Kids Xmas Budgets
Posted by: cunningplan on 08 December 2004
As a parent I was wondering what other parents on this site were spending on their kids at Christmas.
Before you all scream "mind your own damn buisness" it's just to see, if perhaps we're spending too much on our only child, it does tend to creep up year after and year. (this year approx £250)
I know it depends on peoples incomes and values as to what is an acceptable ammount. We both feel that kids are bombarded with advertising for all sorts of things, and so are parents when it comes down to it, but we're supposed to know better.
Have any of you guys got limits on your child/ children's budget allowance for presents
Regards
Clive
Before you all scream "mind your own damn buisness" it's just to see, if perhaps we're spending too much on our only child, it does tend to creep up year after and year. (this year approx £250)
I know it depends on peoples incomes and values as to what is an acceptable ammount. We both feel that kids are bombarded with advertising for all sorts of things, and so are parents when it comes down to it, but we're supposed to know better.
Have any of you guys got limits on your child/ children's budget allowance for presents
Regards
Clive
quote:
Originally posted by long-time-dead:
We've budgeted £150 each for their choice...
LTD..that reminds me of the Little Britain sketch....."Now are you sure you want that?"
seagull said
Oh yes I do
don't we all!!
Clive
quote:
You don't have a wife who suffers from the "I was in xxxxxxx and I saw this and just HAD to buy it!" syndrome then?
Oh yes I do
don't we all!!Clive
long-time-dead said
That's a bit extravagant for a Scotsman, you're not living up to your stereotypical image
Clive
quote:
We've budgeted £150 each for their choice and we intend to spend around £100 each on "surprises".
That's a bit extravagant for a Scotsman, you're not living up to your stereotypical image
Clive
quote:
Originally posted by long-time-dead:
Clive - you've obviously not met my children !
I don't know how to break this to you LTD, but if you're children aren't Scottish......
quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
Just to rub salt in, I asked my little girl (6) today what she wanted for Christmas on my walking her to school this morning. I want to get her a computer for her room or something really great. She is such a good girl, always helps me around the house, always kind and generous, shares her toys, polite, and deserves to be spoilt at Christmas. She says she wants the Pop Party 2 CD. I asked her what else she wants, and she said she doesn't want anything else, just the CD.
I'll probably get her a micro stereo system for her room as well to go with it. I certainly don't want to hear it!
If she is that good she should get a Naim system
About £100 for my little one.
>Will add something funny when I think of it.<
Come to think of it, I do have a Rega Planet, 42.5, 110 & Mission speakers in the top room not being used!
Somehow, I don't think so though
Somehow, I don't think so though
Jay
They are Scottish through and through - just children
My eldest thought a Linn Classik and Katans would be "cool" for her bedroom.........
They are Scottish through and through - just children
My eldest thought a Linn Classik and Katans would be "cool" for her bedroom.........
LTD - "I agree totally but you gotta draw a line financialy somewhere"
Upper line or lower line?
I agree & I didn't make myself clear. My wife says that we need to spend the same amount on the kids so it is fair, but that is crap - my little guy is 2 and doesn't understand the meaning of money, and my little girl doesn't care anyway. I find it is the adults that feel the need to spend loads and not necessarily the demands of the kids (OK, mine are young and the teenage demands haven't started yet). I don't think it is important to spend loads, and I'm sure many go overboard each year to compensate for not being there for their kids when they could. It's a guilt trip. That's all it is! I know what my kids would like because I know them & play with them - I'm not guessing and overcompensating. The age my kids are, they actually don't want much. What they do want isn't expensive, and I'm not ashamed because I'm not going to be drawn into some competition with other parents being flash. I refuse to work weekends and if I have tons of work to do, I may go back to the office after they are in bed and work to the small hours; but never in their time. There is nothing I have to prove to my kids by the cost of the presents I give them, and I know that not to be true of some people that I know. Next door have an au-pair and didn't even know what food their kids didn't like!
Makes you wonder why they had them. I expect they will be spending hundreds to ease their guilt.
Upper line or lower line?
I agree & I didn't make myself clear. My wife says that we need to spend the same amount on the kids so it is fair, but that is crap - my little guy is 2 and doesn't understand the meaning of money, and my little girl doesn't care anyway. I find it is the adults that feel the need to spend loads and not necessarily the demands of the kids (OK, mine are young and the teenage demands haven't started yet). I don't think it is important to spend loads, and I'm sure many go overboard each year to compensate for not being there for their kids when they could. It's a guilt trip. That's all it is! I know what my kids would like because I know them & play with them - I'm not guessing and overcompensating. The age my kids are, they actually don't want much. What they do want isn't expensive, and I'm not ashamed because I'm not going to be drawn into some competition with other parents being flash. I refuse to work weekends and if I have tons of work to do, I may go back to the office after they are in bed and work to the small hours; but never in their time. There is nothing I have to prove to my kids by the cost of the presents I give them, and I know that not to be true of some people that I know. Next door have an au-pair and didn't even know what food their kids didn't like!
Makes you wonder why they had them. I expect they will be spending hundreds to ease their guilt.Rasher
I think your spot on with your assessment on some parents with their attitude towards their kids at Xmas we have friends who do just that.
They spend obscene ammounts on their kids, for no other reason other than the fact they hardly see them, this is something they've admitted to us.
Our 10 year old has now got to the stage where she has began to realise that things do cost money, although not quite enough to realise she can't have everything she wants.
We will draw the line I think at how much she'll get next year. Me and Mrs CP have decided that £250 is about right, after all MY demands have increased as well!!! I think a nice XPS2 to go with my CDX2 wouldn't go a miss
Regards
Clive
I think your spot on with your assessment on some parents with their attitude towards their kids at Xmas we have friends who do just that.
They spend obscene ammounts on their kids, for no other reason other than the fact they hardly see them, this is something they've admitted to us.
Our 10 year old has now got to the stage where she has began to realise that things do cost money, although not quite enough to realise she can't have everything she wants.
We will draw the line I think at how much she'll get next year. Me and Mrs CP have decided that £250 is about right, after all MY demands have increased as well!!! I think a nice XPS2 to go with my CDX2 wouldn't go a miss
Regards
Clive
My view is slightly different, in that I'm not worried so much about the amount spent, rather the quantity of stuff that my son (4yrs old, very bright for his age, Bruce ) receives.
He receives presents from other kids, from both sets of grandparents, uncles/aunts, godparents and us. I've had to reduce this where possible, but without offending relatives. I think that when a kid receives too many presents, they lose the thrill of getting that one thing that they dreamed of for the whole year - that bike or whatever.
This year my kid gets a scalectric type thing and some Noah's Ark toy which he really wants, from us. Cost ? GBP100-150
He told his mum yesterday that he'd still be happy with whatever Santa Claus brings.
Brian OReilly
) receives.He receives presents from other kids, from both sets of grandparents, uncles/aunts, godparents and us. I've had to reduce this where possible, but without offending relatives. I think that when a kid receives too many presents, they lose the thrill of getting that one thing that they dreamed of for the whole year - that bike or whatever.
This year my kid gets a scalectric type thing and some Noah's Ark toy which he really wants, from us. Cost ? GBP100-150
He told his mum yesterday that he'd still be happy with whatever Santa Claus brings.
Brian OReilly
You guys are right.
I asked my wife for a new CD player and told her I wanted a CDX2. She said OK, but didn't understand , so I'm not getting that then .
She also reminded me that last year we bought my daughter a dolls house with furniture, which was probably £200 all in, and it took me 3 weeks of evenings to build, wallpaper & carpet. I had forgotten that, so I'm talking bollocks as usual.
We also had the same Christmas morning as Brian, when the pile of presents was taller than her, and most of it never came out of their boxes. It would be impossible to play with all that; and storage? Forget it!! We took half of it to the childrens hospital.
I think maybe you have hit the nail Brian - it is the quantity that is wrong, not the monetary value. If they get something big and it's appreciated, then why not? Yeah, I think that is it.
Thanks guys for getting me straight on this.
I asked my wife for a new CD player and told her I wanted a CDX2. She said OK, but didn't understand
, so I'm not getting that then .She also reminded me that last year we bought my daughter a dolls house with furniture, which was probably £200 all in, and it took me 3 weeks of evenings to build, wallpaper & carpet. I had forgotten that, so I'm talking bollocks as usual.
We also had the same Christmas morning as Brian, when the pile of presents was taller than her, and most of it never came out of their boxes. It would be impossible to play with all that; and storage? Forget it!! We took half of it to the childrens hospital.
I think maybe you have hit the nail Brian - it is the quantity that is wrong, not the monetary value. If they get something big and it's appreciated, then why not? Yeah, I think that is it.
Thanks guys for getting me straight on this.
Hi
From the pov of somebody not long out of childhood (I am 25) and has 2 smaller brothers I can remember Christmas (or the festive season if you want a bit of pc)pretty well.
We all used to receive gifts which were pretty much what we'd asked for. I knew my parents were not exactly flush and at the end of the day we were all happy. At no point did I start to calculate costs and sulk if little bruv 1 got £50 value more than me and as far as I know, being smaller they did not calculate either.
I know most of the children within this post are small and probably don't have a real understanding of money yet but from a former childs point of view I was happy with what I received ALL of the time.
I did not always get a huge pile of toys and every once in a while when I got a biggy (Bike/ TV... whatever ) it was from Mum and Dad and Grandparents etc. I certainly appreciated it more as it was from everybody.
Steve
From the pov of somebody not long out of childhood (I am 25
) and has 2 smaller brothers I can remember Christmas (or the festive season if you want a bit of pc)pretty well.We all used to receive gifts which were pretty much what we'd asked for. I knew my parents were not exactly flush and at the end of the day we were all happy. At no point did I start to calculate costs and sulk if little bruv 1 got £50 value more than me and as far as I know, being smaller they did not calculate either.
I know most of the children within this post are small and probably don't have a real understanding of money yet but from a former childs point of view I was happy with what I received ALL of the time.
I did not always get a huge pile of toys and every once in a while when I got a biggy (Bike/ TV... whatever ) it was from Mum and Dad and Grandparents etc. I certainly appreciated it more as it was from everybody.
Steve