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Most of the stuff I got my 14 year old daughter was stuff she needed and I would have to buy anyway so I don't think that counts. As for "extras"? I may have spent about $200 on the extra goodies.
just as DC has problems with debt ceilings and cliffs so does the individual parent have trouble with how much to spend on the kids past what they can really afford.
We never had a "rule" about how much to spend for Christmas when our children were young but I'm sure that it was far, far less than .5% of our income. However, we did buy nice birthday presents, new clothes when needed, and an occasional toy as a treat for our kids.
Of course, people probably thought that we were child abusers because our children did not have their own computer, TV, video game system or phone in their bedrooms. They had to share and take turns with other family members in the livingroom/diningroom area. Horrors!
When I was little our next door neighbors would go absolutely crazy buying Christmas presents for their children. The entire livingroom would be filled with presents but they had a $5 limit on birthday presents (that was 50 years ago) and wouldn't buy ANY toys at all unless it was Christmas or their birthday. Even as a kid that seemed absolutely asinine to me. Why not spread out the gift giving? Buy far, far less at Christmas and spend a little more on birthdays and maybe put a little toy in the Easter basket or as an extra special treat sometime else in the year.
BTW Our children are both in their 20s and still do not own TVs. There are very few things that they want to watch. If they do find something they either use their computer, go to a sports bar or maybe visit a friend with a TV.
I'm buying my kids a broom, mop and scrub brush! They can scrub the messes they made! Batteries not included, no instructional DVD, but free tutoring from Mom
I'm buying my kids a broom, mop and scrub brush! They can scrub the messes they made! Batteries not included, no instructional DVD, but free tutoring from Mom
Here's my rule for Christmas - if they don't need it, don't buy it. Seriously, most kids are happy just to get a new GI Joe or Barbie. I don't see how you have to spend a certain percentage if you make a certain salary. My son asked for a night-vision goggle after seeing his brother play Call of Duty.
We must have been spoiled as kids. My parents didn't make much money. Maybe 45kish combined. Back when my dad used to work for this company for 14 years before they shut down he would get a $1400 Xmas bonus. Spent all of it on me and my brother. Then again we didn't get much during the other months.
We still get $200 a piece for Christmas and a bag of goodies.
Also me and my gf make around 25k each. So are we supposed to spend $125 for each other? Or is it just for kids? Idk how other people live and their expenses, but we have a decent apartment with "okay" cars, a decent life imo for now and $125 seems far tooo low. We could easily spend $200 or more on each other perhaps. We are also being frugal...maybe that's why we could spend more on each other.
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