Is anyone else trying to buy less this year?

[Misty9]

Dc, 4 and 7, really don't need any more toys or stuff so I'm trying to keep it small this year but am losing my resolve! They've got one main present each, a father Christmas present and a stocking.

It's enough right?! Anyone else trying to cut down?

I am, my dc are 12 and 9, they just don't know what they want. It was the same last year. I ended up buying loads of 'stuff' because I was worried they wouldn't have enough to open. It was a total waste of money. My friend uses a lovely poem with her dc (age 5 and 3)...
Something you want,
Something you need,
Something to wear,
Something to read.
Work is taking her to Kenya this Christmas, so the children will be going along. They're collecting somethings to deliver to the orphanage on Christmas Day, which is such a gorgeous idea.

Good for you. Seriously. Every year I vow to cut down but I always get carried away. I admire your resolve. They will have a fabulous Christmas. A couple of presents and a stocking sounds lovely.

I've bought Dd17 a coffee machine and that's it.
No more random stuff for the sake of it.

Yes, I just have two books and a big present for my son, oh and a stocking with crayons, paper, stickers and fruit for while I'm waking up.

My family, on the other hand, didn't get the memo...

Thank you identifyastired

I keep seeing 'fun' plastic tat and feeling the urge...but resisting so far then worrying I'm being a Xmas killjoy. But they don't need anything! And past experience is the stocking stuff is pretty much ignored... I just need to avoid the shops

Yes, less senseless waste here. We've opted out of the tit-for-tat exchanges of unwanted, expensive wrapped presents and we're giving experiences (e.g. theatre vouchers) and small treats to the adults. Obviously we can't stop everyone from doing as they wish, but it will be the first year I'm giving things I know are going to be used and appreciated.

I don't think three presents are enough though, I still remember the absolute joy of coming down seeing a pile of presents as a child! We didn't have loads of money and in retrospect lots of those presents were things we would have got at other times but I think the appeal of the pile still holds strong and there are lots of things that are cheap but not tat or a waste - eg, a ream of white paper, felt tips or pencils, pyjamas, novelty patterned socks and undies, poster paints, sets of books (lovely box sets at the Book People), bath bombs, magnetic or foam letters, face cloths with characters on, comics or magazines you normally say no to, a can of fizzy pop (massive treat in our house) or a pack of something "all to themselves", variety pack of cereal if you don't usually have it, posters/stickers for bedroom walls, stationery like a tape dispenser, hole punch or stapler (weirdly so popular!), stencils, a blackboard and chalks...

I tried and massively failed finished my shopping in July with a few decent presents each . The the argos 3 for 2 came and the smyths £10 of for every 50 and the Christmas twitch got me bad and now I've rain out of hiding spaces and there taking over my mum's spare room !! Oh well I'll try again next year 🤔🙄😂

Ran *

Yes. Just had a bereavement so the excessiveness of it just turns me off this year.
I have three children. My eldest is getting a desk for his room so not cheap exactly but at least it's not a waste as such. Middle DD is getting books and a new art box. She loves reading and painting so they will be used. Youngest is only four so not sure yet but will spend less on her as she doesn't know the cost of things! Hoping to avoid unneeded toys, any ideas?
Other than that it's an item of clothing needed and a new dressing gown. This is all combined with other relatives.
Stockings I've tried to avoid plastic tat.
I've cut down hugely on other things. Cards and shows and nights out. We will just have a quite and cosy one with hopefully quality time together. Food will be simple but nice.
My kids haven't really asked for anything so it's nice to do a few quality surprises
The shops do draw you in though!

I can totally understand why parents would buy only a couple of things for their children. When ours were young they had so many presents from grandparents, uncles, aunts etc. that we had to rein in what we bought for them. Our pile of presents for them could look quite miserly, but we knew there was also a Scalextric, a huge Lego set, a doll's pram... I'm guessing this isn't unique to our families.

Not that long ago when we were young, we'd have something like a money box or an annual from grandparents. The 'big presents from everyone' thing took us by surprise when we had our own children.

I'm estranged from my family so nothing else from my side. Husband's family generous. I really used to worry about there not being enough but this seems so out of the true spirit somehow especially this year when we've lost someone close.

I applaud the reasoning behind it and I understand it. But part of the joy of Christmas when you're a child is coming down to a big pile of gifts.

I go mad at Christmas and this year has been. I different but I have made some tweaks. I consider the purchases more. Err actually that's just one tweak

So I don't think a couple of gifts is enough at the age of your children. Seems a bit miserable to me

However that's just my opinion and you do what works for you

Yes.

I see the way the gifts bought in the past haven't been used. So I'm going very basic, practical, chocolate things for stocking. And a main gift of their choice. I used to buy a book each too but since mine seem to have stopped reading I'm restraining myself.

With adults I'm trying to arrange no buy agreements.

Argh, this is weakening my resolve! Dc have 8 grandparents due to remarriage on both sides, but we do seem to have finally got them on message so it's not too overwhelming from them either. Most of the list you mention thefifthkey is stuff we would buy for them as needed anyway... ds in particular is easily overwhelmed and tears through presents barely looking when there are loads. I have in the past wrapped up pjs and books etc but they've had present exhaustion by then and it was pointless.

Ds has asked for one thing only (a particular book) and generally goes through all consuming obsessions so there's no point getting him anything else until this one passes probably in bloody January and dd just doesn't play with a lot of things, she more wants my attention.

gunge your plans sound lovely

There are other times in the year when children may really appreciate new things: a small example would be stationery in August / September. I used to put some things like that in for the primary/ early secondary age kids but I stopped as it was like it wasn't seen.

I do put a pens the older ones stocking to bulk it out!

Christmas is about the decorated house, Baby Jesus (!), hearing / singing carols and festive meals and gifts on Christmas morning. A bigger pile of presents doesn't add anything imo. (Having said that mine will each get a selection box and annual because it's traditional in our family , if some families aren't into that it's hardly my place to call them miserable. Lol at the thought!)

Something well chosen which will be appreciated, then stop!

Of course a big box can help when they are little!

Definitely. I've cut right back on everything this year as I dont want to spend huge amounts and I really, really want to get a bit of the proper spirit of Christmas back - spending time with loved ones, nice food, sharing and kindness etc - without all the endless buying of shite.

Not buying as many presents or spending as much on my DC. Its all got a bit too much in recent years and I am putting a stop to it .

Also not going too big on food this year. Usually I stock the kitchen enough to feed the five thousand and spend £££, but its totally unnecessary. As long as we have some nice festive grub for Christmas Eve & Day, and plenty of leftovers for boxing day, that's enough.

No expensive tickets or Winter Wonderland or any of that, either. Going to concentrate on cheap Christmassy experiences like baking, making homemade decs, walk in the woods etc.

And I WILL NOT TWITCH this year [

I've always just done 2 or 3 gifts under the tree for my children (plus a stocking that they open as soon as they wake).
I don't think it's stingy or disappointing. And we don't put it in piles, it is just mixed up under the tree; the excitement is seeing everything under there and wondering which ones are for you.

They have each got two presents under the tree this year, but we are seeing family on Christmas day, so there will be extra presents from them too.

I'm not spending so much either. I just want a relaxed Christmas, surrounded by everyone I love :)

I'm really wobbling now after going into the city today...

My children are 6 & 3 and every year so far I have been restrained - one or two tree presents and a stocking. But this year I've gone the other way. I really felt a bit disappointed last year that the 'opening' was over so quickly - remembering how never ending it seemed from my own childhood.

I had been telling myself in the run up to last year that they would get lots of presents from various family members, which they do, but they don't come ahead of Christmas day, so are never part of a 'pile'. They generally get them when we see various family members.

So this year I've bought lots (prob still a lot less than some of the lists I see!) and I can't wait!!

What have you bought DORC ??

I totally agree with you in theory but I just can't do it. I think they're little for such a short time really that I want to make the most of the magical feeling and for me a big pile of presents is part of that.

I will say though that I think the children are much less bothered about things like number of presents, not doing elf on the shelf etc than we parents are. So I'm sure your dc wouldn't be disappointed with a couple of lovely gifts.

As you can see I'm on the fence 

We have tried, although not overly succeeded with our own children. We have, however, stuck to either nice clothes, books or good quality toys (wooden or Lego) for nieces and God-children). For the few adult we buy for, we have bought things like one box of nice chocolates, a jigsaw, nice bottle or a voucher. In all cases, these have been carefully considered and are things the people will use.

We have also cut back on all the general ‘accessories’. I kept flashing light novelties etc last year, so have not added to them this year. Stocking g fillers are practical or things the boys ‘collect’, so ethics bath bombs, chocolate, torches, stationary, Schleich animals).

We are also wrapping in brown paper and string, and have cut back on cards etc.

We are far from perfect, but it’s better Han most years.