When you sponsor a child for Christmas gifts, how much do you spend?

[Anonymous]

When you pick a tag off a tree (either literally, or in an online sign up kind of deal) to buy gifts for a child, how much do you generally spend (assuming the organization does not have a suggested amount?)

Do you have a specific type of child you choose to sponsor? For example, I know some people that choose to sponsor a child that is the same sex/age as their own child. For me, I've always heard that older children/teens often get overlooked so I usually choose to sponsor an older teen.

[Anonymous]

We were given a list of things a specific kid wanted and we just bought them all - including a new winter coat from LL Bean and boxes of Lego sets. I think it came to about $150 total but the coat cost $75 (sale price) because I didn't want to buy a cheap one that left him cold / or fell apart quickly.

[Anonymous]

$250 - i make sure to get their needs (clothes, shoes, school stuff) and one big want. It may be the only new things they get all year.

[Anonymous]

I try to buy everything on the list. Like you, I choose teen boys because I feel like they are most overlooked, and because I have a teen son myself, and it motivates him to help choose gifts. I spend at least $100 per kid I think. Teen boys aren’t cheap! But I feel good doing it.

[Anonymous]

About $50-$100. I sponsor a girl, because I can look at clothes and toys and understand if a girl will like them (dresses with pockets, for example) but don't have that with boys.

Although I did once sponsor an 11 yr old boy who asked for clothes for school that weren't sweatpants and I was like "I can TOTALLY go clothing shopping!" and got him something like five outfits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were given a list of things a specific kid wanted and we just bought them all - including a new winter coat from LL Bean and boxes of Lego sets. I think it came to about $150 total but the coat cost $75 (sale price) because I didn't want to buy a cheap one that left him cold / or fell apart quickly.

You sound very kind. 💓

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$250 - i make sure to get their needs (clothes, shoes, school stuff) and one big want. It may be the only new things they get all year.

We do the same.

[Anonymous]

Imagine if Jane sponsors Larla Jones and spends $300 while Suzy sponsors her brother Jack Jones and only spends $150.

I hope the organization evens it out for the kids.

Personally, I prefer orgs that require gift cards as donations so the actual parent(s) can shop for their own kids. That’s more appropriate for the family.

[Anonymous]

Usually I sign up for a family and spend around $500 for 2-3 kids plus grocery gift cards.

[Anonymous]

Around $200. I don't have kids, but I try to think of kids around the holidays, and at the start of the school year. I was able to get my company to partner with an org and due to the gifts from us kids see presents coming year round.

Making sure even poor kids have nice things matters to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagine if Jane sponsors Larla Jones and spends $300 while Suzy sponsors her brother Jack Jones and only spends $150.

I hope the organization evens it out for the kids.

Personally, I prefer orgs that require gift cards as donations so the actual parent(s) can shop for their own kids. That’s more appropriate for the family.

I don't think kids know how much things cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagine if Jane sponsors Larla Jones and spends $300 while Suzy sponsors her brother Jack Jones and only spends $150.

I hope the organization evens it out for the kids.

Personally, I prefer orgs that require gift cards as donations so the actual parent(s) can shop for their own kids. That’s more appropriate for the family.

It depends on the organization. Most of the time they can't. When I worked as a social worker I usually did but be careful with your spending. A $75 coat may mean more to you than the family who'd prefer a $25 coat, new jeans, shirt, underwear and socks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were given a list of things a specific kid wanted and we just bought them all - including a new winter coat from LL Bean and boxes of Lego sets. I think it came to about $150 total but the coat cost $75 (sale price) because I didn't want to buy a cheap one that left him cold / or fell apart quickly.

Just an FYI, I bought my daughter a coat from Old Navy for $20 on sale and she wore it for three winters and was plenty warm. A lot of people fall into the trap of thinking spending more means higher quality or that you love your kids more, but it doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Imagine if Jane sponsors Larla Jones and spends $300 while Suzy sponsors her brother Jack Jones and only spends $150.

I hope the organization evens it out for the kids.

Personally, I prefer orgs that require gift cards as donations so the actual parent(s) can shop for their own kids. That’s more appropriate for the family.

Unfortunately there are some parents that will sell the gift cards for cash--and not spend the cash on the kids.

And a lot of people don't want to just donate gift cards. They want to donate GIFTS. So an organization can "require" gift card donations and receive a few donations...or they can "allow" people to donate gifts and get many donations. Which way works out better for the kids?

[Anonymous]

Hell no I ain’t sponsoring a child this year. Any extra money I have is going into my 2021 vacation fund. Sorry kids, 2020 is not the year for charity