Not wanting Xmas presents....

[CocktailQueen]

I don't want anything this year. We gave mire than enough of everything so if I asked for anything it would just be pointless. Anyone else feel the same?

Also, the kids have masses of toys that they don't play with much, and I don't really want to buy them loads more. Anyone else not buying big pressies for their kids? Will obvs do FC pressies and little pressies; just don't want to go ott. Help!

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Could you do presents that won't add to your household contents, like theatre trip to a panto or children's play, or a day out somewhere exciting. A lot of zoos/wildlife parks see their visitor numbers reduce in winter with the obvious loss of cash from admissions. How about each DC 'adopting' an animal as a gift? Win-win situation, the DC get a gift, you get no clutter and the zoo get cash towards the care of that animal.

Or you could focus more on gifts that are not toys, such as books, or sports or hobby items. Or something new to wear. Consumable items in their stockings, edible such as a few sweets and popcorn; and also practical like pants, socks, bubble bath, magic flannel etc.

You could have a good clear out of all the toys they don't play with and sell them second hand to fund or part fund items for the future, or save for holiday spends.

Thanks, girly - some great ideas there. I do buy the kids consumables for Christmas- PJs, clothes, undies, bubble bath etc, and we do tend to buy experiences rather than things.

I worry that we have so much in the West when many people in the world don't have much at all. It makes me uncomfortable about spending so much. Also, I don't think kids appreciate things as much when they are given loads. It doesn't mean as much somehow.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/nupp/

I agree with you - DH and I rarely exchange gifts, sometimes we buy something for the house but in common with most people in the West we all just have far too much stuff. I long since stopped buying presents for my siblings and siblings in law. My parents (in their 80s ) really don't want anything - last year I gave them a charity gift for a charity they supported which they were pleased with (& a tin of chocolate biscuits ).

I give my nieces and nephews cash so that they can buy something they want instead of something I think they might want.

We usually buy our DS sports equipment for birthday/christmas - he loves his sports and the stuff is so expensive that it makes sense to buy it as a 'present' rather than just getting it for him. Last year he wanted a PlayStation but we insisted he paid half towards it. .

I still have one school friend that I buy a present for, I really would prefer to suggest we just had a nice lunch out or something like that.

I love Christmas, it is a really special time of year but I am just not into all the spending and anxiety that goes on over presents.

Ragwort, I gave a family of five a box of posh chocolate biscuits for Christmas once - because I was fed up of trying to find gifts for them. They were actually thrilled, the parents because there was no more 'stuff' to find storage for, the kids because they'd had a lot of guests over Christmas at their house who had scoffed all the nice biccies!

The mum had hidden my present after opening it for them to enjoy as a family after all the guests were gone.

In a way (although unoriginal), it might be better for the kids to have a selection box with a fiver attached from relatives, at least you can ration out the sweets over the coming weeks and they could save the cash.

Do you know, the one present I would love to receive yet am never given is one of those big tins of Quality Street or Heroes or both.

Actually I have just bought two and will keep one for myself (2 for £7 offer at Morrisons if anyone is interested).

Ragwort, you are aware that the QS won't taste as you remember them?