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Christmas

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Original poster

If your DC are the only grandchildren how much do their GP's spend at Christmas?

54 replies

nappyaddict · 07/12/2010 11:43

My mum goes totally overboard with DS.

My grandparents only ever spent about 10-15 pounds on us and it didn't do me any harm although I remember being Shock when school friend's would say their GPs had given them 100 pound+!!

As much as I appreciate my mum's generosity there is far too much stuff in our house already that he doesn't play with!!

OP posts:
pagwatch · 08/12/2010 14:42

My 3dcs are my pils only grandchildren.
They don't give my children any presents. They used to send cards but not for 8 years or so.
Nice eh

melikalikimaka · 08/12/2010 14:58

You lot are lucky, there's nowt coming this year.

MackerelOfFact · 08/12/2010 15:05

My mum goes a bit mad, but she's a TA with reception children, a former childminder a qualified midwife - so it's always good, useful stuff and not just plastic tat!

PILs are disinterested largely - we are getting second-hand monopoly between the 6 of us this year. Which is great, I love monopoly, but they're generally a bit tight. They pretend to be poor, despite getting through about 10 bottles of whiskey a week, collecting old motorbikes and spending 6 months of the year on holiday "travelling the world".

Takver · 08/12/2010 15:05

My parents - varies a lot, they try to get something dd would like, IYSWIM, rather than spend a specific amount. The most was probably when we all put money in to get her a nice bike, they put in £50. Mum also always makes her up a bag of little bits, but I know that she collects them from boot sales etc (and some are old things of mine recycled Grin) so its not too excessive.

ILs tend to buy more (American side of the family . . .), not sure how much as it is usually 2 or 3 medium sized presents, but they do tend to be quite practical, often at least one of those will be clothes. DD isn't only grandchild there now, but was for a long time and they haven't changed buying habits.

MackerelOfFact · 08/12/2010 15:08

My grandparents used to buy the bulk of my presents as a child though - probably over £100 on each of us. Quite lot of it would have been clothes.

sarah293 · 08/12/2010 15:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Litchick · 08/12/2010 15:17

My Mum spends around £100 per child.

In laws around £30 per child.

sweetkitty · 08/12/2010 15:21

£50 each from my Dad.

Nothing from my Mum (they are divorced)

Nothing from in-laws as they are dead.

melikalikimaka · 08/12/2010 15:25

Even when both Mom and MIL were alive (last year) they always gave a tenner per child. It seems to me, children now are being spoilt rotten. FGS ask them to put it into a savings account for them! They may need it in the future.Xmas Wink

funtimewincies · 08/12/2010 15:26

MIL goes NUTS and it drives me insane...

BUT, she doesn't get to see them very often as she lives at the other side of the country (and hates travelling). Also, I grew up without either set of gps so, this year, I intend to have glass of something festive and toast that she cares Xmas Smile.

Takver · 08/12/2010 15:29

Melika, agree lots of children are spoilt rotten - but isn't that what GPs (mostly) like to do . . . I guess its for us as parents (if we can) to be sensible & put money in the savings account.

Original poster
nappyaddict · 08/12/2010 15:42

I have tried to say to my mum that something in the region of 10-30 pound would be plenty but I know she won't listen!! She says that's not enough cos he's the only grandchild.

OP posts:
dockate · 08/12/2010 16:24

My mother spends £100 or so on each (this year she has bought them each new bikes so has spent more, but if they want something small she puts the rest into their savings). My father (divorced parents) spends £20-30, but again depends on what they're into at the time. PILs give me £60 per child to spend on stuff (not allowed to go into bank accounts!) which I then give her to wrap and give to them. She also spends another £20 or more on clothes, selection boxes and other odds and ends.

They are not the only GCs on either side of the family though.

TaperJeanGirl · 08/12/2010 16:41

My 3 are my mums only grandchildren, she has spent £400 plus that I know of, (dd1 and dd2 have bikes and little ds has a micro scooter) their dads parents will spend nada.

FreudianSlippery · 08/12/2010 16:44

My 2 are my parents only GC as I'm an only child. This year they asked me to choose their presents which came to £50 due to sales (ie worth a fair bit more). I was a bit Xmas Shock though when mum phoned the other day detailing the other 2 presents she bought them! No idea how much they were. She buys clothes and books for them throughout the year too.

When I read threads I realise I'm really lucky as they don't buy too much and what they do get is usually well thought out and useful! I know e.g. they'd never get something big without asking as our house is tiny.

WentBlank · 08/12/2010 21:59

My parents have 6 GKids ranging from 8-20yrs. They spend anything from between £100-£300 on each child depending on what they need/want(in all fairness us mums get asked not the kids). If the parent cant think of something (usually computers/bikes/trampolines - type things) they buy a small few bits and buy £100 premium bond.

orienteerer · 08/12/2010 22:00

DS only has one GP, she spends £20-£30

Bobbiesmum · 08/12/2010 22:27

My dad transfers £40 into my bank account, quite a lot but other than the £20 he transfers for dc's birthdays he has never bought them ANYTHING , none of the usual gp bits and bobs, not even a bag of sweets! I sound ungrateful but I would much rather he would pick something for less money and wrap it.
A three year old doesn't understand that 'grandad transferred money into mummies bank account'. They want something to open!
My mum died when I was pregnant and pil spend about a tenner.

LeakMyWiki · 08/12/2010 22:31

Only in-laws now, but they spend about £30 each. I know it's annoying Nappy (believe me, I remember) but I miss all of that so much - the ridiculous huge plastic presents and my mum being SO excited about it all. Really nobody else (apart from us, obv) gives that much of a shit about the dc as their GM did.

(sorry bobbiesmum, that sucks)

Bobbiesmum · 08/12/2010 22:48

Thanks Leak, it's not my dads fault really because if my mum was still alive and spoiling my kids I wouldn't even notice as most dads are rubbish anyway!
I am sorry your patents aren't around too.
I have spent his £40 ( which really is very generous) on lots of plastic tat which I have wrapped on his behalf!

Original poster
nappyaddict · 09/12/2010 09:21

dbm How many other grandchildren are there?

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dbm · 09/12/2010 21:26

4; ive been thinking about this today, all our family, on both sides, spend about £20-25; i think we have 'old' values rather then splash the cash; maybe some will think we're tight, others will agree; this link to another thread provides a marvellous perspective I believe[(www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/1097670-How-to-explain-to-DD-3)]

bleedingheart · 09/12/2010 21:42

My parents (my mum really) spend about £100 on each child, they ask me what they should buy, I suggest something costing around £25 and then they buy lots of other 'little' bits that all add up and that I didn't expect!
My In-laws are the same, they're pensioners so I suggest something costing around £10 or so but they end up spending £50-70. It makes me feel ill on Christmas day when I see the amount of 'stuff' we have. Firstly because I know it won't be played with and secondly because I haven't the space for it!
My mum buys lovely gifts, my MIL buys clothes that are covered in slogans and plastic tat generally. But I'm always grateful and so is DS.

Original poster
nappyaddict · 09/12/2010 22:06

dbm Did the GPs spend the same amount or more when you only had 1 DC as opposed to now you have 4?

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