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

[burgundyandgoldleaves]

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 :)

They get presents throughout the year when they are particularly good, when they need them (eg bike in summer) or when I buy them (eg books). Nothing in gift shops.

Trying to follow the 'one present they want, one present they need' rule. So one that will def give them joy, one a bit more educational.

TheLobster I totally get what you're saying about how unfair it seems that some people have so much when others are really struggling. But I don't get where you get the bit about people feeling like better parents because they buy mountains of gifts?

I don't for one second think that buying lots of Christmas presents makes me a better mum than anyone else. I do it because it brings me and my dc lots of pleasure. And I would never mention it in real life unless someone specifically asked.

Aiming for one toy, 2 items of clothing, 1 book and a stocking each.

They will get a good present from my parents, SIL and MIL, and usually from a god parent or two each.

The difficulty lies in the random piles of things from FIL, distnatly related fmaily who don't really know them etc. Not that I'm ungrateful, but it's often a lot for little people to wade through and can sometimes involve quite a few things to get smuggled away for a later unspecified or possibly never time.

I always overcompensate buying for my children on special occasions because I have family on both sides who are as tight as a duck's arse, and it would mean a coupe of presents a year for them each if I didn't make up for it.

It's got fuck all to do with class in the real world, but on class-obsessed mn, everything seems to come back to the class system.

Mine always have loads (I've never counted) but lots are cheap bits and bobs from charity shops. As they get older maybe not quite so many toys but always loads of books, dvds etc. I don't really understand how stockings are used just for bits and bobs. My kids write letters to Santa (doesn't everyone) and the things they ask him for (within reason) become their main presents. I think it'd be weird if they ask Santa for stuff but mum and dad give them it, and Santa brings pants and chocolate instead. We usually do a couple of joint presents for all 3 from us as well. Though sometimes Santa talks to Grandma and she gets some things Santa couldn't manage. 😊

4 each: something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read, plus a few stocking bits. Nothing from santa, small present from my parents and sister (in laws don't bother).

They get more for their birthdays (which we make a huge fuss of).

I think it depends on what you buy. I get mine lots of silly things they like...choc coins, little notepads, socks, pants, nightwear, good coats, hoodies, games for xbox or other systems, alcohol for adult dcs, interesting games, dressing gowns, other nice clothes, jewellery if I see anything I like, toiletries etc.
Never all of the above per dc, but it depends on what I see and what I think each dc will like.

We don't bother with Santa, so don't do the letter writing thing.

Not meaning to sound like a tit but I buy my children books all the time, it's at least a weekly event. So books are more akin to a Tesco shop :)

You don't sound like a tit. I buy loads of books too. I've still wrapped some up for DS2 as he won't realise or care (he's 16 months)

I went shopping last week with a friend who bought all of her children's gifts on credit and I felt a bit sick tbh. She is now stressing about how she is going to pay for it in the New year but she insisted that each child had to have a massive pile of gifts. I don't understand why she felt they had to have a mountain of gifts as I don't celebrate Christmas. I think there is a massive cultural / peer / commercial pressure on people to have an A list type celebration. I just thought it was sad that she felt she had to go into debt for one day and crazy that she bought her one year old a tablet. He can't talk properly, maybe I'm just old fashioned.

I follow HeCantBeSerious & buy a maximum of 4/5 gifts for our own celebrations later on in the year. We both come from large families so my kids get a fair bit from other relatives. I've recently asked my family to give money or buy experiences as we've got too much stuff.

Our dc will be just 3 and 17 months at Christmas, they have one big present each (big Happy land set)and a big one to share, then perhaps 15-20 other smaller ones (duplo, jigsaws, a dolly, bath toys etc). I don't include clothes in their presents. If last year is anything to go by that number will be at least doubled by Grandma & grandad and Aunties & uncles.

I don't really have a set number of presents, but I tend to run out of inspiration. I'm not great with gifts, on the whole. If I'm in a shop with the children and they set their heart in some bit of random crap then they generally get it. But actually finding them things I think they might like - I'm hopeless!

Mine get books throughout the year too TBH, possibly the worst thing I ever did for my bank balance was befriend an usborne rep :o she does amazing sales.

Most of the books they get during the year though are for whatever topics we are doing (DCs are home ed), and anything I find in charity shops. Christmas books are usually more expensive and fancy. Always includes at least one 'gift edition' type classic, it's the Minalima jungle book this year [swoon]

Same with clothes, they get basic stuff if they need it, but they'll get a few character t-shirts, geeky hoodie etc that I normally wouldn't splash out on :)

mine get 15 presents each, plus a stocking with 5 little presents and choc coins and a satsuma. some are expensive, some are cheap, its what you are happy doing though that counts.

We did our shopping yesterday, we have 11 each for dd and ds1, although his are huge boxes (he's 4) and hers are quite small (13yo). For ds2 we have just 3 things and each will have a small stocking as well.
Our Christmas budget is quite generous, and we have bought them what they wanted. In all honesty, I don't really care if other people don't like this- it's Christmas, they are good children, and we don't spoil them really during the year. We save hard and spend wisely so we can afford Christmas.
This year we have steered away from the 'bits to open' mentality, and have asked people to do the same when buying for us/our kids. We've selected one main present and a few other smaller ones, but I'm not doing the crayons/bubbles/colouring books/ craft stuff bit- we moved house recently and the amount of stuff we have is ridiculous. So it means they have different amounts of presents, and we have spent different amounts in each, but each has the thing they really want.
What I cannot understand is all the pre-Christmas spending- xmas boxes, plates, etc. a friend of mine has done a book advent calendar for her twins. One each. So fifty paperback books, wrapped up, ripped open and stored. Seems so wasteful and unnecessary, all in the guise of being 'great parenting' as its books not chocolate!

Why? Genuinely. I like that idea

So far dd (age 3) has 14 from us/Santa and ds (age 6) has 10. This is the first year that I've really noticed the price increase generally the older they get...so ds's presents probably cost more than dd's hence why he has a few less.

I'd like to say that I'm done but i think I'll probably end up getting a couple more little bits each.

One present each plus a stocking (which isn't that big). DD1 (8yrs) is getting a bike, DD2 (5yrs) is getting something which cost £38 but which I think she will really like.

They get presents from a whole bunch of relatives too.

I am absolutely astounded about the amount of stuff people's DC get! Literally where do you put it all? All the storage is full in our not-huge-but-not-tiny house and I'm going to have to clear out some old stuff just to fit in the new Xmas things.

Burgundy do you mean the advent calendar thing? Why is that wasteful? Giving a child 25 books in under a month? (X 2 for twins)
Yes I'm sure it's a nice idea, but good grief.

I've a 5.5 and 4 yo. They've 8 cheap and cheerful silly things in their stocking plus chocolate coins etc and the one thing they really wanted from Santa. I wish I could just leave it at that....but no....they both have another 5 things each from me and dh including a new(second hand new) bike each.
Every year I try to just keep it real and every year I fail - I know they don't need it all but I do love to spoil them. Compared to many of their friends the gifts they get are small though which makes it even more crazy.

HighDataUsage Buying a 1 year old a tablet is madness!!! Let's hope she bought the Kindle for Kids so when he smashes it to the ground (like all babies do with toys) she can at least return it for a new one!