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Original poster

Are we being stingy?

355 replies

Lones80 · 04/11/2014 17:18

DS will be 3 in a couple of weeks, DD is 1 shortly after and then there are only three weeks until Christmas. We expect that between them they will get a mountain of toys from family and friends.

We're planning on getting DS a Knights' castle for his birthday and a balance bike plus stocking filler for Christmas and DD a Fisher Price door for her birthday and a trike plus stocking fillers for Christmas. Both will get PJs for Christmas Eve.

However, I've been to the other parenting website for the first time today. There's a thread where people have taken photos of all the gifts for their DC and the number of gifts some people have bought is staggering to me.

As they both have winter birthdays we buy small toys and gifts throughout the year. We are trying not to spoil them, but are we being too stingy?

OP posts:
KnittedJimmyChoos · 07/11/2014 21:16

Mumsnet has competitive frugality
Competitive misery and miserly.

SoonToBeSix · 07/11/2014 21:21

Thanks Laura

KnittedJimmyChoos · 07/11/2014 21:23

People get too heavy on here maybe we should all be made to go over to the sparkly side for a bit Grin cant belive how jolly it is over there, and chatty and zingy and yet people are calling it boasting!

lauraR1989 · 07/11/2014 21:26

KittedJimmyChoos were all a bit barmy over there! You non-judgemental ladies should join us x

Your welcome Soontobesix x

didireallysaythat · 07/11/2014 21:34

When they are small a really big cardboard box full of balloons is a fantastic present. The box can be turned into a rocket, especially if you provide pens and sellotape. I hate having to buy stuff because its Xmas when no one really wants anything....

KnittedJimmyChoos · 07/11/2014 21:52

When they are small a really big cardboard box full of balloons is a fantastic present .make that helium filled balloons.

BazilGin · 08/11/2014 02:32

I admit I had a look at some of the photos and was surprised by the sheer quantity of gifts. Our rule here is if you open a gift, have a proper look at it, little play with it because personally, I wouldn't like my DD to go opening one present after another without having a proper look etc. that's why we were still opening some gifts from relatives after boxing day and we didn't give her a big 'pile'. But each to their own!

Regardless of what we all buy and how many, the excitement and look on our children's faces when they see their gift/(s) is magical. Just thinking of it makes me feel excited for xmas, whereas pre-DC I was a bit of a ba humbug! Grin

123Jump · 08/11/2014 07:32

lauraR1988, I apologise if I hurt your feelings.
I feel that if I had written what I said on your thread on NM, then I would have been out of order.
But I didn't.
I do think your thread is in very bad taste, therefore vulgar. I accept that you do not think this way, and you are more than entitled to enjoy your thread with other like minded people.
But I stand by what I said. I really, really cannot see the appeal of this type of showboating. But each to their own.

velourvoyageur · 08/11/2014 07:43

Fuck ME. Her girl's pile is totally pink. And she hasn't got any play do :(

I think it's fine to post pictures, the mum's obviously excited and that's lovely.
But I am judging her so very very much!

SayHelloToMyLittleFriend · 08/11/2014 07:59

I think this has just gone too far now, there's even a massive thread on Aibu slagging off netmums. It's pathetic. I personally don't feel it is vulgar / vile / disgusting or whatever to show pictures of what you bought to people that want to see it. The problems only started when people here snooped over there and felt the need to start slagging people off.

And velour, I don't know what photo you're looking at but maybe her little girl loves pink and hates play doh but really, why care enough to judge someone you don't even know.

ByTheWishingWell · 08/11/2014 08:04

Velour, have you read the thread? There's already posters from NM who were upset enough by some of the nasty comments here that they felt they needed to come and defend themselves. Which, for a supposedly supportive parents forum, is pretty shitty really.

I don't know which photo you're referring to, but maybe that posters daughter requested pink stuff. Maybe she doesn't like playdoh. Or just maybe, her mum has picked presents she thinks her daughter will love and it's no no one else's business.

HaroldLloyd · 08/11/2014 08:07

And she hasn't got any play dough! Arf.

Neither have I, is this some heinous crime? Grin

HaroldLloyd · 08/11/2014 08:08

Jimmy, don't go mentioning helium now, things are bad enough as it is.

ByTheWishingWell · 08/11/2014 08:11

And agree with SayHello about the AIBU thread. If people want to use AIBU to year strips off each other, that's one thing. But to use it to sneer and bitch about people behind their backs is just nasty.

NM isn't for me at all. If people want to giggle about the glitter, tickers, and general 'hun'ing, fair enough. But linking to specific threads, referring to specific posters, and judging people based on what they've bought their children for Christmas? I think that's a step too far.

ByTheWishingWell · 08/11/2014 08:13

DD doesn't have any playdoh either Shock

She does have a distinct lack of pink presents though- does that make her 'pile' acceptable? Confused

Bambambini · 08/11/2014 08:14

Whether it's your thing or not I think it's a shame that people's comments here have actually upset other mums who were happy and causing no harm. Your words can hurt others, if you dont give a shit than look to yourself.

SayHelloToMyLittleFriend · 08/11/2014 08:20

You'd best pop to the shops today and get some playdoh, unless you want to ruin Christmas for your poor dd.

ByTheWishingWell · 08/11/2014 08:25

I think I should. But I don't want to spoil her- we all know the dangers of too many presents! Maybe I should get rid of all her other presents and just give her playdoh?

HaroldLloyd · 08/11/2014 08:27

Where is dot, she has a craft hamper

slithytove · 08/11/2014 08:27

I've not got any playdoh. (Really want to pronounce that like Homer Simpson)

Ds would just eat it.

HaroldLloyd · 08/11/2014 08:28

When they mix the colours up in play doh it makes me itch all over.

marne2 · 08/11/2014 08:32

Every child should have play dough. It's the law, a home would not be a home without play dough stuck in the carpets Grin, my 8 year old still gets play dough, tbh it's one of her favourite things and keeps her quite for at least an hour so I can go on mn. Quite a lot of it gets consumed but it makes for exciting poop Smile

lauraR1989 · 08/11/2014 08:43

123Jump, thank you.

You have already been out of order for running back here like a coward and name calling me so would have made no difference writing it on the thread or pm'ing me......at least I'd of had the chance to defend myself than have some random woman slag me/us off calling me/us the spiteful names you did.

I appreciate you think the thread is vulgar....totally your opinion. MY POINT was that you sat and called our thread vulgar then talked about us in a disgusting manor just because you didn't agree with it.

Obviously this isn't aimed at everyone.....but to think you are mums....are you teaching your children to be bullies and n pick on ids at school???

123Jump · 08/11/2014 08:57

Oh FGS. Yes, LauraR1989, that is exactly what I teach my kids.
Sigh.
Perhaps my initial assessment wasn't that far off after all?

You have made your point, I've made mine. Let's just let it go, agree to disagree and move on.
I'm sure all our kids will have a great Christmas, and I hope your little boy gets to spend it at home.

lauraR1989 · 08/11/2014 09:23

I only questioned it because you seem to like picking on us!

Thank you for your well wishes.