Anyone scaling back a bit this year?

[bubblylocks]

Last year, we went ridiculously overboard for DD for Xmas. I had a really vihara year and it made me happy to buy her lovely things. I think she ended up with 23 toys from just us last year (she was only 2.5) and got bored, didn't appreciate with them (they have all been played with at some point but some only once etc). This year, we're scaling it right back so we don't set massive expectations and save money on things she doesn't need. She's getting a few lovely toys, books, something to wear and crafts as opposed to 23 toys. However, I keep seeing things online and it's so hard to stop myself from buying her lots again and getting into that mindset of the more, the better'. I really want to scale back, is anyone else doing that this year? This is very much not a boasting thread, I feel a bit sick at how much I spent last year so I definitely don't advise spending that much.

I say a bit.. quite a bit more in my case!

I’m definitely scaling back, my daughter had so much last year and a lot of it hasn’t been played with, only getting a few toys this year, games, clothes, I have also asked my family not to go overboard.
I am also scaling back on buying for friends, usually spend a lot on 3 friends but after the horrendous year I have had so far Covid and none Covid related I have really seen who my real friends are and will be putting a stop to spoiling them at Christmas like usual.
I am instead going to be putting the money into savings for a well earned holiday when it’s safe to do so

This is a great idea and I wish I had done this when the kids were younger. It's so much harder when they're older with as you say 'set expectations' now. You buy them for example an Xbox game at £50 their piles look so much smaller.
In fact I was saying to dh the other day I wish we'd told our kids Santa brings the stocking and the parents buyg everything else (my friends were told this as kids but I'd never heard of it til a few years ago - I had a mum mad for Christmas and everything came from Santa)

My dds don't get much these days. I don't quite subscribe to the mn 4 things ( 1 want 1 need 1 eat 1 book) but I do aim for around 5 presents each plus stockings. But it takes thought to ensure that those 5 things are enough to fill the whole day/ week. So a board game that entertains us all for a while, a craft set that can be a large enough project to sustain their interest, etc. I put A LOT of thought into ensuring they have things they can play with together, play with us, and play alone. I think when you scale down, you are forced to put in far far more consideration and thought into every thing, as you can't have a "fail" as it were. It's actually easier to just over indulge and buy loads and loads.

We've definitely scaled back. DC are getting some clothes, books and a couple of toys each plus stockings. It's not just for the DC, we're going more low key for all presents...just a bottle of something or some nice chocolates etc for parents/siblings. I'm actually really enjoying it, finding it less stressful and just giving something that I know will be used.

I do know what you mean about seeing things and being tempted to buy more though, I also get particularly tempted when it's for the DC but they really don't need more stuff and if I keep it pared back I'm hoping they'll really appreciate what they do get.

We did similar when DD was little, bought quite a lot and then scaled back the next year as she got bored and tetchy opening presents and it was just a waste. It's easy to do though as things are relatively cheap for little ones. Plus we dont have a large family so the kids only get a handful of presents apart from us and Santa (he brings 1 present and the stocking).

Nowadays we pretty much buy everything and family members give us some money so I try to have a strict list of 1 present from each person, (plus the cat joins in and siblings get each other something) plus Santa and some nice things in the stocking as well as toothbrushes etc. When I'm tempted by something else I look at the list and only get it if I've got a gap.

I also include some experience gifts like theatre tickets or an annual pass somewhere so it's not all toys.

I’m trying to and finding using an app helps. I also bulked things out last year as my eldest had a switch by putting some wrapped presents inside larger boxes and then wrapping again to give more of a WOW look when they walk into the room without buying stuff to make the piles look bigger.

I do tend to buy a lot but stuff they need or useful things included (so den making kit that they will love) football boot bags. Nice lunchboxes and stationary.
They are getting the usual big presents but I don't fill up the house with more clutter and 'stuff' They wont use.

The last 3 years have been really hard on my DC as I've been ill and in hospital for most of it. Last year out of guilt I went majorly over the top! I was doing a bit of decluttering the other day and found a couple of things my DD had never actually opened and some things in a giftbag my DS had not looked at! Also I ended up throwing away Christmas chocolate this year that had not been eaten and gone off.

So my plan this year is to stick to the things they really want and things I know they will use/eat (but not too much!). So I'm getting them one main present from myself and my partner. No more than 10 extra presents (may sound a lot but will be clothes, books, art and craft stuff mainly. A few dolls clothes and a 'jewellery' box (actually for keeping hair stuff in) for DD. Pokemon cards and an album to keep them in for DS. Then I'm going to do them a 'hamper' each. This will have some chocolate/sweets/biscuits, nice toiletries, nice socks, hair things for DD, coffee pods for DS and a couple of novelties but only things they will actually use so some reindeer ear muffs for DD and a snowman spatula for DS. I'm planning on making some of the sweets and a 'biscuit ingredient' jar each too.

On top of their stockings (3 small things they want each plus Christmas socks, chocolate coins, satsuma and candy cane) and their St.Nicolaas treats (on 5th December) that is plenty!

Me, I'm cutting back, because I'm about out of ideas and I can't cope with many more toys in the house. We also caved in to buying DS an Xbox during lockdown mainly to open a communication channel with his friends.

I'm normally really bad at buying stuff in mid summer sales then come Christmas I have a pile of extras. I just haven't been browsing and I'm really struggling for ideas for DS2. Can't have DS1 with a huge pile and DS2 with next to nothing.