about 350 each on the spongettes.......about 30 on mr sponge......same on my mum,sister and her hubby.....about that on my 2 best mates.......and 15 quid each on mates kids and my nephews,nieces etc...

  She could've done when she was younger but she's 15 and a half now and DEAD easy to buy for. Clothes, perfume, make up. Done. She's already got a telly, dvd player, computer and all that from other years.  There's nowt else she wants or needs now.

I'll blitz Primark and she'll be happy.

sounds like my daughter

Lecs...my niece has a bottom corner below lip piercing..looks nice.

Summat like this

My daughter could easily spend a grand but would she ever ask me....never.

my 2 got their noses pierced recently....i think it looks nice..

my daughter hasn't asked for anything this year, its me that likes buying for her and seeing her face on christmas morning, like ducky says i think its being a single parent you feel you need to spoil them *wrong i know* but i ain't hurting any one in doing it

My daughter got hers done on the first Saturday of summer school term. Problem is, school has banned piercings from her school apart from a little stud in their ear.

So she doesn't get wear it much. Also, I need  good place to buy some decent nose studs for her....any ideas Spongey?

Got some from Argos and Claires....not strong enough.

hi q xxx.........youngest spongette has to wear a clear nose stud for school...i'm going to get the new studs from the place they got them pierced......maybe try that?.....i'll avoid argos and claire's....

At least she's allowed to wear them, my daughter has a new headmistress and she has changed a lot of rules

Ooh never thought about going back where she got her nose pierced. The one that was put in her nose when she got it pierced won't go back in....too thick. xxxx

oh i def could

we might be thought of as over the top, but our big pressies were/are always at xmas, not birthdays

that's where i'm gonna go q.......then i can get advice on the best size etc.....

I've a few years yet then. They have everything they need.....apart from boobs seemingly. They are still obsessed with getting them. The boy is easy. He wants a football strip and a new game for the Wii

We spend hardly anything on birthdays It's juts a token prezzy and a treat like a day out or the cinema then a meal.

That's what she's had done Q, she got it done yesterday...she was eager

Mine wants the top of her ear done...told her to wait till next year!

1 piercing a year is enough!

Forever checking in the mirror in case they've appeared Saz.

i prob spend about 100 on lil gyps, and about 30 quid per person for the rest of my family and friends.  I only buy for really close friends though and dont have a very big family KERCHINNNNGGG

Oh but that is just silly imo .... there is just no need.

Sorry Queenie no offence to you hun .... but I personally hate this spend spend spend attitude to christmas ... it just takes all the fun out of it imo.

I personally would prefer to go back to how xmas used to be .... a minimal gift for everyone & more of the good old fashioned values like all getting toghether for a lovely meal and things like that.

The cost of christmas is killing it imo .... bring back the old type xmas .... less is more

Trouble is: everything is about the amount these days

Oh you're not offending me Poker....I agree. My parents used to buy us little gifts, but it meant something to us. We got together, had fun, watched a lot of crap tv and ate.

Food was always more important than presents....oh and crackers, got to have crackers

Gyps...that's a good amount, imo

Why can't we spend a lot and do the nice xmassy things like all gathering for dinner, watching crap TV and eating sweets until you're fit to burst?

I was out of work most of this yr n only found a temp job in sept n its only until xmas so this yr £30 each on my 7 g/kids.£25 each on my 3 kids n their partners,£120 on hubby

I would like to know the answer to this too

You're all dead generous with your partners.  We just see what we have left after sorting out kids, grandkids and family.  Some years it's been nowt.

This year he's getting socks

We are only buying for the kids in the family this year. No one ever likes what they get anyway

We are just going to get a few really nice bottle of wine and a mahoosive Chinese. All about the kids

I hate Christmas these days it's just a bloody grabfest! I remember making my own Christmas labels and getting excited about buying presents.Not any more ,it's a total chore I want over as soon as possible.

I think its the spending time together stuff thats important, and everyone having a good time... it shouldn't matter whether everyone spends £20 on each other, or £200

But it's alright if someone buys you loads too eh?

oh no, I dont like disproportionate spending... its best to set a budget, then no one feels bad if they got too much/not enough I just meant that it shouldn't matter what that is, if that makes sense

Exactly the same with us!

Though, on the xmas day's of the nowt years... I have been happy,.... happy that the kids were happy, that we had managed to pull off a successful xmas.

Hubby has been less happy.  

I get the feeling there is a small child inside struggling not to break out and demand to know why Santa didn't come! 

I don't get it at all... cos he hasn't had the money to give me to get him pressies... and the small income I have, he was aware of as we threw all we could in the xmas budget pot!

I agree in some ways that the cost of christmas is ruining it... I hate it, and I know its cos of the stress of finding the cash.

But....   there is no way on this earth that I am prepared to take it back to the satsuma, 2 walnuts & a Beano Annual basics with my kids!   My kids are not particularly demanding...  in fact they are downright understanding & heartbreakingly generous at times...   but it would still be a huge blow to them if xmas was scaled down to £50 a head!

When I had a girlfriend I spent about £60 on her, but that's a lot for a student.

Haven't got to worry about that this year (or last year for that matter), being single is great.

I don't really understand how Christmas has been hijacked nowadays to be such an excuse for over indulgence, gluttony, and a competition to see who can spend the most.  Isn't it all a bit far removed from the real meaning of Christmas?

I quite like the gluttony

What actually is the REAL meaning of Christmas? Someones birthday (allegedly).

Yes, as far as I am aware, Christmas is meant to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Buying presents for your loved ones - only buy what you can afford and don't overdo it.

Yeah growly, but it isn't really except for people who actually believe in all that.