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Original poster

Competitive Christmas thriftiness on MN

383 replies

Imchangingmyname · 20/11/2015 19:39

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??

OP posts:
val4 · 20/11/2015 20:02

I think they are the same people who boast about getting a full weeks meals out of a chicken!!!

UnlikelyPilgramage · 20/11/2015 20:02

The 'well I have never seen this so it must be bollocks' are unbelievably arrogant.

PennyPants · 20/11/2015 20:05

Well I can see why people don't spend tons on babies. I would find it hard to be frugal with older or teenage DC and luckily I don't have to. I enjoy buying nice things for the DC at Christmas.
Really though it's nothing to do with anyone else. Especially if people are on tight budgets or want to avoid debt.

Ragwort · 20/11/2015 20:06

What amuses me is the all the threads asking other people for suggestions, particularly for teenagers 'he/she's got an ipad, lap top, X box, own tv etc etc .......... what can I possibly get this year?'. Hmm

I don't really know why people start threads saying 'how much do you spend at Christmas?' - surely it is totally personal, spend what you like but I do think people who spend more than they can comfortably afford are stupid unwise. There will be loads of threads in January about how skint people are .............. Sad.

Mintyy · 20/11/2015 20:06

Well maybe they do spend £15 on their children. Is there anything wrong with that?

cosytoaster · 20/11/2015 20:08

YANBU - the posters who act all bewildered that anyone would buy their child more than one reasonably priced present get me, surely they must realise their the ones out of step

Enjolrass · 20/11/2015 20:09

Well maybe they do spend £15 on their children. Is there anything wrong with that?

No. There is something wrong with thinking you are better than everyone else because of it and typing posts to that effect.

Not the OP mentioned competitive thriftiness

cleoteacher · 20/11/2015 20:09

I Actually haven't seen any of these threads. I was wondering where the Christmas bargain thread was actually as not seen it.

Surely it's relative anyway. Someone's a lot at Christmas might be someone elses not very much. Plus, it's quality not quantity.

Mintyy · 20/11/2015 20:10

Are they? It's a funny old world you Christmas obsessives inhabit.

DisappointedOne · 20/11/2015 20:10

Kids. Expect. Presents. At. Christmas. Don't they?

Mine doesn't. Or didn't until school started pushing xmas down her throat. (She's 5).

PennyPants · 20/11/2015 20:11

If that's all you have so be it, but as a frugal contest its just mean IMO.

UnlikelyPilgramage · 20/11/2015 20:12

Sometimes, I do want to pretend I'm a Jehovah's Witness on here!

As it is, DD gets a couple of stocking fillers and a present (she is 4) and knows Father Christmas is a story.

AutumnLeavesArePretty · 20/11/2015 20:14

It's the same as the famous MN chicken that lasts for days on end. The amount of chicken in each meal is either minute or it was mistaken for a giant turkey in the first place.

The competitive thriftiness is rife, be it christmas presents or heating.

I do hate the Santa threats though, I've heard them as early as July. Lazy parenting.

DisappointedOne · 20/11/2015 20:15

Ha! I was asked the other day by a relative stranger if I was a Jehovah's Witness when i replied that "no, I don't do any Xmas shopping".

00100001 · 20/11/2015 20:15

brillo you spend 2p.

Spoiled brats your kids must be.

Mine share a toffee penny I get from the staff room, they take it in turns to have a suck.

Every year they fight over who gets the wrapper - selfish little toerags!!

Mintyy · 20/11/2015 20:29

"No. There is something wrong with thinking you are better than everyone else because of it and typing posts to that effect."

But the people who spend hundreds and give their children piles of gifts are NOT thinking they are better than everyone else and typing posts to that effect?

What a tiresome debate this really is!

Stompylongnose · 20/11/2015 20:30

I assumed that the people who don't buy much for their kids have big families who will buy gifts for their children. I base this on posts like "How do I convince the grandparents to spend less?" "When did you stop buying for children of relatives?" sort of posts.

UnlikelyPilgramage · 20/11/2015 20:32

DD only has me. I buy her things she needs (including toys) throughout the year fairly regularly.

DisappointedOne · 20/11/2015 20:32

I assumed that the people who don't buy much for their kids have big families who will buy gifts for their children.

Nope.

cleaty · 20/11/2015 20:33

Yes if you can afford to buy presents throughout the year, it makes sense to spend less at Christmas. But if not, then a small amount of money isn't enough to buy kids what they want. So my niece is getting a new musical instrument, as she spends most of her time playing in an orchestra. Her parents can't afford to buy that and lots of other presents, so she is getting £250 spent on her instrument, and a few other stocking filler type presents.

Enjolrass · 20/11/2015 20:35

But the people who spend hundreds and give their children piles of gifts are NOT thinking they are better than everyone else and typing posts to that effect?

Where did I or op say that?? Both groups when being smug are equally annoying. In this thread we are talking about the 'competitive thriftiness', not about the group that spend a fortune so they can show off.

What a tiresome debate this really is!

There is a button you can click to hide this thread if you find its so tedious. You don't have to comment on threads if you find them boring.

RufusTheReindeer · 20/11/2015 20:37

We spend more than some and less than others but we do buy things like laptops, bikes and phones when necessary throughout the year

I do think that makes a difference, they really only get "bits" at christmas

cleaty · 20/11/2015 20:39

Yes I think that makes a big difference Rufus. Those are the kind of things most poorer kids would only ever get at Christmas.

cleaty · 20/11/2015 20:41

Also for many teenagers, that big pile of presents will include clothes. Clothes that better off families would not even consider a gift.

UnlikelyPilgramage · 20/11/2015 20:41

I've never really understood the bike as a Christmas present.