How much is to much???

[justmewe]

I was wondering how much money people spend on there children for christmas?
My husband and I Do Not agree on this at all so I thought I would ask some people  
here on Med Help.
I have 3 kids 16, 11, 8 and I spend a close to 400 hundred each.
Is that to much?? or is there other people out there like me?
I sure hope there is I hate it when my husband is always right.......
Thanks :)

[teko]

I would only add the following. Children get stuff from their parents, both sets of grandparents, and if mom and dad are divorced they get double stuff there too. Personally I think it is all way outta hand. No wonder people are so stressed during the holidays.

[teko]

I think it depends on ones income or ability to spend. No one should ever go in debt over Christmas. As children get older, stuff for their age group tends to get more expensive.  I always loved it when mine were small, it was much cheaper and you get more for the money. 16 year olds are tuff. I have also come to realize tht if you start spending big when they are young, they expect the bigger more pricey  stuff each year. The amount of money you spend tho should be agreed upon by both parents. Just to keep the peace the rest of the year. lol

[jo929]

I love your answer i thought about writing that but was afraid someone may not like the idea, i try to help someone a little each year the town i live near has a lot of low income older shut ins that i think a gift would brighten their Xmas also  i try every year to do a little something for someone, and i feel good about it, but i never let the person know that it was me silly i guess, but that is the way i am  jo

[swampcritter]

Swampy's income varies from year to year, as does the kids he buys for. Usually, though, he tries to give a few high thought gifts rather than many smaller ones or impulse buys. As an example, his niece is going to get alphabet blocks, and a high chair to use at her grandmother's. Swampy is also thinking of a fun "California" gift would be matching tie dyes for his SIL and niece.

There will be candy, cheese, olive oil, and coffee for the adults to share.

[April2]

Another idea is to skim back a little on the money you spend on your own kids and have them each pick out a present for a needy child. Kids love to do this and it would teach them such an important lesson on giving and thinking of others. There are so many organizations but one I can think of off hand is the Angle Tree. Most malls have one of these with paper ornaments hanging on them with the child's name, age and what they'd like for Christmas. You pick an ornament, go buy the present and bring it back. These children have one or both parents incarcerated and need to feel normal and cared about. Just something to think about.

[wonko]

I don't have kids, but I'm sure that if I ever do (which I hope happens), they will be spoiled!

In the meantime, I am participating this year in a charity that assigns "Secret Santas" to children with Lyme disease, which I have.  So I'm getting some good spoiling practice this season.

My parents got us a lot of gifts when I was young, but by the time I was 10 or so, they decided that they were "done" with big Christmas gifts.  I am the youngest, so I think I suffered the most from their fizzling out.  Maybe that premature cut-off is why I'm so gaga for gifts.