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Christmas

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

Original poster

How many presents?

145 replies

messystressy · 29/09/2015 21:40

We normally buy four or so presents for the kids, but keep getting told I am being cruel - that they should have a "pile". I am quite happy to remain as we have done, but just wondering what the status quo is? Might be worth saying that they would get maybe two additional presents from relatives. Am I a Scrooge? We do love Christmas in my house, decorate the house in a complete tacky over-the-top way, see Santa, visit reindeer etc....

OP posts:
wonkywheel · 29/09/2015 21:43

Think that's fine, unless the 4 are all pairs of socks! People go way too overboard IMO and fine if they want to but that shouldn't be the 'must do'. Already seeing photos of huge piles of presents on FB and think it gets silly

IAmAPaleontologist · 29/09/2015 21:56

Woohoo the Christmas traditions are starting!

This sort of thing always turns into a bunfight, it is like a prelude to drunk relatives on the day. You will get the ones who spend several thousand and buy their kids a hundred presents each and those who insist their kids are happy with a paper bag to share.

Personally, I go with a balance between what you can afford and what your own lifestyle/parenting style seems appropriate. I've had one year when I got them the ikea play tent as a shared present and I've had other years when I got them stuff that was more expensive. I go for one present plus some books though and then the stocking but stocking is little things.

ShowOfHands · 29/09/2015 21:56

I get called cruel too.

I have an 8yo and a 4yo. They get a stocking from Father Christmas with things like socks, toothbrush, some sweets, flannel etc. Then they ask for one present from FC. The budget is £20. Last year, for example, dd asked for a skipping rope and DS wanted a 'yellow helicopter'.

We do buy some things from us but it's usually a couple of books, couple of little things they will like, usually from the charity shop. I don't spend more thank £15 if I can help it.

We have a brilliant Christmas full of magic, food, friends, family, traditions, love and laughter. The presents are such a small part of it in our house.

Last year, dd's favourite present was a CD of songs from the musicals I picked up from a car boot sale and ds's favourite was a Jacob's Ladder from the poundshop.

IAmAPaleontologist · 29/09/2015 22:00

Got to say I love doing a stocking on a shoestring, finding fun stuff to go in it and that fits in with their Christmas lists is so much fun. Last year dd asked for a white tiger husband and babies to go with her massive one. I had great fun tracking down soft toys to fit the bill and she came down on Christmas morning to find them all sleeping by the fire Smile

SwedishEdith · 29/09/2015 22:00

Depends what the presents are, what you can afford, ages of kids etc. Four presents could be a tablet, a tv, an electric guitar and a ticket for Leeds. Also might depend on how much they get from family and friends.

gamerchick · 29/09/2015 22:04

Whilst I don't have an issue about your Christmas showofhands please tell me your kids don't get a new toothbrush just once a year? Those things have more germs on them than a toilet after 2 weeks.

heheheheheheh · 29/09/2015 22:05

It's three more than my kids get :)

One main present under the tree and a stocking

ShowOfHands · 29/09/2015 22:06

Of course they only get one toothbrush a year. To go with their annual festive bath.

Shinyshoes2 · 29/09/2015 22:12

My eldest ones gets one or 2 presents each but they are 15 and 18 so these one or 2 presents are normally very expensive ones
My dad gets about 4 or 5 but the cost of hers is normally 1/4 of what I spend on the elder 2
She DOSEN'T need the monetary equivalent Id have tons of shit everywhere. Her time will come for more expensive stuff later on
Those mums that have a ' pile ' of around 20 present each have normally bought plastic cheap tat that lasts 5 minutes ... Well they are on my FB anyway

Shinyshoes2 · 29/09/2015 22:13

My DD not my dad Hmm

Shinyshoes2 · 29/09/2015 22:14

Toothbrushes can go in the dishwasher anyways to kill off any ' matter ' that's on there

RJnomaaaaaargh · 29/09/2015 22:17

I'm a huge pile of presents buyer - I spend a fortune on Christmas - but I know it's because I didn't celebrate when I was a child so I absolutely love buying for other people.

The main thing I guess is not to get into debt and to do what you are comfortable with.

Oldwestaction · 29/09/2015 22:17

Das is too old for Santa now but the present 'layout' is the same. Stocking (santa) no more than about £10 spent on little bits and pieces. Santa sack of prezzies (board games, nerd guns that type of thing) main prezzie has always been from me and dh not Santa! Family and friend presents under the tree. Some years he has seemed to have loads and others not so much. I think the amount of presents (for me anyway) comes down to the cost. E.g. When he was younger he had more as it was easier to bulk out with cheap things (pound shop character toothbrush etc) now he's older his Santa sack contains less as the things he wants/likes cost more.

BathshebaDarkstone · 29/09/2015 22:17

They each get something to wear (clothes/pjs/fancy dress ) and a toy. They get loads from relatives.

Oldwestaction · 29/09/2015 22:19

And that would be ds and nerf! Blush

gamerchick · 29/09/2015 22:23

What with the toilet brush shiny? Hmm

Giving a toothbrush as a present when obviously you give them throughout the year is damned strange. The rest isn't. Memories go beyond presents.

CakeNinja · 29/09/2015 22:35

Christ you can't do right for doing wrong Confused
Who tells you you're cruel? Why tell anyone else the finer details? If you're happy then does it matter?

I go completely ott for the 3dc, huge stockings from FC probably spend around £200 on each of them. Then one main present from FC downstairs left by the fireplace and maybe 10 or so presents from us under the tree. We have huge families and they get lots and lots but it's things they've asked for, things they need or things I know they will love and can add to existing collections (Lego, sylvanians, ds games etc).

That's how we do it, it's how we like it and people can say what they like (but I don't tell anyone irk what we do), I'm not changing unless the dc say so.

ObiWanCannoli · 29/09/2015 22:38

I have a total budget for 4 dc of £200 max £300 which is around £50 each give or take but it's not always split evenly.

Dd is getting a tablet and case, my 3 ds are getting remote control cars.

They get 8 toy items in the sock - some of these are second hand and 2 food items and a satsuma.

I can't afford more and we always have a lovely Christmas, as long as the dc have a lovely time and great memories I'm very happy.

I would always go with what is right for your family and to not feel pressured by others. If you start competing it won't feel right, just enjoy your traditions and Christmas will be good.

JoeMommuh · 29/09/2015 22:38

Surely everyone gets a toothbrush in the stocking? Well we put ours in the Xmas eve box. And bubble bath, pyjamas etc all of which they also get at other times of the year too!

excitedforbaba · 29/09/2015 22:40

I think that's what's wrong with Christmas in some houses the magic has been replaced by presents

When I was a child we got a stocking with socks gloves an orange etc and one present from father christmas. The anticipation over wether we would get the thing we asked for was amazing

Now I see pictures on fb of cupboards over flowing with Santa pressies it's a race on christmas eve to get the first pics of "santa's been" and how he managed to get that sleigh to take off with the amount of presents for one child is beyond me!

Dd is 1 this christmas and I want to start making traditions & memories rather than it being all about the amount of presents but at the same time the preasure is there to not make her look hard done by.

ShowOfHands · 29/09/2015 22:44

Toothbrushes are a normal thing to put in a stocking. A flashing, silly, music playing toothbrush is a novelty.

Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 29/09/2015 22:55

Kids get stuff they need, socks, pjs, jumper or similar , then a game each or to share rubix cube or board game type thing, a few stationary bits, and then a gift from us. I know the types that get everything. My kids are grateful, which is the best reward.

PesoPenguin · 30/09/2015 06:46

DS gets a lot (although is still grateful Confused getting a lot doesn't automatically make a child spoiled, it's about attitude) but different things suit different families.

Do they get a stocking? If not you could do them one at little extra cost and, as the items have to be small, you don't need to struggle to find homes for them.

On the subject of toothbrushes etc, I think adult eyes underestimate the excitement of new things to a child! DS loves getting a new toothbrush all year round, although I've never put one in his stocking. He'd probably love it if I did!

Savagebeauty · 30/09/2015 06:59

Mine are teens now..DS wants driving lessons and dd will want money.
So they will get £200 each on that.
I also do a stocking for them ...about £50 each.
That's my total spend on Xmas.

AsTimeGoesBy · 30/09/2015 07:04

I'd never heard of toothbrushes in stockings till I came on MN and it's not something I'd ever do, but absolutely fine if others do it .

As for what we do do, it varies a bit year to year, depending on what's on the wishlists. DCs are 9 and 11, they get a stocking of small things, usually one main present (last year we bought a family x-box to coincide with Christmas but not as a present so they got a game each, previous big things have been scooters, Ipods, it varies) and about half a dozen smaller things such as book, DVD, hat, fun sponge for the bath. We're out of ideas for main presents this year, there isn't anything big either of them needs so it may well be just a selection of smaller stuff.

Luckily no one on my FB posts show-off posts of the "piles of presents" variety. Anyone who critcises others choices in this should mind their own IMO, it's up to family preferences and budgets.