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 :)

I think there's a definite snobbery about big piles of presents; in the same way that some people look down on great big TV's; it's seen as a common, working class mentality thing to do. My very own dh thinks like this, but i dont care - I like a big stash of presents for the kids on Christmas morning and the biggest tv I can afford!

Buying a 1 year old a tablet is madness!!!

My daughter is 8 and still uses the iPod touch I bought her at 7 months old. Only thing that's ever needed repairing on it was the battery.

A 7 month old using an iPod touch is also madness. Just because they can, doesn't mean they should

Normally about 4 main presents. Plus a stocking (try to buy stuff she needs or will use up (nice shampoos, bath bombs, makeup in that so it's normally quite an expensive one).

We probably buy about twenty five books a month. From charity shops mostly.

I am gobsmacked. Genuinely. At some of the quantities involved. I guess though for us, this is not the only time of year we give presents. We are not British/Christian so kids get stuff from grandparents for our own festival. Then we buy them books/music/games through the year when it is appropriate. For me clothes/underwear/shampoo/toothpaste are essentials so they would not feature on the present list.

Also i don't know if it is a class thing because I am not sure as 'foreigners' we for traditional class boundaries- we are both middle class professionals in well earning jobs (highest rate tax payers). So again it is not about financial comfort or not being able to afford stuff. I guess we are not big spenders per se- books/music stuff (DS is very musical) we spend on all year round. Don't wear expensive clothes, don't eat out very much (both DH and I love cooking) so i guess all year round our outgoings are minimal. From that perspective I guess we could go bonkers at Christmas but the kids (and we) have enough. What I am trying to say, somewhat cackhandedly is that we are not stingy, or snobby- just that I guess there is no 'need' for so much stuff.

Out of curiosity- if you buy close to a dozen presents for the kids, how much do you spend on each other? So DH and I have a budget of 25 pounds each he's getting 2 books and I am getting something similar I guess.

I like the idea of the 25 books though- I might do that next year. How can books be wasteful?!

Yes yes, we easily buy 25 books a month- again from charity shops. And some day I will inherit my Dad's enormous library...and I truly mean enormous...3000+ books. Gulp.

Why buy hundreds of books a year when you can get them from the library? Surely you can't read that many books more than once?

We also go to the library! They are not mutually exclusive. I grew up in a house full of books (as you can see) and our house is similarly full of books. And all of us read all the time. And yes we do read books again and again.

I always forget to return books to the library and get a fine. I'd rather spend 50p on a charity shop book.

But anyway, I suppose the point is we all do things differently.

Mine (only 3 and 1) will be getting about 10 each from FC, plus stockings, plus I'm guessing 5-6 each from family. Sounds like plenty to me. Fortunately though they're not yet at the stage of asking for really important stuff so not spent a fortune - maybe £100 each.

Youngest won't really care but I don't want eldest to think he's getting "more".

I had loads as a child (oc) and it was a bit
OTT to be honest.

I go overboard every year. This year Dd has about 35 presents

I've not counted but I'm sure there'll be a reasonable pile of stuff under the tree.

I don't do stockings full of tat, though I feel like the only mum on mn that doesn't feel like doing a stocking is the epitome of xmas.

What do your dc like? Tablets are good as can be tailored via apps to their interests. Choc, lego, cuddlies, book sets, board games, play doh, console games, cars, Disney stuff are always happily opened here.

DD is easier as she still likes toys. Have got her a toy horse and a doll and a pram. DS - I really struggle. He has a tablet.

Lego? Superheroes? Harry potter gubbins? Star wars? A pass to a local attraction he likes or a merlin pass? Football shirt and tickets? Something for his room?

3 dc's here (1 ss), I've tried hard not to go overboard as for my children it can be overwhelming and they can be unappreciative of additional gifts:they have 6 gifts each plus a small stocking.I'm mindful they will receive more from relatives and still will have in effect a second xmas with their other parent on Boxing Day so still ends up too much!
Of course everyone's situations are different and you should do what's right for you and your family.

Quite often if asked for suggestions for gifts by relatives I suggest vouchers for clothes or money for savings to reduce the amount of 'tat' in our house-we simply don't have the room!

I think this is part of the problem - with me not DS obviously: he hasn't got anything he's hugely into. He's got lots of things he likes but nothing that jumps out and would immediately make you think "oh, he'd love that!"

Wow, I feel stingy now!

I've always got mine 5 each for under the tree. (Plus a stocking.) Depending on a load of factors the actual amounts I spend changes. So on years when money has been tighter and we'll also be seeing generous relatives on Christmas Day, a few of the 5 presents would be clothes or pyjamas they'd need anyway.
This year one of my children has got something particularly expensive. So her 4 other gifts are cheap.

They don't know I always get 5 things - I don't think they particularly notice. But they do see that it's fair and it all takes about the same length of time to open.

My dc are getting about 20 presents each including things like shower gel in the stocking up to an ipad. It is often seen as a class thing but I'm working class and we didn't get much as kids - no money. I've got money now and I love being able to get them whatever I want. I also love being to buy my mum anything she wants and really spoiling her. No shame at all!

Well that's ok. I can only remember one wow present from childhood (My Little Pony Paradise Estate) but I'm sure I liked lots of the things I was bought. There's less pressure if there's not one thing they must have - imagine if he was desperate for a hatchimal!

Usually works out 7-8 per child and 1-2 under the tree, plus extended family

Trying to think what we have got/are getting for DS:

Camera, mug, Pointless book, stable belt, boot cleaning kit, pants, socks, tie, gloves, pyjamas, cider.

I may end up getting lots of little add ons nearer the time though.

I get them 10 each (although 13 month old DS only has about 6)
Plus 5/6 things in a stocking (but they're only little things like toothbrushes/chocolate/hot wheels)
Then I do a couple of joint things like board games - this year there's 4 joint presents

I say 10 each but I actually mean 10 packages, I wrap all the books I get for each child as 1 package (this year I think DS1 has 6 and DD has 4) and any tiny things might get wrapped together - so DD has two Disney Princess Little Kingdom characters so I'll wrap them both together - so 2 things, but 1 package

Clothes/underwear/pj's/socks are necessities, not presents

I aim for about 12-15 each. Only 2 or 3 are costly though. The rest will be cheaper things I've got from supermarkets mainly. Bath stuff, books, art and craft things....my younger child will have a dolls house which won't be cheap...a doll which isn't cheap...and the rest will be variety of games, books, novelties etc.

12 year old wants a phone, clothes...and she will also have makeup, some nice bath things and books and art supplies.