What do you think is a fair amount to spend on children for christmas?
Answer:
I say $150-300 each if you don't buy them things like crazy all year round. If you buy them all of whatever they want when they want it, then decrease the amount you spend at Christmas because they get a lot all year round. As a kid we didn't get a lot of new things throughout the year, we had to wait for our birthday, Easter, and Christmas. Lucky for me there was only 3-5 months in between each for me, I have a July birthday. Also try buying the "non fad" things you know they want earlier. So when Christmas season hits, it doesn't dent the pocket book so much.
its depend on ur pocket, what is ur budget
I think Christmas is not about the amount of money you spend.
I think you should spend what you can afford and are comfortable with allowing your children to receive. That is your family and hopefully your children are learning that although they may be able to obtain material goods, it's not that way for all kids and they should be mindful to give and volunteer throughout the year.
Their are sevral actors that you hsould consider.
How old are they? Young children can be satisfied with a lot of small (cheap) gifts, or a big (but more expensive) gift. As they grow they want more and more though. It is really up to you to decide it you want to indulge them or not.
Second, do any opf them make money? Ie- does one of your older children have a job, do your younger children have allowances? If so, they have less right to complain that htye are not getting what they want, since they could get it themself if they wanted.
Lastely, I dont' know where you live. I have met childen from wealthy towns who expect hundreds of dolars to be spent on them. I also know kids who are not wealthy, are are happy with a 20 dollar or 50 dollar gift.
It is really your call, no one can decide how to raise you kids for you, and how much you spend on them falls under that catagory.
Overall though, if you are 'middle class' I would say maybe $80 is an exceptable amount. Give or take.
I think number of gifts is more important than amount spent. You don't want to overwhelm a child with too many gifts, but I can understand wanting to buy quality items. We spent about $30 on my daughter for Christmas, but she already has so much and grandparents get her a ton, too. To some that might seem cheap but it seems like the right amount of stuff for her. We got her a porcelain tea set and a box of dress-up clothes. I'll also buy some little things for her stocking- don't know what yet but it won't be very much and probably mostly edibles with maybe one or two little toys. I don' t worry so much about price. I mean I try not to go over budget but I don't worry about "I didn't spend enough". I also got very good deals on quality items. We usually don't spend more than $50 in any case, but I would spend more if she needed things or if I wanted to get her something bigger.
I think a very important thing to do with kids at Christmas is also teach them to give. Adopt a child from an angel tree and help them do Christmas shopping for a child (their age and gender if you can find one). Then they learn to give and some of these kids really don't have anything. I think this is a better use of Christmas money than buying kids who already have everything something even more. For example most of the angel tree kids need a winter coat, warm pj's, warm clothes, shoes, etc. My little girl has all that. I'd rather teach her to give to someone who needs it than give her stuff she doesn't need. Of course we do buy her gifts, too, but I think charitable giving on a level your child can help with is a great way to spend some of your Christmas money.
If you are going into debt for Christmas (ie putting it on a credit card or putting other stuff on a credit card so you can afford Christmas) then you are spending too much even if you are hardly spending anything at all. It's important only to give what you can afford to give.
We don't buy like crazy all year. Birthdays and Christmas, and the occasional treat is it. I have 2 little kids (4 & 2) that I don't spend a whole lot on, since they're so little. I think I spent $50 on the youngest, and about $100 on the 4 y/o. However, I have an 8 y/o boy. He doesn't really like toys anymore, and I probably spent $200 getting the things he wanted.
The older they get, the more I will spend, I'm sure... :)
I am very thrifty and buy things all year long while on clearance, though. The most expensive thing I bought was a Game Cube game that was $30 (on sale).
IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR BUDGET.
The answers post by the user, for information only, FeelBaby.com does not guarantee the right.