Same christmas, different budget

[AugustaGloop]

DH's sister and her family live overseas and are coming to stay with us for christmas. We all get on well, DC fairly close in her (hers 14 and 10, mine 11 and 10). There may be some sharing of bedrooms as the DC get on well.

What I am worrying about is that we would normally buy our DC a fair amount more for christmas than they do, although we don't go really over the top. This is I guess mainly budget but also there is another time of year where they live when presents are exchanged, and I imagine they will also need to think about transporting stuff.

So my question is whether the right thing to do would be to hold back on what we give our DC this year.

[mrsfarquhar]

What kind of difference is there ?

Ask Dh to speak to his sister and see what they think, explain this is the one off occasion for your children etc and will their children understand or would they prefer you to hold back a bit. A good guest will want your children to enjoy their Christmas and a good host would want their guests to be comfortable so, given the ages of the children, this should be easily negotiated.

[DamselNotInHerDress]

Your dc are old enough to understand

[DamselNotInHerDress]

Posted too soon obviously!
... The reasons of you explain in advance. You could do stockings and small (exciting presents) on the day and their main presents when they leave? Or even before they arrive, so they're not desperate for them to leave?! My older 2 are 9 and 10 and would be okay with this I think.