Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To keep some of the kids stocking fillers back for next year?

65 replies

IHaveAToiletBrush · 07/12/2016 11:07

Started wrapped the stockings today and didn't realise how much I had bought for them. I added up the total cost and divided it 3 ways as have 3 kids and it comes to £87.66 each stocking plus a gift bag with around £15 worth of sweets, chocolate and a couple of cans of fizzy drink in each. AIBU to keep some stuff back for next year or return it as to not increase their expectations for the stocking?

OP posts:
MaxPepsi · 07/12/2016 12:08

I'd give them the lot but not necessarily in their sack. If you don't get much chance to spoil them one year won't make a difference.
However if you feel it is to much what about your local women's refuge, children's ward, hospice etc for the excess?

BertieBotts · 07/12/2016 12:12

Xposted... maybe not then if they already have tree bits.

liquidrevolution · 07/12/2016 12:14

Starling your DC will grow into the 3+ toys prety quickly. I bought DD some little age 3 items for her 2nd birthday in the summer and she is already playing with them. Not a stealth boast, she wonderfully average Smile

OP - You can either donate the toys to a local church or hospital. Small items can be given to the womens refuge shoebox appeal (just search for Project Shoebox and your local town on Facebook).

Or keep back but use as treats for good behaviour during the next few months. Limiting expectations for mext year is a good idea.

Original poster
IHaveAToiletBrush · 07/12/2016 12:14

I'm so torn. I must want them to have it or I wouldn't of got everything or am I just trying to easy my own guilt about last year? When I say they didn't have much last Christmas that is not an exaggeration it was a pack of chocolate coins, felt pens, pack of sticker, reading book and colouring book each and that was it nothing else. We don't have family that buy for them either so it really was all they had and I don't think I'm over the disappointment on their faces and their birthdays weren't much better.

OP posts:
Original poster
IHaveAToiletBrush · 07/12/2016 12:16

God now I have wrote that I'm in tears at remembering how bad it really was.

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 07/12/2016 12:18

Just give it to them you obviously have had some rough times just give them the presents don't be hard on yourself

MrsJayy · 07/12/2016 12:18

You blooming well had me filling up reading it

BareBum · 07/12/2016 12:19

Let them have all the presents and explain it's to make up for last year.

Paddingtonthebear · 07/12/2016 12:19

Bless you.

I think based on what you've said I would give it all to them this year. Sod it, if last year was rough then this year can be a frivolous.

Sensible next year though remember!

RachelRagged · 07/12/2016 12:20

Oh OP don't cry.

I can understand how its got to be a bit OTT , totally get the self guilt propelling you along .

I think a good idea (in my opinion) would be sweeties to the Food Bank, a stocking with some of the gifts inside, and their main presents . The remaining stocking gifts I think (If it was me) I'd be inclined to give out over the course of the rest of Christmas week perhaps culminating on New Years Eve .

Either way don't beat yourself up , I have been skint and then when money was readily there I also had a huge spend. Merry Christmas.

RachelRagged · 07/12/2016 12:21

Oh scrap the rest of Christmas week , your DCs are still only young and would wonder why Santa never left them all at once .

Original poster
IHaveAToiletBrush · 07/12/2016 12:21

Thank you mrsjayy I think that is what I needed somebody to tell me it is ok to spoil them rotten once in a while and to be fair they probably deserve it.

OP posts:
MrsHathaway · 07/12/2016 12:22

Local Lions Club, Rotary, Round Table etc do children's gift appeals, and would love any of that.

But it does sound a bit overwhelming to have so many things when she's so little. In our house a stocking is just to keep the little buggers quiet for an extra half hour or so Grin so it doesn't need to be huge. Headphones and other sets can be wrapped under the tree.

Can you keep the stationery bits back to give them as they use stuff up in the next few months?

You can rearrange to have a more modest stocking to set a precedent of a handful of fun and frivolous but small things. How many and how much comes under the tree is a separate memory and varies as they get older anyway.

What they had last year sounds like an ideal stocking although I appreciate you'd have liked to give them a "proper" present as well.

Katy07 · 07/12/2016 12:25

What BareBum ^ just said - give them the lot and explain that it's to make up for less last time. It's a good life lesson on give and take and changing circumstances Xmas Grin

ToffeeForEveryone · 07/12/2016 12:26

Just give it to them! You've already bought the stuff, it will make them happy, it will make you happy ...

Fair enough if there's too many sweets, give those away, there's enough food around at Christmastime.

But if you can't spoil your 5 year old at Christmas then when would you?!?

Can always do a clear out or charity shop run after Christmas to make room for the new stuff.

Original poster
IHaveAToiletBrush · 07/12/2016 12:35

Decision made they can have the lot and I can now start to look forward to their happy faces this year. Dd aged 10 will be chuffed to bits with all her stuff and not have to fell awkward or lie and say she can't remember what she got when asked at school, last year it really effected her. I'm so proud of my dh for wodking his arse off over the last 2 years to get us out of the situation we were in and am excited to actually be able to him a gift for the first time in 5 years. Just don't know what to get yet.

OP posts:
Artandco · 07/12/2016 12:35

Can you take the slippers and pjs out and just give them to her Xmas eve as regular clothing so she can wear to bed before santa arrives? And can be wearing isn't he morning to open gifts? Would then be the same given but look not so huge in sacks so she doesn't expect quite so much next year?
I would also be tempted to take some crayons out and give them in February half term so it's not so much stationary at once.

GourmetChild · 07/12/2016 12:35

Give them all the flippin presents and enjoy every single second of watching them open them and play with them.

You could give one each on Xmas eve so they also have an idea things are between this year.

Have a great Xmas day op. They're only young once and it's gone in a blink. If you can't spoil them at Xmas when can you?

Go for it!

GruffaloPants · 07/12/2016 12:38

Just spoil them, and enjoy it!

You can tell them Santa must have sent extra because there wasn't much last year (managing expectations!).

Original poster
IHaveAToiletBrush · 07/12/2016 12:42

Thank you everyone you have all been so kind and I feel so much better for saying or typing in this case my feelings out loud. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

OP posts:
flower11 · 07/12/2016 12:46

I'm the same as you op my dd stocking is a sack and I have spent around £80 on it as it's what she has asked santa for and usual stocking bits. Santa does not do tree presents in our house. Then she has three presents from us play doh set ,dvd box set and unicorn pjs. So total spend is max £120 which I think is fine for 4 year old. Do other posters put santa presents under the tree? It's just different ways of doing and organising things. I'm glad you have decided to give her what you have got some children get massive piles of presents.

Benedikte2 · 07/12/2016 12:50

OP you bought these gifts with love for your DC and I do not see anything wrong in giving them. Perhaps hold back a few for treats during the year? Added benefit of keeping them quiet on a long journey or half term etc.
Just tell them that FC has been very generous this year but not to expect the same every year.
Enjoy the magic of Christmas -- folk whose children are grown will be envying you!

SpringerS · 07/12/2016 12:50

Aren't stockings just hair bobbles matchbox cars , lip balm etc and chocolate. What is in yours?
That depends on the family. I absolutely hate that kind of tat at the best of times as my DS treats all of his toys as precious and if he lost or broke a crappy crayon from a 20c box of crayons he'd be really, really sad about it. So I only put small but proper, good quality toys in his stocking.

Starduke · 07/12/2016 12:54

It doesn't sound like they have a huge amount of toys anyway, so I'd say give them this year (maybe not all on Christmas day, but space it out a bit so it doesn't get too overwhelming) and next year buy a smaller stocking Wink

bastardlyandmutley · 07/12/2016 12:56

I'd give them the extra presents. I'd tell them that it is because they were so good last year at understanding that Father Christmas couldn't bring as much as usual but also make it clear that it is a one off and not something to expect every year.

Swipe left for the next trending thread