what is a typical amount of $ spent per child? - Page 5

[greenmansions]

The plan is $100 - 150 per child. We have 2 kids. In reality for one kid it will probably be a bit more because there is a nice building set he wants, and for the other kid will it be less because all she wants is stuffed animals and doll clothes. I'm not buying $100 worth of stuffies!

We also then will spend about 50 per niece/nephew - we currently have 4.

We do not buy toys during the year - maybe a $5-10 item here and there, but that's infrequent. Christmas and birthday are the big ones.

DH is laid off right now, otherwise the budget for our kids would be increased by 50-100, and for their cousins by 50. (I do not always spend the entire amount we budget. It depends on what they want.)

[mommy2abigail]

Interesting...Last year it was about $30 per kid, dd1 was 3 and dd2 was 10 months. I try to get them something fun, a book, and something to deepen their faith. This year, I bought dd1 two Webkins, since she is into that, and will get her a doll too, since she's been really into those as well and her current doll broke. For dd2, I got her the LeapFrog letter magnets, not because we are all into the LeapFrog line, but because at two friends houses she played with them for an HOUR, and I could use that time when I need to HS dd1. They will also get some books from the Christian book store. So far, I've spent $20 for dd1 and $10 for dd2. The doll and the books will be another $30, so total $60 for both. They are the only grandchildren on both sides of the family, so there is always an abundance of gifts. This year my parents and sister/bil are getting dd1 dance lessons and we are asking MIL/FIL for membership to the science center.

[StephandOwen]

Way too much We don't really have a budget, per say. We just buy things all year long that we think ds will like. If I had to guess I'd say we've spent somewhere around $300 on him for Christmas. BUT a lot of that is on books because he's a book-aholic. LOL! We are frugal for 11 months out of the year. December we break all of that and go a bit crazy for ds We never ever go into credit card debt though so I think it's all good. We both have credit cards that are paid in full every month.

[Eman'smom]

We fall into the "you don't want to know" catagory. My sister will send small gifts but other than that no family will send anything. So it's just us.

I generally try to do a one present from everyone kind of thing, that gives them 4 things plus a Santa gift, then maybe an outfit or something. However as it's been pointed out, the other they get the pricer things get. Ds wants 2 Wii games and a bunch of Lego sets, well a Wii game is 40-50 bucks a shot and the lego sets he wants aren't cheap either. However DD who is 20 months is getting a cool kitchen I got on Craigslist and a few small things.

[Lisa85]

Originally Posted by Leta

We have a budget- a firm budget- of $100 (or less) per person within our family for Christmas.

Our birthday budget is both higher and more flexible- it tends to go up with age.

We don't buy the kids things like clothes for Christmas/birthday. If there is a special item of clothing that they want (like DD specifically asked for a Snow White outfit for Xmas), we'll do that, but as far as their regular wardrobes go, they know they'll get that stuff anyway, so they don't really ask for clothes for Christmas.

Usually, each of us get a new book for Christmas. Other than this one book, virtually all the other books we buy come from the thrift store.

For Christmas, we do three gifts and three stocking stuffers each. This is also somewhat flexible, because I have a unique wrapping system. I take everything out of it's package before I wrap it. Then, I put the gift in a reusable gift bag or foldable cardboard decorative gift box lined with tissue paper. I use a full roll of wired cloth ribbon ($1/roll, or $0.25/roll at the post holiday sales) to tie a bow around the package. I make homemade gift tags out of old cards- I use pinking shears and punch a hole, then I run curling ribbon thru the hole and tie the tag onto the wired ribbon bow. So the only trash we have on Christmas morning is tissue paper and gift tags, which get recycled.

What does wrapping have to do with budgeting, you may ask?

-If Christmas is lean, there are three boxes under the tree for everyone. If Christmas is flush, there are three boxes under the tree for everyone. Some years the boxes are fuller than others, but that is far less noticeable than a living room stuffed with presents vs. a tree that looks lonely.

-By removing all the packaging first, it is far more difficult to tell what was purchased new and what was purchased used.

-My wrapping method is fast- no cutting (except for some packaging), no taping. So I have more time to shop around for bargains and not feel rushed because I have "so much to do". My wrapping (of 30 gifts) takes under an hour. When I still used wrapping paper, it took me three hours, minimum, to wrap far fewer gifts.

-This wrapping method is ridiculously cheap. I got the boxes (20 of them, various sizes) and the wired ribbon (also 20 of them) at a post holiday sale in 2005 and spent less than $20. The gift tags are practically free. Tissue paper is very inexpensive- I spent $2 on a big package last year, and expect it will last me through Christmas 2010 or 2011. This reduces holiday spending overall- other than presents and food, the only thing we buy every year is our tree.

There are other advantages, too, like a relaxed Christmas morning (no cleanup! no assembly!), and the fact that the presents are magazine beautiful with very little work, but the primary reason I use this method is to save money.

Our kids get a pretty steady flow of stuff throughout the year- not from us, typically, but the grandparents and aunts and uncles- so I try hard to focus a few things that they really want rather than just a glut of stuff. And if I can find that special thing used, I'm not going to pass it up just because it doesn't come in a plastic bubble.

For those that buy used gifts for christmas, what do you do if one of the recipients wants to return an item, either the item doesn't work out for whatever reason, or they received a double? I assume most places, like goodwill, the salvation army, and garage sales, you aren't able to return items?

[Chicky2]

Originally Posted by Lisa85

For those that buy used gifts for christmas, what do you do if one of the recipients wants to return an item, either the item doesn't work out for whatever reason, or they received a double? I assume most places, like goodwill, the salvation army, and garage sales, you aren't able to return items?

I only buy used for my immediate family, but that's really the only ppl I buy for anyway, lol. I have never had to return anything new for anyone but myself.

[abharrington]

very interesting thread!! we are still pretty new at all this...dd is 2 and ds is 1. so far they each have new jamies. ds has small wooden cars. dd has baby doll diapers and sling. they also have a new book each. total so far: $115. they are probably done. they will get very nice gifts from the many extended families. i know a train table/train set is coming our way...also new baby doll, stroller, ride on toy for ds, games and puzzles, books. we are very blessed...and i am working on where to put it all.

i do buy things through out the year and they have winter bdays...oct 27 for ds and jan 17 for dd. i like to buy a few very high quality gifts for christmas/bday...i know they will have PLENTY to open from extended family. i'm sure i could find things for less $$ but we can afford it and we enjoy it.

dh and i usually spend about $75 on each other. its usually something practical...this year he is getting new shoes and I am probably getting a roasting pan.

[BMG580]

I do not set a limit and I do not spend exactly the same amount on each child. The few things that are going to thrill my soon to be 2 year old are just less expensive than the things my 4 year old wants.

This year Santa is bringing a play kitchen (it was $135 including tax and shipping) for both children to share. I figure we'll get a lot of mileage out of this as both my children are young and we have another one due next month. They each get two presents more from us, totaling three and then various family members send things. So they will probably get about 6 presents each + their stockings (things like candy, hair bows, board books, socks, etc.).

Altogether I think I spent around $300 for both of them which seems fairly reasonable to me since the gifts are nice quality and will actually be played with. We also don't buy much of anything for the kids aside from birthdays and Christmas which also helps me justify the expense.

[honeybunmom]

I don't really have a budget. I do buy small toys throughout the year and dd's birthday is almost 2 mos to the day before Christmas. Now, we have ds, too. I try to purchase quality, open ended toys that will last. I also always buy a substantial gift for my mom (who is hands down the best mama in the world!) and now, my SIL, brother and their two kids. If I don't see my younger brother for the holidays, I don't buy him anything (same with him for me and my family - it works for us). So, aside from my mom (who, I can usually assign a gift to) and my SIL, no one else is really buying for the kids. My dad has started purchasing gifts for my kids, though. He and I do not exchange gifts.

I try to get one big gift and usually agonize over the price. This year it's a dollhouse. I decided to go with the $189 vs. $269 item. If she doesn't play with it much, I'll feel a lot better about the purchase. For ds, I purchased a push toy (rolling cart thingy) that I agonized over for dd, but never purchased ($115), plus a rocking toy ($75.00). DD is also getting clothes. She asked for a mermaid doll. I'm making that and another Waldorf doll I already had in the works before that request. This summer I bought wooden table and chairs for the doll and a wooden duck with ducklings pull toy for ds.

They also get a stocking, although ds's will be quite limited this year, if at all, since he is just 9 mos. If we do it, it will be more for dd's experience than ds's so that she doesn't think that Santa, or the elf he has assigned to them (named Nigel - LOL!) has left ds out.

[doubledutch]

average, about $10.

my boys will receive two (or maybe three) joint gifts this year. one will be purchased for about $20-25. the other(s) will be homemade from materials i already have.

last year, homemade for free.

'07, ds1 about $20 (cars and carrier) and ds2 got nothing, as an infant.

'06 ds1 about $20 for a doll.

'05 ds1 got nothing, as an infant.

they haven't noticed yet. dh & i agreed to limit it to one gift per kid, except two joint gifts is the same as one each, and it just makes more sense since our boys are close in age and play with the same stuff these days. i imagine they will start to have more expensive taste as they get older, but i'd like to reserve birthdays as the day they get a really great present (or a small pile of presents) and keep christmas more low-key.