Is it unusual to buy close family members just one present?

[TheBiggestDinosaur]

I'm just interested, I've been reading lots of the Christmas threads.

I know lots of people buy several/multiple presents for their kids; ours just get one, and a stocking.
But it seems other people buy multiple presents for their parents, partners, siblings etc too.

It would honestly never occur to me to get more than one item for a person (unless it was 2 parts of one gift - a mug and hot chocolate powder, a scarf and gloves, two books). I struggle enough thinking of one thing to get each person, can't imagine having to be doubly thoughtful .

Which do you think is more unusual, giving multiple gifts or just one?

I like the aspect of lots of little gifts, it was the way things were done when I was a child and my kids love it too. It doesn't need to be tat though- I buy things that the kids either need or will enjoy.
A gingerbread house kit, memory stick, convertable tights, after shave, shower gel, books, clothes, gloves, scarf, bath bombs, a flameless candle, board game,chilli sauce, jewellery, tool kit- when they were younger it would be paint, craft kits, modelling clay, small musical instruments, gardening tools,

jamtoast, that's almost sounding like you're trying to make people feel bad. Some people just don't have the same culture of piling up the presents. Stationery, books, clothes and stuff we just buy when they need them.

I want Christmas to be about family time for our children, like it was for us when we were little. I guess we're all passing on the culture we were brought up in aren't we?

equally catkind, I feel a bit like this thread was started to look down on those who buy more. I could be wrong of course, but there's a lot of inverse snobbery on MN and I hate it (as well as the usual kind of snobbery!).

We don't have many people who buy for the dc (2 sets gps and that's pretty much it. They may get 1/2 small gifts from others too. But we don't see people on Christmas Day so they don't open them then.)

I think however many gifts you buy is fine but it's interesting to know what works for others. :)

I don't really buy for the dc through the year. Maybe the occasional thing but most likely to be books, sticker books to go on holiday etc.

For those who buy one thing do you buy things like a toy kitchen but no pans / food / spatulas or a shop but no food / till or would you wrap it together so it was one thing? Or in that case would they get 2/3/4 presents?

Me and my DH set a budget and then it could be one present or several within that Total budget. DS is getting loads and I really want to scale it back.

With family (Mum, sister etc) it's generally one or two presents within a budget of about £30.

We do certain things the same each year:

Only stocking presents are from Father Christmas and they include fruit, pens, novelty stuff. They are not wrapped.

DH and I always get each other a sexist present (Last year we got each other an oven glove)

DH and I usually get each other a cook book.

Presents are opened first thing.

Yoruba, I'd count those as part of the same present whether they were easier to wrap together or separately.

Sorry, meant to say that I buy one or a couple for everyone other than dh and dc's, I but multiple gifts and sticking fillers for them, plus a big one.

Yoruba I started the thread, I didn't mean to look down on anyone.

I wasn't really talking about presents to children, though the thread has gone off in that direction - I know that's a bit unusual. There are lots of reasons why we are unwilling, or unable, to buy the DC lots of presents. But if our circumstances were different, I imagine I might well buy them a few more. There are lots of things I know they would like, and I love choosing things for them.

But, even if I were a millionaire, I don't think I would buy DH, or my parents, or my siblings, or my friends multiple gifts. I'd still get them one thing - doubtless it might be one more expensive thing, but it would still be one thing, and that's why I was interested in what other people do. Because the thought had absolutely never entered my head before. I'd actually be embarrassed, as an adult, to get lots of presents.

And yes, a toy kitchen plus any accessories would just be "one" present.

:) I don't think it matters what they get really dinosaur. The dc don't care, it's us that worry have we got too much / not enough!
Sorry if it wasn't meant to be snipey - some threads are started under the pretense of curiosity but are actually just having a dig!

I don't really think about number with adults to be honest, I have a budget in mind and buy what I like. So my mum is getting a bracelet and a scarf. Dfil has a tour of silverstone, dmil has tickets to a play and a picture. It depends on what I see. But if I bought e.g. Some posh chocs because it was a brand they loved, I'd buy something else as well.

For the dc I don't like to buy too many but do like them to have age / interest appropriate toys without me buying at other times so ill buy 5-10 gifts (not all will be toys)