The fair split
Type your budget for all the children together.
Buying for cousins and grandchildren too?
Do a family draw: each grown-up buys for one child from another family, so every child gets a present and nobody buys for everyone.
Make a family draw, freeQuestions
- How many Christmas presents should a child get?
- There’s no right number. Many families pick a small rule and keep it every year: three presents, or four (something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read), sometimes with a fifth, something to do. A rule makes it easy to keep siblings even and the budget in hand.
- Should siblings get the same number of presents?
- Most families aim for the same spend and the same number of presents each, because children count. An older child’s things often cost more, so if one gets fewer, bigger presents, it helps to say so before the day.
- How much should I keep for stockings?
- It’s up to you. Stockings are usually small things: a book, a torch, a puzzle, sweets. Setting aside a tenth or a fifth of the budget keeps them from quietly growing.
- What about cousins, nieces and grandchildren?
- With lots of children across a family, a draw stops everyone buying for everyone: each grown-up buys for one child from another family. Our free family draw does it, and nobody sees who drew whom.
- Is anything saved or sent?
- No. The sums are done on this page, and what you type stays in this browser.
Then let the family see what they’d love
A free wish book for each child: grandparents and aunties circle what they’re getting, so nobody doubles up and the presents stay even.
Make a wish book, free