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?

Where's the selection box?
And the smellies?
What about the chocolate Orange?

You know if you put proper thought into it, they still really like the presents when they fall into those categories. Doesn't have to be joyless at all. It's the thought that makes the difference. It stops me buying excess tut for my ds that then just gets ignored.

I think if money is tight then this can be a reasonable template. The "need" and "wear" categories can still be fun - character PJ's, funky stationary for school, cute backpack, pretty hair clips etc. Just needs a bit of imagination.

Personal choice though and not one we're going for.

Well I'm planning on doing that this year and I'm not a miserable fucker, so YABU.

What is it you object to? Giving someone something they need for Christmas? Do you imagine them being given an iron or something? Or is it the something to wear? Would someone be pissed off with PJs or a jumper? Or is it that books make shit presents? Or is it just that they should only get a pile of things they want? What if they want it because they need it?

So many questions. I don't think you've thought this through OP.

Plus we're a large extended family so he gets plenty of presents and doesn't need a mountain from us.

It's a MN thing.

At least by limiting it to one of each you are limiting the tat. Not to mention ruling-out anything that they neither want, nor need.

It's a vague guide to giving a decent haul of presents. Nobody sticks to it strictly - if they want to give a selection box and a Chocolate Orange they will (but I hope it lasts until Easter and will have to be melted down for cakes as it's far too much for anyone to eat).

So they have four things to open and that’s it? Even if it’s four bits of tat?

My daughter is getting some things she wants and some things that are treats that she wouldn't normally get (like fancy bubble bath instead of the cheap Aldi stuff).
I buy things she needs when she needs them not as gifts.

Well presumably they'd have gifts from friends and family too

Do you measure Christmas by the size of the pile under the tree?

L be l

So it’s to scrounge off someone else?

Eh?

I think it's a good idea, in the absence of any other ideas and also most children will be getting other presents from family/friends. It also allows for unlimited spending if parents can and want to afford it, eg something they want could be an iphone, something to wear could be designer trainers.

No, but im not the one saying a specific number, within very specific guidelines, which is the epitome of ‘measuring Christmas by the size of the pile’.

Works for me. Been doing it for years. The 'need' bit doesn't have to be joyless. Grandson got gig tickets, posh trainers, band tee shirt, manga box set. I want a big lemon tree, Elemis day and night cream, an Eribe fair isle cardigan and the second volume Anne Glenconner's autobiography. Sorted.

You buy them four in the hope that others boost it?

No. 4 plus the normal amount of gifts from friends and family.

What if they don’t get them anything?

It is really miserable. Poor kids. Find a different day. There A LOT of middle ground between mountains of tat and this Scrooge a la mode dish.

@Bideshi which of those 4 things for your grandson is the 'need' gift?

You're the one saying "four things to open and that's it?" as if you consider a Christmas where one 'only' gets four presents is a miserable one.

For me personally, I might even tell my family that I only need three - I've got enough clothes, perhaps they could replace "something to wear" with "something to eat".

I am against it purely because I can't remember the fucking poem.