What is a decent amount to spend on Christmas gifts?
My husband and I are not seeing eye to eye on this. He always says I spend way to much on our kids. So this year he is wanting me only to spend $500 on each of our kids. One is 15 the other is 10. I really feel they will be disappointed and I could not take that not on Christmas. The $500 is to be on gifts from us and Santa. What is the average amount people spend? If they get one big thing I couldnt get them anything else.
November 6th, 2010 at 2:38 am
$500 on EACH kid?! Wanna adopt me?? LOL I want to be your kid, for sure!!! 🙂
I was lucky if I got a couple hundred (at THE most! probably less…) when I was growing up, granted, it was 15-20 years ago when I was your kids’ ages (I’m almost 33 now) but still…
I think “only $500” per kid is GREAT! And if your kids pitch a fit, then maybe this is a good time to teach them the lesson that not all kids get presents cuz their families are not as well off as yours is. Humility is something that often gets lost in the shuffle at Christmas.
For the record, I don’t have kids, but I do have 2 goddaughters, and nieces and nephews. I spend no MORE than $20 per kid, only cuz I know that their parents and grandparents are already spoiling them rotten, lol 🙂
November 6th, 2010 at 3:34 am
$500.00 each is PLENTY to be spending on children for Christmas. Do you have any idea how many children would be overjoyed to have that much money spent on them at Christmas because their parents simply can’t afford it? I don’t know any other details about how much money you spend on your children, but if this is any indicator then you do spend too much on your kids. You said you couldn’t take it if your children were disappointed on Christmas Day — are you trying to buy their love and appreciation? Sure sounds like it…
To answer your question: My wife and I spend about $300.00 on each child at Christmas. They get a lot of other gifts from grandparents and aunts and uncles as well. We’re in a position now that we could spend more on them, but my wife and I both agree that spending more on them would only spoil them.
What are you teaching your children if you spend that kind of money on them? Let me answer that for you: You’re teaching them that they’re entitled to pretty much whatever they want. That’s not teaching them how life is in the real world. As a parent, you want to prepare your children to live on their own, right? So what are you doing to teach them about earning a living, working for money, and saving up for the things they want (not to mention saving for a rainy day)? If you’re already doing these things then good for you and keep it up for the sake of your children. If you’re not, don’t be surprised if your children grow up and spend the rest of their lives coming back to you for money every time they want or need something. In either case, your children are old enough now to start learning that (a) life is not fair, (b) no one gets everything they want, and (c) there are things in life that are more important than money and stuff. Can’t think of a more appropriate forum to learn these lessons than at Christmas time, when we’re supposed to be celebrating the most priceless gift mankind ever received.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:22 am
$500 is plenty…if you spend more than that it’s ridiculous. Sounds like you’re trying to make up for something by buying them so much at Christmas.
November 6th, 2010 at 4:22 am
My son would have a heart attack if I ever spent $500 on him … $100 is more like it … spoil your kids much?
November 6th, 2010 at 5:17 am
When I grew up, me and my sisters had about 150 dollars spent on each of us…and I think that is plenty!!
Why would you want to spend 500 dollars on each of your children? That is way more than enough. And I’ll agree with another answerer – it is excessive.
We have one son and a baby on the way (due march 2009) and for one our children will not believe in santa. This is for many reasons, including religious.
We will only spend between 50 and 100 on each of them for Christmas and we will have birthdays be bigger.
Christmas is not “present time” and “do whatever you want because you can get away with it and get whatever you want” time.
“Santa” still gives presents to “naughty” kids instead of coal. Also, there are some “good” kids who are nice and obey their parents yet “santa” doesn’t give them much because the parents can’t afford it.
Sorry, but too many people are wrapped up (no pun intended) in Christmas and it’s commercialism.
November 6th, 2010 at 5:31 am
Now that the kids are grown and gone out of my house I still try and spend $100.00 on each one, I have four, plus three son-in-laws. Now I also have eight grandchildren who I like to spend $50.00 a piece on. I start shopping in late August and already have two of the grandkids done. If you can afford to spend $500.00 on each child, you go for it, after all Christmas only comes once a year.
November 6th, 2010 at 5:56 am
haha def not 500 like 200 on each
November 6th, 2010 at 6:12 am
You must have money. How about $100-$200 each. What do they really want. How about something to read, something to wear and soemthing to play with.
November 6th, 2010 at 7:02 am
HI,
people are different and they spend different. Don’t get frustrated about the exact amount of money, because parents always want more for their children. I can understand your point of view and your worry, just take deep breath and relax, your children will love you not because of the gift value, but because you are their mother.
And I want to give you different point of view, of a woman who spends less of $1for her relatives and they love her. The world is full of variety of people and you are one of this variety 🙂
Here is the story I loved to read: http://www.christmas-cafe.com/made-by-hand-christmas-gifts-under-1
November 6th, 2010 at 7:40 am
$500 is more than enough for each of your children. You don’t want them to be spoiled. Christmas isn’t about the gifts you receive. You don’t want them to be superficial. I actually think $500 is too much. Do your kids even know the true meaning of Christmas?
November 6th, 2010 at 8:31 am
dang, you spoil your kids to much
100-200 is usullaly how much you should spend
November 6th, 2010 at 9:23 am
I had four children. We spent less than two hundred dollars each on them. Mine are adults now. I get them small token gifts like candle sets or desk sets and give them fifty dollars each. I still buy clothes for my two youngest ones who are 18 and 21 too. They are young enough to still need financial support from Mom and Dad.
Last year I got each child a new robe, the year before was freshwater pearls for the girls and pocket watches for the guys. I buy for my Daughters-in-Law too.
I would not spend five hundred dollars per child or more.
November 9th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
O.K., unlike the others here, I will not be judgemental towards you, but you did set yourself up when you told how much you were gonna spend 🙂 Honestly, I don’t blame you, spend what you can afford. We, by no means, are rich (were acrually far from it) but let me tell you we will give our kids the best we can do at christmas. My daughter has actually asked for shirts and socks and stuff, so she isn’t asking for just junk. My sibling and I always had a good Christmas growing up and my parents didn’t have alot of money. Was I spoiled? Absolutely NOT. Not then and not now. I have second hand furniture and shop at thrift stores. So to the people who think that spending even 200 per child is spoiling them, you are all so wrong. There is so much more to raising children than how much you spend on them at Christmas.
November 28th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
I think if you have 500.00 per child to spend without putting you behind after Christmas then do it. (The economy could use it) I spend about the same amount on each of my children, however I spend at least 1/2 of it on things they need, clothes, dressers, sports gear. A lot of the things I buy is stuff I would have to get eventually any way.
December 19th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
From a valleynewslive.com article (out of North Dakota, so probably about as middle of the road as you can get)
“Most families in the United States spend about $450 per child for Christmas, according to market research firm NPD. Mrs. Gianulis is budgeting about $400 for each of hers — for one big gift and several smaller ones.”
Get a grip people. Many families go all out for Christmas, but the rest of the year the kids are expected to spend their own allowance for toys and games. Celebrate your own way, but stop boasting about how enlightened you are. There’s an irony there, do you see it?
December 25th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Hello all, I am a 16-year-old girl who has not recieved christmas presents in the past four consecutive years, this Christmas included. For the past two years I have not received birthday presents either. I am the youngest of three daughters, the only one still living at home. My parents together make over $200,000 annually. I asked my dad to buy me some makeup online today and when I told him the total was $250 he freaked out and told me I’m being frivolous. My parents never purchase me anything throughout the year, and I mean anything – getting shampoo is like a once-a-year blessing. The makeup I wish to purchase is really nice but it would last me at least a year if not more. I asked him what he thinks an acceptable amount of money to spend on a child’s Christmas present is and he said FIFTY dollars. I was so disturbed I forfeited the argument and went to my room. If I had his money my limit would be at LEAST $500. My mom said ordinarily she would spend three or $400, but that “I am in the negative” because I “stopped trying” in school.. having all A’s except in my impossible AP classes. Your kids are blessed to have $500 spent on them (or any amount at all).. I bet you set up a Christmas tree and buy them shampoo, too…