https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:04:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848777 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 19:00:28 +0000 Hypatia 2848777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: My DH experienced that with his best friend. His friend was much poorer. They talked about what they got for Christmas, and the friend wondered why he had gotten so much less. He concluded that he must have been a lot more badly behaved than my DH. DH wanted to argue but he was at a loss for any other explanation. I think kids could easily reason that other parents make more money in their different jobs and thus give more presents. But when they think Santa is real, it’s like they have no choice but to believe that it is their fault. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848729 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 15:27:22 +0000 erinbaderin 2848729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I probably spend that much per kid. I loooove Christmas, and like a few others have said, I like a big Christmas. I try to reign myself in, so the kids don’t get overwhelmed, but it’s hard. I probably spend $100 per kid on stockings (from Santa) and then four or five or six presents (I usually start out planning/telling my husband I’ll do four, and then doing six) from us. One is always a package of books, because I really want them to be readers. My husband is worried about spoiling them but I think it’s ok to spoil kids at Christmas, and also it’s really more for me - it makes me so happy to see how excited they are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848689 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:40:00 +0000 Ajsmommy 2848689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I spend a lot.... like @silva I love a big Christmas and my parents did it BIG and I remember it being so magical and awesome and I want the same for my kids. DH and I work hard to be able to provide and so far my kids are well behaved, moral, sweet little things.. so I go over board. I spread my purchases out all year.. I already have about 5 or 6 things for DD and 2 things for DS. </p> <p>DH usually gets into the spirit the week before Christmas and will come up with some huge gift he wants to get the kids so he'll do that so $$ wise I'm sure we probably spend about what the original post said.....I think this year he's thinking an ipod for DD and a ride on suv for DS.</p> <p>We do differ though on the santa gifts vs from us gifts. I prefer to give most everything as "from santa" bc I feel like that is what creates the magic.. but DH is like @Sams Mom: dad.. he wants credit plus he thinks it's not fair if DD or DS go to school and go on and on about lots of santa gifts when there might be less fortunate kids who only get one gift from santa(he grew up poor so I think this plays into it for him....).... and I get it..... so we try to balance it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848675 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 12:35:17 +0000 youboots 2848675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mostly buy a few things over the year and keep them in a gift closet. I pull everything out before Christmas and her birthday to inventory and fill in gaps.</p> <p>So far I got her a bathrobe and some indoor slippers for her school. </p> <p>Oh that note I also store toys from the holidays and give them to her year round. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848661 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 11:43:18 +0000 smuckers 2848661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We probably spent around $100-200 last year for DD, but are planning to spend $100 MAX this year. (ETA: I checked my spreadsheet from last year: we spent $75 on DD last year)</p> <p>Our budget is limited by what we can afford; if I could go crazy, I certainly, without a doubt would. However, it is important to me to give well thought-out gifts, so it wouldn't be stuff for the sake of stuff, just bigger items and/or higher quality items. </p> <p>Since we're limited by our income, I just make it a priority to know what I want, and shop around all year long. We do the 4 things, but it really ends up being 4 categories, not 4 things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848645 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 10:30:45 +0000 periwinklebee 2848645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This will be LO's first Christmas, so no past experience, but I really want to create a norm of keeping things low-key in terms of presents. I'm not even sure if we'll get him anything this year, as he is not old enough to have expectations and I suspect the grandparent gifts (only grandchild on both sides) will be sufficient. </p> <p>The big $ item for us is travel to see family, since none of our family lives within driving distance and plane tickets are so expensive around the holidays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848640 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 10:21:27 +0000 Lindsay05 2848640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have to somewhat agree to that average. We both have childhood memories of waking up Christmas morning to a pile of presents. It’s one day of the year where the kids are truly spoiled and hey...we use it to our advantage because our kids are usually well behaved for a solid 2 months before Santa comes :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848638 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 10:12:12 +0000 Alba4 2848638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe $150/ kid... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848615 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 08:57:40 +0000 Sams Mom 2848615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: my mom was not impressed, but I crack up about it now. But I would be sooooo mad at my husband if he said something like that. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848612 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 08:49:32 +0000 josina 2848612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sams Mom: Sorry, lol'd to your dad's comment although I would be NOT happy with DH if he said the same thing. I do agree though and most of our gifts are from 'us' with just a few Santa presents.</p> <p>My goal is around $100 or less per kid. Last year I spent $140 on our teenager, $65 on the 3 year old and $55 on the 1 year old (did good!) and then $75 on our Christmas box which includes gifts for everyone, last year was socks (matching pj's the year before), Beauty and the Beast Blue-ray, Taylor Swift CD, coffee, hot cocoa and candy/crackers. </p> <p>It does get harder with the teen b/c her wants are more expensive, last year was a North Face coat and since I don't want her to have only 1 gift to open, she gets extras. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848611 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 08:48:27 +0000 Mrs D 2848611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us it changes a bit year over year, now that they are getting a bit bigger I am getting into more of a routine.</p> <p>Santa: 2 gifts and a stocking...usually around $50-75 per kid. Could be one gift if they want something bigger. Stocking is pretty boring stuff (socks, underwear, dollar spot stuff).</p> <p>Mom &amp; Dad: Sometimes there is a big item we want to get them (bounce house two years ago), sometimes they each want a bigger thing (Doll House for DD1 and Tent/Tunnel for DD2 last year). I'd say we end up around $300 in this category for both girls...sometimes its a big joint gift...sometimes its smaller individual gifts. Plus some necessities (winter coats/gear is always something Mom and Dad get them).</p> <p>Splurges: If a deal is hot and I get impulsive I have been known to splurge. Its usually no more than $100 total. Last year I caught a Target deal for a set of 12 disney princess dolls for $60, so I got it and DD1s dollhouse was full of princesses.</p> <p>Other things...$100ish. We do a December Box full of Christmas inspired activities. Always a new movie and christmas jammies, plus some dollar spot things to add to it.</p> <p>Experiences: Santa brunches, polar express, nutcracker tickets. It varies per year but it does add up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848608 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 08:43:31 +0000 Twolittlemen 2848608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: @looch: I dislike spend shaming too. Christmas is big for me. Besides birthdays and Easter we don't buy our kids new toys. (We would buy a new bike if they needed it or buy things that they need but not frivolous things they want just because. They are certainly welcome to use their own money for these things.)</p> <p>This year my kids will be 6 and 8, both boys. I actually wouldn't be surprised if I spent close to $100 just filling each of their stockings. I don't get them a lot of candy and I dislike junk filler. So they get real gifts in there just small. Think movies, hanna andersson unders, nike and under armour socks (these can easily be $10 a pair), new winter hats or mittens, small lego packs, books, gift cards, water bottles, lego sticker books, card games, etc.</p> <p>Also our families barely buy our kids anything. I have many friends whose grandparents shell out a ton. My kids get one gift from each set of grandparents, and one aunt &amp; uncle and its generally JUNK. (Something bought on sale, that they often don't want or a knock off of something they do want (that breaks in a couple weeks), or something wildly age inappropriate (like a baby gift for a 2 year old.))</p> <p>Last year we got them an xbox, extra controller, and a couple games to share($250).<br /> One got a PB comforter with NFL teams ($100)<br /> One got the imaginext batbot ($100)<br /> Then they each had accessory gifts that probably added up to another $100 (nba jersey, snuggie, dressup, matchbox, magnatiles, etc). And they each had about $100 stocking. So yeah- they each had about 5 gifts and a stocking and we were probably right at $450. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848602 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 08:23:46 +0000 SupernovaJ 2848602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sounds like a lot to me, but to be honest, we are always buying our kids stuff throughout the year, to the point where it is excessive and we are trying to cut back. They receive so many birthday and Christmas gifts that we (as parents) don't feel the need to then buy something larger and more expensive on top of that. We usually will just buy them something functional that's needed at the time--clothes or workbooks, dresser or a new big girl bed, etc. Not really anything they would see as a gift. If we cut down on yearly spending overall for gifts, then I could see the need for splurging more for Christmas. Sometimes I worry our kids don't know the value of things because they essentially have everything they want or could ever need (within reason, but at ages 4 and 2, the smallest things are big things to them). As parents we're also trying to spend less and live without clutter just because all the kids toys gives me mental stress. I know parents who don't buy their kids things throughout the year, and instead splurge on holidays. That totally makes sense and I'm sure it all evens out. I just never saw an amount written out like that, looks like $$$! But every family is different and there's no shame in spending a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848599 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 08:20:27 +0000 snowjewelz 2848599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: Yeah now reading everyone's response, it's not a crazy as I though! </p> <p>I think the main difference is I buy throughout the year based on need/deals, so if I had added all those things up and saved them all for Christmas, it would probably add up to that amount anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848598 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 08:19:37 +0000 snowjewelz 2848598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Agree! </p> <p>If you got the money, or buy/save gifts throughout the year, I think it's fantastic! I guess it makes sense too if you count every little thing from little socks to big toy items. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848585 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 07:43:02 +0000 looch 2848585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: You don't have to defend yourself on what you are spending, I certainly don't!</p> <p>I just dislike spend shaming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848578 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 07:26:01 +0000 MrsADS 2848578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow that seems like a lot to me - I could see the amount we spend going up a little as the kids get older and need/want more expensive things. </p> <p>Right now, my son gets so many gifts from family as well at Christmas and his birthday, I don't really feel like we have to do much from us - like he's getting gifts from both grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc so he's already getting a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848576 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 07:18:08 +0000 looch 2848576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no idea, I don't keep track. My son's birthday is also in December and he asks for a party (he didn't when he was younger so it's a big deal that he wants to host now so I oblige), so the entire month of December is one huge blowout in terms of cash outlay. I would be shocked if I spent less than $1000 last year, between the birthday and Christmas.</p> <p>It gets more challenging as the kids get older, they want more complicated things and it's not as easy to fill your shopping cart for $100. As an example, my son asked for Nintendo Labo. It requires the switch, which is $299, plus the kits are around $70. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas/page/2#post-2848561 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 05:04:36 +0000 Adira 2848561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We spend about $170 per kid. $100 from Mom &amp; Dad, $50 from Santa, and $20 for stocking stuffers. Here's a breakdown from last year:</p> <p><b>​Stockings</b><br /> Stuffed animal<br /> Christmas book - Activity Book<br /> Monster Trucks<br /> Bath Toys<br /> Candy<br /> Matchbox cars (Cars 3 cars)</p> <p><b>From Santa</b><br /> $50/each<br /> PJ Masks Headquarters ($55) - for both<br /> Gekko Mobile ($10) - for Xander<br /> Owlette Flyer ($10) - for Logan<br /> PJ Masks Set ($19) - separate and give Catboy/Owlette to Xander, Catboy/Gekko to Logan, everything else to both<br /> Total: $94 ($47/each)</p> <p><b>Xander &amp; Logan</b><br /> Chutes and Ladders ($9)<br /> Hot Wheels Track Set ($14)<br /> Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Figures ($23)<br /> Total: $46 ($23/each)</p> <p><b>Xander - From Mom &amp; Dad</b><br /> $100<br /> PJ Masks Shirts ($25)<br /> 3x PJ Masks Books ($15)<br /> Air Patroller ($25)<br /> Hot Wheels Mega Hauler ($10)<br /> Total: $75+ $23 (combined) = $98</p> <p><b>Logan - From Mom &amp; Dad</b><br /> $100<br /> PJ Masks Shirts ($25)<br /> 3x PJ Masks Books ($15)<br /> Paw Patroller ($30)<br /> Submarine Bath Toy ($6)<br /> Total: $76 + $23 (combined) = $99 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848558 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 04:25:40 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2848558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t really track how much I spend. We give LO new toys all year long, so I haven’t even thought about what he might need/ want for Christmas to make it special as a designated gift-giving holiday. </p> <p>Last year I did all the Christmas buying and he got an IKEA play kitchen, accessories, some books that totalled $60+ and his stocking stuffers were a few items from World Market including a puppet. The grand total a little over $200. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848556 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 01:32:48 +0000 thepaperbutterfly 2848556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I buy gifts for my daughter, friends, and family throughout the year and save them for birthdays and Christmas. It kind of lessens the financial burden, and I typically buy stuff on sale. </p> <p>I was lower middle class growing up as a kid, then middle class as teen, but there were some rough years sprinkled throughout my childhood. When I was 13 years old my dad just started flying for United Airlines, and he made like $30,000 that first year. My mom was bedbound due to a herniated disc compressing her sciatic nerve. We lived in my grandma's manufactured home on 10 acres rent-free in the middle of nowhere. My dad was hardly ever home, so my sister and I cut down a tree in the backyard, put it in a bucket and wrapped a bath towel around it for a tree skirt XD All of our stuff was in boxes, so we got some ornaments from the thrift store and made popcorn garland. It was a meager Christmas, and I remember that feeling of disappointment. Not in my parents as they were doing the best they could, but just kind of the situation. </p> <p>I wanted a more magical Christmas for my kids. I guess I overcompensate now because I love giving gifts. I spend an inordinate amount of time and planning on Christmas gifts for family and friends. My daughter was 11 months last Christmas and I probably spent $150 ($70 balance bike was a large part of it.) This year I think it is in the range of $300-$400. The gifts include: Kidkraft play kitchen, metal pots, pans, and utensils for play kitchen, various play food items, First Words Smart Puppy, Roll and Play (a child's first game), Haba My First Orchard Game, Elmo's on the Go Letters, Green Toys Build a Bouquet, several books and puzzles, and stickers. I also bought her a few ornaments last year. Maybe 4 XD I LOVE ornaments, and I finally had a baby to buy them for :) I will probably only get her 1-2 ornaments this year, but those aren't wrapped gifts. </p> <p>Her little brother will be just 3 weeks old at Christmas, so I'll just give him a stocking and some "Baby's First Christmas," ornaments. I've already bought him quite a few toys, but I don't see the purpose in wrapping them for a baby that small. </p> <p>My husband's family is in Japan, and Christmas isn't a big deal for them, so she doesn't get any gifts from them, and we don't expect it. My extended family is fairly small so my daughter doesn't get many gifts from relatives. I guess that's the other part of it. Giving gifts makes me inordinately happy, so I guess it's not really altruistic XD </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848555 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 00:39:57 +0000 PurplePeony 2848555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both DH’s and DD’s birthdays are in December so it is an expensive month for us. My DH didn’t grow up in a country where Christmas is celebrated, so he’s still a bit mystified by it, but it was HUGE in my family when I was growing up. Looking back, most of what we got was stuff we needed (clothes, toiletries) individually wrapped to give the impression of a huge pile of presents, but my brother and I each generally had 15+ gifts to unwrap on Christmas morning. Now, we do a scaled-down version but it always feels anticlimactic to me...</p> <p>Anyway, so far spending has varied a lot. The first couple years, we probably spent $100ish on DD’s birthday and Christmas combined. The next couple years, closer to $250/300. Last year was REALLY expensive because we switched her to a big-girl bed as one of her “gifts,” and the bed frame+mattress+mattress protector +pillow+sheets+quilt added up fast. Still, it was all stuff we’d have had to get at some point anyway, soooo...</p> <p>This year, I’m hoping to hold the birthday party and present(s) to less than $200 and Christmas in the same range. But DD and I also do tea at one of the fancy local hotels around Thanksgiving with some mommy/daughter friends, and also see the Nutcracker, neither of which I really consider birthday/Christmas presents—more just holiday traditions. And New Years is the big gift-giving holiday where DH is from, so we always give a gift or two then, as well. So the total December outlay on DD will probably be in the range of $750 :shocked: Plus gifts for DH. But at least we don’t spend much on toys for DD or gifts for each other the rest of the year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848553 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 22:39:58 +0000 Sams Mom 2848553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: my dad wasn't quite as "refined" as my mom would have liked when we were little and I remember him saying " I'm not letting some fat old imaginary bastard taking credit for the shit I bought with my hard earned money" 🤣 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848550 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 22:22:00 +0000 buttermilk 2848550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last year we spent about $300 for our now 3yo daughter. It’s ramped up slowly since she was born. LO2 is due later this month and I’m sure we will adjust our budget for two kids going forward. I love giving gifts and we don’t buy many toys throughout the year so tend to have bigger bdays and christmases. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848549 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 22:15:41 +0000 Hypatia 2848549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sams Mom: Ha, this is one of the reason we don’t do Santa! We bought it, we spent hours putting it together, I want some credit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848547 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 21:59:58 +0000 crazydoglady 2848547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We probably spend 100-150 or so on DS for Christmas but I also buy him stuff randomly through out the year because I am impatient. 😊 We probably won't spend as much on DD because she is only 3 weeks old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848544 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 21:42:14 +0000 Sams Mom 2848544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I go overboard on Christmas 🙈</p> <p>His first Christmas (almost 8 months) I spent $350?</p> <p>Second Christmas $300-350?</p> <p>This year my husband told me to keep it in check, especially if we adopt my cousin because all though I know we can give them both a great Christmas, I probably shouldn't spend $700+.</p> <p>I like to get one maybe 2 "big ticket" items, and then a bunch of little stuff. My family didn't do Santa, so it's been a learning curve for me to figure out stocking stuffers and the Santa gift. (I admittedly have a hard time giving Santa credit for any of them, let alone a "good/big one".</p> <p>My husband is adamant our son believes in Santa so I'm working on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848537 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 21:03:43 +0000 JCCovi 2848537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m sure I’ve easily spent that number or more most years, but we are really trying to reign it in. We’re doing want, need, wear, read this year. We just tried it for my daughters birthday and it wasn’t perfect but I was pretty close. The ‘’need’’ was a new bike and I ended up with several books.</p> <p>In addition to those 4, we do PJs+a book on Christmas Eve and a stocking. So far the only thing I’ve planned is to get them each a little s’well bottle for their stockings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848529 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 20:26:29 +0000 Silva 2848529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: I bet you could, or you can just try to go slow later on. This was the first year we did it there and I hated it. But she’s older now and wanted to do what her friends did at their parties. Ugggh I’m anxious just thinking about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-spend-for-christmas#post-2848527 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 20:20:20 +0000 peaches1038 2848527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We probably spend about $200 for Christmas for ds. I love a big Christmas and he doesn’t really get any toys other than Christmas, bday and Easter </p>