Which kids to buy presents for??

[Alias78]

Hi all. Not sure if there's a better section to post this in but here goes!

I've got a bit of a dilemma re:Xmas presents for the in-laws. Basically DH has lots of siblings. We've always bought Xmas presents for their children, of which there are many!

This year DH's brother has had a baby with a fairly new partner. She has 2 children from a previous relationship. I feel a bit like we HAVE to buy them presents as well as DHs nephew. What do you think?

I feel terribly stingy even questioning it but our financial situation has changed quite drastically this year (for the worst) and its going to be tight trying to buy for all the neices and nephews anyway, let alone these two extra children we don't really know. But then it feels mean to leave kids out when buying their half sibling something.

WWYD?

If it's just the money and you have time I would get them all something cheap. Kids like having something to open as much as the present itself.

Definitely get them all something. Otherwise it might seem like you're saying the excluded kids aren't part of the family, which could get emotive!

Can you buy them something cheap and make them something as well (crafts or cookery etc)

On the twitch thread a couple of people said they loved having their own box of proper chocolates when they were children. Depending on their ages, maybe this is an idea.

Yes it's just the money, I have nothing against the BiLs partner or her children. We could only spare £5 max per kid as it is this year. This is further reduced with the two other children.

i do like the idea of baking something.

Would it be feasible to buy each group of siblings something to share? Or is this likely to cause arguments?

You can get lovely rhorntons choc Santa for less than a fiver - get same for everyone - I am sure all
Kids will be delighted

Realistically the baby isn't even going to know what's going on so if you can't give presents to all the children then it's probably best not to bother at all.

Definitely get them a little something. Children do feel left out otherwise. My pil are lovely people but seem to insist on giving my older dc's the tiniest Christmas card they can find whilst giving dt's (who can't even read!) great big ones. It really hurts the older dc's, especially since they have been cut off by the ex and his entire family

Depending on their age a thorntons chocolate Santa and some finger lights would go down a storm and cost less than a fiver

Thanks all. Any idea what I could get for the teenage nephews for under a fiver?

I'd get everyone a gift. It doesn't have to cost much - you can nip to Tesco and go for the BOGOF / 2 for £5 or whatever it is they happen to be doing at the moment. It's the excitement of unwrapping/being included more than anything - not about how much a present costs.

My mum's friend and her husband are foster parents. They don't live locally but we always visited over Christmas. Mum always used to ring a few weeks before to check the ages of the extra kids who'd be there so that when we went round with gifts for their own children, the foster children would have something to open too.

It never took much effort, it was certainly never lavish and it didn't stretch the budget or anything (there's always PoundLand if you're really struggling) - but it was always worthwhile. I just wouldn't want to watch a child stand by while other kids got to unwrap their Christmas presents.

If things are tight for you in general this year, could you cut your budget for all gifts in order to include everyone?

The children range from babies to about 16. Would chocolate Santas suffice for the teens too? Obviously I wouldn't for the babies but then they haven't got a clue it's Christmas anyway!

Teenage Nephews - bike accessories, books, insulated mugs for outdoors...

Yeah, chocolates are fine! Or sweets. Or both! You could get them a mug / beaker if they're too young for a mug and fill it with chocolates/sweets, etc?

I've bought stocking fillers for under £2 that are: a chocolate Santa, and a plastic Santa filled with jelly babies. Surely something like that would do for ALL the children?

Nothing wrong with choc selection thing either - I loved those even as a teenager. Still would tbh!

Buy them a game and address to to the x family.

Or print some templates off the computer and cook a gingerbread house. Package it nicely with sweets to stick on

Also try books from the works or book people.

Or chocolate

Do you need 5? If so, these are just in budget,
and went down well with my 13-15 yr old nephews last year

I've also seen in tesco, but not sure of the price.

How about age appropriate books for them all? The book people have some fab deals and free delivery with the code HAPPY when you spend over £10.

I got THIS family planner and sent it to a friend's family with a bag of homemade peppermint bark and honeycombe. The planners were on 3 for £6 too. So perhaps something you could send to each house instead?

I'd say a selection box each would suffice ..... kids seem to like the idea they have their own chocolate treats :)

My sister says smellies or chocolate for teenage boys!

That said I've done all my older nieces and nephews for a pound each. It sounds stingy but I'm always told not to get anything lol!

I got 2 packs of lovely photo frames from the pound shop and spilt them for the girls and mugs with music them (tapes - although I later realised they probably don't know what these are lol - and headphones) each one also got a pack of chocolate coins (two for a pound in tesco)

Although I'm told not to get them anything I like sending something small for them to open. They are mostly late teens/early twenties. By contrast I spend up to a tenner on the little ones (not in the same family)

*Music theme - for the boys.

Definately include them. My stepdad's sisters rarely included me and it was horrendous watching everyone else get gifts, including my half brother and sister. I was made to spend every year with them too.
Superdrug have got addidas/lynx kits on for 2 for £6 I think. Great present for teenagers.