Are we being stingy?

[Lones80]

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?

coraltoes your post made me laugh.....thank you x

"Shove That up your judgey arse and juice it" did actually make me laugh out loud. Wish this was the bargain thread, that would make a fab title for a new thread haha.

Buying presents to make up for no extended family, why?? Totally unnecessary.

Children don't need a huge amount of presents and it can get out of hand and then people complain the kids are spoilt and the house is a tip.

Mine are older so their presents are smaller in size, they get less of them as they are interested in one decent thing rather than lots of toys or games. My children always get books, socks, notepads, fancy pens, chocolate in their stocking and then their main presents from us. Last year DD got 10 books as that was what she wanted.

Not stingy at all OP.
I took pictures of DSs 1st stocking presents but not for Facebook!
My 2 are 2 (at the end of Nov) and 3.5 and received so much last year that they opened presents Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the day after - that's not a boast I was kind of sickened by it really.
I had lovely Christmases as a child and def not tonnes of gifts.
They will have books and bits in their stockings but no clue what DH will get them for under the tree as I know already what Grandma has stock piled in the wardrobe!???

DH & I I meant to say

Ha just seen the netmums page with all the lets show how much we can ruin our children thread.
I feel sorry that they have to buy their dcs love, very
Poor old Laura is getting some stick.
I know what some of you mean, if you dare go on fb atm, its everyone showing off the tat they have bought, why do they do it?
It's bad enough spending so much money, but then having to take pics.
Some people get into debt for it too, I just don't get it.

ItsFab 'Totally unnecessary' is your opinion. Personally I always feel bad with DS 1 is stood in the playground with his friends saying 'my nan got me this, we went to my nans on Christmas day' 'my grandad brought my a scooter and I help him build it'..etc.

He just stands there because his grandparents on EX's side don't want to bother with him all because I wont let him stay the night when they are drunk....So no in my opinion it isn't 'Totally unnecessary' at all x

theposterformallyknownas we are not buying our children's love.....did you read my post as to why I buy lots of things for Christmas???

And why call peoples gifts tat? How would you like it if someone slated your gifts you have put a lot of thought into?

I hear about all these piles of presents & my only thought is "Where do they put it all?" My DC (3&1y) are having one present each from us that cost less than £15 each. They'll be getting presents from numerous family members too & will probably just be excited by the wrapping paper! I really don't know where we'd put lots of toys in our house.

Couldn't care less how many things other children get. Unless it's certain adopted family members who insist on buying their DC several dozen expensive things because "I have to make up for them not having proper family like [I] did" when they have just as many, if not more, presents from extended non-blood-related family & friends & then complains about having no money to drive an hour to visit but still manages to go abroad for at least 2 weeks a year. And breathe... That winds me up but I really can't get frothy about other people buying their DC what they want. Live & let live.

Make the most of being "stingy" when the dcs are little. No teenager on earth appreciates a bargain Christmas, that's for sure [broke emoticon]

the holier than thou people who advocate giving dcs one wooden toy each, preferably hewn by hand or from the charity shop, always speak from the position of having one three year old and a foetus. They have no idea that one day such things as Abercrombie or Hollister may appear on Father Christmas's list.

AGnu for me personally my pile is split. Some stay here and some go to the the kids dad's house so they have toys for when they stay at his.

I don't buy expensive gifts to make up for things, the ipads are simply to help keep DS2 occupied while attached to Oxygen, trying to make his life a little easier x

theposterformallyknownas "poor old Laura" is a hard working, single mum with a sick child in hospital, the child has an I-Pad to keep him entertained in his hospital bed, this I assume gives Laura a chance to grab a coffee, go to the loo, clean her teeth, update other family members and so on.

I am spending a damn fortune at Christmas, my choice, we live modestly through the year and I love a major blow out at Christmas, my business, same as the women on NM, their business.
Buying love? - what utter crap, working hard, and buying children presents at Christmas - oh the horror

dont feed the trolls LauraR.

Bless you Grumpyoldblonde for continuing to stick up for me (thank you).

Feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall lol x

I shouldn't really sweetsomethings, just bored of being made out like I need a bad mum of the year award x

I just dont understand the threads, particulary on the wandered into net mums thread...when many MN are doing exaclty the same ?

The netmums thread is quite a lot like a thread that my DH reads on another forum (although the amounts of stuff shown into insignificance in comparison with which he shows me on there). It's a bunch of men who buy videogames (often multiple copies of the same game) and other stuff (sometimes including fancy cars) and post photos of whatever they buy.

I can't bring myself to feel all that strongly about what other people choose to buy. And if they're enjoying comparing photos, then that's fine. I do laugh when DH shows me the weird anime sex pillows and stuff some of the contributors to the thread he reads buy. That's less frothing at the consumerism and more WTF?!?

Agree that many on MN are doing the same, with lists of things bought.
Then on the other hand you have the annual competitive martyrdom Christmas threads...

Laura, where did I say you were buying love? There were others on there as well, from what I see you weren't talking to yourself.
I said you were getting a hard time jeesh.
This OP is asking if this is enough for her children, others posted about netmums, I have only just joined the thread thanks.
I too like to buy what I can afford at Christmas too, but have tried not to spoil them.
Oh, I never mentioned an ipad neither.

I am so sorry your child is ill, I hope things improve for him soon, it can't be easy and I send you my best wishes.

grumpyoldBlonde

I'm not sure you can read neither. x

theposterformallyknownas
Sorry, my apologies, the line" poor old Laura" sounded a bit sarcastic in amongst the other threads, but I got you wrong, my apologies, I can certainly read thanks - I get paid for it in fact!

I am hating this bashing of people who enjoy Christmas and want to give their children a good time, its horrid.

theposterformallyknownas, I didn't say you said 'I' was buying love, you said 'they' which obviously includes me because I am involved with the stash picture thread. I was mealy saying 'I' because I am sticking up for myself for keep getting beaten down......for what reason is beyond me.

I appreciate you have only joined the thread, I also only joined yesterday (well the site actually) and only joined purely to defend myself from the remarks made towards me. Which is why I asked if you had read why I buy my children 'tat' as you so rudely call our shopping.

Thank you very much for your well wishes, I do appreciate it x

DS will be 3 in a couple of weeks, DD is 1 shortly after

I don't need to read any further than this, YANBU. They are tiny and will be easily delighted by one or two presents and the boxes they came in

I've gone a bit overboard in previous years, and decided this year to buy less and buy better. I told the DC that there won't be a big pile this year but that they would still get lovely things, and they were fine with it.

So for DS (6) I have got a Lego Arctic Base Camp (£46), a Lego Helicrane (£12) and some books; he will also have new PJs, a stocking full of bits and bobs and a few low-price small presents.

For DD (9) I have bought Anna and Elsa Frozen dolls (about £34 for both), a Boden onesie that she saw in the catalogue and asked for (£22ish), books, PJs, and like DS she will have a stocking and a few other bits.

It feels quite nice, actually, to be a bit more minimalist about it all whilst still knowing they will be delighted.

Grumpy

No apology needed, in fact its me that can't read. After reading it back, it does look like that, so my apologies

I too don't like the bashing, but can sympathise with those who can't afford much for their children.

Laura shouldn't have been singled out like that, and especially under her circumstances.

May we all practice peace and think about those less fortunate than ourselves, having been the skint one at Christmas it was difficult. x

Thank you Theposterformallyknownas.