To spend less than £50 per child at Christmas?

[hibbledobble]

I read the thread where people were talking about spending as much as £1000 per child, and the average was in the 100s.

I can afford to spend a lot, but I don't see the need or the benefit in buying a lot. I plan on getting one large and one small present per child and maybe some chocolate. Things they will play with and cherish.

I don't buy into the consumerist culture surrounding Christmas, and I don't want to raise spoilt children.

Aibu?

Laguna

Growing up is just selfish and must be stopped!

I got the advent calendar from tesco that has lots of different sweets like refreshers and love hearts, I've had to stop myself from opening it

No-one feels any kind of pressure to spend big time......people do it because they want to. Not that difficult to understand really.

Maybe not on this thread but to say people generally don't feel they have to is a bit naive.

I say about 100 but if there's something they want I may spend a little more. I just don't spend so much that I leave myself broke and worrying about it in the New Year.

It all depends on financial circumstances at the time but the kids barely notice as long as they have some presents and a lovely day!

You're right Christina! That calendar sounds cool to. Look at this beast!

Ohhhhh I want it

There is an Aldi Wine one.....

Wow, so people are so threatened now that they are throwing personal insults. Well done, so grown up of you.

Yes thatll be what it is...so so threatened

How are people threatened?

Do as you wish but £50 doesn't buy much at all!

Oh I like the sound of a wine advent calendar, that would a nice door to open after a long day at work!

I'm surprised you need to buy any presents to be honest OP, as you are truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Yeh threatened by an internet GF that's me!

Hibbledobble Are any extended family members buying for your kids?
Apologies if you said and I missed it.

I would say under £50 is fine if other people are also buying. DH's extended family are both numerous and generous. I spend about £50 each because otherwise the shear quantity would be overwelming.

Before people get too jelous- let me say that I spend a lot recipricating!

If it were just me buying, I would probably want to spend a bit more.

£50 wouldn't even buy the our generation campervan my 6 year old has her heart set on, add in the cost of a doll at £35 and a couple of outfits, that's well over £100 before I've even started on the stocking!

My mum was like this, even though she didn’t have to be. It sucked. It didn’t teach me about commercialism or any other such crap. It taught me I wasn’t as valued to her as other kids were to their parents, and I would lie about what I received every year to my friends. I always felt envious and let down.
I’m the opposite with my ds now. I’d hate for him to think he wasn’t worth a bit of spoiling at Christmas or a new bike.
I’m lucky to be quite wealthy now as an adult, and I treat myself to things without feeling any guilt. Fuck that shit. Life is too short.

*U2^ I'm sorry its just not been a good day here, I'm run down and nursing a dying pet and completely over reacted I apologise. There are just so many things about being a parent that we are made to feel bad about or make ourselves feel guilty over. This one is mine, we don't have extended family who will buy and I remember christmases growing up full of family and gifts and love and I tend to feel a lot of guilt about not supplying that.
It's mostly self torture as we all want to give our kids everything.

Whatever you spend at the end of the day as long as there's love that's all that should really count.

And yes if I could afford it I'd spend thousands on them and I wouldn't feel at all guilty.

There is a huge disconnect in people's understanding of the meaning of spoilt, and how you get a spoilt verruca salt type child. If you raise and parent your dc every single day, your not going to cause a massive personality change in them by giving them a few presents on Christmas day.

It baffles me that people think this could even be possible!!!!! How!! I love my dd, she never asks for anything except books in the year, she is a really good girl, she is not spoiled at all, we rarely buy her stuff outside of Xmas and bday, she has no other relatives to buy for her, one day of the year I like to spoil her!! She is still the sweet lovely un spoiled child the next day, and the days after that

When children are young and small, they love the excitement and ripping the paper off and all that stuff. The attraction of the “pile o’ stuff”
When they’re older it’s hoodies and vouchers. Live and let live.

My 16yo btw, has asked for socks. Again. Every year, she asks for socks. She has never, ever asked Santa or more lately us for a spendy gift 💝

Lady I'm so sorry your having a really hard time hope your pet is ok. Nobody is criticizing anybody for not having much spare cash. You admit if you could spend more you would.

Why are people who question the need to spend and indulge labeled as sanctimonious?

unlimited yes family are getting presents too. You are the first person who asked about this. 3 sets of grandparents due to remarriage.

lady also sorry to hear you are having a hard time. Christmas isn't all about the presents, you can make sure your kids have a great time with a smaller budget without a doubt.

Why are people who question the need to spend and indulge labeled as sanctimonious?

Because it makes those who don’t spend a lot ( when they could do ) better about themselves and more justified.

christmas isn't all about the presents, you can make sure your kids have a great time with a smaller budget without a doubt.

Absolutely