I need to STOP buying Christmas presents now.

[2kidsintow]

My shopping is done. Everything I need for everyone I buy for (right down to the teacher presents for my kids to give and the thankyou gifts I give to volunteers in my classroom) are purchased and sitting in a large gift bag by the piano ready to be wrapped closer to the day.

The problem is, I keep seeing things that I think the kids would like and it is very tempting to add to their pile.

*Repeats to self over and over "They. Have. Enough. They. Have. Enough"

I'm a complete disaster for buying too much too. I bought loads for ds2 in october and have had to match up the other two (we open presents through the day so would be a disaster if somebody was left with no present when the others still have some)
I cocked it up though and dd ended up with 2 more. So I had to match up the boys. You can probably guess the rest of this story...
I have sworn to myself that i'll get it all tied up this week though [wishful thinking]

Haha, i'm rather jealous! I only began buying presents today! I had a bit of an online shopping spree on www.amazon.co.uk and a little gift website www.boxtreegallery.co.uk buying momiji dolls and taggies blankets :) But yes tomorrow a trip into town and i will feel far more prepared! But i know like you once i start i just won't be able to stop buying them either! Its such a good christmassy activity and finding the perfect gift for someone just feels great too! Anyway Christmas is only once a year so i think we should stop worrying so much and just enjoy the festive period! :D

Guilty here too!

I thought I had finished but I keep on seeing things. And I should stop reading here as it gives me far too many ideas. For example, a month ago I didn't even consider buying DS a scooter. Someone mentioned it here and I had a look. Then that weekend he tried one out at his friends' house and he loved it so I had to get got him one. And not any, the expensive micro scooter...

And don't get me started on all those little pretty things that could be classed as stocking fillers. They all add up.

I know you're being light hearted, but its just horrible. My children have tiny amounts of presents and even then I feel like they have more than we had growing up. We just can't afford it and lots of families can't. Just wean yourself off shopping. Its a horrible self-centred past time. If you must shop then shop for some children who need it.

yep i'm the same but have decided to distract myself with christmas clothes shopping - should fill another week or so!

See my thread OP. You are not alone!!

Lookhere- I think we are being grounded BUT I will not be made to feel guilty ab out treating my loved ones once a year - its not wrong or anything to be ashamed of. I'm not getting into debt and we give to charity / do charity presents all trhough the year and the kids are very much brought up in a 'think of others' kind of house. I love my family and friends and if buying them something makes them happy and I can afford to do it, I will.

Lookhere, for all you know, the op may have the same amount of presents as you do for your dcs.

There is nothing wrong with looking at things and thinking 'X would love that'. I seem to spend all my Christmas shopping time thinking that about all the expensive things I see and dreaming of buying them each week when the Lottery numbers are drawn

Oh me too!! Im all bought and wrapped but still constantly worry I havent bought enough. Im a sucker for the lights, music and lovely presents.

Somebody hold me back...I DO NOT NEED ANYMORE

Lookhere how can it be "a horrible self centred past time"
People are buying gifts for others not themselves, who may be in need for all you know.

I need to stop too, but I think I will now. I had a bit of a go of it last week.

The thing is keeping a lid on that 'Oh it's Christmas, that means we can splash out a bit' when really we cannot afford to.

I've put the kids' things together in one box and it's not a massive box, just a standard one from Amazon that came the other day. some of the things I've got I will save for birthdays in the summer.

Buying presents is a great pleasure, especially if you can buy things for other people that you like yourself - but just give them away, not keep them. That works for me. However the fun has to stop some time.

I am feeling guilty as I know I have bought too much, but it is my therapy after a very,very, very shitty year. I am currently sitting in the teenage cancer unit typing this as DD has leukaemia and yet another infection. I want them to have a spectacular Christmas because, to be brutally honest, at points this year I feared I wouldn't have a DD anymore to celebrate Christmas with. So, I think be careful for judging people on what they spend because you do not know the circumstances. I would rather be skint, be limited to what I could spend on DD and DS, and have 2 healthy children.

When you figure out how to stop yourself spending 2kids, pass it on. I finished a month ago, then found myself back online looking at toys. I must halt otherwise I fear divorce is coming, not because of cost (I can afford it) but because of clutter. DH will be allocated the job of getting it all out of the boxes on Christmas morning, and that is enough to try the patience of a saint. At least it's boys' toys. I remember when DD was little, having to cut the heads of Barbies out of their packaging .

I do this every year, I start buying in the January sales and then add bits and pieces all year when things are in sales or on offer, I always think I will save money, but actually end up spending pretty much the same but getting much more stuff, whick I suppose is slightly a good thing

It is hard when you have done it all then everywhere gets all festive and you fancy doing a bit more shopping......

That's it Gobblers. You think you are good doing it before, then get sucked in again as everyone else starts. I think I would struggle to restrain myself from buying anything until late November though .

lookhere.... my kids go with very little all year, they get hardly anything for their birthdays as we can't afford to throw a party and get them a decent gift and they generally choose the party. They're constantly told they can't do activities because of the cost. They put up with my constant refrain of 'Turn that off, we can't afford the electricity' with patience and good grace. They don't complain that when they have friends round I can barely scrape together a few crisps for them to eat yet when they go to friends houses there are mountains of sweets and goodies. They never get to go to the cinema or other fun stuff as we live in the back of beyond and there's nothing nearby.

So if I choose to use the money I've earned selling off baby equipment and doing casual work on them then that is absolutely my choice and there's nothing wrong with that choice.

And for the record, They might have a nice pile each but almost everything involved me buying in sales, baragin hunting, 2 for 1 or 3 for 2 offers, discount coupons, etc. So I haven't exactly spent an obscene amount of money compared to some.

I agree. If I want to spoil my kids a bit at Christmas I will. I haven't spent a fortune (I don't have one) but they are getting a good pile under the tree. Lots of their gifts are from Poundland- hair stuff, bath stuff etc.) but they have some really nice gifts. I am a real bargain hunter.

They deserve it, they work hard at school and never moan about their long days (morning childcare and afterschool clubs). Who knows what their adult lives may be like, I am determined to gve mine the best Christmas memories I can.