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Christmas

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Original poster

I know it's been done before but - how many presents per child?

128 replies

burgundyandgoldleaves · 02/12/2016 19:09

I haven't really bothered to draw up a budget, as such, more just buying the children what I think they might like. So - how many presents each, do you think? Thanks :)

OP posts:
MTWTFSS · 02/12/2016 20:01

Depends on so many factors!

  1. Does the DC get other presents during the year?
  2. How expensive is the main present?
  3. Household financial situation?
  4. How many presents they will be getting from family/friends?
  5. Whether the DC in question has SN? If yes, too many presents might be overwhelming.
Equimum · 02/12/2016 20:02

Ours have a stocking, a shared present from Father Christmas and five gifts each. The five include, a small puzzle and books each.

Original poster
burgundyandgoldleaves · 02/12/2016 20:06

They don't exactly get presents through the year but if they wanted something, I'd get it for them (within reason obviously!) When we go to a museum or a zoo or aquarium type place, I always let them choose ONE thing from the gift shop, hence my home is filled with random toy animals wearing t shirts Xmas Smile

Main present is about £30-£60

We're okay financially

No other presents

No SN.

OP posts:
insan1tyscartching · 02/12/2016 20:08

Dd gets a stocking from Father Christmas and then three or four gifts from dh and I. She will get a gift from each of her adult siblings besides so more than enough.

SprogletsMum · 02/12/2016 20:11

I'm aiming for 10 presents each. Ds and dd1 have a tablet each so their other presents are small. Dd2 hasn't had a main present just smaller stuff like duplo and a peppa pig house. I've spent around £130 on ds and dd1 and around £80 on dd2.
Their stockings are practical this year so pants, socks toothbrush etc as well as chocolate.

TheLobsterRollPlease · 02/12/2016 20:14

It feels as if a lot of people are in competition. With no consideration for the parents that can't afford to buy their children mountains and mountains for Christmas presents.

Xmasfairy86 · 02/12/2016 20:20

Haven't counted yet. But really need to. I had loads when I was young, and feel the need to do the same as I thought that was the norm. Reading some of these, I get the impression I over do it and my girls are spoilt Xmas Hmm so I should listen to DP and STOP!!!!

Stockings are usually practical, pants, socks, toothbrush, hair bands, shower gel. And this year aren't full of extra crap Xmas Blush it's all useful stuff. Jewellery, chocs, bed book lamp thing, small tin to keep crap bits in!

Arfarfanarf · 02/12/2016 20:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Artandco · 02/12/2016 20:25

Cost isn't really the issue, the one gift and stocking could be £50 or £500. We just don't have space for loads and they already have plenty

HerRoyalFattyness · 02/12/2016 20:27

Why should I consider other families? My priority is my family and I spend the entire year scrimping and saving to buy them what they ask for. I shop around for the best deals. I'm on a tight budget myself. There's no competition from me because I'm just buying what my children want, I really don't care what everyone else's kids get.

Sierra259 · 02/12/2016 20:28

Ours get a stocking with about 8-10 little things like stickers, hair clips, chocolate coins, satsuma, pants/socks. One main present and then 3-4 others. This year DC1 will have a lot of packages as the main present will be portioned up IYSWIM.

PonderLand · 02/12/2016 20:29

My DS will only be 6 months at Christmas but I've bought him 5 "presents", really they're just sensory toys which i bought anyway and a baby walker/ride on.

I've never heard of buying loads of presents as a common thing but my parents used to get me and my brother loads and we were pretty common.

We didn't have things bought from family, and we'd get quite a lot of clothes that would last until the next Christmas (coats, hat, gloves, knickers, dressing gown, shoes etc) if you buy your children what they need when they need it then I can understand why some people only buy a couple of presents.

bigredfireengine · 02/12/2016 20:30

We buy a lot of gifts. I know a lot of people on here think it's a class thing (bleurgh,) and it's 'common' to buy lots of Christmas pressies, but I love seeing my children's faces when they come down on Christmas morning and see a pile of presents.

Is it? I am quite posh but we always got loads of presents. My DH less so (less posh) and he didn't get much as a child.

Original poster
burgundyandgoldleaves · 02/12/2016 20:35

How do you plan for the year in terms of buying stuff like knickers? My DD is still in nappies, but will be thinking about potty training soon but it wouldn't occur to me to buy her knickers until then.

Which will probably be in 2018 at this rate.

I hate potty training!

OP posts:
Artandco · 02/12/2016 20:36

Knickers and clothing are essential to me, not really a gift unless a particularly nicer version than usual. Kids here get clothes as and when they need throughout the year

HerRoyalFattyness · 02/12/2016 20:37

I just buy underwear as and when needed. No underwear in stockings here Grin although dp still gets underwear from his mum every year. He's 27.

Original poster
burgundyandgoldleaves · 02/12/2016 20:38

I have a pair of reindeer knickers I bought from Tesco a couple of years ago that get worm sporadically! Xmas Grin

OP posts:
BobbieDog · 02/12/2016 20:41

I buy dd alot of random things during the year so im always stuck at christmas. I ve got her 2 orchard toy games and i will get her some posh chocolate for the local chocolatier and 3 dressing up outfits.

My sister has bought her alot of things plus my mum has bought her 2 things and my uncle has bought her an outfit so i wont be going over board this year

onedayimightforget · 02/12/2016 20:53

It's kind of a little joke in our family that everyone gets bought some underwear and my brother, as a child used to go through his wrapped presents to identify the socks and pants so we still all do it now.

We don't have stockings, because I never had one as a child so it's just not something I've thought of but I'm thinking it could be a good idea for stickers and hair clips which would be bloody stupid to wrap. Does anyone have any especially nice stockings? (Christmas stockings obviously!)

bigredfireengine · 02/12/2016 20:53

I have a pair of reindeer knickers I bought from Tesco a couple of years ago that get worm sporadically!

Is get worm a euphemism? Are they a sexy item?

TheLobsterRollPlease · 02/12/2016 20:56

Arfarfanarf Basically not talk about it, I'm not speaking for myself, today I over heard a stranger speaking about how she can't afford to get any presents for her children and that she tried to take out loans but has been refused, it made me feel sad inside I almost wanted to give her some money.

Then I come on here and see this thread, there are probably a lot of people online reading this whom are too embarrassed/upset to comment, to some people buying mountains of gifts for their kids then speaking about it; or taking pictures of their Christmas tree makes them feel as if their better parents than others.

Notso · 02/12/2016 20:58

It depends what they ask for. I don't spend set amounts or budgets. I try to stick to things I know they will love or use and avoid bulking out with tat.
DS1 12 for example has I think three or four things to open and then some experience vouchers Nerf battle place, escape room and trampolining centre.
DD 16 has around ten or twelve things to open.
DS2 and DS3 5 and 4 have something in between.

ScarlettDarling · 02/12/2016 21:00

BigRed I didn't say I thought it was common, it's just something I've read over and over on Mumsnet over the last few years. People making comments that buying tons of presents is 'common'.

As I mentioned above, we buy gazillions of presents. Even though I said "call me common", that was tongue firmly in cheek...we aren't common, we aren't posh, just ordinary really!

I also agree with Artandco that clothes aren't considered presents here. My dc need winter coats, knickers, pjs etc and I wouldn't wrap them up and call them gifts. In a few years time if they're asking for ridiculously expensive /uneccesssary clothing, then of course that'd be different and they would be pressies.

Original poster
burgundyandgoldleaves · 02/12/2016 21:02

Definitely not sexy, but they are a firm favourite. Really soft and don't ride up the bum crack :)

OP posts:
DustOffYourHighestHopes · 02/12/2016 21:04

Kids are both under 4. Two presents each and a stocking with about £5-10 worth of bits, maybe 3-5 bits in each stocking including chocolate coin etc. They also have 1-2 presents each from at least 4 different families including relatives. That's a huge number at that age.

They have no idea how lucky or unlucky they are. Their expectations currently are coloured by their previous presents and our reactions. Maybe that will change when they're older but I'm hoping I will bring them up to be happy with the presents they have and not covet more.