Present 'rules'

[itsstillgood]

These are my present 'rules' for my dc. Do others go about their christmas shopping with similar guidelines? And if so what are yours?

-Main present must be less than £50 (seems to be sneaking up as ds1 gets older was £25 when they were toddlers)
-I prefer them to get presents that can be added to (such as Thomas train set when they were little) rather than stand alone things, so they can get the extras from auntys and grandparents. And will apply gentle persuasion if they want something that is complete rubbish.
-I am prepared to pay more than I think it's worth for something they really want - which I won't for birthdays (thinking Starwars Lego, ridiculously overpriced)

• I like them to have something to play with on Christmas morning (last year DS1 wanted DVDs for his main present, which he got but I made sure he got some action figures off grandparents as TV doesn't go on on Christmas day)
• I like them to have something to do outdoors as we like to take them to the park on christmas day, so will probably get them new, cheap scooters from my Dad for this year.
• Something to read - always have several books in stocking.
• Something to watch over christmas week (we don't have tv license so rely on dvds) - cheap dvd each in stocking and dh and I will buy each other a 'family' dvd each.
• Annual - I hate them and they know it so are extremely happy with an annual, PJs and clothes off me and dh.
• Something to make or do for boxing day afternoon - jigsaw, airfix kit...
• Something to do altogether - boardgame/computer game/top trumps
• New outfit for Christmas day

• I home ed but rather they don't get any 'educational' stuff unless it is something they have specifically requested or something bought for the 'fun' element.

Realised that sounds like they get an awful lot when really they get one present plus stocking, then clothes and an annual off us and a present off each other. I'm just in the fortunate position that I buy off grandparents and an aunt or two and get asked for ideas off most of the rest.

That's complicated!
I like to get them one single expensive gift (DD likes us to choose, boys are better off with cash). They get little things from uncle & granny.

We choose a small number of small value and small size gifts to go into their stockings (but they can make suggestions). I like a few practical things to bulk out the stockings, like socks or a scarf.

No. I don't have any rules like that. I buy stuff I think they will like, and still like 6 months later, that I can afford. A big present and a stocking each. I give ideas to other people, but they can buy whatever they like really.

Oh - the stocking always has an apple and a satsuma in it. That is a rule

No rules in this house.

We don't really have rules except:

• there must be a tube of sweets in the sock
• there must be an apple and satsuma (for health). These may be snuck back into the fruit bowl later in the day leaving me with the illusion of good mothering .
• there must be a net of chocolate coins.
• there must be a book from father christmas.

er, that's it, I think.

It's Christmas, only comes once a year, buy them what they would love provided you can afford it. I've bought mine useless tat (cupcake maker and Mr Frosty two shining examples!) but that's what they requested and they loved them. I will always hold it against my mum for not getting me a Girls World Styling Head when I was little because she didn't think it was 'practical'. We have several of them in our house now!!

Hm, Mr Frosty. I can't tell you how badly I wanted one of those back in 1984.

Durham, I had a Girls World - absolutely adored it.... I had a Penny Puppy Walker too one year, in fact I still have it upstairs.

I brush the hair of my dd's Girls World in secret....see what my mum did to me? If she'd just have bought me one I would be normal!!

We have always had one present they really want (cost has varied). When little they wrote to Santa and now they ask.

When they were little this one thing might have cost £10 or £150 but it was always something they really set their hearts on.

Chocolate coins, satsuma, after eights for ds, thirntons toffee for dd. Then a whole load of other presents- from 20p to £10 ish I guess. Pyjamas.

Number one rule that as they open them in turn everyone has the same number (ish)

It all goes into a giant sack each that granny made when they were babies.

It does seem awfully complicated when I read it back.

The spending rule is very lax, they don't know about it and no they don't have the presents to the same amount. But family budget dictates need to have a figure in my mind.

All the other things have come from what I have found works for our family in terms of having a nice Christmas. We don't have any family nearby so we tend to be in the house all over the festive season.

I take the present they ask for of Santa as starting point, get them that and then work out from there. They only ever come up with one or two things they want and if affordable and possible they always get them.

But at least 8-9 people ask me to pick for them so I try and come up with some 'balance'.

LOL @ Girls World recently ordered this for DD for Christmas

Stocking must contain lots of useless stuff and chocolate. Tradition here dictates there must be a small furry Stitch toy( alien thing from Lilo and Stitch )poking out of the top of each one ( got this year's off eBay - bargain ).

Big present is from Santa, a few other bits from us and then GPs normally either contribute to big one and then get something small or ask our advice about what to get. My parents always get them books in addition.

DH always gets Bittermints.

We always watch each other open one thing at a time, so it takes a while. [hgrin]

We normally do stockings upstairs, follow the trail to Santa's present downstairs and then drip feed a few through the day, culminating in a big pressie opening session for everyone after lunch.

it doesn't seem very 'fun'

Oh taffetawitchescat that's beautiful...I want one. Is 40 maybe too old?!

Durham, if I had one here I would comb and style its hair too

Not at all. I am 43, never had one and am hoping to sneak into DD's room for a quick go when she's at school. [hgrin]

SO glad I'm not alone in my strangeness!!