To think this is the embodiment of miserable fuckers

[Scrooooooooge]

Something they want

something they need

something to wear

something to read

I mean - how bloody joyless is that bloody thing?

@Needmorelego definitely not one of them people 😂 I never even thought about counting them as presents. Maybe I should. Anything I buy dd in December is a xmas present. 😂

Baby Jesus only 3 presents so 4 seems like a decent haul to me.

Although we do 5 categories and add in "something to do". This year DD is getting a mini potters wheel, last year it was tickets to Harry Potter Studios.

I find the poem a good guide to keep me focused when looking at ideas. My kids love to read so there's always a few books, something they need can be as boring or fun as you make it.

My in laws are all about the more presents the better and I can't stand it, it makes me feel so overwhelmed and half the stuff doesn't get used anyway as it's just more and more filler presents so that there's huge piles for everyone.

@WarrickDavisAsPlates I expect Baby Jesus wasn't fussed on account of him just being born but Mary was probably thinking "Oh great....some Myrrh. A pram would have been more useful. If Joseph thinks I'm transporting my PFB on that blimmin donkey 🙄"
😂

I always used the "Something to wear" as the more frivolous stuff that I wouldn't normally buy her - essentials are covered in my regular budget, glittery dresses, branded t-shirts, impractical platform shoes and Claire's Accessories tat stuff is not, but if it's something she was asking for then I'd buy it for her for Christmas

Same for "need" - it's when I spend a little more on something special but is still something she actually requires eg trainers. If DDs trainers were wearing out and she needed a new pair then there would be two options a) she could have the more expensive pair of trainers of her exact choice which would be given as a gift or b) she gets something else as a gift but the trainers she gets are a bog standard pair of whatever is within my "trainer budget" when we go shopping.

I don't understand why people take such issue with the idea, it's to give people a guide of things to buy without going OTT - ExDH and I both follow this system because DD gets absolutely spoiled rotten by extended family so this way we can get her a few special things without just buying tat for the sake of having a massive present pile - quality over quantity.

😂😂😂

"Joseph take this gold to the nearest mamas and papas, we need an i-candy!"

Wow. You mean you actually bought your DD mostly book just like she asked for? 😳 I am surprised social services weren’t contacted. 🤣
Some people on here are utter twats which is an insult to twats. Some kids just aren’t interested in getting loads of toys. They don’t need it. They might not even want it.

How anyone can think books aren’t good presents I don’t know unless they just haven’t ever enjoyed reading which is a shame. Giving a child the gift of reading is one of the best gifts they can ever have.

I’m sure your DD was over the moon with her books.

should read books plural. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Unfortunately some of them fitted into the "tat that is neither wanted nor needed" category.

My mother always gave us underwear, school socks, and new school shirts as well as more fun presents. I bought my brother underwear when my mother became I’ll. Now it’s his wife’s job. Straight men seem to think clean underwear with good elastic grows in drawers, except when the underwear gnomes steal it.

Something they need should be bought during the year.
My grandparents used to buy me aertex knickers and vests 🙄

I reckon it covers "want" and "need".
If you found a way to attach it to yourself it could also cover "wear". Print a poem on it so there's something to read and voila - you've covered all bases! Follow me for more money saving tips 😆

Regarding OP, I actually think it's a good sound idea, for all the reasons PPs have said.

YellowTreeHouse · 19/11/2022 19:47
They’re “happy” because they know nothing else.
DH’s family was like yours. Since he joined mine as a teenager and saw how we do a proper Christmas—fill the living room with presents—he sees how miserable it was.

That would make me feel queasy - a whole room full of 'stuff'. So it's not a proper Christmas unless you've cleaned out Amazon?

I had wonderful childhood Christmases - and actually very little in the way of fancy presents, but that was a different time. They were wonderful because all my family were there and we loved everyone being together and having a huge meal round the extended table. Also - a log fire and real Christmas tree - so, yes, privileged in another way, I guess.

It was long ago in the last century but I remember them with such happiness. Since then present giving has gone bonkers, and I don't think people are happier for it. Look at all the angst it causes - especially on MN!

In fact, I think this whole thread is very insensitive to parents who are struggling to buy gifts for their children. I just hope the indulged very fortunate children who get roomfuls of presents don't go to school and boast about it...or learn to judge happiness by it - some hope!

In fact, I think this whole thread is very insensitive to parents who are struggling to buy gifts for their children

But these aren't people who can't afford more - they're more than capable of it but refuse to do so for reasons such as 'not spoiling them' when they're going to bed in a nice home and have activities, families, vehicles, plenty of things all year round.

The people who spend more tend to be those who would never be able to buy a house even if the kid had a bowl of gruel and a tangerine each year. So many would be more offended by conspicuous non consumption on the part of those with hundreds of thousands of assets and a lifestyle their children will never have - but they're meant to feel embarrassed about making their kid feel like they're OK with some extra presents?

In fact, I think this whole thread is very insensitive to parents who are struggling to buy gifts for their children. I just hope the indulged very fortunate children who get roomfuls of presents don't go to school and boast about it...or learn to judge happiness by it - some hope!
I agree. Those working class families who are better off may be able to buy roomfuls of presents. However, the many who will be choosing between food or heat this winter won't be able to. DS has always had a small number of carefully chosen presents as we couldn't afford a lot. He was told by another child once when he was 5 or 6 that he must have been naughty as he got less than them.

I do totally sympathise with any family who can't afford to buy much and I think criticism of how people "do" Christmas is distasteful and mean spirited. Of course their are outliers on either end of the spectrum who are pretty much universally eye roll inducing by everyone else, but most people are simply trying to do their best and do what they feel is right.

I think we do need to stop making automatic correlations between working class families and loads of presents, and middle class families and no presents. It's clearly offensive to both groups when it's used as a generalisation. The "classes" are not homogenous groups of people who all share the same values, life experiences and opinons!

You've just given me my Xmas strategy. Thanks!

Something they want

something they need

something to wear

something to read

I don’t interpret that poem as saying that you can only give one item from each category.

I see it more as a way to cover all bases.

I grew up with Christmas present from parents and extended family and added all up I think collectively my presents usually covered all those categories. And it was great! I remember getting more than one thing that I wanted but I also got a wide variety of things that were useful. And I appreciated that. Though sometimes we had a bit of a laugh and poked fun at my Nanna’s fashion sense when it came to clothes. But that was all part of the fun.

YABU because I think you are interpreting it in a miserable way, rather than the poem being actually miserable.

I totally agree with all this. Christmas to me personally would feel a bit flat if all I had bought my children was toys (mine are little so there's not really a cross over yet between wanted gifts and useful items, like trainers or a laptop etc).

My most special and treasured presents and the ones I remember most are the books I got because I loved to read. Giving a child a book doesn't automatically mean miserable/boring, it depends on your child. And there are tons of other forms of media to read anyway!

I love feeling like my gifting is "rounded" - It wouldn't feel like Christmas morning to me if there wasn't new PJs and a snuggly warm item (dressing gown or Oodie) and some books under the tree, and some knitwear or underwear in the stocking, bubble bath and more fun bath products, tooth brushes, water bottle, umbrella or stationery.

That's just what I remember as a child I suppose. I never considered the more practical or boring stuff to be less fun, in fact I remember being so chuffed and excited the first year my mum bought me a little bottle of EDT body spray!!

That being said we didn't have stockings growing up. We had massive sacks at the end of the bed from FC, then presents under the tree from relatives.

@Dreamwhisper What a lovely post. You gave me some good ideas for extra little presents for dc’s stocking fillers. I didn’t think of bath products. I might get some little bath bombs etc. My dd loves to finger paint with shaving cream in the shower so I might get a can shaving cream. She’ll probably love it more than some of her more expensive presents 😆

I mean, if there was a new toy, they never played with the box instead of the toy.

The ‘something from Amazon’ meant something that wasn’t a toy. We had a lot of exercise equipment delivered once, most coming in huge boxes bigger than us. So they would play with those. But not when there was an exciting new toy to play with.