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.

@Raoim I am astounded that if your kids want something whilst out, 9 times out of 10 you will buy it for them. What happens if you say no? Even if money isn't an issue, and it isn't for me, kids need boundaries and need to know they can't have whatever they want when they want it.

@WorrieaboutFIL well of course a grand on a 6 year old makes no sense. However a grand on a 16 year old is a whole different ball game.

I buy early ish and I save from about July. I've bought my youngest, who's 16, AirPods (£200), nike tech stuff (£250), aftershave (£70), hoodies (£180) - so there's just 7 things wrapped yet I'm already up to £700.

It's easy to spend and why not if you have the money? I make no apologies for it at all. Couldn't care less what others might think but of course I don't actually list what I buy my kids anywhere else but here on an anonymous forum!

Equally I don't judge those who do things differently. It makes no difference to me what others choose to do

Well I am amazed that you are astounded considering you buy yours something every week.I dont buy every week like I stated previously.They dont tend to ask that often and it is very rarely anything that would warrant a no.If they want a magazine occasionally they can have it.if they want something from a gift shop on a day out we do tend to buy it. When we do say no because it's not suitable or is more a birthday xmas gift they accept that.Do your dc expect something every week?? mine certainly dont!!,but you are teaching your children that every week equals a gift!!

@Raoim I am not sure where you got the every week from, I think I said most weeks but in reality it is maybe a couple of times a month ie during a food shop I might pick up an item of clothing for them, or a bath bomb. I wouldn't class these as 'gifts' but necessities as stated before.

Just wrapped their stockings, 3dc with around 20 things each in. Varying value but they’ve worked out quite a lot this year.
Then each of them have between 10-15 presents from us under the tree. They also have about 15 from other family.
writing it down, 50 presents sounds like a lot of presents. And it is.
but it certainly doesn’t take hours. Stockings are about half an hour, they then take everything to their rooms and have a bit of investigating everything more and playing with stuff while dh and I crack on getting breakfast ready. They come down, we have breakfast and then spent about an hour doing tree presents. Done. No one is overwhelmed, everyone is really happy.

Sorry my mistake,most weeks or as it is now a couple of times a month.
You did say a little Toy to keep them occupied whilst shopping..no mention of bath bomb.
I dont count or track how often I buy the dc necessities such as coats and shoes these have to be provided.I probably do buy them something 2/3 times a month if including basic necessities,especially the younger ones as thing ruin or are out grown.

I didn't spend a lot at Christmas or through the year. I do buy things DS needs as he needs them. I could have wrapped pyjama bottoms up for Christmas but he needed them early December as it was cold in the house. I bought super warm gloves last weekend that I've wrapped but if I'd got them the week before when I saw them then he'd have had them then for the cold snap. He was wearing my thin knitted gloves and I was wearing socks on my hands to scrape the ice off the car. So they wouldn't have been saved for Christmas if we had them!

People do seem to get very offended by what others choose to do. Why isn’t it like that for birthdays?
Christmas is massive in my house and always has been, even as a child when my mum and I lived in a little council house with very little money. It’s the one day where I was very spoiled and she would have tears in her eyes with happiness watching me open the presents. It was her ‘love language’ as some say.
I’ve inherited this and I do spend quite a lot. It obviously changes as children get older as things aren’t as cheap as toys for little ones. As I said before, if people with money to spare can buy from small businesses and spread their money, fantastic!
My kids are told that I send money to Father Christmas on December 1st (this is why some children get more and some get less). Some years, I’ve told them it’s less than others as money is more tight, or we are going on holiday, etc. They know I save for it and budget for it, so that’s money management. As I said previously, I get them things that I know will come in useful for the rest of the year, such as a paddle board for the summer. I don’t buy things like that, or toys, the rest of the year. Obviously essentials and clothes and occasional little treats.
On the other hand, birthdays aren’t a massive thing in my house and we don’t spend a lot. Again, inherited that from my mum. I don’t resent or get wound up by parents who choose to throw those sweet 16 parties with a limo and a white pony for their child, though! Life is short and full of pain and sadness, why the hell not find joy where you can, wherever and however that may be.

Well said, @Ansumpasty