Average US Xmas Spending This Year Will Be $830 on Gifts

[sv2007]

Do you mean specifically open the toy or also unwrap the presents?

Yes, we did the thank you cards; our son wrote them.
The gifts were all unwrapped so he can pick which ones he wants to open first.

[sv2007]

Last Christmas it was a certain series of books. She asked for every book in the series, probably 30+ altogether. She got a couple of sets from family and she used her own money after Christmas to buy many that she didn't have. Started off great with her zipping through the books and then she lost interest completely. I don't have a son but have plenty of nephews, and I know their interests change quickly as well.

Definitely their interests change annually; at least that also seems to be the case for my 6yr old. However, he's also got some interests that's lasted for awhile. This year, we introduced him to 2 new things at the beginning of the year and he's still very much into them: chess and piano. I think parent participation helps; i.e. I think kid naturally like what their parents like.

[cornfieldj]

When people go crazy spending on their kids (and I consider going into debt on Xmas going crazy) I'm always a bit mystified. Because especially when kids are very young it really doesn't take much to make them happy. Does anyone remember that lunatic woman last year who spent all year and thousands of dollars amassing a pile of presents for her kids that was bigger than the actual Xmas tree? One of her kids was young enough to be amused by a brightly decorated ball and a drum or some blocks.

I started this topic so we can have a conversation of the following:



So is "life is not always about money" a good reason to put yourself in debt but in return, get that laughter and joy from your children? Are laughter and joy from your children an entitlement?

After my wife and I watched the news about this..we looked at each other scratching our head wondering "how is this a news topic?". It's beyond comprehensible for us Asians. We work on a totally opposite system..as in we spend 1 dollar only if we have at least 10 in our pockets.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I used to give my nieces and nephew $100 each but when Suzie Orman was on CNBC she used to say something along the lines of not giving so much because if you asked the recipient 5 years later how much they received that they won't even remember how much you gave them so I only give $50 each now.

[GoodSteward]

I used to give my nieces and nephew $100 each but when Suzie Orman was on CNBC she used to say something along the lines of not giving so much because if you asked the recipient 5 years later how much they received that they won't even remember how much you gave them so I only give $50 each now.

I bet they remembered only getting half one year to the next. hahaha

[sv2007]

When people go crazy spending on their kids (and I consider going into debt on Xmas going crazy) I'm always a bit mystified..

I don't understand it too; but if it gives them (parents) pleasure, then that's also good for the family. Kids are expensive one way or another.