With Christmas just around the corner, parents will be tallying up just how much it’s going to cost to fulfil their children’s Christmas lists. But how has this changed over time?
We’ve looked back at the most popular Christmas presents of every year from 1970 to 2020, to see how the cost of Christmas has changed. Explore the data below and see what the most popular Christmas gifts were when you were born, and how much they cost. We’ve also used historic inflation rates to calculate the equivalent cost in today’s money.
THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF CHRISTMAS SPENDING
CHRISTMAS LISTS THROUGH THE AGES
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Nerfball
£1.25 £18.63
Sindy
£3.99 £59.95
Apollo Moon Rocket
£1.16 £17.47
Risk Board Game
£1.73 £25.99
Talking Viewmaster
£4.62 £69.44
Total cost
£12.75
£191.48
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Space Hopper
£2.25 £30.89
Mastermind Board Game
£1.64 £22.96
Weebles
£4.99 £68.50
Clackers
£1.05 £14.41
Etch a Sketch
£0.99 £13.57
Total cost
£10.92
£150.33
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Skateboard
£3.62 £46.42
Uno
£1.01 £12.93
Plasticraft Modelling Kits
£5 £64.08
Easy Bake Oven
£3.99 £51.07
Talky Chrissy Doll
£4.71 £60.36
Total cost
£18.33
£234.86
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle
£3.71 £43.58
Shrinky Drinks
£0.40 £4.76
Walkie Talkie Sets
£4.98 £58.53
Baby Alive
£10.88 £139.43
Lone Ranger and Tonto Figures
£1.86 £21.83
Total cost
£21.83
£268.13
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
£3.46 £35.03
Dungeons & Dragons
£3.69 £40.22
Magic 8 Ball
£0.77 £7.84
Spirograph
£1.27 £12.88
Twister
£1.35 £13.71
Total cost
£10.54
£109.68
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Pet Rock
£1.75 £14.26
Pong
£43.85 £357.26
Othello
£2.76 £35.97
Portable Cassette Player Recorder
£12.40 £101.05
Monopoly
£1.89 £15.42
Total cost
£62.65
£523.96
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Micronauts
£5.85 £40.93
Cher Doll
£3.39 £23.69
Magna Doodle
£10.59 £74.03
Pogo Stick
£2.92 £20.38
Kites
£0.95 £6.64
Total cost
£23.70
£165.67
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Atari 2600
£105.70 £637.87
Star Wars Figures
£1.44 £9.36
Stretch Armstrong
£9.58 £57.81
The Batmobile
£20.71 £124.98
Portable 8-Track Player
£21.22 £128.06
Total cost
£158.65
£958.08
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Hungry Hippos
£3.94 £22.14
Speak & Spell
£31.54 £175.75
Simon Says
£31.84 £177.42
Connect Four
£2.64 £14.72
Matchbox Powertrack
£39.77 £221.60
Total cost
£109.73
£611.63
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Strawberry Shortcake
£4.75 £24.65
Millenium Falcon
£16.33 £80.24
Sony Walkman
£81.67 £401.33
Meccano Construction Set
£10.34 £50.81
Lego Space
£16.98 £83.44
Total cost
£130.07
£640.47
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Rubik's Cube
£0.91 £3.79
Mattell Handheld Electronic Game
£23.25 £96.83
LEGO Train Set
£40 £166.59
Mr Frosty
£10.50 £43.73
Tin Can Alley Target Shooting Game
£39.94 £166.34
Total cost
£114.60
£477.28
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Star Wars AT-AT
£28.75 £107.05
He-Man Castle Grayskull
£29.99 £111.65
Lite Brite
£14.99 £55.81
Donkey Kong
£24.99 £93.04
Baby Precious
£8.05 £29.96
Total cost
£106.77
£397.51
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Stompers Truck
£1.99 £6.82
G.I. Joe Figures
£1.17 £4.02
BMX Bike
£45 £154.25
Glo Worm
£4.99 £17.10
Commodore 64
£117.85 £403.98
Total cost
£171
£586.17
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Care Bears
£16.75 £54.90
Cabbage Patch Kids Doll
£14.91 £48.86
G.I. Joe APC
£5.96 £19.52
My Little Pony
£3.55 £11.63
Rainbow Brite
£12.99 £42.57
Total cost
£54.16
£177.48
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Optimus Prime
£16.87 £52.67
Pound Puppies
£6.99 £21.82
A-Team Van
£42 £131.13
R2-D2 Toy Box
£16.20 £50.57
Tonka GoBots
£5.39 £16.84
Total cost
£87.45
£273.03
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Teddy Ruxpin
£57.99 £170.66
Pillow People
£8.99 £24
Trivial Pursuit
£8.99 £24
Care Bear Desk
£18.43 £54.25
Wuzzles
£11.06 £32.55
Total cost
£105.46
£305.46
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Lazer Tag
£34 £96.76
Lego Airport
£24.96 £71.03
My Buddy and Kid Sister
£18.72 £53.27
My Pet Monster
£19.96 £56.81
Power Wheels Jeep
£112.32 £319.67
Total cost
£209.96
£597.54
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Sylvanian Families
£6.97 £19.04
Koosh Ball
£3 £8.20
Popples
£12.45 £34.01
Pogo Ball
£4.11 £11
Jem Dolls
£8.95 £24.45
Total cost
£35.48
£96.70
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Ghost Busters Proton Pack
£19.99 £52.06
NES Action Set
£94.76 £246.80
Ghostbusters Fright Features
£3.78 £9.85
Airless Hockey
£50.54 £131.62
Playskool Kitchen
£50.54 £131.62
Total cost
£219.61
£571.95
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Batmobile
£9.99 £27.29
The Real Ghostbusters Table-top Pinball
£59.32 £143.35
Polly Pocket
£5.50 £12.99
Disney Sno-Cone Castle
£8.66 £20.93
Talking Alf
£27.99 £76.47
Total cost
£111.46
£281.03
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Action Figures
£3.99 £8.81
Mouse Trap
£12.25 £27.04
Sega Mega Drive
£189.99 £419.42
Polly Pocket
£4.95 £10.93
Mr Frosty Ice Crunchie Machine
£10.75 £23.73
Total cost
£221.93
£489.93
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Sega Game Gear
£97.95 £204.24
Nintendo Game Boy
£69.99 £145.94
Super Soaker 50
£9.99 £20.83
Playmobil Victorian Dollhouse
£75 £156.39
Quints Dolls
£6.99 £14.58
Total cost
£259.92
£541.98
Key: Cost then | Cost now
WWF Action Figures
£4.99 £10.03
Thunderbirds' Tracy Island
£23.99 £48.22
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
£99.99 £208.98
The Littlest Pet Shop
£19.99 £40.18
Slap Bracelets
£1.99 £4
Total cost
£150.95
£311.41
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Talkboy
£24.97 £49.40
Barbie Doll
£10.99 £21.74
Action Man
£9.99 £19.77
Play-Doh
£4.75 £9.40
Dream Phone
£29.99 £59.34
Total cost
£80.69
£159.65
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Power Rangers Action Figures
£4.99 £9.64
Biker Mice from Mars Action Figures
£4.75 £9.18
Cabbage Patch Kids
£28.99 £56.01
Silly Putty
£1.50 £2.90
Dear Diary
£23.99 £46.35
Total cost
£64.22
£124.08
Key: Cost then | Cost now
PlayStation
£287.75 £537.28
POGs
£2.99 £5.58
Beanie Baby
£3.99 £7.45
Sky Dancers
£7.99 £14.92
Baby All Gone
£19.40 £36.22
Total cost
£322.12
£601.45
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Tickle Me Elmo
£19.99 £36.44
Buzz Lightyear
£23.99 £43.74
Doodle Bear
£14.75 £26.89
Gooey Louie
£12.99 £23.68
Space Jam Action Figures
£9.99 £18.21
Total cost
£81.71
£148.96
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Nintendo 64
£150 £265.15
Tamagotchi
£9.99 £16.88
Teletubbies
£27.99 £49.48
Digimon
£8.75 £15.47
Spice Girls Girl Power Dolls
£9.99 £17.66
Total cost
£206.72
£364.64
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Furby
£24.99 £42.71
Bop It
£14.99 £25.62
Nintendo Game Boy Colour
£69.99 £119.62
ProYo
£4.75 £8.12
Laser Challenge
£44.99 £76.89
Total cost
£159.71
£272.96
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Pokemon Red & Pokemon Blue
£19.99 £33.65
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Game
£23.99 £40.38
Scalextric AFX Vertigo Set
£48.99 £82.46
Nintendo Game Boy Camera
£39.50 £66.49
Tyco Rebound
£75 £126.24
Total cost
£207.47
£349.22
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Teksta Robotic Dog
£38.74 £63.33
Micro Scooter
£90 £147.13
Amazing Ally
£37.37 £61.10
Pokemon Pokedex
£19.97 £32.49
Nokia 3310
£150 £245.22
Total cost
£336.08
£549.27
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Bob the Builder
£19.97 £32.08
Lego Bionicle
£7 £11.24
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
£29.99 £48.17
iPod Classic
£273.47 £439.30
Sony PlayStation 2
£299 £480.30
Total cost
£629.43
£1,011.09
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Bratz Dolls
£24.99 £39.48
Rapunzel Barbie
£13.70 £21.64
Xbox
£299.99 £473.99
Yu-Gi-Oh
£7 £11.06
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Figures
£9.99 £15.78
Total cost
£355.67
£561.95
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Beyblades
£5.99 £9.20
Cranium Board Game
£25 £38.39
Nokia N-Gage
£209.60 £321.87
Lord of the Rings Figures
£13.99 £21.48
Badge It
£15 £23.03
Total cost
£269.58
£413.97
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Robosapien
£74.97 £111.80
iPod Mini
£139.93 £208.66
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
£29.99 £44.72
Halo 2
£29.99 £44.72
Motorola Razr
£210.25 £313.52
Total cost
£485.13
£723.42
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Xbox 360
£299 £433.62
Tamagotchi Connexion
£13.06 £18.94
Nintendo DS
£99.99 £145.01
iPod Nano
£104.20 £151.11
Star Wars Electronic Light Sabers
£34.19 £49.59
Total cost
£550.44
£798.27
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Nintendo Wii
£169 £237.50
My Furreal Friends Pony
£206.26 £289.86
Tickle Me Elmo
£27.50 £38.65
Fly Wheels XPV
£41.01 £57.63
Wii Sports
£39.99 £56.20
Total cost
£483.76
£679.84
Key: Cost then | Cost now
PlayStation 3
£395 £532.29
Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock
£69.70 £93.93
iPod Touch
£141.05 £190.07
Doctor Who Dalek Voice Changer Mask
£29.95 £40.36
WWE Playset
£19.95 £26.88
Total cost
£655.65
£883.53
Key: Cost then | Cost now
High School Musical Dance Mat
£17.99 £23.31
Iron Man DVD
£14.99 £19.43
Transformers Movie Deluxe Figures
£39.99 £51.82
Rubik's Revolution
£13.81 £17.89
iPhone 3G
£354.20 £459
Total cost
£440.98
£571.45
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Go Go Pet Hamster
£9.99 £13.02
Monopoly City 3D
£24.99 £32.56
GX Racers
£29.99 £39.07
Battle Strikers
£9.99 £13.02
Ben 10 Action Cruiser
£29.99 £39.07
Total cost
£104.95
£136.74
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Toy Story 3 DVD
£4.99 £6.21
iPad
£429 £534.25
Jet Pack Buzz Lightyear
£39.99 £49.80
FurReal Go Go Walking Pup Hasbro
£59.99 £74.71
Nerf N-Strike
£54.99 £68.48
Total cost
£588.96
£733.45
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Nintendo 3DS
£126.60 £149.86
Moshling Treehouse
£18.99 £22.48
Fijit Friends
£54.99 £65.09
Lego Ninjago Fire Temple
£91.99 £108.89
Doggie Doo
£22.99 £27.21
Total cost
£315.56
£373.53
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Skylanders Giants
£52.89 £60.66
Wii U
£250 £286.73
Furby
£59.99 £68.80
Twister Dance
£26.99 £30.95
Lego Lord of the Rings
£68.99 £79.12
Total cost
£458.86
£526.26
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Xbox One
£429 £477.51
PlayStation 4
£349 £388.46
Lego City Coastguard
£39.99 £44.51
Hoverboard
£229.42 £255.36
Grand Theft Auto V
£44.99 £50.08
Total cost
£1,092.40
£1,215.92
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Frozen Snow Glow Elsa
£34.99 £38.05
iPhone 6
£499.94 £543.63
The Sims 4
£59.99 £65.23
Minecraft Figures
£7.99 £8.69
Bop It! Beats
£21.99 £23.91
Total cost
£624.90
£679.51
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Bladebuilder Jedi Master Lightsaber
£44.99 £48.44
Star Wars BB-8 Toy Droid
£129.99 £139.97
LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon
£649.99 £699.87
IDO3D Craft Design Studio
£39.99 £43.06
Thunderbirds Interactive Tracey Island
£79.50 £85.60
Total cost
£944.46
£1,016.94
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Pie Face
£19.99 £21.16
Hatchimals
£56.95 £60.30
Paw Patrol
£39.99 £42.34
NES Classic
£49.99 £52.93
Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage
£89.99 £95.28
Total cost
£256.91
£272.01
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Fingerlings
£14.99 £15.32
LOL Surprise Dolls
£9.99 £10.21
Fidget Spinner
£5.99 £6.12
Nintendo Switch
£279.99 £286.15
SNES Classic
£69.99 £71.53
Total cost
£380.95
£389.33
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Red Dead Redemption 2
£48.99 £49.87
LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall
£87.95 £89.53
Monopoly Fortnite Edition
£21.99 £22.39
iPhone XR
£749.00 £762.48
PlayStation Classic
£89.99 £91.61
Total cost
£997.92
£1,015.88
Key: Cost then | Cost now
Nintendo Switch Lite
£199.00 £204.11
iPhone 11 Pro
£1,049.00 £1,075.92
Marvel Legends Series Infinity Gauntlet
£87.99 £90.26
Fortnite Battle Bus Deluxe
£49.99 £51.28
Gravitrax Starter Set XXL
£80.00 £82.05
Total cost
£1,465.98
£1,503.62
Key: Cost then | Cost now
PS5 or Xbox Series X 1TB Console
- £449.99
iPhone 12 Pro
- £999.00
PAW Patrol Dino Rescue Dino Patroller
- £44.99
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- £64.99
A LEGO Super Mario Starter Course
- £50.00
Total cost
-
£1,608.97
HOW MUCH DOES CHRISTMAS REALLY COST PARENTS?
We’ve looked at the average monthly disposable income in the UK, and calculated what percentage of that parents would have to spend to get the five must-have toys each year. In 1970, parents only had to spend 4% of their household disposable income to fulfil their children’s wish lists, compared to a whopping 63% in 2020!
If you’re looking to raise some extra cash for Christmas, why not head over to our sell my phone page today? You can recycle phones and sell iPhone devices you no longer use to help the environment and make money at the same time.
Or head over to our store and check out our wide range of refurbished phones and cheap tablets. You can also buy games and cheap games consoles here at musicMagpie.
This content was created using information from the Toy Retailers Association, Retromash, The People History and Wikipedia. Historic prices were adjusted for inflation using CPI Inflation Calculator. Figures and calculations accurate as of December 2020.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License.