To find it a bit upsetting that my Dec born dc gets shit presents...

[grinchmas]

From relatives. I know it's an expensive time of year but it's the same date every year, hardly shocking.

I put a lot of effort into all my nieces and nephews birthday presents throughout the year and wouldn't dream of wrapping their present up in Christmas paper or spending £3 on a present "because it's Christmas soon". Every birthday so far this has happened!

I'm probably being unreasonable, but I just feel sorry for my dc!

YANBU my DH has a December birthday and it's pretty crap. He had all the crap presents wrapped in Christmas paper as a child and now hates his birthday. What can you do though? It is when it is, you can't change it.
Would they like the idea of doing a half-birthday celebration in June?

My bday is early Jan.

ALL my Xmas presents as a kid were thus multi-functioned into 'Xmas and Birthday'

Even as a kid I knew I was missing out!

YNBU I have 4 nieces and nephews who have birthdays in Christmas/new year which means I have to get 8 presents and I am careful to make sure they have a thoughtful present for both . I save all year and had to increase it for this, I buy wrapping paper with a Happy Birthday print to try and make sure there's no mix ups

Oh and it means no one wants to do anything as an adult because they're outspent over Xmas, out partied from New Year and overeaten over the season. No parties, meals out, get togethers, at all.

I dread my birthday.

First world problems.

Poor DH’s birthday is the 23rd December (his parents haven’t even bought him a separate birthday present since he was 16!) and our DC3 is due on the 28th so is in for a lifetime of this too I fear.

My birthday is the 30th Dec. It sucks!

Another late December birthday here. DH jokes that he feels he has to make up for years of “Oh here’s one present for both”! To make it worse my Dsis was also born in late December (= joint parties)

There is no excuse, people know it's coming!!! My DN has a birthday between Christmas and new year. I add their birthday to my shopping list, gift was purchased in November and have character gift wrap and card in the bag ready to use. My DB and his wife take down all their Christmas decorations on Boxing Day ready for birthday banners and balloons!

A friend’s birthday is 17 dec and every year another friend gives her the free Boots No7 gift that you get with Christmas purchases. It’s not a bad gift but she openly admits she got it for free!

I have an early January birthday and it’s always been a bit crap

As a child I always got joint birthday/Christmas presents

As an adult no one really wants to do anything - everyone is skint or knackered from Christmas. Never had a meal out or a few drinks with friends for my birthday

Woe is me and all that, and it doesn’t really matter, but when I think of all the birthday drinks, meals out and parties I’ve been to and presents I’ve bought it would be nice if someone could make an effort just once

YANBU. Doesn't affect me fortunately although sometimes Mother's Day clashes with my birthday which is a pain when you want to go out for lunch, but SIL's birthday is 23rd December. January is probably even worse because people will say they have no money to go out or buy presents.

I also feel for people with birthdays around Valentine's Day.

Me, DD and DS have December birthdays, 17th, 21st and 31st. I always quite liked it, it's seemed special as everyone was in a celebratory mood.

The kids are only little but so far I think people have been making the effort to get separate presents and as nice as you'd expect at any other time of year. I find the sheer volume of stuff over such a short time pretty overwhelming though. DD is getting an expensive dollshouse from us this year for Christmas then a bike just a few days later. There ends up being too much for her to play with.

Mines the 21st, I have always disliked my birthday. I can't ever make plans because nobody has the money to go anywhere. Although I have always had separate presents and my mum and dh have always used birthday wrapping paper, some people just don't bother. Even as a child I don't think I ever felt my birthday was that special it's always been overshadowed by Christmas. Luckily I love Christmas so it doesn't really matter now I'm older

I think January birthdays are the worst. Christmas can’t be much fun either, and I think August is pretty rubbish from a school point of view as people are either away or are a bit tired of birthdays and parties by then. My experience is that people definitely give more of a shit about birthdays outside of holiday season.

My nephew is Boxing Day and we are super careful to always make that his day with a decent present with birthday paper. Some people just suck.

Oh I am so with you. My DD and I are both January birthdays. No one wants to do anything, has any money or they are doing Dry January or even Veganuary.

The good thing is that your DC will never miss out from you as you are so aware of it.

I'm glad people are in agreement! It's definitely a first world problem but I still feel bad for dc.

Sorry to all of you that have had a lifetime of this! I don't get it. Presents don't usually go off, why not just get it in the summer to help spread the cost.

Tempted to passive aggressively wrap up a summer borns present in Christmas paper. I wouldn't, but the petty part of me wants to make a point!

My niece has a birthday between Christmas and New Year. I buy her a small gift to open on her birthday and a 'proper' present in June to spread the fun out for her.

YANBU. My birthday is in December. Always had the same issue re Xmas. Added to that, always harder to celebrate without it being an Xmas thing, the dual purpose presents for Xmas AND birthday, birthday presents wrapped in Xmas paper and then when an adult, no one can come out for my birthday because they’re skint or saving for Xmas.

So for big birthdays, I move it to the summer and have a token official birthday (a cake usually) on the actual day

My dc’s don’t get birthday gifts from anyone other than me unless it’s cash from grandparents, nothing from aunts or uncles, last year they only had 3 birthday cards . Christmas is pretty much the same.

I would never dream of skimping on a birthday present, just because it's close to Christmas! I think you're relatives are rather thoughtless, OP, and using the 'Christmas expense' excuse to not bother.

My Dp's birthday is the 27th and has had the one present for Christmas and your birthday from many family members. Even worse he's a twin so as kids it was one gift for both between them!

My dsis is 28th Dec, DM 29th Dec, me 4th Jan, DP 9th Jan, DGS 14th Jan....... It sucks!

I completely see why that’s a bit rubbish but look at the positives - December is such a lovely time of year, everywhere looks beautiful, everyone’s in the celebratory mood!