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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be pissed off that people keep trying to get me to buy my kids more for Christmas?

137 replies

CrapBag · 07/11/2013 16:47

I am getting sooo fed up with people implying that I am not spending enough or getting my kids enough presents for Christmas.

We don't have a lot of money, I like to have a budget and stick to it, and we have done it this year. One time I mentioned my budget to a friend and she was horrified as she spends 4x the amount on her kids, then all the stuff they get from relatives, they are pretty spoilt tbh.

My kids are not in the slightest materialistic, they would be perfectly happy with a few small things, although we have got them more than this. Plus we don't have the space to put loads and loads of new toys. They do get things that they want, its not like we get them some old shit that they won't like which is what I feel is implied sometimes.

I had a couple of friends tell me that they have got their kids 30+ presents! That's not including relatives who all spoil them as well. My kids don't get spoilt in the slightest by relatives, and while I don't want them to be spoilt, I am also slightly sad that our families don't seem to make as much effort as my friends families (I get a run down of all the things their families have bought for their kids, its way over the top but I still feel sad, can't really explain it myself).

A friend has been asking DD (2) what she wants. There are 2 things, neither of which are big or expensive. She is getting more as well but my friend kept trying to get DD to add more things to her 'list ' in order to make me buy her more. Hmm

Another friend told me I should buy my DS something else he likes, that is another £80! As in, "oh its only that, go on buy it for him" This is much more than his entire budget.

There will be plenty of years where they want big expensive things and these earlier years mean you can get away with buying less. I have been accused of being tight on more than 1 occasion because I don't constantly spend money (that I don't have) and I am getting really fucking fed up of it! AIBU.

OP posts:
CrapBag · 11/11/2013 10:42

Oh and like others have said, this wouldn't have been an issue if people didn't ask how much we are spending or what we have bought. I didn't ask, they asked then the whole conversation started. I need to learn not to be so open when asked stuff, unfortunately I have a habit of being quite open with certain things. Something I need to stop really.

OP posts:
NorthernShores · 11/11/2013 11:53

I personally don't think they really appreciate the gifts when they're getting 60 odd presents. The sweet little thing you thought of gets lost in the indulgence. So I wouldn't choose to do that for my children, even though we can.

I'd respect other people's rights to though!

Holistictherapies · 11/11/2013 11:58

Sorry I'd rather have my one good friend and a couple of lovely mates than these 'friends' you seem to have!
True friends don't come out with this crap!

Give your kids whatever you can afford! You sound like you've done a wonderful job so far seeing that they're not materialistic spoilt brats!

Lastly IGNORE the stupid berks they're probably putting the amazing OTT presents on the 'never never' card anyway...

Hullygully · 11/11/2013 11:59

why
does
anyone
care
what
anyone
else
does?

I will never ever get this.

Rewindtimeplease · 11/11/2013 12:03

I think I must be insanely thick skinned. Or perhaps I just know my own mind, raise my children how I wish to, and let everyone else do their thing.

If people wish to over buy for my children, which both my bro and sis do, then I say nothing more than 'thank you, how incredibly generous and sweet of you'. And you know what? I mean it!.

I prefer to spend my time, effort and energy thinking and worrying about far more important things, then people being Ott at Christmas time.

CrapBag · 11/11/2013 12:06

Hully do you know what, I am going to use that. Grin I f I get asked about it (from certain people, others it is just a general "what are you getting your kids for Christmas" type conversation) I am going to say "why do you care what I do" Grin

Bit aggressive maybe but I am fed up with people making out I am tight for not spending a fortune, then all the "I spend £££ and they have blah, blah, blah.........." talk. Maybe they'll get the hint then Grin

OP posts:
Rewindtimeplease · 11/11/2013 12:32

Am I right in presuming that this kind of weird competitiveness is more prevalent amongst younger mums??

I'm in my thirties, my friends are in their thirties and early forties. All have young children (under 5) and not even the remotest whiff of competitiveness when it comes to the Xmas presents.

fuzzpig · 11/11/2013 12:44

Well, according to my huge sample of, erm, one (I had my first at 20, now 26 with 2 DCs) no! But then I don't actually have many mum friends my own age to compare with - most mums I know are older.

I only know one person who has photographed piles of presents on FB (a whole other thread according to MN :o) and she is an 'older mum' so to me it doesn't seem to correlate with age

Rewindtimeplease · 11/11/2013 13:34

Fuzz pig, first baby at 20 and 2 at 26.... I regard that as a young mum. Mind you, I'm on outskirts of London, if that makes any difference.

fuzzpig · 11/11/2013 13:39

That's what I meant - I'm a young mum and don't get into the competitive spending etc :) (but as I said I don't know enough other young mums to compare!)

FreakoidOrganisoid · 11/11/2013 14:10

Op I know where you're coming from. My colleague asked what I was getting the dc for Christmas. I told her. She said "and what's their main presents?"

Retroformica · 11/11/2013 14:18

We don't go mad at Xmas. We don't have any debts but have to live on a budget.

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