I just went to price out some of the Big presents my children have asked for and I didn't realize how expensive their tastes are getting.lol

My son wants a bike and a ramp, and my daughter wants an electric guitar, and a memory foam mattress topper. So those four items will run around $450-$500.00. Is anyone else in sticker shock from thier childrens requests?

By Yjja123 on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 04:56 pm:

YEP!
My kids wish list:
Robosapian robot $100
Casio Keyboard $160
Playstation games $50 each
Microscope $100
Etc...
They also asked for a bike and electric guitar from their grandparents. Must be the hot items this year.
I do not want to say what we have spent this year. I will say it is the highest ever. This is the first year we had it to spend though so we are not in debt because of it. Next year we are taking a cruise for Christmas so the kids know they can only ask for 1 gift next year. The cruise will be everyone's gift.

By Debbie on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 05:00 pm:

Fortunately, my dks are still pretty young(5 & 7) The only big thing they asked for was a playstation 2. So, I got that for the both of them and and 2 games each. I got the games when Toys R Us was doing buy 2 get 1 free. They also wanted laser tag so I got that and then I got them each a University of Texas sweatshirt. We spent a total of $350.00 for them. I also bought a few stocking stuffers like books, baseball cards, etc.

By Missbookworm on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 05:25 pm:

Well so far the most expensive item I've bought is the gameboy advance ($100) no games of course. I still have to pick up at least two he can play which will run me anywhere from $40-100 depending on what games I get and where. A friend recommended a place I can get them used for anywhere from 10-15 a piece so I want to go there this weekend and see what they have. I might get a few more if they've got games he'll like.

I've got my daughter an easel (which I got free but fixed up) and the fixing up cost me about 30. I got her some abc tiles with words and I was given some paints and brushes and the like for her.

I ordered the chronicles of narnia as a gift for my 9 year old ($45). I bought my son a stand for his keyboard ($25). I figure by the time I get stocking stuffers and the like I'll have spent about 5-600 for 3 children.

They are getting some other things. My school set me up with a sponsor for Christmas (I have a very limited income) and they've got the kids some ps2 games, bikes for the two littlest ones, a watch for my oldest, and some other little things.

I also got my oldest son an adidas gift bag with deodarant and body soap and the like (He's at that age now) ($20)

I'd like to get him some models and paints but I haven't picked them up yet. He's asked for an mp3 player too and I'm thinking about that being his big ticket item. The only thing my daughter has asked for is a tamigotchi and I looked at one in the store today and thought what the heck!? I don't want her to have something like that even if it's only $20 it seems sort of a waste of money. *sigh*

By Boxzgrl on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 05:30 pm:

Between DH and Kaitlyn combining the totals without writing a long list and breaking it down about $600. Kaitlyn doesn't have an requests yet so we mainly bought things we think she'd find an intererst in. Her biggest gift was a new electric quad so she can ride around with Daddy and we got that with a good discount at Toys R Us for $170. DH's biggest gift was a new Fossil watch and I bought that on special and got it for under $100. I'm sure i'll be more expensive since my wish list includes a new digital camera and Calphalon pans.

By Vicki on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 05:45 pm:

To be honest, I have no idea what I have spent and I don't want to know!! We have no credit cards, so it would take a little work for me to figure out a total... LOL I don't even want to know!! The most expensive item that dd wants this year is a ipod, but she also had some scrapbooking items on her list and I spent more on scrapbooking stuff than I did on the ipod!! Add to that dh and what he bought me and all the nieces and nephews and grandparents and oh gosh, I don't want to know......

By Annie2 on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 07:34 pm:

I started shopping today and already spent too much! LOL

By Mommmie on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 08:54 pm:

I haven't spent a thing yet! Waiting for my Christmas bonus at work so I can go cash only.

By Pamt on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 09:03 pm:

Probably about $500-600 total and in cold hard cash. That includes both kids, DH, both set of our parents, 2 nieces, BIL and family, my sis and BIL, teachers, and my speech therapy kids. We set a limit and go for creativity rather expense.

Yes! My kids are wanting really pricey items---Ipod, PSP, video camera, Xbox, etc....but they aren't getting them. Just one or two higher ticket items each. The wishing is the fun part.

By Missbookworm on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 09:13 pm:

Oh! I didn't mention that mine is all in cash also.

I agree that the wishing is the fun part!

By Cybermommyx4 on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 09:31 pm:

Usually around $2000 total (for 4 kids, parents, grandparents, friends, postage/shipping, newsletter and printing costs, etc.) No credit cards here, either. If we spend $250 on each kid, that's $1000 right there (and $250 doesn't go very far with teenagers, electronics, clothing, etc.)

By Yjja123 on Monday, December 5, 2005 - 10:10 pm:

Ours is cash only too! We do not own credit cards. I buy all year long so it isn't a big lump sum during the holidays.

By Tink on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 01:13 am:

Three kids and hubby have cost me about $1,000. That includes a Nintendo DS ($140 each) for the two oldest kids and a new watch ($90) and a Dallas Cowboys jersey ($100!) for dh. Then there are stocking stuffers, clothes, books and CD's. I don't have any huge requests on my list so I don't think I'll kill our budget. I'm really proud of us for not using a credit card for any of it. We'll escape holiday debt again this year!

By Paulas on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 02:00 am:

I probably spent about $250 on DD and about $200 on DS. For my brother and his family $80 and my sister and nephew $40, Grandmother $30, DH's parents $50 and DH so far only $30...so that's a total of $680. I need to buy Dh a sweather so I'll probably spend another $40 or so.

We put EVERYTHING on credit cards but pay them off. We have an airmiles card and are saving points to go visit our family back east next summer. We have enough for 3 flights now.

By Kateg on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 09:25 am:

$1,200 this year for everyone on our list (kids, DH, parents, friends, housekeeper, etc). $1,000 in cash & $200 on credit card which we'll pay off in January when the bill comes in.

By Insaneusmcwife on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 01:43 pm:

Uuhh, I don't know how much I've spent and quite frankly I'm scared to sit down and figure it out. I've been shopping since August so it would be hard to really say. Up until this last week everything had been paid for in cash but we've started charging a few things, mainly our gifts to each other as we are done with the kids. But those charges will be paid off with the tax return so all is good.

By Truestori on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 03:36 pm:

Well,
It feels better to know I'm not the minority. I guess I can't complain because this is the only time of year where we spend a great deal on our kids. We don't use credit cards for Christmas, it would stress me out! LOL

By Sunny on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 04:02 pm:

Too much.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 04:17 pm:

We've spent a lot. But I always do. My husband lets me go crazy at Christmas and a little less, but still crazy at their birthdays in July. It's nice that they fall half a year apart.

My kids are so appreciative of everything they get, so it just makes you want to get them their Christmas wishes. Of course, if I just went with their wishes, I wouldn't spend much at all! So far, dd has not asked for anything specific. She wants to be surprised. She said she will be happy with anything. And all my ds has asked for is a Furby and the T-Rex mountain. I've got great kids, and I guess that is one reason I go all out for Christmas.

Of course, we don't buy big items all through the year. Occasionally they'll get something new, and a lot of times they save their money for things.

We love holidays, all of them. The Easter Bunny tends to go a little overboard, also! LOL!

But we do keep to the true meaning of the Christmas season, and that is always the main focus.

By Kym on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 05:20 pm:

This year we are spending quite a bit, we are turning our play room into a rock n roll pad! So we are buying 4 insturments,totalling $500.00 for three kids, expensive enough, but then we will be paying for lessons for 3 kiddos! all other small gifts and stocking stuffers another $400, so a total of 1K for 4 kids, I want a DVD recorder, new digital camera and a Treo, and a weekend retreat........so we'll see what Santa comes up with forme! Hopefully one of my wish list items.
We use cash, if somehting goes on the card we pay it off in January, but don't overspend, BTDT!

Being the owners of a bicycle store we are happy to hear lots of kids still asking for them!

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 06:50 pm:

Geez...I'm a grinch I guess. I can't imagine spending $100 on one person. Although, DH and I spoil each other sometimes.
I'm in shock and awe...I guess I better pony up! Ha ha ha

By Alberobello on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 07:04 pm:

Heidi, don't worry, you're not the only one... We are only spending about $40 on a gift from "Father Christmas" for our son and an outing to see a musical from mum and dad. We are going to Italy for 4 days to spend Christmas with dh's family so we can't spend a lot on gifts this year (we prefer it this way anyway).

By Breann on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 09:04 pm:

Heidi, once your little boy get older, the gifts get more expensive

We will be at about $1000 total. All paid in cash. NO charging for us. Lesson learned in that dept.! This includes a $200 cash gift to my inlaws. All my DH's siblings are pitching in $200 cash for them to get a new cement floor in their garage. It will be fun to see them open it!

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 - 09:34 pm:

Since we went to one income as of last Christmas, we spend around $700-$800 total. Before that (with no kids) around $2000. Dh and I spent about $1000 total between the two of us before that, and a TON on our parents and family. Those were the *old* days...*big sigh* LOL