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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:
Unicornsandrainbows3 · 03/12/2016 12:19

Maybe 10 each but most of that will be socks, pens and pencils etc. Sometimes necessities need to be pressies when money is tight. They will get one or two 'gift gifts' as well, chocs and books too.

badg3r · 03/12/2016 12:31

DS will have about 10 I think, although a lot of them will be things we would have bought him anyway throughout the year (clothes, socks, pjs, toothbrush, colouring pens) and obviously an orange and chocolate coins Wink

Some people only give one present but it's super expensive and will spend £££ on fancy clothes etc throughout the year. Some people get their kids 20+ presents but it's on sale and stuff they would have needed to buy anyway throughout the year, wrapped up to make it look like more. Neither is "right", just depends what they want/can afford to do.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 03/12/2016 13:15

Clothes etc are bought throughout the year as well, but my DS likes to have surprises at Christmas in the clothing line. He has always liked having a new outfit to wear on Christmas day, and jazzy socks for school.

SheldonCRules · 03/12/2016 13:56

I think MN is very different about Christmas than real life. On here it's the done thing to state you only buy a handful of gifts whereas in real life everyone I know buys more.

I don't bother with stockings as gifts that fit in them tend to be essentials or party bag fillers in the main.

I spend a decent amount but don't spend year on coffees out, alcohol, magazines etc so probably spend less overall during the year.

WritingHome · 03/12/2016 14:35

I am always amazed at these threads. I am not from the UK and growing up christmas was a huge thing and there were piles of presents for the kids from Santa.

I repeat this cycle for or own dd, now 11, although dh had a different experience and would not naturally go for the fuss as much as me.

We have a very small family and dd will receive very little from anyone else so I do try to make it special for her.

This year she is getting:
A minecraft drone
jumpers for the dogs (her request)
a Schleich jeep and horse box (she collects this stuff)
a couple of extra schleich horses
a bunch of Kawaii stuff from an on-line store, a lot of which is tiny (stocking filler size) and was on sale - including a couple of plushies, gloves, a t-shirt, blind bags etc
books
a jigsaw

And I am still dithering over a few other things such as a candy floss maker OR heelies etc

Money is not an object for this and she will love everything

Mooey89 · 03/12/2016 14:42

For DS aged 3.5 - one main present (£60) that he is desperate for from Father Christmas. Stocking - pants, toothbrush, pjs, some paw patrol tat, cuddly toy, choc coins.
Have some books and a good dinosaur toy I got for £7 earlier in the year.

My mum is getting him an expensive present and his dad and family will too so I don't feel bad.

I'd rather be able to feed and house him throughout the year! Realise it will get harder as he gets older though!

GrumpyOldBag · 03/12/2016 17:06

ha ha ha. These threads are mad!!

In our house it is:

1 fairly substantial main present (this year will be a new ski jacket)

1 stocking which may include book/dvd, sweets, toiletries, pants & socks.

They get plenty of presents from grandparents & godparents too.

SatsukiKusakabe · 03/12/2016 17:24

Mine are 5 and 3. They get around 7 presents under the tree from us, mainly toys, and a couple of books. They also get one present each from FC with their stocking - this year the things each has specifically asked for cost around £10.

They do get presents from others but it is mainly clothes with the odd game or puzzle.

Their stockings have around twelve 'things' like top trumps, cutlery, football cards, a book, small toy, something they need and some silly bits like whoopee cushions, mini pinball, kazoos, tat we never usually buy them. On top of this they get chocolate coins, satsuma, apple, tube of sweets, small box of cereal, chocolate Santa, and something they especially like. So dd is getting crisps and ds is getting a jar of marmite.

We don't really buy toys at other times, though we would update an outgrown bike or scooter, this feels about right.

JemimaMuddledUp · 04/12/2016 12:53

WRT books, during the year most of our books are borrowed from the library or bought from the Oxfam bookshop (and often donated back after reading). At Christmas though we always have a couple of new hardbacks each as a treat. This includes me - I have Hagseed and Nutshell on my list this year. Nothing nicer than everyone curling up with their new books and a big box of chocolates on Boxing Day!

SatsukiKusakabe · 04/12/2016 15:25

Same as here, jemima, 'new' books are always gifts- dh and I use Kindles/charity shop/library most of the year and make a list of paper books we want for Christmas, and the children get new books then too.

Juanbablo · 04/12/2016 19:09

I think they will end up with about 20 each from Santa, us and each other. They get 1 big thing from us (kindle for the big two, kitchen for the little one), 1 medium present from each other and various bits from Santa ranging from socks and chocolate to dvd and toys.

Muddlingthroughtoo · 04/12/2016 19:16

We get about 20-25. That includes clothes, books and toys. I suppose you buy according to what you can afford and what they have asked for.

belleandsnowwhite · 04/12/2016 22:16

My dd's (14 and 4)both have 18 each which was not deliberate. 14 year old olds cost almost double. 2 Year old ds has 10. This inculdes small bits like books, crayons. They have all got more than they usually get and they won't get as much next year.

Thingiebob · 17/12/2016 12:35

At last count my two, DS 3 and DD 6, have about 12 gifts each from us and will have a few from their Granny. We've spent about fifty pound on each child. We are skint so most gifts have been carefully sourced second-hand in good condition, bargains or delights from the Poundshop. I spread the cost over a few months,

DragonMamma · 17/12/2016 13:22

We must be common because we always have piles of presents.

At last count both of my DC had around 25 presents each and I've just ordered a few more bits.

Their stockings have around 12-13 bits of tat and chocolate etc.

My mother has also bought them around a dozen presents each too, but they'll have them before lunch at her house.

Yes, Christmas is about family and down time together but it's also (to me) about endless wrapping paper and piles of presents to be lugged back upstairs.

Libitina · 17/12/2016 15:44

I don't see the point of buying tat really. It's just a waste of money that goes in the bin by New Year.

Florin · 17/12/2016 17:35

I don't buy for the sake of it I buy what our ds wants. He has a stocking full of little toys up to the value of £10 a pressie but most about £4ish plus some chocolate. From us he has about 5 pressies of about £35 each. We do tend to buy through the year too though. I don't count books or clothes as presents. 2 sets of grandparents will probably buy him a sack of presents each too with one large present from each as well (probably bigger than any of our pressies!) and another grandparent will also buy him a large pressie. An Auntie will also probably but him another large pressie. I don't buy for the sake of it as we simply wouldn't have room for more! We only have on child and he has 2 bedrooms to himself but we still wouldn't have the room if we bought like 30 presents where does everyone put them all especially those with multiple children? However to be honest I don't really care what others do if you can afford it then why not buy what you want.

Revealall · 17/12/2016 17:51

The point of buying lots is because it being a magical time a big pile of presents is wonderous. One or two is pretty much like their birthday.

This probably why it's conserved a bit common too. Obviously if you have lots of nice stuff all year round and Christmas days out etc , you are less likely to be "wowed" by a stack of presents.

Haudyerwheesht · 17/12/2016 19:54

My kids are 10 and 6. They get alot of presents from us and they also get gifts from aunties X 3 and both grandparents.

However they don't get random toys during the year (I do occasionally buy books and craft stuff) although we do pay for their clubs and for days out etc.

We don't get as many gifts for birthdays and tbh I think in the scheme of things my kids don't get more than their friends. For example their friends have hundreds and hundreds of Pokemon cards - they've just been bought randomly. Their friends also get things like tablets and phones replaced at the drop of a hat.

We make sure they are grateful and that they know others aren't so lucky and we give our money to charity as well as time all through the year.

MsJamieFraser · 17/12/2016 20:30

They have about 25-30 each plus a joint bundle of this year of 14 presents (they both asked for these items) plus their stocking and newly decorated bedrooms this year.

Zoflorabore · 17/12/2016 20:35

Haven't counted but wouldn't think to, dd's 5 main presents come to over £600 and that's without everything else, I think it's quality over quantity, whatever the budget.

Ds has 2 main presents that cost roughly the same as dd's, we don't feel it's necessary to get them the same amount to even it up so to speak.

When I was a child my brother would normally get a games console of the 80's and I would get loads of bits and every year he would moan despite the fact his probably cost more!

Zoflorabore · 17/12/2016 20:37

Dd is 5, ds is 13, I obviously have one who believes and one who doesn't so it's easier.

Dampfnudel · 17/12/2016 20:37

There are always 3 from us. And then about 10 bits in the stocking, about 1/3 of which are edible.

I think it's easier to have a set number, as then I have to really think hard and be selective about what to get. I still have a bit of flexibility - I can bundle similar things together as one gift, for example (have done that this year) rather than wrapping everything separately.

I think it will be easier when they are older and want more expensive things - we should always be able to afford 3 things, so there won't be a sudden reduction in volume of gifts (even though there will doubtless be an increase in cost).

Chelazla · 17/12/2016 20:38

My kids have around 30 each off us. They are all stuff they will love from a £40 remote control digger for ds to a £1 pen in the form of a wand for dd! Then grandparents have spent another £250 between them on each child. Don't know how many this equates to! Then a few off friends aunties etc! They are hugely grateful, they look after their toys and aren't spoilt so why not! Strictly toys no clothes for crimbo!

Zoflorabore · 17/12/2016 20:47

I also don't really get hung up on stockings ( excuse the pun ) and my dc get 2-3 special new outfits plus shoes/coat/socks/underwear/pyjamas as standard so wouldn't wrap them up, we choose them together and make a day of it.

I come from a place that goes way OTT at Christmas, what I've got mine would seem quite insubstantial to many but I don't care.
I buy only what they want and need.