DH and I one same page on gifts? How much does average DC family spend on Xmas gifts?

[Anonymous]

Only child. Probably $200-250. It still feels exorbitant to me, but I bought sale stuff starting in probably September and it accumulated quickly. When we lay it all out on Christmas Eve to wrap it, we will likely stash some of it for his birthday in March.

[Anonymous]

We have very high HHI. Average per kid is about $300 plus sometimes something bigger as a combined gift (video game system, outdoor play thing or similar).

[Anonymous]

HHI around $800k. Only child (7). We usual get a big gift ($100-$250). Think bike, big lego set, etc. Lots of smaller stuff that probably adds up to $150 (including bandaids, socks, ornament, puzzle, a couple books, toothbrush, etc - that stuff adds up, so i don't want to underestimate). His grandparents probably spend another $100, and he has three sets of aunt/uncles who we ask to limit to $50 each.

DH and I met as students with no money, and agreed 20 years ago to limit our gifts to each other to $50. We've pretty much stuck to that (with some random exceptions).

I spend probably $400 total on my parents, including a big gift and some smaller things every year. $150 on my sister and her husband (no kids). $300 this year on service workers (housecleaner and lawn care). And probably $500 on teachers, etc (DS has special needs so we are generous here).

So DS is a small component of our overall holiday spending.

[Anonymous]

Every time I read these threads, I think they are far too low based on what I see from local friends. We do $100-200 on kids under 5 or so. Our older kids several hundred to a thousand - it’s adds up so quickly. We usually get one large gift and 4-6 smaller things and the cost varies quite a bit from year to year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is the CORRECT DCUM response
We have middle class income of 550k
DW mostly stays home, so no nanny.
Kids gifts are 50 bucks each
We drive to the thrift store on our 8 year old Volvo and purchase a few gently used toys.
We ask that relatives donate to charity in our children’s names.

You’re welcome.

You sound stingy with that income. Really selfish to to not allow kids to have some gifts from relatives.

Pretty sure that was a joke making fun of dcum.

We spend about $500 per child for Christmas. Spend about $100-$200 per birthday, rarely buy presents outside of those two occasions. No relatives to give gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We spent about $600 on DS. DW spent oboist 500 on me. I spent about $4k on DW.

So will that oboist just folllow you around? Are you just really into wind instruments? Can you make requests?

[Anonymous]

I'm in NYC and have a low HHI compared to many here. I dont spend alot of money throughout the year on my kids/grandkids nor do they ask for a lot so when it comes to Christmas I spoil them.

For my 21 and 23 year i spend about $750-$1K each on them and that's because there into purses, Uggs, electronics etc.

For my 12 year old I spend between $400-$600 depending on what she's into.

For my 2 grandsons I spend $300-$400 each on toys and clothes.
Yes this may be an exorbitant amount but we can afford it and there good kids who work and go to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is the CORRECT DCUM response
We have middle class income of 550k
DW mostly stays home, so no nanny.
Kids gifts are 50 bucks each
We drive to the thrift store on our 8 year old Volvo and purchase a few gently used toys.
We ask that relatives donate to charity in our children’s names.

You’re welcome.

Ha, best summary of DCUM ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in NYC and have a low HHI compared to many here. I dont spend alot of money throughout the year on my kids/grandkids nor do they ask for a lot so when it comes to Christmas I spoil them.

For my 21 and 23 year i spend about $750-$1K each on them and that's because there into purses, Uggs, electronics etc.

For my 12 year old I spend between $400-$600 depending on what she's into.

For my 2 grandsons I spend $300-$400 each on toys and clothes.
Yes this may be an exorbitant amount but we can afford it and there good kids who work and go to school.

That's a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

I spend about $400/kid. Late elementary school. It does not seem like “too” much. It includes a board game, sneakers, a magic potion kit recommended on DCUM, cozy PJs, a nice jewelry box, books, plus a good stocking.

Stuff adds up.

My parents spent $150 on me when I was growing up 30 years ago!

[Anonymous]

Have two teenagers and will spend around $500 on each.

[Anonymous]

Probably $150/kid on my 6yo and 2yo. $10 on the baby. We did, however, just spend $800 flying the 6yo back to where we used to live (DH was headed for work and she has a ton of friends she really misses — totally worth it, but not something we wrapped under the tree)

[Anonymous]

$190 HHI

About $200 each kid, but that includes something needed. For younger DD, that was a bike this year. She’ll also get a book and an ITunes gift card.

$800 per kid is not going to happen, even if we quadrupled our income somehow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am finding that we are spending about $800/ kid on Xmas, maybe more.... wondering if this is average in DC area ... DH and o want to enenln same page on spending - I feel this is normal and DH would prefer to give kids toothpaste lol — what is normal for spending?

I googled the national average and it is about $200-$300 per kid..

We're at about 300 per kid. Out boys haven't asked for much. 12yr old wants: Gaming chair, weighted blanket, and a new bathrobe 9yr old wants: spiral book binder (what?), bean bag chair, walkie talkies, and a sonic care toothbrush.

I'm also going to get them some filler like socks, under ware, bookmark with timer, snorkels, and hats.

They, like most kids in this area gave a video game consoles, iPads, phone, headphones, bikes, alll kinds of sports gear, and a trampoline. Not much more they really want.

[Anonymous]

I spent about $200 per kid this year. My kids are young, so they don't have expensive asks yet.