Is anyone doing the 4 gift thing?

[hattiesmumm]

I really don't fancy spending hundreds on "stuff" this year just so I don't feel guilty. Last year dd 9 and ds 7 had so much stuff that they haven't touched, or bothered about! Ds loves the iPad, he doesn't really play anymore, nor does my dd really.

Ds has asked for a xbox one which I think I'm going to get second hand unless and offers are out near the time.

Dd wants an iPhone which again I'm buying second hand.

I want to get them both something read.

Something they need, to wear and probably one or two fun things.

I feel so bad though 🙈We don't have a big family so they don't get much, but I don't want to waste money.

Also will have dd 1 who will be 18 months, what do I get her?!

Help :(

An xbox and an iphone are pretty awesome gifts and certainly nothing to feel guilty about! You don't need to get masses of stuff for the sake of it but I also see no reason to keep the number of gifts to 4- just buy what you think they'll need and like and you can afford.
Don't feel you have to spend the same amount on the 18month old. Just get her some toys she'll like, she won't be comparing!

Most gifts are in these categories.
Does it matter if it's 4 or 14 gifts?
4 more expensive gifts for a teen will equate to many more parcels to open for littler ones as your budget goes further if you feel costs should be equal.

Mine are older now 16, 15, 13 and 11 and so they don't actually want much at all. I have decided to go along the 4 gift idea plus a useful stocking.

Mine have 5 big presents (4 plus joke) and then a sack full of useful things....

Clothes/undies/treat foods/stationery/books/family board game / things for room or hobbies etc...

These are things that would be bought anyway, but for example I'll get nicer undies for Christmas.

I think I'm going to do this for the DC this year - they don't expect masses of presents but it would probably make them enjoy each one more if there were fewer.
DS is getting smart clothes to wear on a theatre outing with my DM, have chosen an eye searing pair of trousers and will get or make a top. DD is easy to get nice dresses for or maybe wellies as most of DS' aren't worth handing down.
Magazines for reading - I think Okido and Story Box.
DS definitely wants a remote control car and DD probably would love something similar.
And DS is getting a new bed. So just need to work out what DD needs!

Yup 4 presents here. Plus a couple of plastic tat things/colouring books to bulk it out. The biggest item from us (the want ), smallest bits (need, wear, read and plastic crap) from santa.

I did this last year for the first time and actually found it really helpful as a principle, I still bought more, but it was definitely more limited than previous years!

My kids only get 1-2 presents from Santa 🎅 & 1-2 from us plus presents from family... (Not big!)
We have done this for quite a few years ... it works for us, it's a lot easier but depending on presents not cheaper.
Keeps the

My 18 month old will be getting clothes, a couple of books, and probably a small In the Night Garden toy. He's going to get so many fun toys from the rest of the family, as well as already having an unholy number of toys from last Xmas and his birthday, and I'm thoroughly broke, so am keeping it all very low key.

An Xbox and an iPhone, even 2nd hand, are pretty big presents, so there's nothing wrong with not piling up a load of other gifts.

Yep. We do it and it's a principle we like- nice and simple and not overwhelming, nor is it expensive!

We don't do FC - Saint Nicholas visits on 6th December (DH is German and hates the concept of FC/Santa Claus with a passion!). We also follow the jolablokaflod tradition (books on Christmas Eve - it's an Icelandic tradition).

DS is only 2 so I wonder how long we can keep it going for, but for now it works for us.

I have 2dds (dd1 = age 10, dd2 = 6 on 23rd Dec!)
I have done the 4 present thing for aboutique 3 years now. Girls didn't really notice the change. I spend about the same amount as I did before but the presents seem more appreciated.
For example, last year I bought:
1 main 'expensive' present (last year dd1 got an iPad mini - subsidised with club card , dd2 got a bicycle)
1 lego set each
1 art/craft or playdoh set each
1 set of books each
I also do a stocking for each of them.

We also don't have a big family.
The girls only have one set of grandparents - who buy 1 gift for each girl (approx £30 on each).
And 2 aunts: 1 who buys a £10 book token for each girl. 1 who spends about £30-40 on each girl.

We see the only set of grandparents on Boxing day each year. Therefore the girls receive their gift from them and the aunt's book tokens then.
So, under the tree on Christmas morning, it is only the 4 gifts from us and the gift from my sister.
It works for us. The girls are happy. They don't seem overwhelmed (as they were before we went to 4 gifts) nor underwhelmed. They spend time playing with each present.

We're going to do this. Every year I buy loads and it ends up unappreciated and Christmas is just a never ending cycle of opening things.

Totally refuse to do this as think the point of Xmas is mounds of paper and presents 😀 But realise I may be in the minority. My kids are still young though and will often play with 4/5 different sets of toys in one day