Does anyone else regret buying too many presents...

[Lovemusic33]

Dc's are now older but I used to buy them quite a lot of tat (think big piles) for Christmas. I'm horrified at the amount that ended up in landfil broken, pieces missing as well as the huge amount of packaging. Some things never even got looked at. Flimsy plastic tat or gadgets that were fads (played with once). I'm looking at people pictures on Facebook of what they have bought for their dc's, piles of tat that will likely end up in landfil and I feel bad that I used to buy all this rubbish.

So far this year I haven't actually bought anything for my dc's, I dread family members adding to the pile of plastic tat (which I have spent all year removing from my home, mainly because it's broken or unused). This year we are doing the 'something you want (main gift), something you need (clothes), something's no to read and something to make'. I'm trying hard to avoid any tat, I'm sure I will cave and buy a few bits but no big piles, no black bags full of packaging Christmas morning and no items that won't get used.

Anyone else feel the same?

I have been really happy when they asked for one big thing and made it clear that that was all they were getting - happened a couple of times with both DD’s
I usually just buy things they would need anyway and wrap them up tbh - like pyjamas, fancy school stuff (stabilo pen sets etc), fancy soap, pricey hair stuff like bed head. They seem happy with this. Also they are happy with vouchers or a cheque but have plenty of stuff to open

This is why I bought ds a zoo pass last year. It took up no space in my home and has given a lot of pleasure.

This Christmas I am not buying any presents.....I just want to enjoy Christmas for what it really means

I've bought a lot in the past but avoided tat. Pretty much everything they outgrew went to other children or school.

We avoided stockings as they seemed mostly tat and brought nice toys and board games. They always got the items they wanted too.

Craft items like play dough, colouring books etc are disposable in their very nature but bring many hours of enjoyment before they get thrown away.

So what is the difference between tat and 'nice toys' YellowMakesMeSmile ? Or anybody?

Is tat from Wilko/Poundland?
Argos/Sainsbury's? Tiger?

DS received a £1 woopee cushion last year which has been played with almost daily since. I refused to get the very expensive Paw Patrol stuff as it looked like it'd break as soon as you breathed on it - but we bought a Paw Patrol umbrella which hasn't blown inside out yet. Which was tat? Is it all tat?

Is non-tat made of wood and/or educational? My child hated play doh/plasticine, so it kicked about the house until it dried up - so in my personal experience, it was tat.

@elQuinto
To me tat is either the stuff that breaks as soon as you look at it. Dd had a Mickey mouse club house shape sorter from the disney store (£20) it broke maybe the 3rd time she played with it. So that was tat.
Things that I buy just to bulk out the pile like make your own soap is imo tat, it won't get played with so it will kick about the house until I get fed up and get rid of it.

I think there is a difference between buying lots and buying tat.

My children often get 20 presents from us and Santa each year, but actually only 3 or 4 of them will be toys and there won’t be any tat. Most of their presents are a mix of nice food items, replacement consumables, things they need / want for their hobbies and essentials.

So for example, last year they got...

Chocolate cereal and bubble gum (we don’t usually buy this)
Nice chocolates, Lush bath bombs, new leggings, new set of underwear, new pjs and slippers, a few new tops, new crayoning sets (when needed) nice stationery for school, phone cases... and so on.

Some items like a new pack of highlighters are only a couple of pounds, others are more expensive. But in effect, it costs less because they would be bought anyway, we just choose to give it for Christmas rather than buying random gifts (I never do this, if I see something they’d like, I always buy it and put it away until Christmas or birthday).

But lots of presents does not need to equal lots of tat.

I would say 'tat' is plastic, badly made, easily breakable toys.

Last year I bought joke glasses, light up balloons from the pound shop, ketchup guns - all of these can now be found on landfill sites.

My DS had his 3rd birthday last month and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by toys. Hoping to keep Christmas toys to a minimum without being a Scrooge. So far we've got him two Lego sets, and I've seem a jigsaw I'm planning to buy. I'll get a couple of books and stocking fillers and might leave it at that unless I think of any other really good ideas.

We have a Christmas birthday here too. So I have gone s bit more practical. I bought the Trunki suitcases. Also some Lego (as this is timeless) and added bits and pieces to existing toys (train set addition, toy tools)

I am happy I haven't gone for too much tat.

There is still plenty (hot wheels and that but will all be used)

I have no problem putting away toys from relatives for a later date if there is too much.

We also have a child's Christmas birthday wobbly so it is a very expensive time!