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iluvz
Posts: 262
Apr 30, 2010 6:12pm
Having a debate... What do you all typically spend on your kids for their birthday? And has this amount increased as they've gotten older? He thinks I go over board with my kids... I don't think so.
sleeper
Posts: 27,879
Apr 30, 2010 6:25pm
I mostly just try to get them at least one item that they want, but there isn't an actual amount. If they want a bunch of cheap shit, I'll get them that, but if they want something more expensive, then its usually just that.
Fab4Runner
Posts: 6,196
Apr 30, 2010 6:55pm
My parents buy us a $50 gift or give us the money. Age has no impact.
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fan_from_texas
Posts: 2,693
Apr 30, 2010 7:08pm
Growing up, I think my parents spent 200-300ish on us. For birthdays now, I typically spend 50-100 on Mrs. FFT. It's less about the money and more about the quality time.
Cat Food Flambe'
Posts: 1,230
Apr 30, 2010 8:30pm
Let's see - for my son's 16th birthday, we got his driver's license - oh, in five years, call it about $10,000 for insurance, lessons, tickets and a wrecked car. 
Midstate01
Posts: 14,766
Apr 30, 2010 8:39pm
Growing up we didn't have birthday parties except on 13th & 18th bdays. We didn't get gifts. A card, maybe some of our favorite candy. Mom always let us pick a meal to have. Anything we wanted. I never knew ppl spent much on bdays till I had some friends getting jordans or video games and stuff.
I think my fiancé and I will probably end up getting our kids gifts because that's how she was raised and thinks you should get gifts. I was always thrilled to get to just pick my favorite meal to have.
I think my fiancé and I will probably end up getting our kids gifts because that's how she was raised and thinks you should get gifts. I was always thrilled to get to just pick my favorite meal to have.
Belly35
Posts: 9,716
May 2, 2010 8:22am
Our kids we spent around $300.00 worth of gifts when they got older wife just took them shopping (3 girls)
ernest_t_bass
Posts: 24,984
May 2, 2010 9:15am
I spend WAY too much money on my children, and do it all year long.
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Swamp Fox
Posts: 2,218
May 2, 2010 10:07am
Since our "kids" now range from 34 to 41, we generally send a card with a message and on occasion have them over or go out somewhere. Now, grandchildren are a slightly different matter. We don't exactly go overboard but I think a safe estimate would be around 20 dollars per and we have 9.
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BCSbunk
Posts: 972
May 2, 2010 10:17am
I usually spend between $70.00 to $100.00 on my daughter and she is 16 years old. It was less when she was younger. I really never had a set amount I just though back to last few years to how much I spent on her birthday. I think it does not matter so much as long as the person who has the birthday is happy.iluvz wrote: Having a debate... What do you all typically spend on your kids for their birthday? And has this amount increased as they've gotten older? He thinks I go over board with my kids... I don't think so.
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iluvz
Posts: 262
May 2, 2010 11:29am
I spend usually around $200-300. I see lots get less, but apparently this amt isn't insane either. I guess the debate came in when my son is wanting a lap top. His birthday is a week before Christmas, so for a combination of the two, I'm seriously considering it. Person I'm disagreeing with thinks its an insane amount to spend. He also only has a 5 year old as opposed to teenagers. I didn't spend nearly what I do now when they were 5.
gerb131
Posts: 9,932
May 2, 2010 11:33am
Limit of 100 and usually just take him shopping to where he wants to go and of course dinner so its closer to 200 total if ya count the dinner.
GOONx19
Posts: 7,147
May 2, 2010 2:27pm
I usually buy them new scissors so they can cut the lawn more efficiently. Maybe a roll of Smarties.
hasbeen
Posts: 6,504
May 2, 2010 3:42pm
i don't remember when i was young, but now i usually get 1 thing. i got an ichiro jersey back in high school got a gold necklace in junior high(still wear it, it's my good luck from moms), jason witten jersey, and this past year i got 100$ for oakley sunglasses.
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fan_from_texas
Posts: 2,693
May 2, 2010 3:46pm
Perhaps I'm in the minority, but that seems to be fair game. I mean, it's a little steep, but I still think it's within the realm of reason to go with the "one big gift" in lieu of lots of smaller gifts.iluvz wrote: I spend usually around $200-300. I see lots get less, but apparently this amt isn't insane either. I guess the debate came in when my son is wanting a lap top. His birthday is a week before Christmas, so for a combination of the two, I'm seriously considering it. Person I'm disagreeing with thinks its an insane amount to spend. He also only has a 5 year old as opposed to teenagers. I didn't spend nearly what I do now when they were 5.
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iluvz
Posts: 262
May 2, 2010 6:32pm
That's what I thought too. He's a good kid. Doesn't get into trouble. Great grades. Very into sports. Is in advanced classes, and uses the computer/internet for school work. He is at his dads house 3 days a week and does not have access to a computer there when he needs it for school. So at least he would be able to take it there when need be too. Seems like a win win to me. Christmas and birthday all in one. I don't think its that out of line at all.fan_from_texas wrote:
Perhaps I'm in the minority, but that seems to be fair game. I mean, it's a little steep, but I still think it's within the realm of reason to go with the "one big gift" in lieu of lots of smaller gifts.
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sjmvsfscs08
Posts: 2,963
May 2, 2010 6:38pm
My mom would give us $10 x how old we were. So last year I got a dinner at an expensive restaurant and $200.
My kids don't exist, so they get to wait...
My kids don't exist, so they get to wait...
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BCSbunk
Posts: 972
May 2, 2010 6:58pm
2 to 3 hundred is not insane at all. I spend less but hey I am a poor buzzard.iluvz wrote: I spend usually around $200-300. I see lots get less, but apparently this amt isn't insane either. I guess the debate came in when my son is wanting a lap top. His birthday is a week before Christmas, so for a combination of the two, I'm seriously considering it. Person I'm disagreeing with thinks its an insane amount to spend. He also only has a 5 year old as opposed to teenagers. I didn't spend nearly what I do now when they were 5.
Scarlet_Fever
Posts: 736
May 2, 2010 7:06pm
Must be a midstate league thingMidstate01 wrote: Growing up we didn't have birthday parties except on 13th & 18th bdays. We didn't get gifts. A card, maybe some of our favorite candy. Mom always let us pick a meal to have. Anything we wanted. I never knew ppl spent much on bdays till I had some friends getting jordans or video games and stuff.
I think my fiancé and I will probably end up getting our kids gifts because that's how she was raised and thinks you should get gifts. I was always thrilled to get to just pick my favorite meal to have.
That sounds very similar to what I got growing up except we usually got $20, a bag of our favorite candy and whatever meal we wanted.
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iluvz
Posts: 262
May 2, 2010 8:03pm
I'm poor too. Two kids and no child support. We didn't get much as kids, and my parents could afford it. (But we were all also f*ups lol)... I have high expectations of my kids, and they bust their butts to live up to that, so I will give them absolutely everything I can. Which is also why I'm planning for Christmas in May lol
dwccrew
Posts: 7,817
May 2, 2010 10:54pm
When I was growing up my parents on my birthday would usually just beat me with a belt instead of the usual pipe wrench. They also would not spit in my food that particular day. It was always such a treat!
For my kids, I only know 2 of the 12 and I generally send the court ordered checks on time during the birthday time.
For my kids, I only know 2 of the 12 and I generally send the court ordered checks on time during the birthday time.
zambrown
Posts: 1,093
May 3, 2010 11:30am
Exactly. I probably spend more than I should, but he is such a great kid and causes us no problems or grief, so I want to do whatever I can. Last year was a new iPod (an upgrade from Shuffle to Nano) and a couple of small things.iluvz wrote:That's what I thought too. He's a good kid. Doesn't get into trouble. Great grades. Very into sports. Is in advanced classes, and uses the computer/internet for school work.fan_from_texas wrote:
Perhaps I'm in the minority, but that seems to be fair game. I mean, it's a little steep, but I still think it's within the realm of reason to go with the "one big gift" in lieu of lots of smaller gifts.