Parents of tweens/teens: A Christmas Gift Poll

[jinkies]

This poll is for parents of kids 10-ish and up, or who are otherwise "over" toys. I feel like the wish lists start shifting to more and more expensive items as they get older-- especially for my son who now has a job and buys himself most of the smaller items he needs. 

Curious how much other people end up spending for this age group. You don't have to explain or justify your answer unless you want to. I am asking how much YOU AS PARENTS spend PER KID. Not grandma/grandpa, not rich uncle Moneybags, not your entire extended family combined. 

I am not doing anything with this information. I'm really just being nosy.

[countthestars]

Probably around $500? I don't track it well because I'm always grabbing things here and there.

[fortnightlily]

Mine is 10. He still wants some toys, so it's hard for me to predict where this will go in a year or two. We also only have 1 kid. I imagine the more kids we had to buy for the more the budget might shrink per kid.

[expectantsteelerfan]

My answer didn't include the fact that our 'main' gift this year is a family trip to Universal that we are taking in Jan. because honestly, dh and I are more excited for that trip than dd and ds are even going to be when they find out they are going (esp. since ds's band trip changed 3 times, literally, and they are now going to Universal in the spring as well).  But it did include the Harry Potter shirts I bought them to open so we can tell them we are going.  

[Saudade]

Typically around 300-500? This year though I am giving them annual ski passes and skis so it’s slightly more. But I bought it in April so #girlmath makes it free. /s

[quesyrah]

We typically don’t give physical presents other than stocking stuffers. We do a trip
Or an experience. I set aside $40 a week throughout the year into my Christmas fund.

This year we are doing physical gifts instead for several reasons.

I spent $50 on each for stocking stuffers.
DS (13) is getting a Lego set- $130
DD (10) is getting a laptop- $164

Total spent: $394

[thebreakfastclub]

My almost 11yo will get $100 cash, some Pokémon card tins, and some candy for his stocking. Maybe a Nintendo game download if something is out there that he wants.

So $200 all in?

We are not gift people. My H and I do not exchange gifts. We didn't put up a Christmas tree due to low enthusiasm lol.

[sugarbear1]

I have two kids, 10 and 13. I spend as equally as I can. So far, this has been fairly easy because if I'm behind their lists are varied enough that I can find something to fill the gap. If it's small enough, I just buy another book. Both are good readers.

I've spend $250 on each this year. This does not include stocking stuffers, but those are mostly candy and other consumables.

[mainelyfoolish]

I'm spending about $250 per child. Probably a bit over if you count *everything* for the holiday like new pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve, candy for the advent calendar, etc.

[picksthemusic]

Depends, but this year it'll probably be around $300. We're trying to scale back a little this year because we went to Disney earlier this year, and my new job won't pay me as much so we're trying to prepare for being a little strapped.

But we're working the sales and trying to not pay out the nose for things. Luckily DS (9) is easily pleased and DD (12) is happy with clothes/makeup/jewelry. The only expensive thing she's getting this ear is Beats ear pods and those were $89 on sale.

[abs]

$400-500 this year. This poll makes me feel much better about this.

[ilikedonuts]

I have a 10 year old and a 12 year old. Both girls. We spent probably $500 per girl this year. The 10 year old still wants mainly toys. The older one wants stuff like Lululemon, skincare, Kendra Scott, etc. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[felicity]

I didn't vote because DS is 9, and I think we're spending around $250 including stocking stuffers. I guess I'm in for a big shock in the next few years lol.

[krystee]

I have been thinking about this as my oldest is now 9 and thinking that we might do big purchases like iPads or game systems as family purchases outside of Christmas so Christmas expectations and gifts don’t get wildly expensive and set expectations of it being that high every year. That way we might also ask them to put some skin in the game, like we’ll match them dollar for dollar to buy an iPad or something.

I say that now, and then every Christmas, I blow past the limit I set for myself, so who knows.

[turkletsmom]

DS will be 11 in March. I budget $400 per kid.

His big ask this year was a WiiU that DH bought from someone with a TON of games and accessories for under $200.
Other than that he's getting from us: several books, a Switch game, a neon Mario mushroom light for his room, a lava lamp and some clothes.

I probably spend another $20-30ea on little things for stockings. I don't track that stuff since it's like bookmarks and candy, etc.

[VillainV]

About $700 this year for one kid, but his “big” gift is actually something for the whole family (PS5, which was $500).

[heygrey]

DS will be 10 in February. We spent ~$250 on him this year. He’s an only child so there isn’t worry about keeping it even among siblings.

I don’t think that number will change significantly as he ages. We have never tied big purchases to holidays or birthdays and, at least for now, those big ticket items, like a game system, belong to the family not one person.

[fancynewbeesly]

It depends. This year it is probably 300-500. Mostly because DD1 is getting a big Lego set.

My girls had a super rough year and handled it with so much grace and resilience and in some ways thrived unexpectedly so I feel mom guilt and they need to help make up for the sucky year. They truthfully deserve it and more. (But travel is outside of our budget and DD1 can’t travel yet so lots of things to clutter up our house it is. )

[heygrey]

Dec 6, 2023 17:44:56 GMT -5 krystee said:

I have been thinking about this as my oldest is now 9 and thinking that we might do big purchases like iPads or game systems as family purchases outside of Christmas so Christmas expectations and gifts don’t get wildly expensive and set expectations of it being that high every year. That way we might also ask them to put some skin in the game, like we’ll match them dollar for dollar to buy an iPad or something.

I say that now, and then every Christmas, I blow past the limit I set for myself, so who knows.

I have strong feelings about not tying big purchases to holidays or birthdays. I don't mind buying them, but I don't want the expectation for holidays to be extravagant gifts. 

Last year we decided to buy a Switch, but told DS that he would be expected to contribute as well. He hustled to earn money for nearly 3 months - asked our friends for cans to return, sold some old toys on marketplace, saved his allowance. It helped us see how much he valued that purchase, and I honestly think he enjoyed getting it more on a random Saturday in March than at a time when there were a bunch of other new things. 

[jinkies]

I see you, 10 people who just like to click things, and I appreciate you.

[gardengal]

This poll made me add up & every gift from us/Santa for our 13yo, including stockings, is $220. Most of that is a fishing pole. Some years it’s more (like if they need new iPads) but this is a representative year.

[midwestmama]

I voted $250-$500. This year it's a bit higher in that range because we got DD (12) a laptop and DS (14) new baseball catcher's gear, plus a few smaller things. Also, the past few years we have taken family trip to Florida around Christmas, and we are not doing that this year, so spending a bit more on physical gifts.

[twinmomma]

Dec 6, 2023 17:44:56 GMT -5 krystee said:

I have been thinking about this as my oldest is now 9 and thinking that we might do big purchases like iPads or game systems as family purchases outside of Christmas so Christmas expectations and gifts don’t get wildly expensive and set expectations of it being that high every year. 

A couple years ago I got my girls ipads. I used Christmas bonus money to pay for them and had them in the house on Christmas, but didn't give it to them until a random day during winter break as a random surprise. I specifically did not want an item of that value to be a Christmas present under the tree because I didn't want to set the expectation going forward. 

I guess it worked, because so far they haven't asked for anything of that level. DD1 literally asked for a new bathrobe as her top request this year. 

[Bad Dingo]

I voted for the 3rd option but 1. I can't even remember what I've bought and 2. her bday is 12/20 so in my mind I was combining the gifts for both events.

[mrsGreeko]

17 year old DD it is like $350 plus stocking stuffers (gifts are Spotify GC, Ipsy subscription for 6 months, and Bluetooth speaker)

14 year old DD is like $220 plus stocking stuffers (gifts are nice perfume, ballet flats, and an over the door mirror with a heatless curls headband)

12 year old DS is like $220 plus stocking stuffers (gifts are a folding fishing rod, a pen fishing rod plus tiny tackle, beats headphones)

DD1 wanted more expensive things this year. Shrug. Each has three gifts plus stocking stuffers. The other kids stocking stuffers probably add up to more money wise.

[VillainV]

Interesting take on big-ticket items for holidays. I’ve never thought of it that way before! We don’t typically buy new toys or game systems or whatever for C UNLESS it’s for a birthday or holiday, because we aren’t people who can afford to just be buying new stuff for no reason. If he wants something outside of a birthday or holiday, we usually make him save the money and buy it for himself. But I guess I hadn’t realized that maybe this creates expectation that he WILL get big-ticket items for those occasions.

[luckystar2]

I really don’t keep track so I don’t know. But I don’t necessarily think it’s more now that she’s a teen? Or if it is it’s stuff that I would have bought anyways so it’s kind of a sunk cost. Mostly dd asked for clothes, makeup and leotards for gymnastics. If I don’t buy some stuff for Christmas she’d probably end up getting some stuff at some point. Vs when she was younger it was a lot of toys and stuff. But I might still have to buy her clothes at some point but she didn’t want them so not as gifts.

[abs]

Dec 7, 2023 11:54:36 GMT -5 luckystar2 said:

I really don’t keep track so I don’t know. But I don’t necessarily think it’s more now that she’s a teen? Or if it is it’s stuff that I would have bought anyways so it’s kind of a sunk cost. Mostly dd asked for clothes, makeup and leotards for gymnastics. If I don’t buy some stuff for Christmas she’d probably end up getting some stuff at some point. Vs when she was younger it was a lot of toys and stuff. But I might still have to buy her clothes at some point but she didn’t want them so not as gifts.

Yeah I feel like I spend less and not more and a lot of it is stuff I’d buy anyways.

[plutosmoon]

DD is 11, no toys. This year will probably be around $500 because I bought her a Rac n Roll for dance competition, which was about $330, this is something I needed to buy her anyway, but it will be fun to have a big item under the tree.

For years I had a strict $100 budget, but now I can change the budget up every year depending on what she may need or want. She mostly wants room decorations this year, so I'll probably spend about $150 in her non dance bag wish list items. My parents usually give me $100 or so to spend on her, they don't shop online so I put their name on a few gifts and throw the extra in her 529, so the budget isn't an exact number because of the gift shifting.

[circa1978]

I only have one so I don't track super closely but I would say between $300-$500 feels accurate for most years. We might get him a phone (which we would do anyway) this year and will eventually get him an Xbox but that would be anomaly. He never asks for anything so it's on us.