Christmas budget

BethS2006 · November 2010

As I start shopping for the twinks, Im wondering (since they are actually getting it a little now) how much you spend on your toddler/preschooler for the holidays... one big gift and few littles and a stocking, overboard, stockings only? do you set a budget for it? does you budget include gifts only or stockings as well?

and what are you getting your munchkins? what are you most excited for?

[Poll]

braveangel2 · November 2010

For our 22- month-old, no stocking (she has one, but we don't fill it yet) and one gift. This year it's a bicycle and we gave it to her early since we wanted to get more use out of it. That was $140...we tried a cheaper version, and it didn't work so well, so we splurged for the good one. She loves it! Otherwise, it would be under $50.

cwhip77 · November 2010

I think we might go a little overboard. So far I'd estimate I've spent about $300 on M, and I'll probably get her a few more things. We usually get her one big main gift (last year it was a play kitchen, this year it's a dollhouse) and then a bunch of smaller gifts.

AnnetteWalker · November 2010

We went shopping yesterday and got all of Robbie's toys. He will be getting a Follow Me Thomas, 20 pack of hot wheels, Mr. Potato head, a small Buzz Ligtyear, a stuffed animal, a hot wheels track, a Zhu Zhu pet. We plan on rotating the toys out that we have now, most are for younger kids so we needed some more age approperate ones.

seattlestef · November 2010

We are spending $100-150 per child. Honestly, I spoil them all year round so I don't feel like I need to go overboard just for Chirstmas.

We bought them a play kitchen, play kitchen accessories, some crayons, and for stockings I bought a bunch of Sesame Street stuff from the $1 section at Target. I'll probably also buy a few other individual little things like a Magna Doodle or Etch a Sketch.

StellaZ · November 2010

Deinfitely under $50 from us this year. And not that he "needs" anything - I have no doubt his Grandparents and Aunties will spoil him.

From Us:

*Stocking = Thomas the Tank Engine bath toys (*8.00)
*Big present = Radio Flyer no-pedal trike (free/hand-me-down)
*Monkey Puppet ($2.50 target bin)
*Jumbo crayons and paper pad ($5.00)
*Stuffed penguin ($1.00)
*Two holiday storybooks ($1.00 each)
*Whatever his Secret "Bumpie" Santa delivers!

cmcmillan · November 2010

We do about $200 for gifts and stocking. I make a list of stocking items, then usually one gift from Santa (wagon this year). Then 3-4 gifts from us.

Edit: I fogot to put we we got them. M's stocking-firetruck shirt/socks from gymbo, firetruck jammies, kids n clay gc (date night w/mom), kids chopstix, flash cards, brainquest cards, a few pieces of xmas candy, moondough. Santa is bringing then a wagon and 1 gift each (need to see what he asks for). Then we are giving him a superhero cape, tag reader +2books.

Walker's stocking will have firetruck shirt/socks, abc blocks, dara blanket, bibs, bathtoys (if arrive in time), and some little cars (m's are too big for his hands). From us he will get a tag blanket (from bumpie/etsy seller) and a Melissa &Doug stacker toy since we lost pieces of M's.

Vonita · November 2010

I bought a sock monkey from a fundraiser bazaar for DD ($20 donation)

I might pick up another little stuffed animal, teething toy, and/or a soft book but that's it from us this year. She's too little to understand and I know both sets of grandparents and great grandma will be spoiling her - they've been planning for weeks.

tfarabians · November 2010

We have gone a bit overboard this year too. C gets lots of little things throughout the year but only gets bigger stuff at christmas. So far I have:

remote control buzz lightyear, 2 monster truck stadiums, cars racestrack, dip n dots machine (um partially for mommy lol), halo rc car, another remote control car (meant for smaller cars in case daddy's halo car is too hard) lightening mcqueen scooter, candyland, chutes and ladders. chucky the talking truck, imaginex space shuttle. My mom and I have to decide who is giving C what and what santa is giving him.

stocking- orange, candy, chapstick, pistachios (he LOVES those) toothbrush, playdough

zazzu · November 2010

W is too little to care about Christmas yet, plus dh and I are anti commercialism to some degree. However, we still celebrate by encouraging the gift if giving rather than getting. W will get way too much crap from my mom. We will get him big ticket items like a bike or kitchen for the hoildays or birthdays over time, but avoid all the little stuff that seems to be a waste of money. I'm not sure yet what he's getting from us this year but we'll likely spend $100 and then use some budget to buy for donations.

KNemo · November 2010

So far, I have spent about $40, but I have a full cart on Amazon.com that will bring the total up to around $80. I haven't really purchased stocking stuffers yet, so that will be another $25+.

blueLu25 · November 2010

I started shopping really early this year so I could get good deals on stuff. We do stockings and presents.

For Ollie:

pair of converse ($14)

walkie talkies ($7)

shirt ($3)

two pair jammies ($10 for both)

=$34

Plus stocking, which has a small puzzle, playdough, travel cup, gloves, some kind of treat.

Eva is getting a teething toy/ rattle that I bought off Etsy, jammies and then a few small things in her stocking (sippy cup, board book).

Alli923 · November 2010

Our budget for Lucy this year is $150 (gifts and stocking). So far, we've gotten her a My Pal Violet, lots of new clothes (18mo), ball pit and balls, an activity walker, new bath toys.

I still have about $50 left to spend. We're thinking of getting her a Little Tikes 3-in-1 trike...but I'm still on the fence on that one. Otherwise it will be books, puzzles, and maybe one other music toy.

preston18 · November 2010

I?m trying to live by the Three Wisemen Rule: if three gifts were good enough for Baby Jesus, three gifts are good enough for Baby N. but I usually fail.

So far he has a Little People airport, airplane, and ambulance. I made him an ABC of N book and DH is making him a Jeep book. He?ll get some Hot Wheels in his stocking. See? I failed already and it?s no even December.

JRS72206 · November 2010

cwhip77:
I think we might go a little overboard. So far I'd estimate I've spent about $300 on M, and I'll probably get her a few more things. We usually get her one big main gift (last year it was a play kitchen, this year it's a dollhouse) and then a bunch of smaller gifts.

Same!

DAWNNA76 · November 2010

between 75-100 on both. Kai is getting a bike ($65) Eli got a buzz lightyear ($40). I got some board games for each also but they were only $2.99 a piece at TRU yesterday.

preston18 · November 2010

And I blew it becasue this was on a Lightening Deal. I am a budgeting failure when it comes to Christmas. It's ok, becasue I generally rock at it for the rest of the year, right?

MrsEditorJax · November 2010

JRS72206:

cwhip77:
I think we might go a little overboard. So far I'd estimate I've spent about $300 on M, and I'll probably get her a few more things. We usually get her one big main gift (last year it was a play kitchen, this year it's a dollhouse) and then a bunch of smaller gifts.

Same!

Same here too! But no dollhouse. Wink

katielynn25 · November 2010

Max is only 6 months old so the gift giving is really for me. I'm a sucker for traditions. He will be getting gifts from us.

want: sensory ball $4

need: duffle bag from ll bean for overnights and big day trips $34

wear: christmas pjs $7

Read: richard scarry board book

Santa is getting him a pbk everwhere chair, a book, and some bibs.

ckmommy · November 2010

We are trying to re-focus Christmas on family and traditions instead of overboard on gifts...this is mostly for me. I tend to go overboard.

I don't really have a budget but so far we are doing REALLY good with gifts and their prices. Carter is getting a tent and tunnel play set that we picked up for $15 at Toys R Us and it is Cars themed, A Melissa and Doug shape sorter, his Christmas Jammies (tradition in my family) that he will open on Xmas Eve, and some blocks that go with his Little People stuff he got for his Birthday. He is getting bath crayons, little Chuck trucks, and socks from Santa.

itskacie · November 2010

seattlestef:
Honestly, I spoil them all year round so I don't feel like I need to go overboard just for Chirstmas.

We bought them a play kitchen, play kitchen accessories, some crayons, and for stockings I bought a bunch of Sesame Street stuff from the $1 section at Target. I'll probably also buy a few other individual little things like a Magna Doodle or Etch a Sketch.

Cam is getting these exact same things. HA!! She has a MagnaDoodle OBSESSION!!! She carries it around with her ALL day at daycare!

heather318 · November 2010

I don't really have a budget since we're not planning on getting him much.. Seeing as though he'll be about 8 weeks old at the time.

I want to do pajamas on Christmas Eve as a tradition, so we'll do that. Then I'll probably get him a few toys, books and socks. That's about it this year.

doublem · November 2010

I'm assuming this doesn't count the fact that we are paying the bill to bring her home from the hospital. I feel like life is a pretty big gift that can carry over to Christmas and she won't know the difference.

We will get her a stocking, but mostly just so we have one ready for next year.

Seattle_JiLLn · November 2010

Last year we got too much stuff. We ended up not even having Ben open several things. And some of those things are STILL IN THE GARAGE. So he doesn't need that much. Plus stuff from other family and friends. Plus Cooper just had a birthday and Ben's is right after Christmas. So there's present overload. And these kids don't even really get it. They're happy to open anything. It's hard for them to appreciate what all they're getting when they are overloaded. So this year, we're doing one biggish thing, maybe a book or some other small thing, and a stocking - which in our house would mean he gets stickers, or a funny hat or something. Nothing big in the stocking. And then they'll have stuff to open from eveyrone else too. That's it. Cutting back. Way back. We have too much crap in this house.

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