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?

Another thing that helps…

I bought mostly local, as local as possible. No money to Jeff Bezos unless it was unavoidable. The money’s all going to this country, and taxes will be paid on most of it.

Yeah - gone way OTT this year and feeling a little sick. But I just keep thinking about how everyone’s gonna be really happy and so it makes me feel a little less shit

Fortunately, shops are still open and not busy right now.

I don’t feel sickened- before bed I always look back at the pile under the tree and actually feel proud, DH and Me work so hard to spoil our x3 DCs this time of year. They’re sweet children and will be so excited. Can’t wait to sit back with a cuppa and let the opening commence!

So beautifully said

I did feel a bit like that this year - I usually do the MN-hated ‘want need wear read’ but the kids have got almost double that this year (from us). DH feels fine about it and absolutely none of it is rubbish so that’s good. Kids gonna love it!!

Ours are all in one big Christmas box. Dd is much more expensive now she's 18 and I can't pad her presents out with crayons and colouring books.
We dont buy a lot for birthdays,Christmas is the one time we're all guaranteed to be in the same place at the same time so we make an effort.
No shame here, I've worked hard and saved for this.

No, I feel happy and Christmassy. Don’t be such a misery.

No it doesn't, and I don't actually know how much I've spent. I haven't been totting it up. Maybe you should create a spreadsheet when you start your Christmas shopping so you can keep tabs on what you've bought, for whom and how much.

It's something you have control over so you can make changes if you want to.

No, I don’t feel like that. We spend lots on gifts for each other and our teen and adult children and why shouldn’t we. I don’t feel sickened at all, just happy that we’ll all have a nice day, spending time together, eating nice food, and getting lots of nice presents.

£1000 between 4 of you, it’s not like you’ve gone OTT at all anyway. I know there are people who couldn’t afford it or who choose to give less but I think a few hundred on kids that age is very common. Just enjoy and be thankful.

We are like this with food at this time of year. The rest of the year we spend less than the average - we're a MN one-chicken-four-meals type of family - so I feel OK filling my trolley with salmon and party food.

You’re in control…
We may have many presents under the tree, but a lot were inexpensive - eg jar of mustard that can only be bought from a certain area, cling film dispenser for Dh as he wrestles with the cling film on a weekly basis, ds’s favourite haribo sweets, (he’s 25) clothes for Dd that I bought in Zara in Spain where prices are considerably lower.

We normally live a relatively frugal life. 4 kids. We don't drink during the year normally. Don't Buy luxury foods. Have spent £150 on each child. Feel very little guilt. Having nice stuff at Christmas is what sets aside from any other weekend as we are not religious.

Download a gift guide app if you do feel guilt. As long as nothing is on credit, you can afford it. Like a pp it's about choice of how you spend your spare cash. Nice holiday. Gifts. Nicer car. I drive a old car so if I was splurging, it's not on every aspect in life. I feel no guilt.

There is no point worrying about it now and ruining tomorrow so I'd enjoy your Christmas and then dig a bit deeper into why you feel sickened so you can adjust for next year. Is it the amount of money spent? Is it the volume of stuff? Is it more than you can afford? The environmental impact? Have you panic bought stuff just "because"? etc.

I easily feel overwhelmed by lots of stuff so we've always kept DDs presents quite low key. Maybe four or five presents under the tree each and then a stocking. We'd rather spend the money on a Summer holiday because that's what is important to us. It's worth working out what's important to you and trying to stick to that rather than get swept up in all the excess.

No not at all, my DH and I have spent nearly £500 on presents for our three adult DC and a similar amount on Christmas activities and it feels the perfect amount for us.

No, I do not feel sickened at all. I'm really excited for my children to open their presents.

I work my arse off all year round for not just christmas but treats, holidays and days out so hell no I'm not feeling guilty at any of the Christmas gifts under the tree and what we have food wise as I budgeted for it, planned and went a bit over budget and dont even think about it

Honestly yes I’ve probably spent more than I should have. But you know what my kids are
good kids, they’ve worked hard at exams and school this year. They have had other achievements too. My husband works incredibly hard. We aren’t excessive but I believe we are all worth spoiling at this time of year. We actually had a conversation with the kids today about how incredibly fortunate we are to live in a loving family, all feel safe and respected, food in the cupboards and home that is warm so anything under the tree is a huge bonus not all the people they know have this luxury.
so my message OP is enjoy it. Merry Christmas.

We’ve spent similar but budgeted for it all year and can’t wait for everyone to open their stuff tomorrow. It makes me feel happy because I know there is lots of stuff they will love and get use out of under the tree and they are lovely kids (most of the time) and we all work hard so one day of lots of stuff feels deserved !

That’s a lot. At those ages you could spend £100 per person and put the rest in a uni fees saving fund or towards a holiday.

For the first year ever I have kept a spreadsheet. I was pleasantly surprised that I have spent less then I thought. I shall be doing this again as I have kept a track of what is suggested, bought and then wrapped. Has helped me to keep organised this year

No, because, although we’ve spent a lot we’ve each had things we needed. DH has bought me some new muck boots as my old ones leak, he’s had EarPods as his are broken, DD’s had a kindle so she can read between jobs at work, DS has had a watch. Obviously there’s other stuff as well but mostly useful and needed, there’s nothing particularly frivolous, and no plastic tat.

We’ve probably spent 750 on presents plus 500 for hosting.

Not sickened. Excited for my DC to open up their presents Xmas morning. Budget used to be £100 per child plus stocking. Now they’re older- gifts are a bit more. DD has waited 4 months for her iPad. I cannot wait to see her face!
DH and I don’t really do presents. We buy ourselves what we need all year

We don’t spend anything we can’t afford. Our sons in their early twenties have 8 gifts each. Nothing excessive, nor a big pile. I didn’t count, but I reckon it’s about £700 between them. I spend about the same on my husband, who totally deserves to be spoiled.

I've spent an obscene amount this year on my 2 children. But not in debt and can't wait to see their faces in the morning! If you feel sickened then don't do it but 250pp isn't a crazy amount of money at all.