Presents under the tree does it make you feel sickend

[5490t]

Just done our yearly tradition of putting the presents under the tree ready(Santa brings our stockings )
As always we said we weren't going mad! but I think roughly we've spent £1000 for me husband and 2 kids 9 and 12 I actually feel sickened trying to think what we've got for each other
Is anyone else feeling like this?

Don’t spend so much then! Gluttony makes me feel overwhelmed and sick as well.

Lock that feeling away in a box for now, and open it around the beginning of November next year.

In the meantime, just have a lovely Christmas and be thankful for what you have.

I hate excesses so I get it. It's a battle in my house as DH loves buying presents so if I cut back he will keep going anyway.

I think that if you don't spend much on each other all year round then it's OK to splurge for the holidays. Also, ages 9 and 12 are a bit tricky when buying gifts - they no longer get the plastic toys that were relatively cheap and kept them happy. I try to spend the same on each of my grandchildren, but the oldest is 10 1/2 and she cost me a bit more to give the same number of presents. I'm choosing not to fret too much over it, though, because what's bought is bought and if your intentions were good then try to let it go and enjoy the happiness the gifts bring.

No, not here. It’s me and my elderly dad. He’s got 7 presents from me. I have zero from him or anyone else. Last year was the same. And - believe it or not - I’ve a good group of close friends who I know I could call in a 3am emergency and they’d be there.

No shade - I appreciate you are feeling overwhelmed but for once, I would love for someone to have bought me ‘stuff’ because they thought I’d might like it and they wanted to make me happy.

Make a list of things to take back on the 27th then.

I don't put it all out til evening precisely because the pile makes me feel uncomfortable. Its not that much, £150-200 per child but I can't wait til they are older and we can do away with gifts altogether in lieu of a bit of money instead.

No, of course not. If it made me feel “sickened” I would stop doing it. But I don’t have much patience with the streak of puritanical mania that runs through MN like Brighton through a stick of rock, especially at Christmas. It’s a time of indulgence, generosity and excess in this house, that’s the way we like it, and I don’t feel the tiniest shred of guilt about it. We’ll be skint in January, and I really DGAF.

Such an easy solution if you feel uncomfortable

Or indeed, "sickened".

It’s up to other people how much money they spend. We spend much less on Christmas gift but we have 2 AI holidays this year. Different people sownd their money on different things.

No, I don’t buy so much it sickens me (and if I did I wouldn’t have anywhere to put it anyway!). DC have a few carefully chosen presents each and that’s it. DP and I don’t really do presents. If we want something we buy it.

Nope. Ours is similar, probably more, between 2 adults and 3 kids. 2 of which are teens. And a few other related adults. We live a very normal day to day life, and certainly haven't gone crazy. The kids won't be spoiled etc.

Je ne regrette rien.

No. We’re pretty low key on presents. Thankfully DD is a non-acquisitive teenager because I think that really helps.

As PP says, there’s a really easy solution…

Also, use Xmas to do things for others. Charity, acts of kindness.

Great advice from @RescueMeFromThisSilliness

Oh yes, if I added up holidays, ‘sickened’ wouldn’t touch the sides.

I’m very happy with it though. Experiences over things every time.

I have spent similar, it’s just me and my 2 DD’s (19,21) and my DF arriving tomorrow. I have spent around 1k, it doesn’t actually look much and many of the items are things we needed. I love looking at all the presents under the tree and I am excited for tomorrow. We don’t go on fancy holidays and we don’t buy much during the year so I like to go all out at Christmas (within reason),

I was just speaking to someone who spent over 5k on their 2 kids so I think 1k is pretty reasonable.

You say it like it's something outside of your control.

I don't feel sickened because under our tree there is one present from each person to each person. Also our presents to wider family who are coming on Christmas Day. So currently around 20 presents. It looks nice but not sickening. Kids will also have stockings.

I don’t feel sick but I have dc and am excited to see them open their presents. I love giving gifts and feel that the reason I break my back at work is to be able to give my family everything they need so it’s lovely to spoil them a bit when I can.

Nope, not here! I knew how much I was spending, it's well within what we can afford, and the dc will be grateful for what they receive. Why do it if it makes you feel that way? Yes, a pile of presents is an indulgence, but it feels joyful to indulge my dc sometimes, they are great kids!

I don’t feel sickened and I have spent a lot more. If it makes you feel like this why do it? I love gifting at Christmas.

Nope, not feeling at all sick. I put away money each month to cover Xmas and enjoy spending it on our family.

I’ve spent about the same, I save £100 a month through the year and have just over £200 left. 2 adults and 2 kids.

Agree. We all know it’s ridiculous but it’s brilliant too. My 6 month old grandson has got so many presents that half the front room where he lives is taken up.

I think when you haven't got a strict budget or don't keep religious track of spending, it can be easy to buy presents over a period of time and then find it a bit of a shock when you tot it all up. As others have said, if you want to spend less next year, set a budget, make a plan and keep track of your spending.