Did you get one main present for Christmas as a child

[muldersspeedos]

I just typed out a long op about this and it disappeared 😩

I was thinking back to when I was a child and I got one main present and some thing small/one inexpensive from Father Christmas. Birthdays were one gift too. We didn't have much money when I was little though so that might have been it but I don't recall lots of gifts from one person being the norm,

When did Christmas and birthdays become multiple gift occasions? Is it the sheer volume of things available now? Mass consumerism? Greed? Are things cheaper now so we can buy more for our money? Do we expect more? I'm sure we all knew someone who was deemed 'spoilt' and got loads.

My dc don't have a main present and I'm sat here wondering why I've fallen into the same habit of multiple smaller gifts. Luckily they never ask for expensive presents like games consoles or phones or the latest trainers as I couldn't afford them even if that big item was the only thing they got. I do the same for my mum too. I only buy for my 3dc and my mum. My siblings all buy her multiple presents too. She's always amazed by how spoilt she is these days but she deserves to have nice things and never treats herself as she can't afford to.

I've done my main Christmas shopping now for this year but maybe next year I'll have a rethink on how I do things?It could be that I love giving presents but feel very anxious receiving and unwrapping them (ASD).

How do you do presents at Christmas? One main one or several smaller ones? Does it depend?

One main present, a couple of smaller ones and then some stocking fillers. I think my parents said they used to spend about £40-50 on Christmas presents for me, which would be about £80-100 in today's money.

Closthes and bicycles were, however, considered necessities, not gift, so not included in the Christmas/birthday presents.

Only child and only grand child - I was spoiled. Lots of presents. 80's.

One main present from us, and a stocking from Father Christmas.

One of four in the ‘70’s, one ‘big’ present so a doll or craft set, then books, crayons, tub of elastic bands, mr matey bubble bath, an ‘annual’, and a bottle of lemonade.

My kids never seem to want stocking sized things, but it might get easier when older ?

We always got one main gift from Santa ( also poor) never what I asked Santa for. I often wondered why my friend next door got what I asked for, but I didn't. My mum said maybe Santa ran out, and I thought it's really unfair. I can't remember my parents giving us gifts too, but my DH says we should do this for Dc ontop of Santa, which seems expensive.

Child of the 60s, I can remember getting a red quilted bri nylon dressing gown as my main present one year. I always had Bunty and Judy annuals plus a selection box which is probably the only item that was bigger in the 60s than nowadays. I used to always get something from Avon from one of the relatives, probably Pretty Peach bubble bath.
We just didn't get loads of stuff. My favourite gift ever was a Cinderella watch in its own glass slipper.

I usually got a big present and a few games etc. My kids are all late teens/young adults now and I've always done: something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read. Even though they are definitely too old they still get a stocking with shower gel, pants, socks, chocolate coins and a toothbrush.

Always a big present as a child then some smaller ones. Then a stocking from “Father Christmas”.
Plus some additional presents from family.

DD is only 2 but so far we do a main-ish present and some smaller ones from us. I’m trying to limit it to 4 total though whilst she’s small as family go mad!

@penguinssmell

My kids never seem to want stocking sized things, but it might get easier when older ?

We always got one main gift from Santa ( also poor) never what I asked Santa for. I often wondered why my friend next door got what I asked for, but I didn't. My mum said maybe Santa ran out, and I thought it's really unfair. I can't remember my parents giving us gifts too, but my DH says we should do this for Dc ontop of Santa, which seems expensive.

Stockings here aren’t usually for the things they’ve asked for, they’re for things like a pot of slime, glittery hair clips, a chocolate reindeer etc.

DC get one main present (eg scooter, big lego set, bike). Then a stocking of small items - chocolate money, a little card game, a small book, Christmas pants/socks, funny bits I spot like dinosaur fairy lights or inflatable globe etc.

But theres also a present from each set of grandparents (£30-50 max per gift), plus something from each of 3 aunt/uncles (max 15 per gift).

Then under the tree is always a shared present "from the cat", always a family board game type thing.

So for one DC it might be:

• a scooter
• a £50 lego set
• a big craft set
• an animal onesie
• an orchard toys game
• a model car

I think DC are very lucky and they are always thrilled on Christmas morning

Oh and I forgot, the stocking has to have

• a satsuma/tangerine
• we have two special hollow baubles on the tree that open up, that get filled up wign nuts and raisins and put inside the stockings

Genuinely curious here and no intention to offend but for people who never ever spend more than (for example) £100, do your kids

• just not have bikes
• get second hand ones for

My trio got them as birthday gifts since they had spring and summer birthdays. I couldn’t imagine giving a gift you couldn’t use for 4 months at Christmas (we’re in Canada).

@Lasair

I got loads growing up. I do the same for my kids. It’s not greed it’s just the way we do it.

Same.

My folks did large main and several small presents as well. There were always new underpants and socks even when we were in our 40s. My mother loved Christmas, but birthdays were low key without presents after eighteen or so.

@DeepaBeesKit apart from
Dd1's first bike all bikes have been second hand here. As a child I got a new bike one Christmas but otherwise they were second hand. Dds need new bikes but not much point getting them until spring and then it will be second hand ones.

I'm 30 and I had a big stocking/ sack from FC, a big present from my parents and various presents from other relatives. So having more than one gift isn't a brand new intention

I'm 40 and I got one main present, such as a bike and lots of other smaller (but not token) gifts. Me and my sibling often got a got present in addition. We were very spoilt at Christmas but my DM was over compensating because my dad used to give us his old stuff as Christmas presents

I got one main present and then a couple of medium ones (£25ish value) and then two or three small ones (cd’s, books, etc). Oh and always a chocolate reindeer of some variety with my name on it .
I was very very lucky for the most part but I will admit my mum is not the best present buyer and tends to air on the side of what she thinks you should like rather than what you actually like. Before my teenage years this didn’t bother me as she did usually get the one thing I really wanted but it did upset me in my teen years. My mum loves buying clothes from the supermarket she works at because of the discount. She loves having lots of clothes in general but cheaper clothes. I was (still am ) quite alternative and love make up and jewellery. I can’t tell you how many times she’d ask me what I wanted for Christmas for me to answer please no clothes! Just to receive piles of clothes that I wouldn’t wear.
I know that may sound ungrateful but I honestly believe you buy presents for the recipient and not the giver. It means that I now ask people exactly what they would like if there’s been no hints because I remember how shit it felt. Not so much not getting what you’d asked for but the feeling that I clearly wasn’t the daughter my mum wanted!

Yes as kids we got one main present then lots of little presents neither of my parents worked so it was all they could afford

We always had one gift in our stocking (usually a book or a DVD, something that we could open and use when we woke up early, clever ploy by parents to keep us in our rooms as long as possible!) then a 'main' present, then a sack full of smaller gifts, so chocolates, smellies, PJs, books etc. We were spoilt but not a patch on some of the pictures I see on social media these days!

I wish I could feel that Christmas Eve excitement just one more time. Christmas as an adult sucks.

We always had a few presents rather than a main one and a stocking from father Christmas

I'm 35. We got loads, big piles at Christmas, I know I was very fortunate, and I've never been acquisitive. I do the same for my DS. Although trying to pare it down a bit this year. Birthday and Christmas are only a few weeks apart which makes it tricky.

I'm 63 so yes, one 'main' present (one year a Sindy doll, for example) and a few 'bits' which included a selection box, new colouring pencils, that sort of thing.

One main present, plus stocking, plus maybe a couple of books for Christmas.
One birthday present, unless there was nothing specific I wanted in which case I’d get several books or something.