What do most people spend on their kids for Christmas?

In 2025-2026, parents in the US and UK commonly spend between £100 and over $500 per child on Christmas, with averages often landing around $521 (£400+) in the US and over £100 in the UK. Spending varies significantly by age and income, with costs rising as children grow older and request more expensive items.

What's the average spend on a child at Christmas?

According to a parenting magazine the average parent spends about $270 per child for Christmas. Are you under or over?

How much should I spend on each kid at Christmas?

Our new What to Expect survey found that parents spend $164 per child on average, with Gen Z moms likely to spend more than Millennials. This is down from about $173 per kid in 2024.

What do parents do for their children on Christmas?

Take them to see sights of the season, such as Christmas trees, and homes and streets decorated with lights. Go caroling with them. Go to religious services that teach them the meaning of Christmas. Give them presents that they'll play with and use. Have a Christmas dinner that includes those whom they love.

What is a good budget per person for Christmas?

A general rule of thumb used by many financial planners is to allocate between roughly 1-2% of your annual salary to your total Christmas budget.

Mother Defends Spending £2,000 on Christmas Presents for Her Children | This Morning

What is the 70 30 rule in parenting?

"70/30 parenting" refers to a child custody schedule where one parent has the child 70% of the time (the primary parent) and the other parent has them 30% of the time, often structured as a 5-2 (weekdays/weekends) or every-weekend plan, creating a stable base for the child while allowing the non-primary parent significant, consistent involvement, requiring excellent communication to work well. It's a form of joint physical custody, balancing stability with the other parent's role, and needs flexibility for holidays and daily life.
 

What is the 5 rule for Christmas?

The "5 Things for Christmas Rule" (or "Five Gift Rule") is a popular gift-giving guideline that limits each recipient to five thoughtful presents, typically structured as: something they Want, something they Need, something to Wear, something to Read, and something special/to Share (or Do). This method encourages quality over quantity, focusing on meaningful items that cover different aspects of a person's life rather than endless toys or clutter.
 

What is the 7 7 7 rule for parenting?

The 7-7-7 rule of parenting refers to two main concepts: either spending three daily 7-minute blocks (morning, after school, bedtime) for distraction-free connection, or dividing a child's development into three 7-year phases (0-7: play, 7-14: teach, 14-21: guide) to match their needs. Both aim to strengthen the parent-child bond through intentional presence and adapting parenting styles as children grow, fostering emotional security and development. 

What is the 4 gift rule for kids?

The 4 Gift Rule for kids is a popular holiday gifting strategy limiting each child to four presents: Something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read, helping reduce clutter, curb materialism, and promote more intentional giving. This method encourages focus on meaningful gifts rather than excessive toys, adapting to budgets and ages by allowing parents to choose practical items while still fulfilling desires and essential needs, notes HyperJar, Scout Store, and BBC.
 

How much do you spend on your kids for Christmas 2025?

In 2025, parents expect to spend about $521 per child for gifts under the tree. This is a 13% increase over last year. For some American families, the amount they will spend is like adding an extra rent or mortgage payment to their budget.

How much should you spend on your siblings for Christmas?

Spend less on siblings, more on spouse

"Around $25–$50 is thoughtful without being too much. If you're super close (or she's always spoiling you), $75–$150 is generous but not over the top," read Moonsift's website. "Honestly, it's less about the price and more about the thought.

How much should you spend on Christmas gifts per child?

But the exact amount changes based on the kid's age. On average, parents spend $164 on holiday gifts for each child. Moms spend a little less on babies under 12 months old (around $119) compared to kids ages 1 to 4 (around $163) and 5 and up (approximately $198).

What is the nationwide action for children?

Action for Children is a charity driven by love – helping families through crisis and tackling the root causes of poverty. They provide financial, practical, and emotional care and support to children and their families.

What is the average spending of a family?

UK households spent £623.30 per week on average in FYE 2024, nominally £55.60 (10%) more than the previous year.

How many presents should you get your kids for Christmas?

There is no magic number but the general consensus seems to be between three toys or gifts up to, potentiall around five. There will be many factors that contribute to this decisions; how many children you have, what presents other family members may buy, how old your children are and, of course, budget.

How to have a budget friendly Christmas?

Affordable Christmas: 7 Essential Budgeting Tips from MABS

1. Make a Christmas list and budget early. ...
2. Prioritise what's most important. ...
3. Be careful with credit and Buy Now, Pay Later offers. ...
4. Compare prices and shop smart. ...
5. Suggest a 'Secret Santa' ...
6. Work out what you can save between now and Christmas. ...
7. Plan ahead for next year.

Do you give presents on the 24th or 25th?

Christmas gifts are often exchanged on Christmas Eve (December 24), Christmas Day itself (December 25) or on the last day of the twelve-day Christmas season, Twelfth Night (January 5).

What age do daughters need their fathers?

The father-daughter relationship starts from day 1.

It's essential to keep in mind that the relationship between a father and his daughter starts from the day she's born and will not take shape, out of the blue, during adolescence.

What are the 4 P's of parenting?

4 P's Strategy

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents and caregivers use a 4-part strategy when helping their children develop social skills: Practice, Praise, Point out, and Prompt. These four steps can be used when adults notice that a child needs to work on a particular social skill.

What are the 5 C's of parenting?

In this post, we'll explore the five C's—self-control, compassion, collaboration, consistency, and celebration—and discover how they can foster a nurturing environment for your child's success.

What are the 4 things to get kids for Christmas?

It's called Want, Need, Wear, Read. The idea is that you only give four gifts to each child: Something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. This allows you to bring your kids into the decision-making process. Ask them, what do they actually want?

How many Christmas gifts are unwanted?

😟 ▪️53.1% of people report to receiving unwanted gifts during Christmas. ▪️$16 billion is wasted on unwanted gifts every year. 😧 ▪️Some reports indicate up to 18% of gifts are never used by the person who receives them.

What is an example of unethical gift-giving?

Here's an example: Bribery makes a corporate gift unethical when it sways business decisions or produces unfair advantages. Giving extravagant gifts to clients to obtain major contracts counts as bribery. A small gift becomes unethical when someone offers it in expectation of receiving something back.