Competitive Christmas thriftiness on MN

[Imchangingmyname]

Just something I've noticed over the last few weeks on MN.

There seems to be a lot of competitive comments regarding how little you can spend on your kids. Let's be honest here, stuff costs. Whether that's plastic tat for the baby or an iPad for the teenager but mostly: Kids. Expect. Presents. At. Christmas. Don't they?

There's far too much of 'you spend £100 at Christmas!!??? I spend max £10 on little Jimmy and that's more than enough. I also throw in some chestnuts and a clementine on top of that'

Or 'mine is happy with our certificate for adopting a donkey for a year'

Really??! I think the commercialisation of Christmas has gone too far, granted but most kids I know would be upset if they didn't have at least a few presents to open on the day. I've noticed it's mainly from those who have the budget but refuse to spend to..somehow appear holier than thou??

Senpai - yes, that's what I said earlier about it being a pile of bullshit, but for me the danger is that people don't realise that it's a pile of bullshit and that's therefore what they buy as "MN recommended it" and they fail to realise that it is bullshit and/or, the children get lots of presents from other relatives etc.

I think that's what the thread was originally about, people trying to outdo each other in how little they could spend (bullshit)

The thriftiness annoys me when they look down their noses at those who spend considerably more.

The things that really annoy me are when people get into debt to pay for xmas and the sheer amount of money wasted by everyone (regardless of how much they spend per child) on Christmas tat that is broken or binned by January. Just had a look at the Nethuns Christmas thread and there's piles and piles of ott tat. 'December hampers' seem to be the latest fad.

Well, there are some years I could brag about spending only $2 on everyone total for Christmas. But what I'd be leaving out is all the hard work that went into my DIY projects and the supplies were already on hand or cheap to get.

But I have an extremely hard time imagining a parent wanting to get their child a bunch of new toys would read this thread and go "Oh, well I'll just get them one". They do have facebook after all where it's a pissing contest to see who has the most gifts.

I once read a blog where the blogger had bought their dd a cute cheap umberella for christmas. And that was all. I think when people take it to this sort of extreme, it is horrible.

Sorry should have added not because she was skint, but to make a point.

But why? I hate feeling compelled to spend anything at Xmas. 25th December is just another day to me. Why should society dictate that I buy anything, never mind how much?

I once read a blog where the blogger had bought their dd a cute cheap umberella for christmas. And that was all. I think when people take it to this sort of extreme, it is horrible.

Well, mommy bloggers do all sorts of stupid shit for page views. The only ones I follow are the ones that show how to do thrifty things and the ones that have good low budget activities to do. I don't care about their actual life, but if they have something useful to keep my kid quiet engaged, I'm all ears.

Otherwise, the whole self flagellating for not being patient enough with their children and suddenly having the epiphany that small child need love and understanding, because one day they'll be all grown up and you'll miss it is old.

Same with "my child did a mundane thing like catching a ladybug and letting it go, but let me shoe horn in this larger lesson about how we should all be like my child in showing compassion to our fellow humans, and I'll call them ladybugs to be cute".

Or "I'm going to curse like a 13 year old to tell it like it is with parenting. Oh look! I left the stove on and the kitchen caught on fire. Isn't motherhood just bananas?!"

You know what?

I just hate bloggers in general. Most have nothing of value to say.

This has gone so far from the point I was originally making.

Carry on. :)

^ :o

Why should society dictate that I buy anything, never mind how much?

That's up to you! But do act all smug and talk about how you love your child more because you don't get them anything? Do you equate no Christmas presents to loving your child more than everyone else?

Me and dh don't do valentines! Haven't since before we got married. If we want to get each other something to show we love each other or have thought of each other, we will do it any day of the year.

We don't do cards for birthdays or valentines or Christmas.

I don't feel that me and dh are superior to people who do, do cards or celebrate Valentine's. We certainly don't think we love each other more for it.

Neither do I go onto threads where people are talking about their plans and tell them all they are just being sucked into consumerism and mustn't spend any quality time with their other half and are crap partners.

senpai

We just re-wrap last year's satsuma and coal. It's the thrill of a wrapped present that's magical for my teenagers, not what's inside.

That's up to you! But do act all smug and talk about how you love your child more because you don't get them anything? Do you equate no Christmas presents to loving your child more than everyone else?

Nope.

shockers Satsume and coal?? Greedy.

disappointed

There you go then. Don't feel pressured. And be free in the knowledge this thread isn't aimed at people like you.

We just re-wrap last year's satsuma and coal The wrapping is just a needless expense in my view. Just hand it over unwrapped, with a smug smile of course.

We share the satsuma - and think ourselves quite indulgent when we at the second piece!

All those juicy segments - we buy one fresh from the market (local community run allotment) every year and share it round - sharing is caring at Christmas

at those who eat the Christmas satsuma.

We enjoy the aroma for a day or so then give it to those in more need.

If you rummage the bins at the back of the supermarket, sometimes you can get satsumas for free - the furry bits just make it look extra festive - like nature's glitter.

Also might be useful given the antibiotics crisis. (an extra gift for a scientist relative perhaps?)

'but for me the danger is that people don't realise that it's a pile of bullshit and that's therefore what they buy as "MN recommended it" and they fail to realise that it is bullshit and/or, the children get lots of presents from other relatives etc.'

'Danger'?

You honestly think people buy their kids a pencil sharpener and a dictionary for Christmas because some frugaleer on MN said they should?

Come on.

squoosh never underestimate the stupidity of people

No. You’re overestimating the power of an internet forum. If people are frugal they're frugal, not because MN told them to be.

It's like anything really, those who have to spout about their views obviously aren't confident in their choices.

We don't spend obscene amounts at xmas, could spend more but know where to draw the line for us.
I am not bothered what others do, it's personal and up to them.

We personally haven't brought our children up to get everything they want, they have some things they need and a few they want.

Without doubt social media sways people's feelings/confidence/desires.

It's a well known phenomenon. One that anyone with something to sell or an idea to spread taps into if they can.

This isn't controversial.

No one said it was.

I just fail to see the 'danger' in reading an account of someone else's ultra frugal Christmas.