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Christmas

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Original poster

How many presents do you buy your kids?

65 replies

Tinkerboo · 07/11/2006 11:23

I'm unsure if I'm mean or overly generous (meaning swept up with consumerism and excitement). Dh thinks I'm the latter.

We get the kids about 10 presents from father christmas, One largeish and then lots of lttle ones, chocolate money, felt pens etc.

How do I fare?

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theinvisiblegirl · 07/11/2006 11:36

I reckon you're doing ok Tinkerboo. I really dislike my lot getting loads of pressies. We just buy them one present from us (their 'big pressie'), and then they each have a stocking from Santa full of little of things - chocolate, pencils, small toys, maybe a DVD. I probably spend about £30 - £40 on each on them.

My lot tend to get loads fom their grandparents and it's just too much for them. In my opinion less is more!!

Original poster
Tinkerboo · 07/11/2006 12:07

Come on everyone please tell. This is not the sort of thing I feel able to ask many people in real life, and I have wondered.....

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Bienchen · 07/11/2006 12:21

DS gets one big present and then a few small ones, books/games/etc. Being German we celebrate Xmas eve rather than Xmas Day. We spend the day playing games, gorging on gingerbread, etc and open presents in the afternoon before he's off to stay with his Dad where he'll probably get another 20 big expensive pressies of the electronics kind (sorry if I sound a bit bitchy).

It's DS birthday early Jan, so we tend to have a nice day out, we went to London last year and saw Tintin at the Barbican which he still raves about and he's chosen Panto for this year's birthday outing.

He has sensibly done two lists, a cheap one for us (as I have just lost my job) and an expensive one for Dad...

Dottydot · 07/11/2006 12:23

I think probably about 6 - 8? Not really any big/little presents, but just what we think will fill a pillow case! I reckon we'll end up spending £50 on ds1 because he's into more expensive things than ds2 - but will probably spend £30 - £40 on him just filling up the pillow case.

TheHighwayCod · 07/11/2006 12:24

NOW this is intersting
kid used to get one main one ( say up to £40 tops0 then boosk etc

siter this year in her fanily is doin oNE whopper nad no s mall ones

puddle · 07/11/2006 12:28

Our children get opne main present from us.

Then they have a stocking full of presents from Father C - probably about 10 or so - anything from a pencil to a pair of socks.

sunnysideup · 07/11/2006 12:29

I think you are certainly not short changing your kids Tinker, that sounds quite a lot of pressies for them!

We buy DS one 'main' pressie, and he has a stocking with little presents (hawkins bazaar type stuff) and probably he has about three or four other presents from us along the lines of a book, a DVD, and a fancy dress item or two.

I agree with invisiblegirl, this lot along with the huge amounts that DS gets from both sets of GPs, uncles, aunts etc, adds up to LOADS of presents. I do think too many is really bad for kids, maybe adds to an impression that christmas is ONLY about material things...I'm not religious even, I just want it to be about being together as a family and appreciating each other and getting out and meeting people in our community...if that doesn't sound to old hippy-ish

Original poster
Tinkerboo · 07/11/2006 12:32

So I'm seemimg knida average...which I like.
I will have to tell DH.
We know someone who gets their child to write a list and then parents buy one thing from it. Dh thinks this is reasonable..I think it's a touch mean.
I'm all for Christmas not being over commerialised etc etc but cmon ITS CHRRRRRRRISSSSSSSSSSSMASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

I know it's not yet.

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Bozza · 07/11/2006 12:35

Tinker I have to confess that I buy loads more than that. It tends to be 2 or 3 big presents, then some books and a DVD and then a stocking.

Original poster
Tinkerboo · 07/11/2006 12:36

With you all the way sunnysideup. I am religious, but not in a nutty way ( oops sorry, all religious nuts)do the church thing christmas morning, extended family for lunch, thats whats important.
But the pressies are nice.

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Original poster
Tinkerboo · 07/11/2006 12:40

Interesting Bozza... I think there are many more like you out there. I could easily get much more carried away but enthusiasm curtailed by catholic guilt and moaning husband.

My eldest Ds is only 6 and already I sense he fears he's being short changed by santa.

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hannahsaunt · 07/11/2006 13:24

We do the one big-ish thing and lots of small ones to fill stocking - don't really count them or do any cost v much. Dh thinks it looks too much but when I pointed out it was things like a face cloth and bubble bath he had to admit that they weren't exactly extravagent! Always include apple, tangerine, £1 coin, chocolate buttons and a book.

Original poster
Tinkerboo · 07/11/2006 13:54

Your Dh sounds exactly like mine. He has no part in the buying of the presents until on christmas eve as we fill the stockings he huffs and puffs at the amount,I then justify it by pointing out the insignifcant amount spent on each item.

Maybe I should add this to the christmas traditions thread going on

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saltire · 07/11/2006 14:13

I seem to do things differently to most. Their stockings contain things like pencils, chocolate coins, socks etc. Then they have a santa sack with their presents from santa in. Neither has asked for anything big this year.
DS1 wants John Cena and carlito toys, the Curse of the wererabbit DVD, an encylcopedia, Ds 2 wants anything star wars related.
I think in their sack they have about 5 things each. Anything else comes from us.

saltire · 07/11/2006 14:14

Also my DH seems to be like the majority, he is always huffing and puffing about the cost of things! I just smile sweetly and ignore him

flack · 07/11/2006 14:22

We don't have any consistent track record, but this is the plan this year:

Stocking fillers: socks, pants, toothbrushes (they need them!). Hama beads, some chocolate, some coins, and anything else I want to buy them anyway that's small.

Plus one or maybe 2 big presents. They get so many little prezzies from others, I want to focus on us getting them 1-3 big quality presents.

Original poster
Tinkerboo · 07/11/2006 14:28

OOOOH we all seem far too reasonable. Come on you parents who shower your over indulged kids with more presents than Charles and Di had for their wedding.

I know your out there, I've seen you, I'm related to some of you.

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mapleleaf · 07/11/2006 15:04

i confess to giving around 20 presents per child. my husband thinks i am a nutter and completely overdo it, which i know is true. but i am a shopaholic and cannot resist buying things for my little girls. in my defense i also used to get heaps as a child, and so to me this is the norm. IMHO the problem is with all her other presents (family,friends etc.) as those are usually things she probably wouldn't have chosen in the first place.

off to hide now !!

Steppy1 · 07/11/2006 15:06

1 big present each from father christmas...then lots of little stocking fillers......

Original poster
Tinkerboo · 07/11/2006 15:09

Ah ha mapleleaf we knew you were out there!
Are we related I wonder?

I guess as a penance for your overindulgence you have to endure even more Dh huffing and puffing than the rest of us.

Once in the toy shop though it's soooo easy to just keep going 'oh but they'd love that and that....and that.'

I think I'm going to do internet shopping this year.

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Zippetydoodahzippetyday · 07/11/2006 15:12

DP goes mad and spends a fortune on the kids every year. So far and he hasn't finished yet he has spent £260 per child . He too had plenty at Xmas. I was not so lucky and came from a one parent family and so did not get too much but loved what I did get and never was unhappy so I don't really agree with the "spoiling" of the kids but I do love them as much as he does and so as a result I give in.

His Mum and Dad tell us off every year but they were just the same when they had young children.

Bozza · 07/11/2006 15:15

Hmm but to fill my DC's stockings and they are not really that large, you need more than ten items. DS so far has:

2 hot wheels cars
5 pack of pants (will seperate these because they fill spaces well)
choc coins
Power rangers drink bottle
Whoopee cushion
Bouncy ball
Tattoos
Beyblades (off Ebay)

I am also planning on getting him:
Pencil case
Ladybird book

And then I will see how full it is. Actually might be OK this year because they seem like biggish items.

Original poster
Tinkerboo · 07/11/2006 15:18

My parents and PIL all go on about 'kids today have too much' etc, and then get totally carried away themselves and buy tons.

It would be sweet, if they were vaguely aware of the hypocracy.

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LadyMuck · 07/11/2006 15:19

I hate to see unwanted presents beig brought so I'm afraid that I tend to organise friends and family. The ds's can makes a list of 4 or 5 presents and then Father Christmas will produce the largest (along with stocking of small stuff), then gps and us get them another 3. Our siblings produce random gifts as they hate being organised - last year ds1 got 3 copies of Thunderbirds DVD...

By organising the gps we can ensure that the ds's main wishes are covered, so anything else is a bonus.

That said we're away at ILs for Christmas, so will have to think more carefully as some of the presents won't transport.

mapleleaf · 07/11/2006 15:20

my family always say i buy the girls too many things. hypocrites !!! we were totally spoiled as children.

so true about the dh huffing and puffing, we actually had a row over this on sunday. still christmas isn't christmas without a few seasonal arguments :-)