not to fill stockings for older DCs

[Justforlaughs]

I always had a stocking, despite not believing in Father Christmas. My DCs have all always had a enormous stocking. They are aged 5, 12, 14, 15 and 20. My DH found out on Tuesday that he has lost his job and we haven't started buying anything for Christmas yet. We would normally spend £50 each on main gift plus a stocking full of bits, which probably costs about £30-£40 (books, dvds, sports clothing etc). I wondered whether to cut the stockings out for the older 4 and maybe add a little bit to their main present, say making it worth £60. It's fairly easy to fill a cheap stocking for a 5 yo and to spend relatively little on a "big" main present. I feel a bit mean, in that DS1 has had 20 years of stockings, while DS3 has only had 12. I don't want to get into debt over Christmas, in fact I won't do it, so do I cut back on main present or cut out stockings, or let them all choose?

I think it would be ok to cut out the stocking for the older ones. They're all old enough to understand.

Sorry to hear your DH has been made redundant just before xmas.

I found it tricky when the older of my DDs started to get to the age where it was hard to afford to fill a stocking for them (plus main prezie) as they were too old for cheap tat stuff () age 11 or 12 ish. It was getting to the stage where we were spending a fortune on the older ones just in order to keep up the pretence of santa to the younger ones.

We got round it by telling the younger ones that Santa didn't do stockings once you got to high school age .... seemed to work.

Sorry to hear about your bad news .

This year I'd talk to the older DC, with a view to cutting costs down to the minimum for the time being. £60 x 5DC = £300, which is a significant chunk of the family budget for most families even when all is well. I'd try to knock it down to £20 per DC while you don't know how long your savings will have to last, and look at buying them each something they need/really want to celebrate when your finances are firmly back on track.

Also, don't think about it in terms of "DS1 has had 20 years of stockings, while DS3 has only had 12" - your current situation isn't permanent, and you may well be able do Christmas as usual next year if you would like to .

DS1 has had 20 years of stockings, while DS3 has only had 12.

Yes, i meant to add, i don't think they will think like that at all. That's a special torture you have thought up just for you, being a 'good guilt ridden parent'

Hi op really sorry to hear your bad news. I think you could probably do £30 gift and £10 stocking each and make the stocking into a new fun think. You could even allocate pairs to do stockings for another one with a £10 budget (depending of levels of belief in Santa) and head to the Christmas threads there are some quality cheap and non-naff ideas there!

My sons(23&25)still have stockings. It's their favourite present
Everything gets chucked in,from underpants,to mugs,to Pringles. They don't need to be expensive,just fun

Yes, tube of Pringles per big 'un, plus new pants, plus chocolate orange/maltesers, and the job's done for under a tenner each. Or bung in the contents of a selection box, plus a headband/socks/hat, and a magazine.

Everyone in our family gets stockings, from 85 to 2. I wouldn't cut them out especially to keep the magic for the youngest! I'd adapt what you get, they will be ok with that. We have had good santa years and 'bad' santa years, Maybe cut back on what older ones get money wise but still do themxx

My two adult children would rather have their stockings than the main present, and have done so since being around 15 or so.
I'd make the stocking cheaper, and cut back on the main present.

I got fed up of stockings and banned them a couple of years ago (mine 22+2x19) It was easier as they were much of the same age. I got too stressed sourcing little bits for such big children.

Would the older ones get their fun sorting the stockings for the younger ones? Maybe if you got the oldest on side, they could agree a sensible cut off age with you.

I am thinking of bringing back a smaller token stocking for mine, with some useful bits for uni - they are away and I miss them. They believed in Santa until at least 18 (I think they were misleading me there).

my mum did me a stocking until she died, when I was 19. Filled it with some essentials - pants, socks, toothbrush, shower gel - and some little treats like nail varnish or lip balm

it was always the best bit of Christmas - lying in bed with a mild hangover eating chocolate coins. I'd have rather missed out on a "big present" than sacrifice my stocking.

and as Mary said, there wasn't a huge amount in the stocking that she wouldn't have bought me anyway.

Socks, sweets, novelty stuff. I get ds stocking fillers mainly from pound land, with a book or dvd thrown in too.

I think given the circumstances it's a very good idea. They're definitely old enough to understand. Or you could give them the option of main present or stocking presents for the same amount.

My stocking stopped when i was about 15. When i met DP, i was astounded by the fact that his mum still gave stockings to him and his siblings and their wives and girlfriends, all in their 20s. I still find it a bit odd. It's lovely, but it makes me feel like a child!

COOK, Is it not good feel like a child at christmas?

Thanks for the responses. I should have bought small stockings years ago! They are about 3ft x 1ft! New ones cost too much to buy now. For the past few years I've bulked them out with something like a dressing gown. Will have to think long and hard, but not take too long about it - only 6 weeks (?)

Given your circumstances, you could either get the older 3 on side, and let them all agree to convince 5 yr old that FC only does stockings until you go to secondary school,
or
what we do for stockings is items that only cost £1 anyway, or are things they are going to need anyway - so they traditionally get a net of gold/chocolate coins, some pants and/or socks, then something like a hairbrush or some pens, and usually some bubble bath or smellies - all stuff you will be buying during the year anyway, but just put into a stocking. Would that work ?

Have you got a pound shop? somewhere like that will have cheap stockings? Also echo all the normal stuff you would have bought them between now and then go in it!! have even put in bags of popcorn to pad them out - A good year to be inventive trawl charity shops have fun with itx

Poundland sells Christmas stockings so you could spend £5 to save lots

Just put in a tube of chocolates £1 a tube
New socks again £1 if they can be found in a pound shop
Bath/shower gel £1
Deodorant £1
Book £1

Seriously go to Poundland.. Pound world etc out new one had some great stuff it's as big as our local asda and sells most things

My mil does stockings for us they normally contain chocolate, socks, a cucumber (weird family thing lol), an orange, alcohol and some other little bits

Ah, so you need cheap but enormous things?
Blow-up saxophone and guitar any good to you?
Or a cardboard box or two around the smaller things mentioned above, or a (cheap) fleece throw?

Keep the stockings. We never had that tradition but we did get a chocolate orange each year. I was gutted the year my parents decided I wasoo grown upto have one.

They're not too old to have it explained that presents might not be as generous as in the past. Can't think off the top of my head how to bulk these mammoth stockings out cheaply but am sure your kids will know it's the thought that matters.

It's the little traditions that make xmas special.

I would do the stockings ( won't younger one wonder why others aren't having father Christmas iome?) but make it practical stuff (shower gel, socks etc)

I'd do the stockings for them all with just a bit of fruit, nuts and sweets in the stockings for the older ones.

You could fill the stockings with packing foam or shredded newspaper like a lucky dip, maybe with a bit of tinsel on top. Split the presents up as much as possible: put wrapped sweets in loose, a 5-pack of underwear in individually. And you needn't bother wrapping things.

Some cheap stuff would be ace, imo. Some good ideas on here.

dC who is 11 would LOVE his own big tub of pringles and a big choc santa/ box of chocs plus maybe a magazine? Cheap as chips.

You can tell the older ones there will be a "smaller stocking" ?

To mine, 9 and 11, the stocking is the most fun bit. You can start hunting for bargains ( half price tubs of pringles, choc on offer)