How much do you spend on birthdays?

[LibertyGal72]

One part of me thinks it's good that's she's not being spoilt, money wise (especially as she'll also get presents from friends and family), but the other part thinks that £50 isn't much.

She's having a party too, which will cost under £100 I guess(with hall hire, food etc).

I'm not a parent so take this how you will, but these days kids do not go without during the year. I reckon £50 worth of gifts from a parent to a child is bloody good. Especially when you are coughing up for a party too.

If there's a special something that a child would like and you want to get them, then a token gift and part payment towards the special gift is a good idea. Personally I am surprised how many kids do get cash in their cards these days.

It's hard not to spend £100 or more on a kids party (afaik) and kids are lucky to have a party - some seem to have a party every year.

[Tigerstripes]

As little as I can get away with!

For ds2 he is only 2 so don't need to get him much at all.

Ds1 is 6, he got skylanders which was about 50 altogether, plus some small bits.

This

E, at 2, got a few bits, including some of D's we had put away.

D was 6 & got skylanders & a book from the book people, plus stuff from friends & family.

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[Chell]

I'm not a parent so take this how you will, but these days kids do not go without during the year.

I disagree with this. My children don't get bought toys throughout the year. They get the odd pound here or there pocket money. If they really want something then they save for it. The reason is that I want birthdays and Christmas to be special.

[donna-j]

Depends. Clara got a second hand bike that was £12.

[Mrs B]

About £50, although they each got a bike for their last birthdays which were more. DS is 6 next week and is getting a hifi system for his bedroom (£25), some books and a few 2nd hand CDs. His party is costing more although we've set a limit of 15 kids altogether, none of this inviting the whole class thing.

And that's a whole other story - him getting a dozen presents from school friends last year seemed indulgent, I just can't imagine getting 30.

[helpimfalling]

I disagree with this. My children don't get bought toys throughout the year. They get the odd pound here or there pocket money. If they really want something then they save for it. The reason is that I want birthdays and Christmas to be special.

Exactly this


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[PoppyHoney]

About £50 on presents normally - this year I think it was a bit less, I adopted her a dolphin and got her a subscription to the WWF kids club/magazine.

Parties, on the other hand tend to be expensive. It's where my working mother guilt collides with my single parent guilt and I let her have whatever she wants (within reason). This year I took 4 of them to Marwell Zoo and then out for dinner and then they had a sleepover. It probably cost about £150 in all (plus a night's sleep ).

I'm quite lucky that her grandparents (on both sides) quite often want to buy her the more expensive things, partly because they know I'd struggle with it. So this year she got a bike from my parents and a camera from her dad's parents.

[bluekat]

Er DD2 was 4 in May and DH and I didn't get her anything.

She had a squillion presents from family and friends and we splashed out a fair bit on her parties. The deal was we were going to take her to Toy R Us on the Sunday to choose something but as a family got caught up in something else that day and just didn't round to taking her out. She didn't even notice.

[noo noo]

Lots - but they're worth it

[Katiekipper]

I disagree with this. My children don't get bought toys throughout the year. They get the odd pound here or there pocket money. If they really want something then they save for it. The reason is that I want birthdays and Christmas to be special.

This. My kids don't even get regular weekly pocket money.