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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WIBU to only get my son 1 Christmas present?

118 replies

aibuornah · 03/12/2016 21:12

My son wants an expensive present so I have got it for him, but now I'm seriously worried at the idea he will only have 1 gift to open, his brother will have about 15. It's not mean is it?

OP posts:

spicyfajitas · 03/12/2016 21:31

I'm asking because I was wondering whether it was because you were trying to keep them to as similar value as possible, or whether you had to have a strict budget or...... My response would have been different depending on why

clairethewitch70 · 03/12/2016 21:32

I would buy a selection box of chocs and a few cheap stocking filler type things to go with it.

Needmyowndesertisland · 03/12/2016 21:33

Ds is 12, and will be getting a big Lego model (techno Mercedes arcos truck, rrp £150 ish). That's from us and his grandad. Bedside that he'll get a book and some chocolate. He is fully aware of how much it costs, he's worked out it'll take him over a year to save for it. His younger sisters will be getting a few less expensive presents. Knowing my ds, he's going to be over the moon with the very expensive (ok, so bought on offer, but still very expensive) one gift, and will happily build it over the next couple of days.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if your ds understands you have a budget per child, and limited funds, and are also aware of the cost of the item they lust after, then you should be fine. Could you pad it out with an annual and chocolate figure? Also, factor in his stocking, at this age they're not cheap any more! Although ds would never admit it out loud, he knows its us, and gets some nice bits in it.

LilQueenie · 03/12/2016 21:34

depends I would likely get him a cheap couple of gifts. Maybe a dvd or bath set thing. Even poundland do dvds so not expensive. If the gift is something like a console I expect both boys will end up using it so wouldn't seen fair on the eldest to have 1 that will be shared vs 15.

Original poster

aibuornah · 03/12/2016 21:35

Oh, he will have his stocking too. His brother obviously still believes in Santa, so I don't tend to count that.

OP posts:

girlelephant · 03/12/2016 21:35

As other PPs have said maybe get a few small stocking type gifts to open. B&M or HMV do great deals on DVDs at this time of year sometimes £3 for a movie released this yea. Or a couple of t-shirts from Primark or Matalan may be £5 or £7 sometimes for a set rather than one

Original poster

aibuornah · 03/12/2016 21:36

Console won't be shared. My younger son won a console (a different type, but better for his age) through school they never share toys really, just into different things and 7 yo would not be interested in the older games

OP posts:

squoosh · 03/12/2016 21:36

Well if he has a stocking too I don't see the issue really!

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 03/12/2016 22:14

I still really don't see the problem if he will be getting other gifts off relatives plus a stocking (all of which I admit I assumed was the case). If he's 12 and can't grasp that he has an equivalent present to his 7 year old brother then I'd be a little bit worried about him tbh.

Have you never had the conversation with him before about how one big thing will cost more than 20 little things?

CharlieCoCo · 03/12/2016 22:43

don't buy him tack just for the sake of it. he wants an x box and u are buying what he wants. he also has presents from other people and a stocking and pjs, that is plenty. his brother is also getting things from "Santa" and they are cheaper and what he wants. children don't need things just to open, he is getting what he wants and is old enough to understand that. no wonder people stress and over spend at Christmas, there is absolutely no need to buy him any more. he will open it and most likely be focused on wanting to play with it, it isn't like he opens one and then watches in silence as everyone else opens everything like he is missing out.

wobblywonderwoman · 03/12/2016 22:47

Brilliant idea to wrap the components like the remote etc .. genius idea!!

DragonitesRule · 03/12/2016 22:53

If you think your 7 yr old won't be interested in the Xbox he is going to surprise you! DS (11) has and Xbox one and his younger brother (7) loves it-especially for minecraft etc!

HemanOrSheRa · 03/12/2016 22:54

We had this with DS the first year we bought him a console. It just looks a bit sad and we only have one DC with us on Christmas morning (DSD's are in their 20's). I took a few of the larger stocking type items and wrapped them separately instead. Honestly though he was absolutely over the moon with his console .

ALongTimeComing · 03/12/2016 22:57

Can you get him bits he'll need or use in the near future - toiletries, undies, etc. Stuff you would be buying anyway?

Original poster

aibuornah · 03/12/2016 23:00

dragon - aren't all 7 year olds different? I know my son I've also explained why he won't be. He has his own console, which already has Minecraft, etc. He doesn't particularly like it anyway, but as he won it, it's used a couple of times. He is getting lots of Sylvanian Families, he is still very much into 'younger toys'.

OP posts:

DailyMailSucksAss · 03/12/2016 23:42

I think he'll be so excited by the x-box he won't care. Stick to your guns OP!

DearMrDilkington · 03/12/2016 23:46

He'll be so thrilled with the new Xbox and fifa game that he probably won't even notice. He'll be too busy trying to set it all up.

Astro55 · 03/12/2016 23:47

Get him a few things he needs - socks stationary Christmas mug etc

Crispbutty · 03/12/2016 23:56

Poundshop things to give him a few more bits to open would be fine.

SantaPleaseBringMeEwanMcGregor · 04/12/2016 00:07

You could always let him open extra gifts by way of a treasure hunt. He has a box under the tree, and it gives him a clue to another small box that he can unwrap. Maybe a bit of chocolate or something in each, just for good measure. Then he can go on a short but merry hunt through the house/yard for his gift--maybe parts of a map, even. He gets the fun and satisfaction of unwrapping different small boxes, but his actual real, expensive gift is the grand finale.

The younger one won't get a hunt, but will get more actual gifts to open, and the first year they want something massively expensive, that'll be their turn to get a hunt.

cookiefiend · 04/12/2016 00:12

I wouldn't worry- he is old enough to understand. I might be inclined to get a little something he can do that isn't the console so he has something to look at/ play with whilst his brother opens all his gifts- a Rubix cube or book or magazine. Just one thing- don't buy tat for the sake of it. I would only do that to dissuade him from plugging himself into the console straight away.

MommaGee · 04/12/2016 00:20

How many packages can you get the Xbox into? So the games is separate etc? Howe we he's got exactly what he asked for, should understand how much it cost and that brothers are each less so I'd leave it at that not buy him stuff he doesn't need just so he has more boxes to open

Xina · 04/12/2016 00:25

Yes it's mean, get him a few extra bits and pieces. An extra £20 would be fine, as you mentioned earlier.

MommaGee · 04/12/2016 00:34

But then she's got to add 20 to other DC and his pile gets even bigger, her budget is now 40 over and the house is even more of stuff the kids don't need or want

Sybys · 04/12/2016 00:36

If he is getting a stocking too, I don't really see the problem. A couple of very cheap additional presents is more than enough.

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