DSS has announced a Christmas list after we've already finished shopping. AIBU

[Gertr]

To not spend a load of money on more presents - even though that will mean he probably won't have anything from his list?

After him saying he didn't know what he wanted for Christmas apart from one small thing we used our initiative and bought things we were sure he would love.

His mum has told us what she has got him and he's going to be thrilled with that. He he has some nice gifts.

All of the Christmas shopping is finished now, presents wrapped and put away.

We had the DSC today and DSS (10) said he's going to write a list for what he wants for Christmas...

WWYD? We're not flush.

@Jellyrunner

Well I do have a dry sense of humour and northern Irish heritage. I’m very happy for you to think of me as her. Read all my comments in that accent, and you will smile to be sure xx a merry Christmas to you and your family xxx

😊 same to you

I made the same mistake With DD7 her Santa list has nothing I bought her 🤣but I am rectifying it as it was my bad judgement call not her fault.

Try and influence what’s on his list!!

He hasn't actually written the list yet. Drop hints about the stuff you've bought him, show him a YouTube video of one of the items, plant the idea! Does he know you have a budget, if not try and set expectations there too.
Have a good Christmas

Mine have written lists which have had crap on that they don’t really want but sometimes are stuck so shove it down! I don’t think they’ve ever got everything off their list but a couple of things.

I have already bought their stocking bits and pieces and have been doing so all year (which I always do). We’re trying to have a less wasteful Christmas so being careful whilst also trying to save money.

I think it sounds like a good idea you’ve done your shopping, try not to panic as there may be something on his list!

gamerchick
Yeah, like people who said they'll just get an online food delivery in February.

Like I said, deserve everything they get.

Some of us did

You wishing for the rest of us to fail miserably is not going to impact us in any way you know

I must be a real meanie - I banished lists after a certain age - 11/12? They put down everything under the sun, which they were not gonna get, leading to inevitable disappointment - and it takes the fun out of getting something they love but haven't thought of.

I liked to get them thinking about Christmas as a time to focus on what they were giving, not on what they were getting.

As a result, now in their 30s, they are brilliant present buyers.

Heh I'm not wishing, I don't give a toss what others do. It's the same principle here. The shops are advised to block off none essentials and close none essential shops so people think it's fine, they'll order online, despite not really doing that usually. The delivery services are swamped as it is. So as long as you dont mind x amount of weeks for delivery then you fill your boots.

To use you example of I'm alright jack

Some of us did wink

I'm already sorted so really I don't care if people want to shop in December.

gamerchick
you are very invested in this thread for someone who claims they don't care

thanks for removing yourself of the equation and shopping ridiculously early, it frees shopping slots and delivery slots for the rest of us

@Jellyrunner

‘Why are you so mean?’

Seriously? Are some of you 4 years old????

What a pity the OP didn’t post this on the ‘Christmas’ thread. Everyone is nice to each other there.

I would buy one thing from the list as an addition.
Then I’d ask DH parents / my parents if they wanted to get him anything off the list and what has happened. That way he should have some lovely presents and some he wanted. Also spending so much time at home it’ll be great to maybe put one or two away for a rainy day in the year if you think it’ll be too much.

@Lowkeevslucille

gamerchick you are very invested in this thread for someone who claims they don't care

thanks for removing yourself of the equation and shopping ridiculously early, it frees shopping slots and delivery slots for the rest of us

A hand full of posts on a 13 page thread. Ok then

What child of 10 still writes to Father Christmas???

@Mermaid67

What child of 10 still writes to Father Christmas???

He’s not writing to Father Christmas

@emilyfrost my 14 year old still writes to Father Christmas!! Part of the fun!!!

@Mermaid67 sorry post above meant for you!

you are being massively unreasonable! It's only the beginning of Nov! My kids havent done lists yet. I get buying adults stuff and stuff that you see and think 'have to get that!' but to be done and dusted so early without giving the kid a chance to get festive is pretty rubbish. You could have just set the money aside for when he did hand his list over.

I'm strapped for cash myself but I put away what i can afford to spend until i know what they would like. They never get the whole list (sometimes the list is like a book!) but i do aim for the ones i know they want the most. I dont do the kids gifts until dec because i have shopped early before and they changed their minds completely a few weeks later.

I would either buy 1 or 2 for the list or wait to see if things reopen in Dec and take a few back to afford a few on the list if things are that tight - that's what i would do. I also wouldnt say anything to him about having everything bought and wrapped already - takes the whole magic out of Christmas!!

I always used to shop early for my dc but I also kept back about a quarter of the budget for last minute gifts a week or so before Christmas because they often get ideas from other dc. Probably not helpful this year. I would look at the list see what I could stretch to, buy one of the other things for birthday, give a bit of cash towards saving up for something else.

I don't think you were being too quick - this year is different and you never know what's going to happen in retail - if shops will open or not. You were right to be prepared. Hang fire, get the lists and if you've got things that aren't on it, see if there's anything you can exchange.

I don't think you've done anything wrong at all, especially as he normally tells you much earlier! If you can exchange a few items, great, but if not I'm sure he'll like his gifts - sounds like you've put a lot of thought into them. Kids (/anyone!) shouldn't expect to get something just because they've asked for it.

I've done most of my Christmas shopping already and most of it online because I fully expect there to be delays with the postal system the closer we get to Christmas and the small businesses I like to shop with are all shut as they're non-essential, and who knows if they'll be able to reopen in time. I hope your work situation improves and you all have a lovely Christmas :)

What child of 10 still writes to Father Christmas???
My Dm always wrote from santa on our gifts until the year she passed even though we were all adults with our own dc. Its all part of the fun
OP I think we have all had that one year where we have jumped the gun on gift buying and it has bit us in the bum 😂

I would try not to beat yourself up too much about this. But I would wait until his list materialises and then take a view depending on what gifts are listed. You may find some are what you've already got, but if your worries about a lot of expensive items materialise, then he is of an age where he needs to understand a few financial facts of life.

If you're not familiar with Xmas lists, then you may not realise that they don't expect EVERYTHING on the list. If they do, then again, time for his DF to have a little chat :-)

One other point - kids are less bothered about the value/cost of their gifts, but are more likely to get upset if they don't have the same number of items. One very expensive present versus a big pile of cheaper presents (that equal the same value) could leave a child feeling short-changed.

What child of 10 doesn’t write to Father Christmas?

I’ll tell you: (apart from deprived or family-less children) the child of a joyless parent who doesn’t have a magical bone in their body.

I write to Father Christmas. Dh writes to Father Christmas. The teen dcs write to Father Christmas. Otherwise it’s a bald “I want this/that” . And then there’s no point in wrapping anything up or even waiting for the 25th December.

I wouldn't return them all but definitely a few so you can get some items off his list. Then make it clear that Santa won't be able to get everything off the list and try and find out the favourite items.

Some posters on here have been very harsh and some also sound very bitter, tbh. It's a tough year for everyone. Lay off the snide comments.

There's nothing wrong with shopping early. I started last week and already half the things I bought for my girls are out of stock. I'd much rather be organised and have to swap a few things than wait and not be able to get anything other than tat!