What do you think about the four gift rule?

[Cupcakeicecream]

Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear
Something to read

What do you generally feel about this. I have never followed this myself but I have tried to cut down more and more each year. It doesnt really make a difference to me as my child has a december birthday so is inundated with more gifts.
I think the idea is quite good if you have a small house or if your child gets lots of gifts but only plays with a select few. At christmas I do consider books and clothes to be gifts whilst some people see them as a necessity. My child obviously gets books and clothes all year around but the books I buy tend to be chosen by my child and are a treat as they would be more expensive or something I wouldnt normally buy the same goes with the clothing such as a favourite character or a particular brand of clothing.

Its very American,and prescriptive. I just choose things my children will like. How hard can it be?

I find the sentiment a bit err smug to be honest .
I never go overboard but if you can't treat your children at Xmas when can you?
Clothes and books are wrapped up but they'll be the posher versions... DD wants the illustrated HP and some RI clothes. Usually she gets primarni and a tesco £3 book!

It's fine for adults I guess, not for my children though. They don't get much through the year so I do like to spoil them with a load of plastic tat at Christmas.

Gosh. Depends. We go down the one big present and a stocking route. But the big present isn't huge.

RI clothes? Religious Instruction??

Hehe River Island clothes! She's also 12 and it's the place to shop apparently!

Almost 12, proof read Raven!

It's just some one thinking they are super clever by putting a virtuous rhyme together

Fuck that.

Make a list kids and I'll buy you stuff you want.

We've done this for several years. It works really well. We all get 4 presents, done.

What if someone wants five things Excellent?

God no it sounds so dull but each to their own.

What's the deal with 'something you need'? Isn't that the sort of things parents should buy anyway and not come under the guise of a present?

No way, we spoil each other at Christmas and save for it, never put on credit. Dds get £500 approx each and family £100 each. We make a big thing of Christmas

Depends on the age of your kids. If you have teenagers and buy one big expensive present like an X-box or IPhone then I can see it working but for younger ones I think the fun of Christmas is getting a big sack of toys

Out of genuine curiosity (not judgement): Are those of you who buy a lot of presents for your children celebrating Christmas as a religious or cultural holiday? obviously either is fine and good, I'm just wondering.

Never heard of it but it's not a bad idea. I'm sick of tat in my house.

Nicky - then they have to wait until next birthday

Cuppa - Xmas is big here also. But doing things more. Those 4/5 gifts could cost over £500 also depending on what's bought, ie a bike was £350 alone. It's not the cost that stops us buying lots, but that we feel for us it's unessecary

I'm an atheist but celebrate Christmas. I place no religious significance on Christmas but see it as time to appreciate friends and family and have a bit of a blow out food and drink wise

That's fair Artandco but our budget increases each year, dds are 7 and 2. Each to their own of course but it's an important event for us. I suppose it's the way I was brought up

I suppose we have done the opposite of growing up. Growing up Dh and I recieved mountains of presents. Most were cheap filler crap frankly. I always wished they had just bought the 1-2 things I actually wanted, rather than buying the cheaper versions and loads of other stuff, which would have equalled the Same cost in the end. Result every year was loads of gifts taking 2 days to unwrap, but hardly anything lasted or was used past new year.

How about the one main gift rule.

Works for us.

In the stockings there is;
something to wear
something smelly
something to read
something to eat
plus other stuff, but I avoid chap tat as the DC are good enough at collecting that themselves.

We do Christmas in a big way, but not masses of presents each. However, under the tree is always a huge, huge pile. Probably because there is quite a lot of us.

Well, I'm from the continent and I've always done that. Something you want, something you need and a surprise.
I have adopted the stocking tradition, but it is only for children, it contains sweets, a DVD and a game or such.
Nothing smug about it, it's just something we've always done. Having piles and piles of presents might work for some, it doesn't work for us, it's too much and we don't enjoy it.
Realistically, we never just get 3 presents, we have friends, GPs, brothers etc, so it's always a bit more.
Try it, it's liberating.

I do these in a sack from Father Christmas. Although I've changed 'wear' to 'make'. So mines something to make, read, want, need. I think for a 4 and 2 yo 'need' and 'wear' are too similar! I go a bit mad with gifts at Christmas so I buy others gifts from me and dh.

You see if mine were, say 5 and we applied this rule, if they asked for:
Something they want- a bike
Something they need- a plate and cup set
Something to wear- a jumper
Something to read- a nice book

If they then asked for a train for £10 I just wouldn't have the heart not to get it! Especially if they weren't that bothered about the jumper! A couple of family members are of the more is more camp and we did get some plastic stuff that hasn't lasted even six months. I think it's better to spend a bit more on better quality but not be formulaic in the number of gifts.

I hate it.

Especially for children.

Not for me i love going xmas shopping for the kids and coming home with bags and bags of stuff i save all year for it