? I'm upset if I haven't paid off Christmas by the following month. 2 at the most.
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