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 think it is pretty sad that Christmas has become one big consumer binge.

and consumer debt in the UK is very high so lots of people are getting into debt to buy lots of stuff their children wont remember in years to come.

its just a transfer of wealth from people on low incomes to those on high ones.

DP and I are working on a foodbank then looking after our families. we do small gifts. peace and goodwill to all men etc.

I have to say that the Christmas present buying habits of complete strangers on the internet that I will never meet are really not of a great interest to me or something I would consider "shocking"

If some Mum in Cleethorpes wants to give her 6 children 240 presents each I really couldn't be less bothered.

I think YABU to care. The thought of buying DS 30 things from the pound shop, for sheer "size of present pile" makes me shudder. As a direct contrast the idea of buying 1 present costing thousands will make others recoil in horror.

Either way, I don't care, I do what suits me, and know everyone else is doing what suits them.

I think the reason people care is that if they can't afford to spend much, it's hard to think of their children going to school with others who have a hell of a lot more.

We don't spend a huge amount on the children at Christmas but I wouldn't be surprised if they had close to 30 presents. The boys have one main present each, which was 25 pounds each, a couple of games for ds1 (7), cars for ds2 (3) quite a few books, all cheap and wrapped separately because unwrapping is part of the fun, then everything else is stuff they actually need but we keep til Christmas so it can be wrtapped, so pjs, socks, welly socks, pants, toothbrush, slippers, glue sticks, pencils, decent eraser, kiddie scissors, paint, felt pens, flannel, pocket pack of tissues, lip balm, etc., and a bit of stocking stuff like chocolate coins and satsuma. Probably spent a tenner on baby DD (will be 10 months) but will wrap her 12-18 m clothes so the boys don't think she is forgotten. I don't think you can tell a lot from the number of presents; it doesn't have to be a oad of tat. or cost hundreds of pounds.

I don't give two shiny shits what anyone else buys their kids for Christmas or if they can afford it or if they have debt....its really none of my business.

I buy a pile of presents for my kids because I want to and I enjoy it and its fun.

Those who feel judged for buying too little...the judging nonsense goes both ways.

I think the reason people care is that if they can't afford to spend much, it's hard to think of their children going to school with others who have a hell of a lot more.

But children will always go to school with kids who have something they don't. Some kids have Nike trainers and some have charity shop buys. Some have the newest cell phone and some have none. That's life.

Teaching children to be grateful whether they have a lot or a little - IMO that is what counts most

Wow, I didn't expect so many comments!
Just to be clear, I think everyone is free to buy as much stuff as they want to - and ultimately we all want to make our children happy. I guess I am just one of those people that is constantly decluttering so too much stuff is just too overwhelming for me!