To have brought DD very little for christmas this year?

[dilemma456]

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YANBU, I haven't spent a bean so far on ds... don't intend on spending much more than about £25 either, but he's only just 2 and is so going to be spoilt by his grandparents that he's not going to be missing out. We'll get him a toy plane or something but not much more.

YANBU, entirely up to you how much you spend, I'm sure your little girl will be thrilled with her gifts and have a fun day. I think there's a enormous amount of pressure on people to go completely over the top at Christmas. In fact I think young children probably find it all a bit overwhelming. She will have a great Christmas and enjoy her pretty room when you move.

Your friend needs to mind her own beeswax

As long as she has some things to unwrap I'm sure she'll be happy.

If you think she might miss out you could make up and print out some 'vouchers' for things like 'choose your new curtains for your new room' or 'fluffy cushions to match your new decor' or 'duvet ste of your choice'?

I think £25 is actually reasonable, children get so much at Christmas as it is, you're doing her a favour! It is so overwhelming for them.

We have bought DS a £15 blackboard and some books. Going to buy some tubes of sweeties and chocs for him nearer the time. He is only 2.8 so young enough yet to not insist on certain toys.

Ignore her.

Last year for DS' birthday, we bought him a Ferrari duvet set and some prints that he desperately wanted for his room.

He wouldnt have got them otherwise because they were quite expensive.

My MIL was appalled at this but he was actually really impressed with them. The only other thing he got was a cheap RC car as a token toy but he was so taken with his new room stuff it sat in the box for days.

TA's suggestion of vouchers for her stuff is a good idea.

We never spend more than about £25 on our 5-year-old DD at Christmas and will only spend that if there are things she actually needs. Our 6 month old will be given some of her big sister's old toys (big sister's idea!) and we'll send some money to Oxfam to sponsor a midwife/similar.

Until last year we'd always wrapped up a few toys that DD owned because she loved unwrapping things. We didn't do this last year because we thought at 4 she might be wise to what we were up to but she was so disappointed that she used some of the wrapping paper from new presents to wrap up some toys herself and put them under the tree!

YANBU! at all.

My 2 DSs have 2 presents each (eBay and TKMaxx) and a stocking with a couple of little toys and sweets.

They always get spoilt by the GPs and our house can only fit so many toys etc in!

I'm not buying anything at all for DD and I didn't buy her anything for her second birthday last month either (except some boots that she needed). She hasn't really grasped the concept of presents yet. I don't think this will last much longer, so making the most of it!

YABU.
I think it is too little,sorry.

Although,I do think that there are many people who do go the opposite way,too & there is no need to go mad or into debt.

However,scrimping on toys to save money on decorating in the new year sounds a bit harsh.

I think any child would rather have more toys,books,craft stuff,etc. than a colour-co-ordinated,interior design inspired room.

Decor usually only interests/impresses adults not young kids.

If your child would rather forego Christmas presents for her bedroom decor I would be very surprised.
Although,if she was a teenager I could understand that,just not a wee girl that is at the age to enjoy My Little Pony.

Another point,is that it isn't exactly a surprise that Christmas has come upon us again...it's on exactly the same day of the year,every year.Many people even on low incomes manage to understand this & budget & prepare appropriately.

I have a feeling I shall soon feel the wrath of Mumsnet!

I'm not a mum yet and I'm sure once I am a mum I'll change completely, but I don't understand this whole spending hundreds on kids, surely we make a rod for our backs by starting with this and letting it go on for 20 years lol.

Surely a few bits will be gratefully received by your little one.

YANBU
I think it will be far nicer to have a lovely bedroom to play in than a load of stuff she doesn't need. You've got her stuff to unwrap and the fact that it all cost you under £25 is great.

I say save while/when you can tbh!

YANBU

As you say, she already has everything she wants and needs.

She'll get loads of sweets and treats from other people, and have a smashing time.

ive not got ds2 much as hes just had his birthday but he wont be short of anything as hes got tons of toys !!

YANBU. If she already has lots then what is the point in buying stuff for the sake of it.

I loved the suggestions of vouchers for her to pick nice things for her new room. If you wanted to and saw some stuff you could buy a few bits now for her new room and give her those too.

YANBU. I don't get the point of buying lots of rubbish toys. A few carefully chosen things they would actually love is far better.

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YANBU, we have spent about £20 so far on each of our DD's (aged 9 and 2) and won't be spending a great deal more (max budget is £50 each). DD2 has so many toys it is ridiculous and also had her birthday last month. DD1 says she has no idea what she wants and I'm not spending money on things just for the sake of it. They both already have a sack of presents from my parents and will have lots more from aunties/uncles. They don't need or want any more!

YANBU. we have spent a wee bit more than that on our kids but but they only have a couple of things each and their stockings from us. They get so much other stuff from grandparents and aunts and uncles etc, that they probably wont realise just how little we have got them.
Its the thought that counts anyway isnt it?

Yanbu its not like you got her nothing, im sure she will like those things you chose. and if others are buying some presents aswel like grannies, relatives then she would definitely have plenty. there is no need to go overboard

your friend is a twonk

Your friend is being very silly. Apart from it being none of her business how much you spend, let alone feeling she has the right to comment on it, she's obviously very out of touch with what children need.

I remember a handful of toys I was given as a child and they are always the ones which were made for me or handed down. I had always admired a doll my Grandmother had and when I was old enough that was my present. My only present, apart from some clothes my Mum made for the doll and a selection box. I know times have changed, but what young children need and appreciate, hasn't.

You are doing exactly the right thing. It will be time to spend £100's soon enough when laptops etc are on the cards!

You're so right. That way if there's something you want to get her for no reason you're perfectly justified! For her 2nd b/day all dd1 got from us was a £5 umbrella, last year dd2 was 6 months and needed nothing so her main Santa present (a fab wind up and projects pics onto ceiling light thingy) was £2.99 from a charity shop. Then when there are years when you want to spend heaps (which we seem to be doing this year) you can do it!

YANBU and your friend should mind her own business!

I'm not sure your friend was being that unreasonable - you evidently offered up the information as opposed to her grilling it out of you and she gave you her honest opinion.