How many presents do your dc have to unwrap?

[student86]

I realise this might cause a riot but I'm just wondering what the average is?

My own dc don't get "presents" to unwrap from family as we are in a different country so they get money to spend in the sales (also older so appreciate this)

This means they only get from dh and I, I aim for ten presents each which costs a fortune when you have four children and they are all older so gifts more expensive. It never looks a lot when it's laid out though and even though I know big piles on social media could all be plastic tat and I've no desire to get into that kind of competition I sometimes second guess myself.

The dc also get stockings which is over and above the ten gifts but that's filled with cheap bits that they like and sweets etc.

We do what works for us and as long as it works for us who cares what anyone else does. Equal amounts of judgement here from the people who give loads to the people who give little. The only people I’m judging are the ones judging others because they can’t understand that different doesn’t mean wrong.

One of dd's 2 presents from FC (from us) is a trampoline so I hardly think she will feel hard done by. She will probably want to spend a fair bit of time bouncing on it though! Everyone just does things differently and she will have had a stocking too.

When I look back on when I was a child, I can honestly say I don't remember the gifts. I do remember the experiences - playing with cousins etc

I spend no where near £1000 but can easily see how you can spend that much without mountains of gifts. Lots of things cost several hundred pounds. Games Consoles. Bikes (especially if they are used a lot). Other sports equipment, like paddleboards. Experiences like zookeeper days or museum sleepovers. Trampolines. Laptop is then used for school work. I pads for toddlers.

(Weve spent about £150 on our four gifts plus stocking for each child before I get jumped on. They do have an expensive present from grandparents but its too share... but could easily be for one child.)

These things don't come up every year though, DS is getting a tablet, but it's replacing a 10 year old one. A bike lasts a few years unless they are very young, and then can be passed down or sold if it's a decent one. Trampolines last years. So I could see how you could spend that in one year but not every year.

I spend a lot, but I rarely buy random gifts or toys the rest of the year. It’s the one day they get things for the year. I think ahead, so a paddle board for the summer, etc.

There is a lot of shaming towards those people spending a lot, but I’m guessing it’s not for toddlers. Also, if people have a lot of money, I don’t blame them! Even better if they are buying from small businesses and helping fund someone else’s bills and Christmas!

@Ansumpasty that's a very good point.
Whatever we spend is going towards someone else's Christmas. :-)

The 'sneery' post are mainly aimed at the people who give more than 1or 2 gifts.
Its seems like they should feel bad for buying dc more than others can afford or that they are raising brats.There is a superior element that comes across from those who give the least through choice not financial constraints.
As for spending hundreds it is easily done when including tech or clothing for teens and toys are not a cheap as they used to be.
Just because someone chooses to buy or spend more doesn't mean they font spend time with family,watch films play games or at nice food.

What makes you think people aren’t only giving one or two gifts due to financial constraints and needing to try to do the best Christmas they can by doing free things? I have teens and am spending around £100-£130 each on them. I think that’s quite a lot. I wouldn’t expect anyone to spend more than £10-15 on me.

Yes, I don't have the money for piles of presents, DS needed a new tablet which was £160, plus a case for it, so there wasn't much money left after that. I don't usually spend that much. I think people are seeing 'superiority' that isn't there!

My Mum just came over with about 10 gifts for each of them which was nice, I’d never expect that many but she (in her words) enjoys spoiling them. They get a couple of gifts from MIL and then just cash from other relatives.

From us probably 15-20 gifts each. One main gift which costs a fair amount then the rest will be clothes, shoes, books, other smaller things they’ve asked for like teddies, paints or colouring pencils and toys for the younger two.

There have been several posts on this thread where it has been said they only give 1 or 2 presents but could afford to buy more.
Personally I don't care what anyone else gives their child for xmas.i am happy with what I give mine,I dont tell people in real life how many presents they have to open or post any pile pic on Facebook ect.
My dcs appreciated what they are given and are not brats.They enjoy the whole festive period outside of present giving.I do feel for people that struggle with the stress of xmas financially and have been there my self in previous years before circumstances changed.

DC 6 and 4.

About 10 presents each from FC/us, but other than a bike, the rest fairly small (range from a book to a Playmobil set/Sylvanian Family set/baby doll).

About 10 things in stocking (ranging from chocolate to a small Lego friends set).

One thing from each other (Small Polly Pocket/Spirit playset)

Two (small) things from Aunts/Uncles

One thing from grandparents

I wonder whether those parents spending hundreds and buying 20+ presents actually buy things for their children year round. I personally buy something for the kids most weeks, if not a little toy whilst out shopping to keep them occupied, then something they need i.e. a coat/ shoes. I couldn't imagine putting so much pressure on myself to buy everything they could ever want/ need one time a year. I hope in doing this I am also modelling money management to my kids. Plus half the stuff you guys are buying will be half price come Boxing day 😂

@Littleguggi i only buy for my dc at Christmas and birthdays really. They might but themselves a toy with saved up vouchers or money. It’s all the same though isn’t it, one every few weeks or 20+ at Christmas 🤷‍♀️

@Helpmesortit yes it's all the same, but not exactly great money management to buy everything all in one month plus I don't see necessities such as clothing/ shoes/ toiletries being presents. I think sometimes it is done for show so a huge pile of presents can be uploaded onto social media.

I’m genuinely shocked 4-5 and definitely less than 10 presents seems normal but anything more wasteful and unnecessary.

I personally buy something for the kids most weeks, if not a little toy whilst out shopping to keep them occupied, then something they need i.e. a coat/ shoes

Everyone's different I suppose - but for my dc, a new toy is something they'd be bought as a treat and certainly not a weekly or frequent event.

In respect of you not seeing necessities such as clothes and toiletries as gifts @Littleguggi, I suspect you have younger dc - that changes as they get older and there are many clothing items that are definite 'wants' not 'needs' in tween and teen years.

I think it’s quite different buying for older children than toddlers - you aren’t buying toys!

For older kids / teenagers things like headphones, clothes, trainers, bedroom stuff, computer games and other tech, art materials etc which can all add up.

Yes I agree re clothes - happy to buy my teenager most of her basic clothes, jeans etc but if she wants something more extravagant then it’s a present.

Same for toiletries - of course I buy her shampoo, soap etc - but nail polish, make-up etc is a gift.

@Littleguggi i don’t really get my dc clothing, shoes accessories for Christmas either to be honest. Unless it’s a special item they are looking for I suppose. As for money management. I cash flow everything. I have no debts and don’t get into debt for Christmas either, I don’t see any difference in spending throughout the year or saving it for Christmas.

Yes totally get people's points about the difference in buying for younger DC compared to teens, my DC are indeed younger. So I have all this to look forward to! I'm hoping in buying them just a couple of presents for Xmas, this will set up an expectation for when they are older, that they certainly won't be getting piles of presents!

I have bought 20+ presents for my children and do buy through the year also,if we are out and they wants something 9 out of 10 I will buy it for them.I have teens and younger children..my youngest piles are all toys no toiletries other than a bath bomb in stockings and the only clothes are dress up.The eldest piles are completely different fancy hair products,perfume,higher end clothes,
£200 trainers and tech.
On a side note most sales now start during November so very few of my teens presents were full price.

Youngest have 9 under tree and 3 small presents in stocking along with chocolate.
The teenagers have 6 presents and a stocking which contains 1 small present and some chocolate.
Chocolate is 2 packs of chocolate coins and some tubes of jelly tots and chocolate buttons.

Totally agree with @Ritasueandbobtoo9 about buying in excess is wasteful and unnecessary