To be shocked by the number of Christmas presents people buy?

[Notcontent]

I clicked on some of the Christmas threads and I have to say I was a bit shocked to read that some people buy 30 or more gifts for their children.

I should say at the outset that is always received lovely and generous presents from my parents (still do) and so I always get some nice things for my dd. So I am not anti present giving at all. This year dd will have about 6 things under the Christmas tree from me and my parents and then another 6 or so small items in her stocking.

Money issues aside, where do people put all this stuff????

I agree. I find that whole Christmas thread OTT, panicing about food, panto, relatives, worrying about doing enough, going to every santa stuffed garden centre, stately home etc.

Too bloated and too vain IMHO but if people love it like that than who am I. My children still have a great Christmas our way. Deco not 30 gifts!

My dc probably have 30 presents each, IF you include stocking fillers.

They will have maybe 20 items in a stocking - a couple of books, couple of dvd's, bubble bath, arty bits, a few plastic bits of tat, sweets and chocolates.

Then they have their main presents from FC, in a sack each downstairs...maybe 8 different things each? (ish). Then they'll have two presents under the tree, one from df and I and one to each other.

I don't see it as excessive. I have never bought stuff for stuffs sake. I think very carefully and every item I buy I know will be things they love.

Can't say I've ever counted the gifts in the stockings but considering they include chocolate coins, socks, pieces of fruit, toothbrushes, pants etc it wouldn't surprise me if you could count it up to 30. On the other hand DH and I officially usually give the kids no more than 3 presents, one of which is always a book so not exactly extravagent.

But some people have funny ideas. Two years ago Mum gave me my old dolls house. We repainted it, got some new furniture to replace the old and broken items and gave it to the DDs for Christmas. My sister told me I was being mean because I didn't give them something new as their main present. Like it was any of her business. But if she didn't live so far away and I wasn't so bloody awkward then I can see where the pressure might come from to over spend.

I'm always surprised at the excess. Once saw a family shopping for Xmas at Toys r us. As they were leaving 2 taxis pulled up - one for them, the second for all their Xmas purchases! Nuts!

It sounds a lot to me too but depends what the 30 presents consist of. I dont do stocking fillers as to be it is just tat that gets used once then ends up going to the charity shop. I stick to max of 10 with one being the main one - this year a bike - and the others medium or small and useful but not dull (slippers and onesie).

I saw a few people who said their kids get 30-40 gifts from them plus 20 from each set of grandparents. Who has room for that much stuff? Unless you chuck out all last years toys each year it must be like living in Hamleys!

Funny you've posted this as I was just panicking as I always do...that my "piles" won't be big enough this year. Luckily DH is very against too much "stuff" and reins me in...so my DDs will have about 12-15 things under the tree and a sock full of tat each. I think that's plenty....I worry though...my instinct says MORE MORE MORE. I had a poor upbringing....DH is very middle class and never wanted for anything. Maybe that's it?

I say good luck to them.. I don't get all this shock. Maybe they donate old toys to charity, and why not if they can afford it?

I have no idea how many presents my dc get, I have never counted (WHO is counting?!)

Among the selection I have bought is a fez, 2nd hand books and a marauders map I painted for ds. I don't give a shit what other people think.. other people aren't my dc.

I count to make sure Dd and ds get the EXACT same number of presents. Ds needs everything to be completely fair or will have a meltdown

Some children get all their presents at Christmas?

Others may get toys if they request them through the year?

Our presents will include things like slippers, socks, toothbrush etc on top of toys.

I work to a monetary budget rather than a gift number.

Some of the lists of toys I've seen, where 30 - 40+ presents (not including stocking fillers) have been mentioned, seem to be more about quantity than quality and include lots of mainstream inexpensive toys. So perhaps not as expensive as you would think.

Plus, it's the internet. They're probably exaggerating

Bloody hell! My DD gets ONE present from me and a stocking full of odds & sods from "Santa". You've just made me feel like a proper mean cow!!!

We give old toys to charity shops and friends. We also have quite a bit of storage space.

DD usually gets more than 30 presents, but she doesn't get presents any other time apart from her birthday. She usually gets at least 10 books, craft and art supplies, a couple of games, clothes, socks, pjamas, chocolates, 3 or 4 dvds and a main present or two. She also gets things she needs, which aren't really presents but I wrap them up anyway. I hunt for bargains and don't spend that much, books costing 2 or 3 pounds, some stocking fillers 1 pound. I buy things months before Christmas and hide them. I always got more than 30 presents at Christmas when I was a child.

What do you class as a main present though happy? Would that be something like a bike? Or a tablet...or more like a good set of lego or something? To me, a main is like 50 pounds or around that...I just can't shell out 200-300 pounds on the DC.

I ordered my 2 a load today, I never counted though until the end. I was working on a £220 budget (for both, not each!) And then I found some voucher codes to use too so it meant a little more could be spent. I counted at the end to make sure they had equal amounts/equal spent on them to make it fair. When I have finished their stocking fillers, it will probably be close on to 30 each. But I wouldn't of spent tonnes. I aim to spend no more than £40 extra so that is £130 each including a present to each other, a few off us, and the rest will be off Santa.

I don't think it is all that extravagant considering they mainly only get gifts twice a year, Birthdays and Christmas.

When I was a kid, we used to get loads for Christmas. But at birthdays we only got 1 small present, and nothing the rest of the time. So our house wasn't as overflowing with toys as you might imagine.

Also some families have lots of relatives giving presents, others have only the parents giving presents, so they will maybe want to give more?

But as long as your kids are happy, I wouldn't worry about it.

Every ones perception is different though. My dc get a lot more than 6 presents but a lot of what they have to unwrap on Christmas Day is stuff I would have to buy for them anyway. Things like slippers, PJ'S, undies, shower gel, pens and stationery to for school, hair bobbles and clips etc. Actual treats is probably 6 to 8 items.

I'm more surprised by people giving them to uncles and aunts. Fgs. You're adults

I'm more amazed by the amount my best friend spends on her DGC. Her DIL recently had a baby girl after 2 DSs and she immediately raced to the store an came back with 12 pink outfits.

She laughs when she tells me her DIL's family "joke"that she leaves nothing for them to buy for the DGC. She seriously buys everything that opens and shuts for them.

Her answer to the In-laws is that they should be more organized and start early like she does. It's not tat that she buys. It's really expensive "stuff".

She can't understand why I don't spend more on my DGC. (Maybe 2 presents each). I explained that I have been putting money into a bank account every week since they were born and that will their start in life. DGC are not going to remember in 10 years time what clothes or toys Grandma gave them when they were small.

I spoke to a friend of a friend who spends about £100-£150 on the girlfriends of her DS's. Her DS's are in their early 20's, and they have both been with their GF for a few years. Now that shocked me.

Well said WaffilyVersatile. I completely agree.

Our dc get one big present each - or one HUGE one between them (that was the year they got a Wii from Santa after we'd said no way but persuaded them to ask for a "big surprise" (dc very gullible))

Plus a stocking (about £20 worth) with sweets, toothbrushes, socks, hair elastics, earrings etc (age and gender appropriate - don't get ds hair clips ).

They officially get a great book and a calendar from dh and I. There's three of them - each gets one present for the "other" two together - this has often been a £15 ish Lego set.

Mind you, the Wii Christmas is now backfiring. It totally persuaded (then) 7yo ds that Santa was real. Even now it's his defence! He's 11 (in p7). 13 yo dd1 has probed him - it's still genuine! He's now totally convinced he'll get a PS4 this year. This is impossible unlikely!

I start off with a few actual presents (maybe about 3 each), then add in things they need, and then things off the Christmas list, so in the end it looks like a lot.

For example DD1 (6) is getting a lalaloopsie doll she really wants, a furby and a DVD from us. Father Christmas is getting her some make up and nail varnish, because she knows I never would. To me they are the main present.

She needs
jumpers, PJs, slippers, dressing gown, bobbles, leggings, purse, so I may as well wrap them up for her and give them to her at Christmas now.

She wants (from her list) a chocolate orange, a dolly and a teddy and some felt tips, so I will get those as well, as they are not over the top.

This means that I am up to at least 20 presents, but I will have spent less than £100 on things that are presents rather than actual needs.

If I only had the one, she would get more, but there is no way I can think of 20 things to get for DD2 (3), and I do think the volume needs to be the same.

I've tried to train DC that the holidays are about giving to Others. Easier said. But, the grandparents like to spend. Ok. I let them indulge. So DC know the main present from DH & I will be ~£35. The rest: socks, notebooks, gloves, books, time spent baking together, etc.

There are mini presents rest of year. Largely tat from trips, the odd Pokemon card set, audiobook.

Have also instilled in DC they need to earn items thru behavior "above & beyond" expected behavior. Took one DC 9 months to earn enough "points" to pay for 1/4 xbox, plus sell old his Wii to cover cost for Xbox (my outlay 1/4=gift, tied into gift for end of horrible school year (recipient of bullying) which was finished successfully).

We also set expectation that any family holidays at school breaks and summer are part of Christmas present (we plan well ahead).

All about setting expectations. And reminding of giving to Others. And that time together (baking) is more important than video game, computer, games, etc.

We didn't want DS too overwhelmed with toys and stuff this Christmas (2yo), so my mum is paying for him to have a 6 week block of football sessions at little kickers - he loves kicking a ball about so he's going to go nuts charging about with all the other toddlers :)
It's an easy present for her to give (she doesnt live locally so saves the headache of posting stuff), and if he really enjoys it she will continue to contribute to the lessons as he grows up.

I too am shocked.
We buy one big present and a stocking.
When ds1 was 1 , it was obscene, gross because of all the presents from grandma's and 8 aunts and uncles.
Dh and I agreed 'never again'.