After the xmas list has been finished do you buy the lot or guess what will be played with and risk not getting it right ?

[Lilyloo]

Just wondering as last year i pretty much got most of ds xmas list witha few surprises.
However after most of it was a waste of money this year i am thinking i may do it differently.
How do you 'cut' the list though ?

[Overmydeadbody]

Um, once I've got the list I choose one or two things from it, same with birthday lists.

[Lilyloo]

But how do you know what's the 'right' thing to choose ?
Do you just go for first thing on the list!

[singyswife]

I normally just go with the things that they have been ranting about. There are loads on the lists but to be fair most of it was seen that morning on the tv adverts or whatever. I normally know what they really want cause they have talked loads about it.

[Eniddo]

I know what is good/what is crap

I dont buy crap - only one piece of real crap maybe

it is not worht it as they are a disappointment - ie anything by Gr8 gear

[Lilyloo]

LOL Eniddo but some things that i have hated buying and precieved to be crap have been used a lot 'crapola Peppa pig house' which is nearly worn out.
DD1 would be happy with anything and tbh will play with everything she get's. But last year ds hardly played with half the thing he got so ebayed them all and he wanted to know who had cleaned his wardrobe
Determined not to waste anymore money on him.

[abear]

Once you have brought the chosen items (usually the ones which they have gone on about most as per singyswife)I think it is really important to go on about how great it would be if Santa got those and how great they are so they really do want them come Xmas day

[Eniddo]

yy ditto fifi's house - tick, vg.

but not the craft things/golden coin maker etc

and ESPECIALLY NOT THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC METAL DETECTOR

[janeite]

I don't buy any of the crap stuff on the lists but grandma can sometimes be persuaded to do so!

[nolongeraworriedmummy]

I just buy what I know will be played with, last year I bought what she asked for and had been begging for for months, a £60 doll that has lay at the bottom of the toy box every since. Not even one week of play,

[Smithagain]

I don't invite them to write a list.

I buy them a surprise, that I know they will like, because they are my kids and I know them well.

Gifts are meant to be freely given, from the heart. Not ordered in bulk from the Argos catalogue. Or is that just me?

[Lilyloo]

Eniddo golden coin maker went used once on ebay!

[nooOOOoonki]

We used to write lists and only get some stuff. I beleve very strongly that it is good for kids to not get everything, and realise that in life you have to save/work/wait for somethings.

and then they learn to discern what to save up for and learn to appreciate what they have.

I would get think up stuff they want, and ask them to write a list if you are struggling then think about what you know they will play with.

[janeite]

Good post.

[JustKeepSwimming]

Definitely agree with the 'talking up the toys you have bought' approach.
So pick a few things, then every time Christmas comes up, or you see something linked to it, say how wonderful it is, by Christmas ds will REALLY want it

Of course, if the other things are cheap, and you want to, get them anyway, you can always ebay them before next Christmas!

[Lilyloo]

LOL jks !! Ebay is going to be my new best friend unless i get this right
Tried talking up the football table stored at my sisters he rubbed out football table for pool table!!!!