We have three girls ages 10, 5, and 4. I'm just curious what would be considered going overboard money wise for Christmas shopping. I am talking about Santa, stockings, and from mom and dad. What is a reasonable amount to spend on them for all of this?
When I only had 3 grandchildren, I would spend $150 - $200 each. Now that I have nine, that amount is cut way down. So it just depends on how much you have to spend and the cost of the items they want. My general rule is that I spend in the neighborhood of $800 - $1000 for xmas and that includes Santa (I do Santa for a couple of the grandkids), stockings and gifts from grandma and grandpa.
Around 200 a kid. You can get by with less for the younger two because their toys aren't as expensive.
Too much and after answering the question about how much I spend on purses, I have decided to go into rehab! :)
Yes, it definitely depends on how much spending $ you have available. I typically spend about $100 per kid and it doesn't hurt the bank account at the end of the month. My kids are little though so they are content with used and inexpensive toys and crafts. I'm not getting requests for video games and electronics yet. :)
We spend $500 on 2 kids.
This year WAY too much.
Normally about $400-$500 per kid.
500 for our only child
We do not get our kids Christmas gifts no need for it since my inlaws spend $150 per kid.
PS just read some responses $400-$500?wow
Ok I think I need Christmas shopping rehab too........
I spend $500 to $600 a kid
I have 3 kids, and try hard to keep it well under $100 per child. This year I shopped all year, and so I probably actually went over $100 per child, because I started in July... But, not much over.
Jess
$300 - but I have just one child.
Yikes, way to much!! You don't want to know the number especially after the purse question :) I buy whatever is on their list, they deserve it they are great kids!
$200 per child...I have two kids. It is getting harder the seven year old wants video games and electronics...those get really expensive!!
I feel like such a Scrooge after reading these responses...
We set a limit of $50 per child, and then another $15 for stocking stuffers, so $65 each or $130 total.
BUT... they get SO spoiled from 4 sets of grandparents, babysitters who adore them, childless aunts and uncles. They are also young (3 1/2 and 2), so we know that more expensive years are ahead of us.
We have 4 kids and we (parents) always give them an ornament, pajamas, and a game or book, about $40 per child. Santa usually brings them 2-3 gifts and spends $60-80 per child.
We both have large families so we do adult and child draw names to cut down on costs for buying gifts for others. But that still leaves us buying for 8 nieces and nephews, 4 sisters and brothers, both sets of parents, 1 godchild, gifts for charity, plus other friends and coworkers. If we don't want to put ourselves in debt until next Christmas we need to be reasonable. Plus, even with us limiting what the kids get from us, they end up with WAY more than we need by the end of all the gift exchanges. And they are more than content with their "intake."
Personally, I am shocked by what others say they spend ($400-500!!!), that seems extreme to me. Even if I could I don't think I would spend that on my kids, I am trying to teach them the value of money and to appreciate what they have. They enjoy helping me buy gifts for needy families through our church, they are learning that getting money to buy for others is way more important than getting more stuff for themselves.
I should be more conservative and spend a lot less than i do. My husband thinks I go way overboard but its funny because he was raised with big Christmas's like toys all over the place Christmas morning, stockings full and I came from a small Christmas a few items in the stockings, a pair of pajamas one big ticket item usually 50 bucks or less and then little things from grandparents etc. So we have totally switched I want the big Christmas's while he is thinking we need to cut back and they get way too much stuff.
I have two children, ages 8 and 5. This year for gifts from us and Santa our limit was $100 per child. Stockings and stocking gifts will most likely cost no more than $50 total. Our children will be receiving a few big gift items that will be shared so that allowed better individual gifts for each child however we did not go over our limit.
It depends on the family and income and ages of the kids so you will probably get a huge variety in answers because of that. I have 3 kids (15, 12 and 9) and so far have spent about $300 each. =)
I buy year round and Black Friday. We have two little girls. I've spent $60 (maybe less) for gifts from us, Santa, and stockings for each one. We also set a limit of how many gifts from Santa and us.