How Much Do You Spend on Your Kids for Christmas? - Olathe,KS

Wow. I am a little suprised by some of the responses. I generally spend about 100-200 total. For everyone in my family and for any family members that get a gift. We really tend to have a low key christmas that is focused on the real reason for the season and not the gift part. What I am trying to implement this year is get each child something they need, something they wear, something they want, and something they share with their sibling etc. Works great for us!

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.

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.

Ok I think I need Christmas shopping rehab too........

I spend $500 to $600 a kid

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.

$200 per child...I have two kids. It is getting harder the seven year old wants video games and electronics...those get really expensive!!

Too much and after answering the question about how much I spend on purses, I have decided to go into rehab! :)

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!

500 for our only child

They get enough from Grandparents and Aunts so not much from us. We will be taking our girls (7 and 5) to the Nutcracker Ballet for their Christmas treat.
Besides that less than $20. It is only because they still believe in Santa.

This year WAY too much.

Normally about $400-$500 per kid.

We spend between 500-700 on our two kids that includes Santa gifts and stocking stuffers..our kids are 5 and 10...they are both into video games so Christmas is always a little pricey

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. :)

I LOVE that you asked this question! I find the variety of responses amazing. I do not buy stuff for my kids during the year unless it is a necessity (they have to save for wants themselves with allowance, babysitting and bottle return $), so I spend a decent amount on holidays. I have 3 kids, for xmas we spend about $200 from Santa as gifts and probably $50 on stocking stuffers and pj's from us. For bday and Easter I spend about $50 per kid.

$300 - but I have just one child.

We spent around $250-$300 this year. We put $200 worth of stuff on layaway, and the rest is stuff I have just picked up here and there. We have 3 kids, ages 13, and twins who are 8. I think it really depends on your income, how much emphasis you put on presents, and the number of kids you have. I personally feel like we've not really picked up anything "wow" worthy for our kids, and they really have too much stuff as it is. I read an interesting article earlier in the week about putting the reason back into the season, and the author of the article implemented one thing to wear, one thing you need, one thing you want, and something to give back to others less fortunate. I REALLY like this idea, and have talked to my husband about implementing it. I've even considered returning what we have gotten, and going by this model. We may spend a little less than we have, or maybe more, but I think it'll make the kids more thankful for what they receive.

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. =)

As you can tell from all these responses, it just depends on your family and your financial situation. We have 2 boys and another baby on the way and try to stick to $100 budget for each kid, which covers all of their gifts. There have been years we've gone over for a "big ticket" item and wanted them to have more than just one present under the tree, but generally stick to that budget.

In years past we just determined by "what they needed/wanted"...still little so mostly needed. This year because we are traveling we set a $100.00 budget. Money wise we have "ours, mine, his". $100.00 is ours and if we spend "mine or his" the agreement is same amount on both kids. We are at the ages of "being fair"...

Not sure if I'm inluding Stocking Stuffers in the $100 though. Depends but I just started my shopping last night. YIKES!

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.

good question! i started picking up toys/things here and there back in august sooo... probably $350 per kid (and there is 2)... but there definitely have been years where they each only got 1 thing... who knows what next year will bring :)

Around 200 a kid. You can get by with less for the younger two because their toys aren't as expensive.

We spend $500 on 2 kids.

we have 3 kids ages 8,6,4. We set a budget of $400 each and sometimes go over and sometimes go under. Then around $30 of stocking stuff. Man,maybe I need some Christmas rehab too! This is just the way I grew up so I didnt see much wrong with it. a few mo. before Christmas the kids go through their old toys and games and decide what they want to give away. Seems like the older they get the more things cost that they want. Thinking I will scale it down next year for sure. I dont buy much for my kids during the year at all so bdays and Christmas is about it for them. Everyone.......Happy Holidays!!

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

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.

About 500 a kid, we have 4 daughters. We dont really buy them anything through the year. They get their coats, boots, clothes, and fun stuff from Santa. Mom and dad get them pj's, socks, panties and bras... that is from the main christmas budget.

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.

J.

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.