Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To panic about Christmas presents already

38 replies

ThatWhiteElephant · 19/09/2016 11:46

Watching Martin Lewis on This Morning. Christmas makes me shiver, literally I feel ill at the amount of people I buy presents for. Can I ask does anybody just buy for children only, no other family members?

OP posts:
Afreshstartplease · 19/09/2016 11:48

I got a bit of the fear this morning

I usually start shopping in early August but we have a baby due mid October so all excess time and money has been going there!

My last baby stuff is now bought though so I need to start on Christmas

The only adults we buy for are our parents / grandparents

gamerchick · 19/09/2016 11:49

Secret Santa for adults? Seems to work quite well for a lot of family's.

Ragwort · 19/09/2016 11:54

Yes - I hardly buy any presents but I truly love Christmas and the celebrations. My parents and I agreed to just exchange small gifts with a bit of a theme - ie: last year it was spend no more than £5 and it must be from a charity shop; this year it will be a book - again from a charity shop.

We no longer exchange gifts with our grown up siblings or any nieces/nephews/Godchildren over 18. The only nieces/nephews left under 18 are teenagers and only want cash. PILs both deceased.

I do buy something (small) for a couple of girl friends ........... the only problem is that I have enough Christmas wrapping paper for the next century. Grin

Bumbumtaloo · 19/09/2016 11:54

We only buy for children and grandparents. Have done this for a few years. Our parents buy us a token gift, socks, bath set etc.

Grandparents tend to get token gifts that I know they love for example a picture calendar. So although we haven't spent a small fortune we know the gifts are perfect for them.

OhNoNotMyBaby · 19/09/2016 11:55

If it's stressing you out and you can't afford it you must simply not do it. In my family it has been children only - and only those under 18 - for years.

I would recommend you send an email round to all the people you normally buy for (or their parents) saying something like "Christmas has got a bit out of hand lately so this year we will be buying presents only for children and budgeting around £xxxx (£10-£15?) for each. I'm sure you'll all agree that we could all spend a bit less and still have a fantastic time."

manyathingyouknow · 19/09/2016 11:56

My DH and I earn a good amount between us and live a lie maintenance lifestyle whereby we could afford to go wild at Xmas but we don't. Don't stress. Just tell people it'll be small pressies this year and don't go OTT with the kids. Please just live within your means. You'll feel less stressed if you dobtgst

manyathingyouknow · 19/09/2016 11:57

*do that

formerbabe · 19/09/2016 11:57

Christmas makes me shiver, literally I feel ill at the amount of people I buy presents for

Honestly, just buy for kids! That's what we do in my family. Tell people now that you'll just be buying for children this year and therefore you won't be giving or expecting a gift from them. They may be relieved!

witsender · 19/09/2016 11:59

Small gift for parents and my sister, maybe friend. All other siblings get nothing, or.something fun or home made.

So we only buy for kids really.

Soubriquet · 19/09/2016 12:00

We only buy for the children now

I used to make myself sick with stress wondering about my parents and everyone else when we came to the agreement to buy the children only

That means ds, dd, dniece and dnephew

So much easier

yorkshapudding · 19/09/2016 12:00

On my side of the family everyone just buys for the kids. DH's family won't hear of it though, he suggested it one year and was accused of being a "Scrooge". So we are expected to buy for MIL, FIL, two sets of grandparents, several aunts and uncle's, several adult cousins and their DC, SIL and BIL and their DC... I'm feeling stressed just thinking about it! It wouldn't be so bad if they were the sort of people who would be happy with a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine or something but they're not.

TeenAndTween · 19/09/2016 12:04

Also 'buy for kids' also does not mean your second cousin's children.

Buy for your kids.

Dependent on how many there are, possibly also siblings kids, but if there are loads then don't. Or maybe a 'selection stocking' only.

Coldilox · 19/09/2016 12:04

All adults get a framed photo of baby. Easy.

maggiethemagpie · 19/09/2016 12:09

I don't buy separate adult presents for the adults who have children, so in my family I would buy nephews/nieces presents but not my brothers (their dads) nor would they buy for me. But my brother who doesn't have kids would get a present. I also buy for mum/ dad/ stepmum. DH buys for his side, I buy for mine but it's all from both of us. We buy the kids' stockings but not their main presents as they have generous grandparents - I won't get anything from my parents as it all goes to the kids. We then just spend around £50 on each other, it used to be £100 but it's all about the kids these days!

Ifailed · 19/09/2016 12:10

Coldilox
what if you don't have a baby, is it OK just give them the frame?

PotatoBread · 19/09/2016 12:11

Children and grandparents only nowadays. The minute my brother had kids he stopped getting a present of his own from me and I just buy for niece. Siblings without children still get a small present

HerFaceIsAMapOfTheWorld · 19/09/2016 12:14

i buy presents for nobody

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 19/09/2016 12:17

I buy for all my immediate family. That's 18 people. However the presents are inexpensive, a max of £15, apart from my DSs who get more.

One year when I was very skint I made garlic olive oil in pretty bottles for the cooks. I make quite a lot of my presents. I'm quite arty, which helps. I pick up things in charity shops all year, which helps.

I do worry about the cost and I get a bit frenzed when Christmas is close and I still haven't got everything. But my family are all lovely and I know they won't judge me even if my presents are handmade or second hand.

LunaMay · 19/09/2016 12:23

Gosh i dont even want to think about Chrstmas, i just havent been able to get ahead with savings this year so its going to be tight! Doesnt help that we dont get paid for the 3 weeks we have off over Christmas and have to wait 2 weeks before the first pay in the new year. So thats Christmas and 5 weeks worth of food/bills i have to find money for.

We usualy only buy any kids that are going to be celebrating with us, my mum buys my cousins children etc but i stopped as it was getting too much. I buy immediate family (mum, sisters, grandparents) and my sisters patrner.
I also have a girl ive looked after on and off for the last 14yrs and she gets treated as my own so i spend on her and i also buy her siblings (6 of them!) and mum, I'm trying to think of something to give them as one 'big' joint gift instead of having to spend so much on individual gifts.

WeAllHaveWings · 19/09/2016 12:24

We have only bought for children and my mum and dad for at least 15 years. It takes most of the pressure off Xmas. When they are small its great buying toys, when they get bigger its easy as its iTunes, Microsoft points or hard cash. Stop giving presents after their 21st (might give them a bottle after 21 if we see them a lot)

VioletBam · 19/09/2016 12:32

We only buy for children. It's ridiculous to buy for adults when you have your own kids!

I buy for my Mum and that's that. I wouldn't ever buy for my siblings nor they for me!

MIL doesn't do gifts...I advise you to make them all something in a bloody jar and say that you've decided to get crafty.

Coldilox · 19/09/2016 12:35

Ifailed

That was aimed at a PP who said she usually starts shopping in August but has a DC due in August. Sorry I didn't make it clear.

No baby - framed photo of dog/cat/rabbit/goldfish?

OwlinaTree · 19/09/2016 12:37

I've got 11 adults and 14 children to buy for, plus my own children and dh! Better get cracking!

Jellyshoeshurtmyfeet · 19/09/2016 12:39

Lunamay I have a family I buy a present for them together and the Thorntons hampers are great. They have different ones half price all through December so you shouldn't have to spend more than 20 quid for a decent one.
We tried to do adults only a couple of years ago and told everyone that but everyone still bought us presents and I felt so bad we went back to the usual way the following year.

AnyTheWiser · 19/09/2016 12:44

It would make me feel sick if someone that could ill-afford it bought me a present.
Christmas is a time to be with those you love - family and/or friends. Gifts aren't a necessity.
Just being able to get together and chat over tea or coffee with people you've not seen for a while is wonderful. Sharing people's news, having time to laugh, no money needs to be involved.