How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

I am so bad at this. I never really budget but I try to shop sales and such but always go overboard. I am trying to organize and return some stuff but I am still well over $400 per kid. Chat Icon
Is that totally crazy? I know there are years it's been more.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

well if that's crazy then call me crazy b/c i am at about the same per kid i am terrible at keeping a bduget and also shop sales but my enthusiasm gets the best of me! i don't go crazy with buying them toys all year so i have fun with getting them stuff from Santa for Christmas...even growing up we were not spoiled or wealthy but my parents always gave us a generous Christmas morning.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

This year we just don't have to money to go too crazy, plus Loey's birthday is 12/18. We spent about $150 for Christmas and $150 for birthday gifts.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

Maybe $200 per kid. Some years I go over, like last year they all got a new ride on and then a bunch of gifts. I figured the ride ons will last a few years though :)

Their grandparents, aunts and uncles spoil them so much that I figure it would be best to not get too much.

we still have birthday gifts from AUGUST sitting in their room not opened!

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

I don't really keep track to be honest. If I had to guess, maybe $2-$300? I don't buy a bunch of stuff during the year for them though, so that is how I justify buying what I do for Christmas.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

100 for my nearly 4 year old. Probably just one toy for baby I could spend more but i dont see point at this age. Hey will get spoiled by family and have tons of toys as it is. Plus my older one has a birthday soon. I rather go all put when they r older.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

I don't keep track or work on a budget. I am bad that way. I see it....I like it...I buy it!

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

We have been buying a 500 dollar bond for Christmas and a few toys that we collect over the course of a year. She gets super spoiled by everyone. I'm saving for her big gift one day.......her down payment for a house. It's my dream.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

Normally less than $200.

But, this year I am going overboard cause I went back to full-time work and feel like I can. My son is getting about $400 worth of toys but my dd will be easily satisfied with $200(cause her stuff is cheaper.)

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

i always keep track. This year i spent more than i would have liked to. $175. I normally don't go over $100.

*my son is 3 1/2. So i figure things will get more expensive as he gets older, so why overdue it now.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

i've spent about $200 (or just over) on both of my girls. They are getting about 16 presents each and 2 "bigger" presents to share (step 2 double art desk and spiral train set, new, with a hand me down thomas train table).

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

I just want to add that my children do not get very many gifts from our family members. If they got a bunch, I would probably scale back.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

We are around $350-400 each Crazy!

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

$200 for x-mas, $75 for birthdays. (each kid)

Message edited 12/3/2011 9:48:59 PM.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

My budget per child is $150 and I am about there for each child within 5-10 dollars. I was able to stock up this summer at the Target sale and at the pre black Friday sale at TRU. I also took advantage of buy two get one free items and pampers points to get things for free.

ETA: Due to this post, I calculated exactly how much I spent on gifts and then went and found the original MSRP for every gift. If I spent the MSRP it would have been about 300 per child.

Message edited 12/4/2011 1:59:53 PM.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

I have easily spent $400 on my DD, if not more. Can't help myself.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

I added everything up and we spent 250 on each child. We don't have a budget but we got a lot of toys at the target sale over the summer. This year we did not give clothes for Christmas, so it's toys and the anywhere chairs (on sale for 69.00)

Lesson learned for next year, I will shop early and for sales since it worked out so well this year.

We buy the kids toys all year round but I think we need to stop doing that

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

I'm really bad at this too.

For my nieces and nephews I try to make it $50 each--but it adds up sooo fast!

For my Best Friend's daughter, I spend about 50-75 bucks.


And for my own DD, the sky is the limit, which is why I am so broke.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

Wayyyy too much!

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

I don't feel so bad now.
I felt like when they were young it was easier to shop clearance sales and such. Now that they are a bit older. Get Santa and all that I have to attempt to honor requests so for my DD that included the new Hawaiian American Girl Doll and a Barbie Camp
DS is a little easier but I still couldn't get away with just giving whatever I think he would like. Even at 3 he had specific requests.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

we dont have a budget for it. With that said I do try and find good deals and sales and use coupons whenever I could. We celebrate both hanukkah and christmas. We do one big gift for the first night of hanukkah. The other 7 nights they get smaller gifts each night ($20 or under). Then they also get one big gift for christmas and one or two smaller gifts and then small items in their stockings (trains, books, stickers, etc).

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

I dontkeep track but i just added up real quick for this post.
Travis, spent $30. He got 2 elmo dolls (used), the isher price stand raceway (used), backyardigans couch (used), and boombox (new but free, kohls cash).
Kylie $80. She got cabbage patch doll (new), blankie dolls(new), and these used things: purple tricycle, princess purse with accessories, and laptop.
Landon about $250, including $80 spent on 2 pairs of nikes. He is in. Boys sizes now, so expensive! Also got leappad, game, ap card, monster trucks, curious george book, and a bunch of stuff from the summer target sale... Remote control tarantula, misc trucks, imaginetex.

Re: How much do you budget per kid for Christmas?

I don't budget, I just buy larger items that I might not buy during the year. I know I buy DD way too many small toys, etc, year round. It's bad habit, esp since I am not on a budget.

So far I have spent over b/w 400-500 (Lead Pad, a few cartridges to go with that, Disney dress up trunk, Disney castle with figurines, Disney princess barbie set from target, colorforms, playdoh set, a few small items). Not sure how much more I will buy since family members have to buy stuff too.

Message edited 12/4/2011 10:48:40 AM.