Christmas again? already? how much do you spend on your kids?

[Wolf1]

Just curious, how much do you usually spend on your kids for Xmas?

I have 2 kids, both girls ages 16 and 10. I usually spend around $500.00 per kid. Some people say this is way too much and they grow to expect it. I know some people spend way more.

It just seems like everything they want is expensive and $500.00 doesn't get very much.

Any thoughts?

[on-ramp]

I usually spend $0 on my kids because i dont have any.

[KFC911]

I usually spend less than $10 on mine and she's always the most excited kid in the house, as she retrieves it from under the tree and unwraps it with glee. The gift doesn't usually last more than a few hours though...but she sure is happy as she consumes it...laying there wagging her tail

ps: Obviously, I don't have kids, but imo, consistently giving kids hundreds of $ worth every year is almost guaranteed to develop their 'sense of entitlement'...not good! Furthermore, whether you can afford to or not is to me irrelevent... some of the most messed up kids I've ever been around were from the wealthiest families who had provided anything & everything they wanted...a recipe for disaster.

[Instrument 41]

Two boys, 9 and 11. About $400 to $500 per . Each are getting Trek bikes, therefore the higher amount. After a new Walmart bike a year can't see doing that again.

For those who don't have kids casting judgemnt on parents whom you think lavish them with too much. hold you judgments to things you have real knowledge of. Just becasue a kid is real sh-t head, doesn't necessarly mean they were overindulged at Christmas. Our boys work hard all year long, get great grades, very obedient, lot of comments from strangers on their good behavior. They desrve a great christmas.

[Hugh R]

Four years at UC Santa Barbara starting a few months ago for my daughter. Xmas will be on the light side, but not absent.

The boy who turns 16 this month is getting a nice used car as Xmas/birthday combination.

Typically under $500 each.

[KFC911]

No, I don't have kids (of my own) Instrument 41, but Wolf1 solicited opinions, and indeed asked for 'any thoughts'...thus soliciting .02 opinions from the masses. I didn't cast any judgement upon anyone, but simply stated my 'learned' observations from my long term g/f's college age kids (...nice kids btw, but definately have developed a 'sense of entitlement'), along with many of their peers . If you don't want opinions on an OT message board...don't ask! Wolf1, I certainly did not intend to be 'judgemental' of you or anyone else, and hope you didn't take offense ...if so, I apologize.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by Wolf1
Just curious, how much do you usually spend on your kids for Xmas?

I have 2 kids, both girls ages 16 and 10. I usually spend around $500.00 per kid. Some people say this is way too much and they grow to expect it. I know some people spend way more.

It just seems like everything they want is expensive and $500.00 doesn't get very much.

Any thoughts?

My kid lives in a state far from home, is 35 years old, pulls in 4X my best salary, and is working on her 2nd hubby. The question should be how much she spends on me. The answer is zero...I should answer in kind, but I don't. She is, after all, the kid...

[Serge914]

Two boys, 7 and 10, and I dont plan to spend more than $50.00 each. They usually get their biggest gifts from the grand-parents. We try to teach them that the holidays season is more a social event than a gifts buffet.
So we will probably spend more in ski tickets, hotels rooms and restaurants. They probably dont even remember what they got last year anyway.

[Wolf1]

Originally posted by KC911
If you don't want opinions on an OT message board...don't ask! Wolf1, I certainly did not intend to be 'judgemental' of you or anyone else, and hope you didn't take offense ...if so, I apologize.

No offense taken, ALL opinions are welcome. Besides, I have pretty thick skin, takes alot to irritate me..

I try not to over-indulge the kids, but also want to make christmas as exciting as possible for them while they are young and at home.

[RickM]

Originally posted by Instrument 41

For those who don't have kids casting judgemnt on parents whom you think lavish them with too much. hold you judgments to things you have real knowledge of. Just becasue a kid is real sh-t head, doesn't necessarly mean they were overindulged at Christmas. Our boys work hard all year long, get great grades, very obedient, lot of comments from strangers on their good behavior. They desrve a great christmas.

Agreed

[wludavid]

I thought I'd chime in, being closer to the kid side of things than the parent side. I can only remember one specific year when I got more than $500 in gifts, and that was to buy half of my new computer. I bought the other half. Most years it was more like 250-350. I'd rather my parents save their money and retire comfortably than buy me extravagant things every Christmas. My dad did just buy himself a several thousand dollar watch last week, so I'm hoping he ponies up and buys me something nice. Maybe a new set of wheels or that Sparco seat I've been eyeing.

This is not to say that my parents haven't been generous in other ways - ie paying for a large portion of my private-school education, and a car (or two) in high school. The big gifts were never really mine though. The car was my parents' until a year ago - it was just mine to use. Likewise, if my dad had bought me a kart, it actually would have been his, but I would have used it. It kind of tempers the feeling of entitlement when your big assets aren't actually yours.

[Moses]

I go overboard on Christmas. I spend about $500/kid. If my wife didn't keep me in check, it would be much worse.

My kids do very well in school. They are respectful and never in trouble. They have high standards and are developing values I am proud of. They do volunteer work and thier hearts are filled with kindness and compassion. There is no doubt they are "spoiled" in the material sense, but that is not because they insist on being indulged. The truth is that at Christmas time, I just can't help myself.

And for those of you who are childless, there is no power on earth as strong as a parents love for thier children. Sometimes it makes us act a little goofy.

[KFC911]

Originally posted by Moses
And for those of you who are childless, there is no power on earth as strong as a parents love for thier children. Sometimes it makes us act a little goofy.

Point taken Moses, and I have pm'd apologies to some who have mis-interpreted my post as being 'judgemental' (along with a public apology to Wolf1, to which he gratiously said was unnecessary). Merry Christmas to all of you...heck, I might even splurge and spend $20 on my 'kid' this year !

ps: I'm really not a cheap ba$tard...my gifts will total several thousand this year...just not to my 'biological kids' (and it's for sure not an every year occurance).

[project935]

My boys are 3.5 and 2 ... the played with the laundry baskets all weekend while their toys just sat there. The laundry baskets were looking kinda tired ... maybe we'll get them some new ones!

Seriously, my wife and I will spend between $80-100 for the both of them. We need to take the big SUV to the grandparents because that's the huge haul.

[Moneyguy1]

It is interesting. One comment was about the well off adult child who sends no gifts to the ones who loved and raised them. Not unusual. Last year, the ones with the least gave us a chiminea (outdoor fire place), another gave us a $20 gift certificate and the other two gave NADA. Seems as if those with the least are the most willing to share what they have.

[RickM]

Originally posted by KC911
Point taken Moses, and I have pm'd apologies to some who have mis-interpreted my post as being 'judgemental' (along with a public apology to Wolf1, to which he gratiously said was unnecessary). Merry Christmas to all of you...heck, I might even splurge and spend $20 on my 'kid' this year !

ps: I'm really not a cheap ba$tard...my gifts will total several thousand this year...just not to my 'biological kids' (and it's for sure not an every year occurance).

Keith, You don't have to apologize...you make a good point. It's just hard to comment on something as profound as how you'd react with your own kids.

Actually, I cringe when we go to my inlaws Christmas Eve gathering. Even after repeated pleas my daughter walks out with a dept store worth of crap.

That said, I'd agree that most toddlers will have as much fun with an empty box as a $200 toy.

[amity914]

This year we spent $50 per kid, because they have enough crap, and they don't need any more toys to break. We buy them lots of stuff all year. And Nana will probably load them up with stuff.

HIEDI

[Moneyguy1]

Just a suggestion...

If you have small children that are at an age to understand the principle of giving, and they are destined to get a boatload of new stuff, have them go through the stuff they have, choose some items they are not so fond of, and drive them to a charity that collects good toys for those less fortunate. An excellent object lesson.

[Burnin' oil]

The promise of another year of reduced rate room and board

[azasadny]

About $300- $350 per kid (we have two).