How much do you spend per child?

**Wendy99** · 10-22-2011, 02:15 PM

I started my Christmas shopping and was wondering how much do you budget / actually spend on your child and how old are they?

My shopping for one of my children is complete - 10 years at $115.00.

I have one more child to shop for - same age, so will probably work out to about the same.

Toys / their interests seems to get more $$ as they get older. I was hoping to spend only $60, but that didn't go to far. I did get some buy one get one half price sales though!!

**pollypurebred39** · 10-22-2011, 02:41 PM

We always spent $100 plus Christmas stockings. This year we are shooting for $20- $25 per child total, under the tree and stocking. My boys are older, 17 and 22. There's no Santa beliefs we have to try and maintain. Toys do get far more expensive the older kids get. Great job finding the buy one get one half off!

I hope to be able to find a guitar at a pawn shop for 17 year old. The 22 year old will get cash to put towards whatever he needs. I have some yarn, so I'll throw a pair of slippers I crochet in their stockings, along with cookies or something else homemade. Hoping for a few coupons that I can get some free HBA to put in their stockings. But that's it, really.

I feel for you, it's really tough when they are so young to understand just how tight the budget is, and with Santa and all, even tougher.

**Neeley** · 10-22-2011, 03:20 PM

I really hate to even respond to this because I was slammed by another regular poster two years ago about what we spend per kid.

We have 2 kids (16 and 18) and each is given a $500 budget. They know how much we spend and make their lists out accordingly. Both want cash this year so I am wrapping their money in various denominations in ten to fifteen different packages.

I also do a stocking for them, my nephew (age 23) and my nieces (17 and 15). I do not include the cost stockings in the budget. Stockings have things like DVDs, gift card for the boys, a watches for the girls, candy, some miniatures (Aftershock, Bailey's, Bacardi, Jack, etc...) for the 23 year old, make-up and nail polish, black Nike ankle socks for DS, etc...

What we spend fits into our budget and is paid for up front, in full. No credit cards, no loans.

**dancemommy** · 10-22-2011, 03:50 PM

We don't do "fair". Our kids range in age from 6-17 and it would be silly for us to spend the same amount of money on each. They also don't get the same number of items per person. Just doesn't work. That being said, we have a "Christmas Budget" but it isn't per child. I'd say we usually spend around $150-200 for our little ones (toys are cheap) and more like $350-450 on each of the older ones (there are things that they do actually need and use, but are pricey). We usually get a family gift as well that is something larger for the kids. Last year it was a new trampoline as our older one was in bad shape. In leaner years we go lighter. This year will be a slightly lighter year- the kids activities are really expensive this year. They know and understand. We love Christmas though and we do spend cash- no credit.

**mh3rdwheel** · 10-22-2011, 04:54 PM

When my kids were little they received 6 gifts each, they made a list of what they wanted, I would choose one expensive gift and 5 cheaper gifts, it usually only cost around $150 to $200 per child. DD is now 24 and DS is 19 now they get one gift a piece. Walmart last month Walmart had 32" Sanyo flatscreen tvs for $298 each, each kid received one.

Now for my 2 grandsons Kain (3) and Evan (6 months) will get 2 presents apiece according to their age.

**brenda67** · 10-22-2011, 08:38 PM

I never had a Christmas budget ever in my boy's entire life..This year is going to be a little different now that I'm unemployed but I am getting unemployment..I'm very shocked when I asked my 18 &16yr old's what they wanted they said nothing? Huh..I'm at a loss to what to get them..It will be interesting for sure.

**mh3rdwheel** · 10-22-2011, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by brenda67

I never had a Christmas budget ever in my boy's entire life..This year is going to be a little different now that I'm unemployed but I am getting unemployment..I'm very shocked when I asked my 18 &16yr old's what they wanted they said nothing? Huh..I'm at a loss to what to get them..It will be interesting for sure.

Brenda I am sorry that you are unemployed, I too say that I do not want anything for Xmas, I rather have the kids and family around. My fil and sil are coming for the holidays this is a Xmas present in itself, my fil has not spoken nicely to us in 9 years and now he talksto us and has dinner at our house, etc.

Kids at least older kids sometimes understand stuff. I think that the holidays are for family I would rather have family then presents.

Hugs, you have wonderful and understanding kids.

**mh3rdwheel** · 10-22-2011, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by brenda67

I never had a Christmas budget ever in my boy's entire life..This year is going to be a little different now that I'm unemployed but I am getting unemployment..I'm very shocked when I asked my 18 &16yr old's what they wanted they said nothing? Huh..I'm at a loss to what to get them..It will be interesting for sure.

Give them money.

**Momto5RN** · 10-22-2011, 09:20 PM

i try to keep it between 100- 300 alot depends on what they are doing - like etc . and many times its not much but worth alot due to GC i earned coupons i used to get free items etc

i dont buy them things the rest of the year unless its a b-day and then its not alot - one gift.

i like making christmas exciting because i didnt have it and envisioned it that way so if one of the kids will need a new computer before college i get it for christmas . i dont want them seeing us just buy big things here and there so they think its the norm we can do , if its done at christmas they know thats the one time of year we seem to splurge.

i shop year round and use coupons and earned GC etc

i tell the older ones the budget is 200 - ie if you had 200 to spend what would you want - i sometimes go over - i many times go under irregardless, what they get is not frivolous fad gifts and doesnt end up in garbage within a week no matter what i spend.
i put clothes they will need - socks - etc as gifts just to fill it up under the tree like in my childhood visions . Makes me happy

i dont use credit i dont try to even gifts $ spent out or # of gifts out my oldest and youngest have a 13 year age difference

i really dont think anyone should bash anyone for what they do - unless they cannot afford to pay their bills - its a private choice.

at our home we are basically it- there is a family pollyanna on dhs side my mom doesnt celebrate my dad has passed and my grandmother is 96 ad in a a nursing home . no extra gifts from a multitude of family members ( i will never forget having someone on a old AOL group say WE only buy our children one book and one toy for christmas too much is bad and putting a slew of people down ....only to find out -when someone questioned them further - they get like 20 gifts from other relatives lol )

and honestly the people that say that ohhh we dont spend much so we know the "real meaning" drive me batty - doesnt matter if you spend nothing or you spend a million the gift part doesnt affect the true meaning unless you let it and take all focus off the meaning and place it on the gifts .

my kids open the gifts one AM and for a good month before that we are focusing on things that have a " true " meaning . helping others - caroling for seniors- charity stuff etc - by the time they get to opening their gifts they have done more " true meaning " stuff then alot do in a year .

plus IMO its kind of a snarky way of putting others down for spending more than others do- i guess makes some feel better if they put others down - wow thats the christmas spirit , NOT.

anyway off on a tangent sorry . you do the best you can do - you watch for great deals to stretch your pennies where you can -and you should never feel guilty . Kids need love more than toys and even if they dont realize it now they will one day

**Momto5RN** · 10-22-2011, 09:23 PM

ps i started a thread in the christmas section where people post good deals freebies - etc they see that may work as gifts ad help us all save $ while gift giving

i hate giving money - i guess because i know that there is a 99% chance that i will be able to get them more with that money then they could . my kids know that so usually ask for some big $ items . IE oldest one year asked for an new electric guitar looked at a few found one 300 - i waited for a online stores coupon to come out plus free shipping and got a free pedal thrown in all for over 100$ less than it was in the store , so i was able to afford it in our budget if i gave him the cash it wouldnt have been enough

**frugalfoster** · 10-22-2011, 11:23 PM

If I give money I usually try to make it fun somehow. One year I took $5 bills and rolled them into a prescription bottle with the directions reading "take one as needed". Another year I had brand new $1 bills gummed on one edge like a pad would be... they tore them off as they needed them. It was a great gift, they loved it! I have also bought them a new wallet and filled the slots with gift cards where the credit cards are supposed to go.

**frugalwarrior2** · 10-22-2011, 11:46 PM

I couldn't even say this year. In the past $500. a kid when they were older and $100. each when they were young. Each was sufficient. Christmas is our replacement time for our family for clothes,shoes,coats and necessities though. So everyone does it different. W/ tuition for 2 it will be diff. for sure. How do we feel about 4 lottery tickets.lol

**peppermint66** · 10-23-2011, 12:23 AM

I love that each of us shops within our own personal means yet so many of us still do it frugally. I have two grown step daughters, they each will get cash, as it is what they ask for now. Not a lot, but enough to buy themselves something or few nice. For the little man, just 2, I havent really thought of a budget for him yet. he is the only grandchild on my side and a 'miraclebaby' so he tends to get spoiled by everyone else all the time. Will make a Santa Letter for him with a few items on it to send out and will pick up a few things from Santa as well.

**zakity** · 10-23-2011, 02:40 AM

My guys get cash. A few years ago, I told them at xmas that I wasn't shopping for them anymore and that they all get $100 in cash. It was the best thing I could have ever done.

That whole year, they sat and budgeted and fanagled and considered and thought and budgeted again. The twins put their money together and bought a bunch of Legos that they wanted. They shopped sales and coupons and whatever they could do to make that money stretch as far as it would go. The oldest saved every bit of his xmas and bday money and bought a Wii. When we bought it, he sang all the way home, "I gotta Wii, I gotta Wii." It was pretty cute.

Now, they know they get $100 for xmas and $30 for bday. I used to get them a few small items for their stockings, but I don't anymore. Depending on what they are purchasing, sometimes, they get to spend the money early. They are all into DND and one of the twins found a batch of DND books for super cheap on Ebay. We let him spend his xmas money this summer on the books.

**lovestolaugh** · 10-23-2011, 07:42 AM

In the past, I was a crazy person when it came to Christmas and birthdays! Spending $500 each at Christmas and $350 each on birthdays. Of course, that was before adopting a frugal life style and learning to live within my means.

Now, I spend only what I can afford, using cash only. It varies year to year. This year has been terrible financially. My kids, ds15 & dd14 understand this and are really not expecting much. Through savy shopping and lots of coupons, I have managed to get my dd several video games and dvd's at a fraction of the cost! My ds want a couple of video games also but since they are new I will have to pay full price. He will get 2 games on his list at $60 each. Plus, I will give the kids each $100 cash. No stocking this year as we will be traveling for Christmas and want to make things as simple as possible. So total spending on each is around $220. My dd's birthday is a week after Christmas and I am planning on giving her a few small things to open and $100 cash. My dh and I aren't exchanging this year. We have had a very expensive car/house year and don't see a need to spend just to spend.

Happy shopping everyone!