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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU amount of Christmas Presents

156 replies

Tryingtostayyoung · 15/12/2016 08:31

Hi all. Just want to gather opinions as me and DH completely disagree.
How many presents have you bought your children for Xmas? Including stocking fillers? We're an average middle class family in a nice area and have a decent amount of money coming in but wouldn't say we're well off but are comfortable.
I think we've bought DD plenty but DH doesn't seem to think it's enough.
My AIBU is the amount I've bought but I don't want to say yet. Thank you!!

OP posts:
drspouse · 15/12/2016 08:33

Depends on too many things:
Age of DCs
Whether other relatives are also buying things
Whether they have a "big" present or more little ones
Value of presents.
You can't possibly compare with numbers.

NapQueen · 15/12/2016 08:34

I've not counted the dcs presents (they are 5yo and 2yo) but it's about a bin bag full including stocking fillers. As long as their piles are roughly the same size I'm happy.

derektheladyhamster · 15/12/2016 08:34
  1. Includes £40 computer game & boring things like socks. Ages 16 & 13
torroloco · 15/12/2016 08:35

Surely its more important to buy your DD things she will actually use, rather than a pile of rubbish to make her pile look bigger? My dad used to do this- presents would be opened, quick glance and then left on a shelf until they went to the tip/charity shop.

It doesnt matter whether you have brought her 1 thing or 100 things- as long as it is stuff she will actually play with/use then theres no issue

If your DH wants to buy her more- tell him he is welcome to at his own expense, assuming all your essentials for the next month are covered

Sorted

Rixera · 15/12/2016 08:35

I have bought her four. A VTEC activity table I got off eBay, and some books.
My oh is also making her a wooden easel thing but beginning to have doubts about him actually getting on and finishing it... He works long hours.
I have sewn her three dresses to go in her stocking, and some new crayons/felt tips.

PurpleDaisies · 15/12/2016 08:36

torroloco beat me to it. The number really isn't important. A few well chosen things they'll love or actually need is miles better than a massive pile of random junk.

Princesspinkgirl · 15/12/2016 08:36

Depends on value of items prefer quality not quantity

ImNotWhoYouThinkIam · 15/12/2016 08:38

About 4 or 5 small presents. Possibly less (I haven't bought them yet) and maybe 5 things in their stocking. Ages 12 and 10.
Single mum on low income.

Plus we went to HPST a couple of weeks ago which was part of their Christmas present budget

SpotTheDuck · 15/12/2016 08:38

It totally depends on lots of factors, but age of your DD is an important one. Also how many other gifts they're likely to get from relatives etc.

We've only bought our DS one gift (and it was only about £20) but he's not quite 2, so has no expectations, plus he'll get a lot of family presents.

Paddingtonthebear · 15/12/2016 08:38

DD is 4. She has 16 Christmas presents from Father Christmas (us!). Some of them cost 99p, most of them are between £3-£8 and the most expensive is a watch which costs £23.

She had an expensive bike and party a few months ago for her birthday so there was no "big" present to buy this Xmas

Muddlingthroughtoo · 15/12/2016 08:38

Not sure socks count as a present, not that I'm ungrateful but socks wouldn't be on my Christmas list. How about some books, they are reasonable in price and will bulk it out a bit.

Rainydayspending · 15/12/2016 08:39

I do the "want, need, wear, read" (4 gifts, plus an average sized stocking containing some nice but might buy anyway buts and bobs).
But it's really not important. Your DH wants to give them more, is that because he wants them to be in awe? Because he wants to treat them? Honestly, making the day fun together will probably be more memorable (except in new bike years!)

SVJAA · 15/12/2016 08:40

2 bigger things, and about 5 smaller things (wee toys, toiletry sets) and then sweeties and glow sticks (they love them) in their stockings. When I say bigger things I mean bigger boxes, not really expensive.

Original poster
Tryingtostayyoung · 15/12/2016 08:43

Ok fair enough.
DD is 3. She has one 3/4 main presents and the rest are smaller things

OP posts:
chibsortig · 15/12/2016 08:44

Just a small pile of presents here that shrinks as they get older due to them wanting more expensive things.
I dont buy stocking fillers anymore as i was fed up of finding it the following year unopened at the bottom of the wardrobe so unless its on their christmas lists I wont buy it.
They write a list and I pick and choose what fits within my set budget.
There will never be a right and wrong answer regarding 'do they have enough presents' its up to the individual.

Original poster
Tryingtostayyoung · 15/12/2016 08:45

Ok yeah so she has altogether about 15 including her stocking fillers so some things are like 99p and the most expensive was £30

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 15/12/2016 08:45

It sounds like she's got plenty.

Muddlingthroughtoo · 15/12/2016 08:47

I don't think it's unreasonable for your oh to want to treat them if you can afford it. They are also his children after all, it should be a compromise. Mums do generally do all most of the gift shopping but there is nothing stopping him from getting her some gifts. My children have between 22-25 presents each.

derektheladyhamster · 15/12/2016 08:47

They are star wars socks from M&S Xmas Wink

keekaw · 15/12/2016 08:50

About eight small things for stocking (going to do a count tomorrow). Probably five things under tree, two of which are expensive tickets to shows, which I'll probably put in a box.

Muddlingthroughtoo · 15/12/2016 08:51

Sorry, not them plural, I mean your DD. I was putting myself in your situation so gave you an extra child Grin

keekaw · 15/12/2016 08:51

Yours sounds just right for a three-year-old.

Gottagetmoving · 15/12/2016 08:52

Never compare with what others have bought their kids. Have your own values. There are never enough presents with some parents.

Beth2511 · 15/12/2016 08:52

my kids have each had £150 spent on them apart from the oldest who has £250

this pick is the piles it resembles and the oldest is the purple smallest one! most the big boxes for the biggest pile are ridiculously over packaged which makes it look far bigger than it really is!

AIBU amount of Christmas Presents
Muddlingthroughtoo · 15/12/2016 08:52

Ah, well Star Wars socks are a whole different matter! I was picturing a pack of 5 grey school socks! Grin