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Holiday Gifts: How Much Did You Spend?
December 24, 2008 at 8:11 AM by Cafe Cynthia - Comments (22)
As hard as we try, it's hard to distance the holidays from the consumerism that accompanies them. Moms around CafeMom want to know how much everyone spent on their kids this year. I found numerous threads in several groups.
I did notice at least one trend -- moms tend to spend more the older their kids get. In one discussion, moms who spend $1,000 on each child were detailing their gifts, which included iPods, music and accessories, scooters, and bicycles.
I must admit, I'd have a hard time trying to spend that much money on my toddler and kindergartner even if I had it. It's not that they don't want want want -- they do. But it's usually for little stuff, like toy cars and dolls. I think I managed to keep the Christmas tab this year at about $50 per child -- not including the gifts from grandma and grandpa and relatives, of course.
Poll
Question: Rich or poor not withstanding -- should there be a $ limit on holiday gifts for toddlers?
Total Votes: 65
Okay, now it's time to put the wallet away and enjoy the true meaning of the coming days -- our friends, our family, and most importantly, our children.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
FILED UNDER: holiday gifts 08, toys
Comments:
Well.....My kids are 3 and 1. We kept Christmas under $200, which includes everything: gifts, stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, decorations, shipping, etc. We only bought for the kids.
I'm not sure what you could really buy a kid for under $20, unless they only get one or two gifts.
I already know that when we get to my MIL's house, she says everything is from Santa, but she spends SO much money on SO much stuff. Santa only leaves two gifts per kid at our house. It's no wonder kids figure it out about Santa!
I appreciate it when everybody gives my two boys only 1 gift each. With all of the family members who do give them gifts, plus Mom and Dad (and Santa, too!) that's plenty of presents to open and play with without becoming bored! (Thanks for showing my monkey... which was my littles one's birthday present, handmade from Mommy, last year!)
Every one in Daily Buzz was talking about that monkey yesterday -- we love it!
I definitely spend more on my older child than my toddler-like stated the items they want are typically more expensive, the wii, the ipod, the wii fit board, video games, specific clothing and shoes and so forth. My little one just doesn't have the attention span to really play with any toys too long so my shopping list for her is always cheaper-for the time being that is!
btw the sock monkey is adorable!! Love the shot:)
Mine will be 6months old and we have spent about 200 on her... one gift was 62 dollars alone... and then we bought sippy cups and things like that for stocking stuffers.
I posted something like this on babygaga.....I get each child regardless of age three compreable gifts, like a science kit for one and a Ben Ten alien chamber for another and a lego kit for another then a new Mp3 player for the older one. any way then I get one large family gift this year it is a Wii, last year it was an air hockey table a few years ago it was a puppet theater. I hate consumerism! I have no family ties so they get a total of $100 from my firends and my MIL combined.....they appriciate everything and love it, and are not spoiled!
We are practically broke this Christmas, so we decided a long time ago not to buy for one another. We gave pictures to family members (total cost per gift: $2.50), and bought presents only for our 15-month-old son. Since we didn't have much money to spend (and he gets totally spoiled by my parents), we were able to find 3 cool gifts for under $30 total. I think this holiday was a success!
...to answer the question, "How much did you spend?" I spent about $5.00 for the pair of socks used to make my little one's sock elephant and $16 to a fellow Cafemom Etsy Mom on an I SPY Toy. I don't think I'm cheap and I hope my children learn to appreciate the things they do get.
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Last year we bought our 2 year old a TON of stuff. Way too much. Half way through opening them she was DONE. She just got up and walked away lol. So we saved the rest and used them through out the year as gifts. Lesson learned - spend less! :)
Now if I could only teach my MIL that........haha
maddisont05 Dec. 24, 2008 at 10:36 AM