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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:
StarUtopia · 15/12/2016 23:25

Hmm. There are 18 presents in total in santa's stocking (small items, e.g. bubbles, bouncy ball, Chocolate orange etc)

For main presents which come from us...I think there will be another 20 each. But only 4 of those each are 'decent' presents.

Kids are nearly 3 and 4.

I would add, a lot of these presents are second hand off eBay. Their main present is a bike each, again, second hand so £40 as opposed to £200!

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/12/2016 23:29

Isn't Santa (Clause) from the St Nicolas story? I guess as an atheist I shouldn't really be supporting that! Maybe it comes from the days when France and Scotland were friends and England definitely wasn't?

Also, I think like most popular culture in America (Trick or Treating etc) it originally came from the Scots and Irish settlers and then got all jazzed up and sent back across the atlantic. That's my theory anyway, I'm sure some historian will be along soon to dispute it :o

It's very firmly Santa up here and always has been as far as I know (and I'm quite old...)

Glad to hear you're never naughty though - keep that up and I'll put a good word in.

SatsukiKusakabe · 15/12/2016 23:29

A spoilt attitude in a child is not the result of one day a year mulledwine. If you feel it's too much, tone it down next year, but don't worry about it now. It is not a bad thing to give them a lot of presents, but it would be if your anxiety prevented you enjoying what you've planned, and if they went unappreciated, that would be a waste.

MGFM · 15/12/2016 23:32

3 month old - nothing from us. I am not going to wrap things myself to then just unwrap again on xmas day. Family will buy her some bits or give a cheque for bank account. 20 month old - main present has actually come from my DM. We were going to buy it for him and then she offered - it is one of those bubble police cars. Then we have bought some books, crafty stuff, puzzles and some small silly things for his stocking. so probably 7 or 8 things to unwrap.

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/12/2016 23:34

OP, DH and I came from similarly impoverished backgrounds, however my mum always managed to make sure we had a little pile of nice things for christmas - sometimes we didn't have decent shoes though and we never really got any big ticket items.

DH would probably give half what we give given the choice but he would say that things such as a decent bike etc were necessities and not presents so he is not ungenerous.

I'd also add that giving gifts does not spoil children. I Have always been fairly lavish with gifts for Christmas, my teenagers are the most chilled out well behaved and appreciative people I know.

SalemSaberhagen · 15/12/2016 23:36

According to this wankers you are right, it's been Santa in Scotland since the 1800s.

I'm not going to carry on arguing with you either as it seems you know him personally. I want my presents!

minesapintofmulledwine · 15/12/2016 23:38

Satsuki thank you. I'm giving myself a little kick.

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/12/2016 23:39

:o - I didn't think we were arguing, I was trying to be informative as I wondered why you hated "Santa". We're all good, yes?

SugarPlumWinterFluff · 15/12/2016 23:42

Mine 5&7 will have the same amount each. 8 tree presents from us, 5 presents from santa in their sack and about 12 things in their stockings like choc, socks, annual etc. They'll also be 3 board games for us all to share

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/12/2016 23:43

Thank you for the article - It's always difficult in these things to know when they talk about England, do they mean England or are they meaning the UK? But it seems in this that the Father Christmas/Santa debate is one for south of the border and we seem firmly entrenched with Mr Clause up here.

Astro55 · 15/12/2016 23:45

Spoilt kids come from attitude rather than number or coat of gifts

DC have about 11 each plus Manet 6 from family

Most are things they need - socks undies - plus chocs and a Christmas cup (essential) make up vouchers etc

They are fearful and say thank you! The fun is the excitement build up not the presents - they remember the magic

gillybeanz · 15/12/2016 23:48

We have never got into debt for Christmas and just bought what we could afford.
Buying bits throughout the year helps keep the cost down too.
Always FC in our house as Santa being an anagram of Satan, would freak me out.

WankersHacksandThieves · 15/12/2016 23:50

Santa being an anagram of Satan, would freak me out.

Both mythical beings of course, but i'd put my money on Santa in a 1 on 1 fight.

SalemSaberhagen · 15/12/2016 23:53

I meant more arguing against your observations!

HighwayDragon1 · 15/12/2016 23:53

25ish I've spent around £300.

HighwayDragon1 · 15/12/2016 23:55

Sorry, that's not including stocking presents.

Cagliostro · 15/12/2016 23:59

I thought this was going to be about that article in the Sun (or the channel five 'documentary' about the same mum)

CherrySkull · 15/12/2016 23:59

i spend about 100.

That's usually £50 on a 'main' present, then £40 on other bits, like books, dvds, game figures/extras, some kind of cuddly, then £10 for stocking fillers.

Mum spends £30 on them and their Uncle about £25

Its more about budget here than numbers of presents.

caperboo · 16/12/2016 00:09

I feel like my DH always wants to go overboard because they were really poor growing up

There is something in this theory I had a meek xmas when younger dad died , mum didn't do Christmas much there after, and I am that parent that can't help herself "just one more" I think I am trying too make up for rubbish Xmases.

SpringerS · 16/12/2016 00:18

Santa being an anagram of Satan
So do you avoid having mentors incase they are monsters? Or having lived because of the devil? Because those are also anagrams of each other. (Though devil to lived is technically a semordnilap.)

DustyCropHopper · 16/12/2016 00:20

I think mine will have 20 to 25 presents each, but this includes things like chocolate coins, selection pack, clothes as well as things they have on their list. No big (in size) presents this year due to lack of space.

dowhatnow · 16/12/2016 08:45

Mine would always have a huge pile but there was a lot of creative packaging big boxes They used to get around 50ish each but everything would be wrapped individually and a lot would be what one of my friends called "boring" presents. Now they are older it's more like 15 including sweets and chocolate. I hate it. I miss the fun of sourcing bargains throughout the year and finding loads of little fun things for them. I can't justify buying loads of little bits when they would appreciate the money more.

SatsukiKusakabe · 16/12/2016 09:06

Santa being an anagram of Satan

Yes, one slip on the pen and whom are you inviting to fill your stocking Shock

Chattymummyhere · 16/12/2016 09:27

7 & 5 year old about 20 each from us plus stocking fillers

8 month old 12.

They will all get around another 30 each from family. Ranging from clothes to bikes.

CheeseAndBeans · 16/12/2016 09:49

My two have 6 under the tree each this year. Includes a "big" present, clothes, books, selection box, medium toys. Then stockings have about 10 items in each. Total spend for the kids came in at about £120 for both, pretty pleased with that.

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