Christmas: how much are you spending on your kids?

[cbwm1]

Erm, we don't really budget. But we probably should.

DH has decided he's getting an Xbox One for himself and Will this year.

[cuddlyevil]

Money's tight, so it will be fifty to seventy five dollars each.

[mmmomof2]

Lord this is always so hard. I try not to overdo it, but then in trying to make everything so even I overspend. DD2's birthday is 12/23 so I seriously have no idea what to get her for Christmas. With two girls it's not like she needs anything.

DD1 - If I include the Ice Skating lessons she wanted ($150/10weeks) it will be about $300 all in I think. But her gifts will be in the $150 range.

DD2- I'm not sure what she will ask Santa for so that depends. I will try to stick to $150, but it might be less. Maybe I'll throw in some dance lessons to make it even.

[aussiecrush]

They each get a gift from us, a gift from Santa and a gift for each other and that's it. Generally it's around $100, but it depends on the year. We are all but done shopping and way under.

[cbwm1]

If you insist on an estimate...

If you include the Xbox, maybe $600? $650?

ETA - part of that is at least one Xbox game that DH has bought for the two of them to play. Possibly two games.

[crazycakes]

I am cheap and DD is young and an only grand child on both sides, so we are only spending like $50 on her this year. She's getting an easel from Santa and the movie Aladdin from us. Maybe some stickers in her stocking.

I am sure the grandparents will buy her a metric ass ton of shit.

[readyin07]

This is why I just want to give up on Santa. Ds1 wants a razor ride on ($300), Minecraft Legos ($30-$80), a specific nerf fun ($100..this is ridiculous) and just tonight threw a Nintendo ds in the mix. LOL. We have normally had them ask Santa for 3 things but they have been like $15 to $30 items.

[eddy]

$100 for Jack and $50 for Leo.

[nadasteph]

About $200 each. They are getting a couple things for both of them, and then everything else is pretty much the same, so they will have an equal number of things to open.

[Queen Mamadala]

I've spent $150 on each.

[sandyapples]

I haven't really kept track, maybe $200-$300 each.

[jreeds]

$100 each. We went shopping today while the IL's had the kids and we're done except for stockings.

[namasteak]

$100 We are doing the "want, need, wear, read" from us & from Santa.

[Deleted]

Maybe $75 each this year.

1) they have a ridiculous amount of toys already.
2) I kiiiinda bought a ton of toys for 80% off when target closed down last spring to save for christmas. So. We're pretty much set.

Other than those toys, I want to get theo a train set and a couple other things. Ilya gets...I have no idea yet. He has no clue what's going on. Sofia gets some books, easy bake, and I'm not sure what else. Santa will give them kitchen accessories and play food.

[eddy]

The two set of grandparents are out of fucking control. Anyone else? Back in my day we got A gift for the grandparents and we were grateful for it. Each kid easily gets 5 a piece from each set.

[pagas]

2015: $270 so far
2014: $362.97
2103: $262.62

[sugarbear]

Nov 22, 2015 19:47:40 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

You sound affluent Jenny.

I think the important question here is, "how much did you budget for your kids teachers, or at least, the one you GAF about?"

ETA: I see this has been covered.

To answer your question, we usually spend about $150 per kid and our budget for each other was the same, until I decided I want a Fitbit.

I do aim to give the same number of presents, but its pretty much a free for all here, so I don't think Wyatt will notice. And Milo is still clueless.

[Elsa]

Probably $250. I want to buy her a vanity and that's going to run $150ish. That will be on of her Santa gifts. I am also going to remake a dresser into a wardrobe for her dress up clothes. Hopefully I can keep that cheap. Then we will do toys and stocking stuffers. It would be less without the vanity I'm sure. I want a nice one though

[cabbagecabbage]

Guesstimate, $100. I've spent about $50 and intend to get two or three more gifts. We aren't doing a big gift this year, just fun toys to open.

[ssmjlm]

I think about $100 this year. I scored the big gift, Doc McStuffins mobile cart on clearance randomly, so it was only $35.

She's too little to know the difference. Of course DH feels bad, so I anticipate if we're in our house by her birthday he'll make up for it then.

[jreeds]

Nov 22, 2015 19:58:48 GMT -5 eddy said:

The two set of grandparents are out of fucking control. Anyone else? Back in my day we got A gift for the grandparents and we were grateful for it. Each kid easily gets 5 a piece from each set.

Ugh yes! H is an only child so our kids are the IL's grandkids. They go a little nuts. When we moved MIL commented on all the toys the kids had...they came from you lady! Lol

[shamrockshake]

Guessing- $150ish on each?

[Deleted]

Nov 22, 2015 19:58:48 GMT -5 eddy said:

The two set of grandparents are out of fucking control. Anyone else? Back in my day we got A gift for the grandparents and we were grateful for it. Each kid easily gets 5 a piece from each set.

My parents are. Il's not so much. And my mom gives BIG gifts. Like, the kind that have to sit in the open because they can't fit in a toy bin/box/whatever.

[preppy]

I set a $200 budget but then when I decided on doing want/need/wear/read the items I ordered only added up to $65. She's only going to be 3 months old though so she wont even notice the four things I did buy her.

[lizard1131]

We spend probably $300-400 each. I thought this would be normal:/. I don't buy them a lot throughout the year so I fee like by the time it's Christmas all their toys, art supplies etc are really janky or gone.

[preppy]

Nov 22, 2015 19:58:00 GMT -5 namasteak said:

$100 We are doing the "want, need, wear, read" from us & from Santa.

We are doing this too and I think its a great way to keep things under control. Christmas gets crazy with our families so I am hoping to keep it simple at home from us. 

[Jalapeñomel]

Maybe $100, including his stocking.

[Deleted]

I don't have kids, but don't buy for a ton of people (MIL, FIL, my mom, my dad, my grandma + niece/nephews/SIL) and I spend about $50 each on the kids. SIL and eldest nephew are 16, then 10 y/o niece, and 6, 3, and 2 for the other nephews. The 6, 3, and 2 I try to have the same # of packages for, the older ones not as much. If I have to for the little ones I get a big box to pile with stuff so there's only one thing to unwrap.

I try to stay under $50 for each adult.

[bananapancakes]

Nov 22, 2015 19:59:06 GMT -5 RexManningDay said:

Nov 22, 2015 19:53:31 GMT -5 @booby said:

Prob about $250 but we only have the one. He's not getting a ton of presents - this is just for 2 video games and some Lego sets.

My mom used to be super methodical about xmas. She'd spend the exact same on both of us and work it out somehow that we had exactly the same number of presents to open. Sometimes that meant wrapping two in one package (so in the case of lu, wrap two or three like gifts together so it's only one bout of unwrapping, make sense?).

Yes, my mom did this too. I remember a few times she would take me aside late on Christmas and give me a box or bag of unwrapped books and clothes that couldn't be from Santa (all their gifts were, nothing from them) because it was too much. That was the best.

Actually she did it this year too. Lol! She whipped out a gift a few weeks ago that she "couldn't" give me last Chistmas.

My mom does this too. Like puts unwrapped things directly into my car and says, "I couldn't give this to you in front of your brothers. You're just too easy to shop for."

When we were kids she was so obsessed with giving us the exact amount that two of us would often receive an envelope with a paltry amount of cash in it. Like $7.37 for one brother and $5.22 for the other so that she spent the exact same on all three of us.

[Deleted]

This makes me feel better, I felt like we were the only people not spending a ton. This year we are doing $100 a kid.