$600 in gifts for a 3 yr old

[choli]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/11/24...ef=mpstoryview

It just seems crazy to me to spend $600 on Christmas for a two year old. No wonder this couple has money problems.

Am I totally unrealistic?

[slsurface]

Ugh! I hate stories like that. I never spent more than $500 for all Christmas gifts for everyone in my and DH's families combined! Now that I make all our gifts, I spend around $100 total for all gifts.

As an aside, I've done some research near French Lick Indiana. There isn't much work in that area, it's pretty remote.

[gurumama]

Unless you're buying a huge wooden kitchen and a playhouse that will last for decades and be used by two generations of kids, $600 on a 2 year old seems incredibly over the top.

[mirlee]

That's double my entire gift/food budget for the holidays!!!! It is completely unrealistic.

[SleeplessMommy]

Time to repackage last years presents! The kid may not even notice

[choli]

Originally Posted by SleeplessMommy

Time to repackage last years presents! The kid may not even notice

I used to do that for my DD2. Age appropriate toys that had belonged to her older sister and "retired" would reappear at Christmas wrapped and were greeted with delight.

[ledzepplon]

I saw that article and was totally irritated. While I'm sorry the mom lost her job, it makes me wonder how they spend their $$ if they put $600 toward presents for a toddler.

[SAHDS]

I don't think it's crazy or unrealistic, if you have the money.

And, yeah, French Lick is a pretty small town (DH is from a nearby town). Sad.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

I saw that and my jaw just about hit the floor. I spent $30 on my nearly 2 year old and I am feeling like I went a little over the top for him. Yikes!

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by SAHDS

I don't think it's crazy or unrealistic, if you have the money.

and if you have the money of course means paying cash, not using credit cards. I wonder if this family has a lot of debt. That would really be awful since the dad lost his job and all.

[mtm]

I think its crazy for a toddler. We repackage gifts too, the baby is getting her older brother's ride-on toy for her bday, it will be its third appearance at a first bday.

[Logan's Mom]

I think its all realitive. The first year, we bought my son 1 present - a thomas push train. Last year, we bought him 4 or 5 small gifts (I'd say we spent between $60 - $80). This year, we purchased a big gift and a few smaller gifts (spending about $150). So we have progressively spent more, but I still think its within reason. He needed something to work on his gross motor skills and help get out the wiggles in the winter, some new challenging puzzles and some art supplies. We got some music instruments for his stocking (egg shakers, etc.)

If I made $250k a year and had a complete playroom, I can see spending that much to outfit it with some really cool gear. But I don't and we can't so we spent more then I had thought, but it also was through co-ops and over a few months.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I think $600 for any kid is over the top. I spend way less than that on all 4 of my boys put together, LOL!

[missmich]

I think if it's a big gift like a playhouse or something that's meant to be more of a "family gift" that a few children will share then it's fine. Or maybe if they want to stock on clothes for the next couple of years. I just don't see how any child would need to have $600 worth of clothes,toys,books and games in one Christmas! That's more then my rent!!!

[Himom]

Even if you have the money, spending that kind of money on a 3-yr old Christmas gifts is not responsible, IMO.

[justamama]

Crazy, but I've no doubt my parents spent that much on me each Christmas when I was growing up. However, they did spend the money wisely, imo, since my own children are now playing with many of those toys and wearing lots of my clothes as well.

The only way I would be spending that much on Christmas gifts for my 3 year old is if I were buying quality wooden toys as a pp mentioned that could be enjoyed by all my future children/grandchildren. Otherwise, I'm good recycling forgotten gifts and thrift store finds!

[lolar2]

Originally Posted by justamama

Crazy, but I've no doubt my parents spent that much on me each Christmas when I was growing up. However, they did spend the money wisely, imo, since my own children are now playing with many of those toys and wearing lots of my clothes as well.

The only way I would be spending that much on Christmas gifts for my 3 year old is if I were buying quality wooden toys as a pp mentioned that could be enjoyed by all my future children/grandchildren. Otherwise, I'm good recycling forgotten gifts and thrift store finds!

:

[yukookoo]

didnt read the article yet but I have to say where i live it's a general thing. Not 600 but 300 wouldnt surprise me at all for the average budget for a toddler around here.

we spend a lot for the holidays but what are we considering gifts? For example I buy a year's worth of clothes if stuff is on sale and wrap itup as gifts. Or other needed things. We spent a boat load on woolens, sof stars, waldorf art supplies, a musictogether class... so if i count those into our holiday gift budget for dd, which we do i spent about that much too.....

of course we got 1 present for dh and I each - he got socks and undershirts - hanes not wool haha and I got a pair of jeans off ebay

i guess we take the opportunity to stock up and call if gifts, which it is...

[sapphire_chan]

I could actually see $600 at 3 years old. That's right when they're able to start playing with all the really cool toys that'll still be awesome when they're 7 or 8. Like you could get years of use out of a play kitchen, and little fantasy figures, and blocks... If you've got money and no crafting skills, and buy the really good quality stuff, yeah, $600 easily.

[Ruthla]

Even if they're not in credit card debt, they don't have anything in savings- the article states theyr'e 3 or 4 weeks behind on bills. It could be that some of those bills are from poor spending habits in the past, or it could be that those are al legitimate bills like phone, car insurance, heat, etc. Even so, if they'd spent $50 on gifts last year and put the other $550 in savings, they wouldn't be in such a tight spot right now.