do you and dh clash over dc xmas pressies?

[wfrances]

my dp is getting on my nerves already,butting in again.
he never does any xmas shopping leaves it all to me.
he thinks my budget is too stingy and im not spending enough????

[Northernlurker]

Dh thinks I get carried away! I tell him to butt out seeing as how he leaves it all to me.....

[lucysmam]

How much does he think is stingy? My kids don't get loads spent on them & I do most of the organising so see it as being up to me what gets spent on who so we don't go over budget

[wfrances]

my budget was £100 each,but;
dd wanted top and jeans £125
ds1 ?
ds2 xbox
ds3 football stuff,lots o hug bear,kung zhu stuff
dp thinks quantity not £££££.

[thisisyesterday]

sadly dp doesn't seem to give a shit what we I buy anyone.
so i get the kids what i thijn kthey will like

sometimes it's a lot of money (ds1 had a bike last year) and sometimes it isn't (buzz lightyear this time)

[lucysmam]

Oh, to me, that amount of money's not stingy at all! My kids probably get a max of £50 each & other people a fiver!

[wfrances]

only spend £5-£10 on other people and thats with boots 3 for 2.
i cant just buy crap they dont need because they havnt got a lot.i pay for everything.last year i suggested trimming the list of people we buy for ,his attitude was the odd £10 pressie is not going to break the bank dont be so stingy.
im made to look the bad guy in front of the kids.

[dooneygirl]

DH and I have very different ideas about presents. I tend to go OTT because I never got to celebrate Christmas as a child, and therefore try to overcompensate with my kids. But he's pretty good about not saying anything, because he knows I get them a ton of stuff, but everything I get is on sale, and I don't spend more than we can afford.

There are times I get frustrated because he seems to think I should do all of the shopping for everyone, because my family doesn't celebrate and I don't have to buy for them, but we've pretty much worked it out that I will buy for MIL and he will buy for FIL (because FIL is truly difficult to figure out what to get).

[HappyMummyOfOne]

We dont clash, I usually do the bulk of the shopping and DH will add a few bits he's chosen for DS to the wishlist and I tag those on. Works well for us.

[Ragwort]

I think my DH is far too generous with DS's present - but as he will organise it (via internet) I don't usually complain - I buy the 'stocking' presents, and don't spend much !

[jeee]

DH doesn't really do presents. One year, I asked for suggestions for DS, then nearly four. DH thought for a while, and then said, completely seriously, 'DS would really like a diary.'

But then DH is the man who only really likes getting socks for Christmas.

[booyhoo]

EXp and i used to argue. he always wanted to get them loads of stuff, eg; a bike and a computer console and a remote control car and lots of other small stuff he just bought when he saw them. whereas i think one big present and then a few small presents. he earned a good wage and said we should spend it while we had it but i was always wary of doing that and then maybe one of us losing our jobs and not being able to do the same the next year. as it happens we are now separated this year and i am unemployed so guess whose going to be the favourite parent this xmas.

[notso]

Yes, every year he complains about how much I spend (rarely more than £100 each) and every Christmas morning he is gushy about how excited and pleased they are with their presents.

[lovelymumma]

Help!My8,9 and 11 year olds want laptops!I know husband isn't going to agree to this.Dd 2 has been asking for one for years,because she has always been into gadgets.Do i persuade husband and forgo family holiday next year,or let them all be disappointed.

[booyhoo]

1 laptop between them. they are siblings, it is not unknown for siblings to have to share.

[booyhoo]

also, at their ages, laptops are likely to get broken, I'd rather have to replace one than 3.

[expatinscotland]

No. Because I do it all. It's all done on a budget, too.

In fact, I'm now finished.

[lovelymumma]

I get fed up with children arguing daily whose turn it is to go on computer,so I just don't relish thought of christmas morning with them all arguing over whose turn it is first to go on the laptop.

[booyhoo]

you tell them beforhand that you will decide who uses it first and that if there is any arguing about it, you will take it away.

[lovelymumma]

Booyhoo,but on christmas morning it will be a big deal to them who uses it first.The other two will feel the first chosen is favourite.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

Would netbooks work out cheaper lovelymumma. FWIW I dont like joint presents either unless a board game etc where more than one person can play.

[lovelymumma]

happymummyofone,sounds like a good idea;I'll definately look into that one.Thanks for your suggestions booyhoo,might still get 1 laptop.It used to be so much simpler when I could go to mothercare and buy cheap push prams,dollies and building blocks!!

[wfrances]

lovelymumma my oldest 2 have been nagging for years but no way.i would have to buy 2 and that would be at least £600.
i dont like them anyway,not for kids.
see if you can get other family members to chip in .

[lovelymumma]

I know wfrances,they are so expensive.One of their friends gets loads of gadgets.My middle girl is very bright though and hugely into gadgets from a young age,and I do feel she would benefit educationally from having a laptop.She's always been technically minded,could get it from husband who worked in computers for 10 years.

[booyhoo]

i do see your point but it still wouldn't justify buying 3 laptops for children of their age. maybe do without laptops until hey are old enough to understand that it would have to be shared. or what about just a family pc?

[lovelymumma]

I think you might be right booyhoo,I'm going to look into the net books idea.