To have got DS only 1 present for his birthday?

[AllenKey]

DS turned 8 yesterday. We took him to see a film and then went out for dinner. His party is this Saturday.

He had a list of about 5 things. It came to a total of about £250. If I'm being honest, that's just too much - we wouldn't pay that much for 5 things.

However, we purchased his top wanted one.

He was happy about it, but seemed a bit sad about the lack of presents. I told him that he would get more on Saturday (from friends and family, etc.) and he was fine about it.

I was in work today and work colleague asked what I got him, I told them and they asked what else...

I now feel really mean about it

I think it's fine but not what I would do, id have skipped the film and dinner and spent that money on gifts if there was a party planned too but each to their own. We don't spend a lot on birthdays though and make Christmas a bigger deal so birthdays are normally a few small bits and bobs

We have just done the same really for our ds.
One costly gift and a cheap gift (that he would have got anyway...) from his siblings.
Anything else can be bought with birthday money from relatives, saved up for or left until Xmas.

Ceecee - wouldn't it be better for him to associate a birthday with spending time with his family?

One present is fine.
Multiple gifts are what Christmas is about!

I think facilitating/ encouraging pressies between siblings is lovely Bonus. We've always done this and yet as a child with two sibs there was never any encouragement/support for this.
Mind you everyone seems to get massively more stuff these days!
We were still perfectly happy, I just wonder if it was a slight missed opportunity?

One present here. Why would you add small extras, they'll get stacks of those at their party?

What are you not having bumsex?

Don't raise a Dudley Dursley.

One is fine and as you say he will be getting other gifts.

I actually think one present is fine if the child is expecting it. I remember one birthday only getting a swingball because my Mum was struggling and I was fine with it, but she had prepared me in advance. This little boy sounds like he might have been expecting a bit more and was disappointed.

I think he got loads. A birthday treat, a present and a party where he will probably get an overwhelming number of gifts. You were not mean at all. His birthday wouldn't have been any better if you had have given him a few more toys to add to the pile.

Sandsnake Took me a minute to figure it out but yes I am laughing so hard and on a call where the team just asked what I was laughing about!

Our kids get one gift each from us, their parents. They also get three gifts from grandparents (my parents are divorced) and three gifts from aunts/uncles and a gift from their cousin. So if our DC put down five gifts my siblings and Dad would be tasked on getting the other four gifts. DH's parents are given money by us to buy gifts and refuse to buy what the kids ask for which drives me nuts. Instead they buy stupid stuff that I trip over (like the f'ing mini piano that was $200).

I'd probably have put a couple of wee extras in, like a toiletry set or some sweets, possibly a couple of wee books/toys. Nothing extravagant, just a wee bit extra. That said, it sounds like he had a lovely treat too. I've done birthdays on an absolute shoestring and blowout birthdays where we've saved forever for them, I tend to find it's the day they remember not the stuff. Don't see why everyone is giving NoCapes faces, she only offered an opinion!

One present is fine OP.
I never got more than 1 joint present from my parents growing up. And with the risk of sounding twee, I do think I valued it more as a result.

I think one main present then a couple of other bits, just £1 shop/cheap things but more for the excitement of unwrapping and making more of an occasion out of it.
I would have added a bit more than you did but it's your child and you do what you think is best, I'm sure he loved what you got him and had a great day!

"Small extras ... they'll get stacks of those at their party"

Very true in my experience - lots of thoughtful, interesting things

One present is the norm here too. DD doesn't need more, and frankly having more would just mean she valued each gift much less. And be wasteful.

If main gift is hugely expensive I would add something small with it (an item that they might like but didn't think ask for).

It's always a case of quality over quantity in our family...all except for their first year of birthdays and Christmases, when ripping and shredding the wrapping paper is the best thing ever

FFS, this drives me CRAZY. One present is absolutely fine - especially as the child is getting a meal out, trip to the cinema AND a party. Buying "bits" to make up presents to what other people feel is an acceptable number is just ridiculous and contributes to the amount of stuff which is cluttering up everyone's houses.

Children should not be expecting a mountain of presents - it makes them grabby and unappreciative. It is so, so wasteful to spend money on things that either a child doesn't particularly want, or just in order to provide more presents to make a parent feel better. An 8 year old is well able to understand that birthdays are expensive, that it will be Christmas in a couple of months and that they need to think about what they really do want.

mine get 1 gift, a trip out, a birthday meal, cake and a few balloons! My dc last birthday present cost £10. It all adds up fast.

Judging by this thread my kids are spoilt on their birthdays. Our birthdays were all but ignored when we were kids. We only got something we needed, like shoes for school, never had cake, never had treats out on our birthdays. I guess my kids are reaping the benefits of me having crap birthdays growing up.

For birthdays mine get a budget of around £30. It's up to them if they choose a few small things of one item of about that price. Then they also get a bag of sweets and a large bar of chocolate. They get plenty of other gifts from other relatives as well as their dad and his family.

You give what you can afford. I have one child and £250 is more than I usually spend and Dd gets a lot because we have one child. Admittedly dd got more than this last time because one of her presents was a 4 night pony camping trip and that was instead of going away for a short break just the two of us without her dad. She's 8. I will do the same thing next year if the camp takes place.

Well, the party is sort of a present too is it not? I don't think I would have just given one thing though. I'd have bought the one thing from his list and wrapped up a book and bag of sweets etc just so he had a few bits to open since his party isn't on his actual birthday.

If he had some specifics he wants then I maybe would have said that people might want to pop a £5 in a card for his party gift if they'd prefer as he has something he is saving for. A lot of parents would be glad of the excuse not to have to find a gift.

Bloody hell..... Calm down Luna. Nobody is talking about a mountain of presents are they.

An outing, a big present and a party and people dont think thats enough?