to want to give my two year old the best Christmas ever

[mancmama1614]

When I was a little girl, growing up my parents were really poor. However they saved all year for Christmas and used to spend up to £1k on each of us so we had loads of Christmas presents to open. We made loads of family Christmas memories too (Disney on ice, Christmas Eve hampers, eve-of-the-eve-of-Christmas-eve presents) and I look back on those Christmases with the fondest of memories.
Now, I am in a similar position to what my mum and dad were in when they were younger; my partner earns a good salary (I am a SAHM) however we are paying off quite hefty debts from our hedonistic twenties 🙄 so we are strictly on a tight budget.
AIBU to still go what some people would class as overboard at Christmas? So far the presents I have bought him are about 35 in total, I have spent about £350-£400 (don't count) but still want to get him all the clangers merchandise which will be another £150.
Added to this there will be visits to the santa train, Christmas parties at all the playgroups we go to and a winter wonderland trip.
His birthday is in January and we would like to have a big party for him and all his friends and also buy about 10-15 presents for that too.
Can I just add we aren't taking out any credit for this because I wouldn't be accepted for any anyway
All I see on Facebook and in the news are people only buying their kids one present, letting the grandparents pick up the slack or following that bloody soulless four gift rule.
Not buying for adults this year and me and my partner aren't buying for each other but we are buying for kids of friends.
Does anyone else do a Christmas like this when they are on a bit of a budget? Or any free trip ideas (ideally in Manchester) to add an extra special touch?

Mine remember the panto or the special gifts rather than the number of presents.

Doing something special and the photos bring back the memories rather than the number of gifts.

My two year old was overwhelmed by just her stocking. She had a little toy in each hand (bubbles and a light up ball) and kept looking between both and then burst into tears. It was too much to focus on. It took us the whole day to take out all the presents in her stocking with her. Lots of presents aren't fun for toddlers.

My children would find that much stuff completely overwhelming. A few things they really want, time with family and good food is what makes a great Christmas for us. I suspect the mass of presents is more what you want to do than your child.
It is your choice though and I hope you have a lovely day.

Bet lots of this would be the sale of Facebook and Instagram brags too.

Which is a bit sad.

Also what are you going to do when the two year old inevitably gets over tired, overwhelmed and overstimulated and kicks off into a tantrum. It will happen. Will Christmas be ruined?

Sorry but he’s 2 and won’t remember it. At all!

I remember Christmases from when I was like 8-16, that’s when Christmas is the most fun and £1k could be more useful/exciting/spoiling. Like how much will a 2 year old enjoy/notice £1k worth of presents? It just sounds like mess and clutter tbh

Wow some harsh replies here!
(And yes, I totally am over that, we never spend any money on ourselves, never go out or drink or smoke any more)
He's obsessed with the Clangers so that's definitely for him rather than for me I hate the bloody things! (It's on in the background all. the. time.)
Thanks for the judgemental comments on my childhood however I can assure you my parents (who have built themselves up from nothing to have what they have now) sacrificed everything they had so we could have everything we ever dreamed of. And I am so grateful for that and want to give my son the same.
Might just get the Clangers stuff and the days out and leave it there then, I just feel bad because his birthday and Christmas are so close together and so many people just buy him joint presents even though I get their kids who have summer birthdays two that I feel the onus is all on us and my mum and dad to make these occasions special for him.

I can see where you are coming from OP but try to bear in mind that what you think is the best Christmas ever may not be the same as your sons idea of the best Christmas. So much stuff is just likely to make him feel overwhelmed tbh.

Good free trips out include things like going to post a letter to Father Christmas, visiting displays at the garden centre, seeing the lights etc. That’s the special stuff for us.

I have spent about £350-£400 (don't count) but still want to get him all the clangers merchandise which will be another £150.

Ugh. All the Clangers merchandise? Why?? He's 2! And as a PP said, what about the environmental impact?

Love the panto idea!!

Could you visit the christmas markets in Manchester? Honestly for me a special Christmas Eve as a child was having new christmas pjs (which you can buy cheaply from Primark), a new mug for hot chocolate and a couple of Christmas films with my parents.

We had a nice little buffet for tea and then would go for a walk to look at everyones Christmas lights.
I'd take him to see Father Christmas and buy him a few gifts rather than going overboard he's only 2!

Also if your credit report/debts are that bad that you won’t be accepted for future credit, surely that should be your priority? Wtf

Onmywhistle they're great ideas, will add them to the list 😃

Sorry, but that's ridiculous. He's 2, he won't remember or care.

Also, you aren't really "on a bit of a budget" if you can afford to blow £400+ on Christmas presents which will mostly be forgotten about in two weeks time anyway.

YES the Christmas markets once the tourists have died down, maybe on a weekday or something he will love it!
Actually going to do that today, thank you 😘

What a kid that age needs is love, not stuff. In fact, that's what kids of any age need

All the Clangers merchandise because he loves the Clangers! The look on my sons face is more important to me than 'the environmental impact' (boxes get recycled anyway!?!)
My son isn't the type to be easily overwhelmed so I'm not worried about that! He's also quite old for his age.
Some great ideas from everyone for free things to do to get him excited though, thank you xxx

Quality not quantity. 2 year olds really do not want or need much. Just get something your DC will really enjoy. Or maybe a couple of small stocking sized gifts as well as one main one?

Or celebrate Christmas Channukah-style when it comes to gifts- a small inexpesnive gift to unwrap every night for a week? Although maybe a bit much at age 2.

If spoil yourselves as a family. He will be just as thrilled with a few lovely presents. 40 presents is overload! It will be too much and spoil it - don't worry. The time will come when there will be plenty to buy. Take some presents back and treat yourselves in a few years you won't be able to!

I really don’t understand why you would do this...surely it would way more fun to spend £100 and use the £400 to plan fun trips throughout the year??

Just think about how many unlayed with toys you'll have kicking around.

Save the money and spend it on experiences through the year - days out, holidays, make memories, not landfill.

FWIW, we aren't hard up and have a 2 year old. So far he has 2 presents. He'll get one more 'big' gift and then a small stocking. His birthday is straight after Christmas, he'll get one gift for that.

A) he's 2 and won't remember ...save the money until he's older and noticed it.
B) maybe your family would've been more comfortable if they didn't skimp to splurge ?
C) Christmas is not worth going into debt .

Find a therapist

Dendinding on where you are in manchester the east lancs railway have a santa special train which runs from Bury to Rawtenstall and back which ds enjoyed when he was a toddler and Winter wonderland next to the Trafford centre was worth a visit.

“I just feel bad because his birthday and Christmas are so close together and so many people just buy him joint presents even though I get their kids who have summer birthdays two that I feel the onus is all on us and my mum and dad to make these occasions special for him.”

Who else do you think the onus should be on to make your child happy!?

It’s your money so do what you like. Not entirely sure what the point of the post is as you don’t seem happy with the majority of the responses?

Where are you going to put all these presents?

Does he really want them and value them?

IMO you make it less special by overdoing it. They don't value the gifts they have if they are overwhelmed.

I'don't question why you need to do this. Who is it for? It's not for your two year old, it's for you. The two year old doesn't need it and would benefit more from less.