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Christmas

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Original poster

How many presents do you give your kids?

63 replies

sum04 · 08/11/2010 19:50

Every year i seem to go over board with the kids presents and i really don't feel that they end up appreciating anything that they recieve because they are so overwhelmed in toys. I just wondered how many is enough for your kids to recieve from you, so i can take a look at just how much i need to cut down this year.

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 08/11/2010 19:53

a stocking each and one or 2 gifts normally

RabbitAndCo · 08/11/2010 19:58

This year, it will be a stocking and maybe one present - they get so much from relatives and friends.

Greenshadow · 08/11/2010 19:59

Normally just the one present, plus the little bits in a stocking

Original poster
sum04 · 08/11/2010 20:00

I was considering giving them 15 pressies each, but now i really think i have to cut down dramatically...

OP posts:
pozzled · 08/11/2010 20:01

One fairly big-ish present or two smaller ones, and little bits in the stocking.

pozzled · 08/11/2010 20:02

15 pressies? No way I would do this, but then my DD will get lots of things from other friends/family as well. I'd get a few more presents if they weren't getting some from elsewhere I think.

neverenoughMEtime · 08/11/2010 20:04

I am also guilty of the 15 presents each thing...BlushMust cut down next year..

FoundWanting · 08/11/2010 20:05

Stockings, main present from us, present from each sibling to the others, Christmas 'oufit' which I think is a present but DH says clothes aren't proper presents.

KarenHL · 08/11/2010 20:06

1 stocking (has to be one of DH's socksSmile), 1 present. Present this year will be a week or two early as DD has requested tickets to see The Sound of Music.

ForMashGetSmash · 08/11/2010 20:08

Sum04 I must warn you that on here EVERYONE apparently only gives "one or two presents"

When in fact I seriously doubt this...I used to give too many...I have managed to reduce it somewhat...I buy quite a lot of cheapy things and a few more expensive ones...that's because kids like opening them up...so it doesn't matter to them (if they''re little) whether the parcel contains a £1 colouring book or a DS....the just like the parcels!

bellavita · 08/11/2010 20:08

Why is everyone obsessed with how much they spend and how many gifts they get their children.

Spend and get what you can afford. If that means lots of money and lots of presents then so be it.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 08/11/2010 20:08

I'm really bad for this too Blush. In my defence, mine are still young enough to lack appreciation of cost or quality, so lots of packages excite them more than 2 or 3 expensive things. And sometimes they seem to get more pleasure out of the rubbishy pound-shop pressies than the proper ones!

But really should cut down! As you say, sometimes it seems they don't know what to look at first and some things get shoved to the side. there are a couple of things they got last Christmas that have still never been out of the box Blush

dooneygirl · 08/11/2010 20:08

A lot. I never had Christmas growing up, so I tend to go overcompensate for my kids, and get a whole lot of presents. I think it does tend to even out a bit, though, because they really only get 1 present each from MIL and FIL, and never get anything from my family. I usually don't get them a big present, though. Lots of small things in the stocking, and then 4-5 mediumish ones.

longdarktunnel · 08/11/2010 20:13

One present, plus a stocking, and then they each give the other one something small that I help them choose. The stockings are on the generous side, a legacy from my husband's family. I am planning on scaling them down progressively year on year until they are quite modest.

Gorran · 08/11/2010 20:32

5 or 6 main presents, stocking, present from sibling and the obligatory Christmas Eve pjs, DVD, book and hot choc.

My children do get a lot bought by family as well, they're very lucky.

Lilyloo · 10/11/2010 20:57

Mine have about 10 gifts each plus stocking. The stocking has small things like socks , toothbrush , sweets etc and the other pressies consist off main present plus some cheap and more expensive bits.

I think you can spend an awful lot filling a stocking if it has main gifts in it.

CherryMonster · 10/11/2010 23:11

i buy quite lot for my dc's, probably upwards of 20 presents each plus their stockings. but, they only get one main present, and a number of cheaper ones. also, i dont have a lot of family who buy for them, just my parents and my brother and sister, but usually only one or two gifts from each. all my grandparents have passed away except one nan who has alzheimers so doesnt get them anything (obviously), and their dads family doesnt have anything to do with them or buy them presents.

waterlooroadisadocumentary · 10/11/2010 23:13

Why on earth would you buy 15 even if you could afford it? Dd gets stocking, pair of pyjamas and a present.

nancy75 · 10/11/2010 23:15

loads, we can afford it, we like doing it. this thread pops up every year and no doubt somebody will be along in a minute to tell me that i am a terrible parent and dd should only get an old sock and a toilet roll or something along those very worthy lines!

Its your child buy what you like!

waterlooroadisadocumentary · 10/11/2010 23:16

My dd does not get an old sock and a toilet roll but she does not get a lot and is verfy content with that. I hardly think not wanting to throw my cash around when there is no need makes me worthy.

Of course the OP can buy what she wants but she asked for opinions.

frazzled74 · 10/11/2010 23:31

loads, as much as i can afford, sometimes more than i can afford! I dont buy them presents except christmas and birthdays and I love christmas so it is probably as much for me as them.I have noticed that children are usually happy with what they get and dont actually compare at school (its the mothers that do). Give your dcs what you are happy and comfortable with and dont worry about others!

maktaitai · 10/11/2010 23:41

Numbers for me jumped up significantly when our income dropped, and I know I'm not alone in that - there was some survey a few years back showing that the poorer the family, the bigger the proportion of their income they spent on children's Christmas presents. i have to say no to ds a lot week by week - well it feels like a lot to me, though we live in a prosperous area and I'm sure he would look spoiled to others. But at Christmas I don't have to say no so much, and so the numbers creep up.

So, this year he will get a stocking, usually about 8 small presents but they have crept up in value; 1 main present which this year is covering Christmas and birthday; one additional present because dh just knew he would love it; a 'Goodnight Present' which is a family tradition for the end of Christmas Day (always a book). And knowing dh I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up buying something else for ds as well. And I will end up getting something small for him to open on his birthday.

waterlooroadisadocumentary · 11/11/2010 00:15

I agree with that maktaitai I bought far more for my dd as a single parents on benefits than as a relatively comfortable married woman.

izzybiz · 11/11/2010 07:06

My 3 Dc get lots from us, because we can and we want to.

wornoutbutstillwonderful · 11/11/2010 09:32

My lot get 20 presents upwards then a big present each, We don't get into any debt to this, we like to do it, We always get them things of good quality and what they have asked for then it gets used, also I have all boys so they tend to share their things out with each other or pass things down so not much doesn't get played with.