How much do you spend on your kids?

I probably should but haven't really set a budget for presents but am going for quality items. DD won't really understand anything this year as she'll only be one so it's probably more for me than anything.

For her birthday she is getting a metal framed paddling pool and a silver bracelet which I'm going to get engraved plus a toy or book.

For christmas she is getting a junior leather look bean bag plus probably some wooden blocks and one other thing.

I've also started what I hope to be a tradition and have brought her a christmas ornament personalised with her name and the year for both last year and this year and also a pregnancy one for this year for our next wee girl.

i have spent 49.99 each on both boys i got tonka romate controll cars half price at werehouse so that will do them - uslly it would be about 100 each but we are on hoiladay this year so thats there main pressy

I spent way to much on DS last Christmas, well not so much spent as I NEVER pay full price and what I spent was within budget but he had so much stuff that one gift was completely overlooked and in the end I put it away and he'll get it this Christmas!

I tried to be more restrained for his birthday but he does end up with about 10 presents costing around £100 or so but actual retail price would be about double that.

His birthday and Xmas are 6mths apart and he doesnt get toys during the year so I find he's usually ready for another developmental stage by the time one or the other rolls around.

For Christmas this year we will be in NZ (instead of the UK) so I have a few things I brought for him during the year before we knew we were coming over that I will save for when we get back and have a late Christmas with SIL, he's got a balance bike (half price at least, $30), an ELC Pirate Ship (75% off $20), Megadoodle (half price $20) and a couple of puzzles at 75% off maybe total $20, all up about $100 but again retail price so much higher.

Will get him his Santa stocking bits n bobs in NZ and maybe one present to unwrap on the day, he'll be so busy with all the fun stuff to do and new people to meet he'll not even notice his gifts I dare say!

Hmm well I don't think we will be spending that much on DS...so far we have gotten him wooden blocks, a little gardening set and some musical instruments. Some is birthday and some is Christmas. Will also get him a ride on toy plus some things for his stocking but not sure what that will be yet.
And that is it haha poor deprived child....not.

I sorted through our ds presents the other night, there is 13 things for xmas and around the same for his bday in Jan,and I still want to get him a remote control Thomas. He is getting one main present for each, for xmas he is getting a trike and for bday he is getting a battery operated ride on.

Normally $100 for birthdays because that's their day, and $50 for Christmas. We're trying to make the best thing about Christmas more the camping trip though, so we spent too much on a family tent this year, but their actual Christmas prezzy was the tramp. Back to the budget next year.

Dp and i have spent WAY to much!! We didnt have a budget though and brought throughout the year. I think all of DD's xmas presents came to approx $300 and her birthday in Jan is going to be close to $700 (one gift was $400 & DP wants to get her a pandora ontop of the few things we got throughout the year). I was going through what mum & dad have got her and if it wasnt for the $400 pedal car they would easily out do us. DP is a big spender though so im not suprised.

Edited by RicKer

Iv already bought all DD's christmas pressies , I did a layby in aug and fully paid it off a few weeks ago which was just over $200 , i also bought her a $30 book today to add to that and spent $60 today on clothes , socks, sunglasses for her so will either give her that now or save it for christmas , ill see.

Dp has a 5yr old daugter and my DD isnt his biolgical daughter so we have decided that i will buy majority of my DD's pressies and one thing for his DD and he will buy majority of his DD's things and one thing for my DD , we have decided to spend the same amount on both so its fair , at this age the pressies are from Santa to them anyway so makes no difference to them .

Im always spending money on Amelia , shes always dressed nicely and has alot of toys but i am missing out on alot lately ,I have hardly any clothes , makeup , Underware etc etc and its the same for my DP so me and DP have been saving a bit lately and this weekend we are both going on a little spending spree and spending some well earned money on ourselves , only rule , no buying for the kids!!! i cant wait !!!!

For us it is all inclusive. So roughly $100 per kid on our presents, $50 for stocking and new outfit for the day which is a present. Sometimes a bit more on the outfit especially now with DD being 14 so hers comes into the $100 spend as well. But with the the 14yr old sometimes we go over to $200 instead of the set $150 as her wishes are more expensive. Stocking consists of 1 present and a lot of $2 stuff and lollies etc. This year since we are going camping we are doing jacks, knuckle bones, card games, crafty things so they have stuff to do at night when we are chilling out with a drink. And a small lantern for their tent room. Not sure if that will be the $2 one or the $10 one from the warehouse yet but it is essential camping stuff so I may spend more for it to last and be brighter.

We are not spending much for Christmas I have already got a little paddling pool and a cute winnie the pooh outfit and I will probably only add a couple of smaller things. For her birthday I will spend a little bit more we have decided we are going to get her a bike and a braclet (something to keep being her first!). Oh and I got given a scrapbook type photo album that I will do for her with baby photos another special thing to keep that I think I might do for all my children!

We have huge families on both sides and she is the first grandchild on my parents side so she is going to get spoilt! We have decided to not go overboard and to keep it in perspective we want Belle to grow up not expecting big presents for either Christmas and for her Birthday and to have more of a focus on spending time with family and giving of gifts to others

Plus for her first we are going to have a big party, more for us than for her and I would rather put money into that, celebrating with everyone on our babies first birthday!