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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

How many gifts do your dc have under the tree?

46 replies

Sleepswithbutterflies · 28/09/2014 18:13

Ds has had too much really until now (he's 5) and I want to cut back.

I think last year he had about 20 presents under the tree (not all from us). This year I'm aiming for less than 10, which in practice means about 5 from us and then the rest will be from friends and will be token small gifts. We see family on Christmas Day so he will have more things there too.

Christmas is just starting to feel like a big materialistic extravaganza (exactly what it is I suppose), I'm tempted to actually only do stocking, main gift and maybe two small gifts.

I'm torn between wanting him to coming into the living room on christmas morning and thinking 'wow' and feeling it's all a bit excessive.

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BeyondRepair · 29/09/2014 09:55

I dont count but I know other dc class mates do!!

I just buy what I buy but I think there will be less this year.

TBH what are you buying? one hit wonders or stuff that will inspire imagination, creative play and so on...

Sleepswithbutterflies · 29/09/2014 10:00

This year I'm planning on a box of Lego (just the mixed bricks that you can make anything with as ds can't follow the instruction type ones), some playmobil and some books.

I'm torn because I don't think he will be massively excited with these on christmas morning, pleased but not massively excited. Otoh they will be toys which will definitely be played with. He has seen a robot dinosaur thing on tv and I've said no because it's exactly the sort of toy which is played with for a day and then forgotten.

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Artandco · 29/09/2014 10:05

Wow, where an earth do you keep 60 presents one unwrapped?

We do just one main gift under tree, with a stocking full of extras. That alone costs around £500. Prob few hundred on main gift depending on what it is, and few hundred on stocking.

dustybinlydia · 29/09/2014 11:31

I like Smilesandpiles idea of 12, working out at 1 per month. I might do it like that in future. I have always liked doing my Christmas shopping throughout the year, at least doing 1 per month would prevent me going overboard.

This is the first Christmas I have been a mum. I am not sure how many presents ds will get. I have nearly finished buying for him (thanks to some Ebay bargains) but I haven't counted the number of gifts.

GooseyLoosey · 29/09/2014 11:34

Loads. Most are from my mum and will be things like cellotape, string, glue sticks, pens, waterproof matches etc. The total spend on things under the tree is very small. Big presents are not under the tree - each has their own small pile with about 5 things in (from us, grandparents and santa). Pile before breakfast and tree after!

BeyondRepair · 29/09/2014 12:52

How much is dinasour, mine asked for some crap off tv and I agonized over to get it, in the end it was 15 and I got it, we had some fun with it, now not used however she got way more than 15 pounds worth of excitement seeing it because it was one of only things we actually got her off a list.

Sleepswithbutterflies · 29/09/2014 13:10

£90!!!

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LokiBear · 29/09/2014 14:03

I have bought dd 10 proper things and a few small stocking things. In my perfect world, the grandparents would only get her 1 or 2 things. However, they won't. She will have a pile from each set. PIL will keep her presents at their house until we visit and my parents will bring them with them on the day. They will want to see her open them. Presents from aunts and uncle's will go under the tree. Last year dd opened them on the 27th. I do worry about her being spoiled. However, the grandparents won't listen to reason so I just try not to buy too much myself. This year I've bought her a shop and most of the other presents are stuff to go with the shop. I think I've reined myself in very well!

BiddyPop · 29/09/2014 14:20

While DD gets loads in total, it's spread out. Christmas Eve, all in the family get new PJs and a nice hot choc mix, and we take out the "Twas the Night Before Christmas" book that I bought when she was 1 (now turning 9). In the morning there is her stocking and 1 big present (or, last year, there were 4 biggish but not huge presents). The stocking has fruit and sweets, at least 1 book, something useful like socks/underwear, and a few small fun toys. The big things are stuff like a bicycle (Santa has brought her 3 bikes now as she's grown - all very well used), BIG lego sets (which she uses a lot, and has asked for again this year), a scooter (still in constant use 4 years later), a DS game unit (to stop her using mine all the time, and again still in constant use), last year it was a skateboard (which DH had organized with Santa) and rollerblades (which were genuinely really sought after the first organization and have been incredibly well used!!) and an engineering kit for girls. The only big failure on that front was the big dolls house, as she's not a girlie girl - but it still gets some use at times.

When we are all opening presents in the afternoon, there is 1 thing from us for her, just as DH and I have something each for the other, and DD buys for us too. Some years, I have bought a "family present" - a board game, or last year I got tickets to a once-off big sports event that we attended earlier this month.

Our present to DD is usually something like crafts materials or clothes. Her birthday present is usually the other (craft materials or clothes) although the past couple of years it has included a big jigsaw (she loves complicated ones), last year was a much-asked-for guitar (mine is too big for her hands) and the year before was that she got to make her own "Build-a-Bear" (again she'd been asking for over a year - and in fairness, she sleeps with "Max" cuddled up to her pretty much every night).

Having seen how little she has used some of the smaller things from her stockings, I am quite happy to get bigger things if they are what she will use. And not bother with too much small stuff if she just ignores it. We can afford it, I don't go into debt for Christmas, but I don't want to spend loads on stuff that isn't needed or wanted in a real way.

And in fairness, she also buys for us from her pocket money (and sometimes gets an extra bit from the other - if needed - but she chooses), and she also gets an amount of money to buy something that she thinks she'd like, to give to another girl her age who's parents aren't as lucky as hers to have lots of money. And she also helps me do a week's worth of (non-perishable) shopping for a family that we give to a local appeal. So she is not raised to excess or expecting loads.

Swagmama · 29/09/2014 14:31

Loads this was last year when dd3 was only 1 we have already bought more this year by far I love it as a child you couldn't see the floor same for our dds the whole room is needed, to me that's what it's all about loads of presents and family time.

How many gifts do your dc have under the tree?
princesscupcakemummyb · 29/09/2014 17:17

in general usually 10 each but really it depends on the cost of presents so if one child has x a amount spend on a large present then would be about 7 presents

MultipleMama · 29/09/2014 18:14

I've finished the DC shopping today. They have 5 each; 1 expensive 4 not so much. They all had budget which I've managed to come under Shock! All I need is their stocking fillers.

Under the tree, they have ours a.k.a Santa's, 2 presents each from Grandparents, and 1 selection box from Mama & Vava (us).

I also have a rule that any toys bought by family member must keep them their for visits because I refuse to add the chaotic mess of toys at home, so it works out that most buy clothes, craft stuff and books now! Grin

PesoPenguin · 29/09/2014 18:22

Ds is having less this year as he's having a maaaaassive main present (motorbike) and his other presents from Santa will be the gear that goes with it, so about 8 from Santa, 1 from us and one each from both sets of Grandparents, 2 aunties/ uncles and possibly his younger uncles as they're just getting organised to buy their own gifts. Oh and a stocking from Santa. So it'll be less this year in terms of quantity but more in terms of quality/ wow factor.

Kelly281 · 29/09/2014 18:46

DD is an only child, so I do tend to go overboard. I find it worthwhile seeing her reaction on Christmas morning. This year I have so far bought 40 presents to be divvied up between her Birthday in October & Christmas. I'm planning 10/30. The gifts vary in value, but all things I believe she'll enjoy playing with/reading/wearing.

Other than that, she will have a small stocking with useful bits and bobs. Then presents from extended family, possibly around 20 further parcels to open. Quite a few of these will likely be clothes or pyjamas though.

Everything bought by mum and dad is 'from Santa', the rest are not.

Biffabin · 30/09/2014 07:59

One from us
A couple from my parents
A couple from my sister
One from their godmother
A couple from my gran
Sometimes something from one of my aunties, usually they give me money towards a day out or I put it in the dcs savings accounts.

Dds first Christmas everyone went nuts and she had a crazy amount. Thankfully everyone has reigned it in since then!

ohtheholidays · 30/09/2014 08:11

Far to many and it's all my fault.I honestly do try to control myself but I loose all sense of proportion when it comes to Christmas,my poor DH used to try and control me at Christmas but has long since realized it's far easier to join me than to try to and stop me Grin

We have 5DC anyways so even if they only had 20 presents each(yes I know only but that's how I'd feel)then that's 100 presents.

Honestly with all the 5DC presents last year,gifts for the 3 dogs,1 cat,3 rabbits,2 hamsters,gifts for DH and myself from the children,each other and other members of the family along with what the rest of our family's buy the DC there was probably over 200 gifts.

I have got to try and be better this year!!

Planetwaves · 30/09/2014 14:16

My parents didn't go overboard when I was little - I think they probably got it just right and that's what I'd like to do with my DC. Enough for it to be magical but not a silly amount. SIL goes massively overboard and I am genuinely shocked sometimes by the Christmas Eve tree photos she posts on Facebook - the amount of presents is ridiculously excessive! It has made her DC very spoiled - first of all they treat their things very badly, second they have developed the most unappealing habit of boasting to others about material things (there's nothing like a five year old telling you your house is less nice than theirs as they have more rooms, more toys and a more expensive car Confused Hmm) - and finally it is just not enjoyable to give the DNs presents, as they just rip the paper off, look disdainful and cast them aside as they have so much, and you end up feeling that your thoughtfully-chosen gift just wasn't quite enough.

I really don't want my DC to be like that, so I'm keeping Christmas presents deliberately low-key when they are little and focusing on the nice family stuff - days out, decorating the house, carol singing etc.

Plus, my theory is that each year the DC should feel like it's an even better Christmas than last year, and how can you keep doing that if you already start out giving them loads? So I'm aiming to start small - a few inexpensive presents and stocking fillers and maybe one big thing they wouldn't get otherwise like a wooden train set - so 4-5 presents plus a stocking of v small things - and then maybe increase the number each year they get older. Thankfully the DC are still small enough to be equally happy with a £3 Ikea bath boat set as anything ten times the price, and my motto is why spend loads when they can't even tell how much anything is - you might as well put it in an account for them or save it for later when they start wanting the really expensive stuff! Smile

MultipleMama · 30/09/2014 16:51

Planet - you have said the words out of my mouth.

crazykat · 30/09/2014 17:14

We have a budget rather than number of presents. Otherwise DSD would get more spent on her than the others put together as she's a teen so five presents for her could cost £200 whole five for dd1 could cost £50 which isn't fair.

marne2 · 30/09/2014 18:46

I don't think a huge pile of presents once a year spoils children, if you buy them gifts throughout the year and buy them what they want when they ask for it then they might get spoilt. My dd's get quite a big pile for Christmas but I don't buy them gifts throughout the year, dd1 gets pocket money and dd2 gets a magazine once a week, expensive things and nice toys are for Christmas, we spend £30 on birthdays which is usually one toy and then we have a trip out ( usually build a bear ), they look after their things ( though they do have ASD and dd2 can be heavy handed but we buy gifts that she can't destroy ). I'm happy to buy them a huge pile of gifts as long as it's things they will use, it usually includes a pair of shoes\boots, clothes, slippers and pj's.

jamtoast12 · 30/09/2014 21:09

Think it's definitely as easier when younger. As they get older they compare to their friends. I remember growing up that all my mates got loads more than me and whilst I me never mentioned it to my parents, I always felt sad about it and don't want dds to ever feel that. Mine do get loads but half of it is practical stuff or craft supplies that are used up by new year!

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