How to not buy more out of guilt?

[Ohdoleavemealone]

My kids just had their birthdays. There isn't much more they want or need and now they are back in school, they only have the weekends to use stuff anyway.

I have about 5 things on the list for each of them, one will be a present from granparents though but will be there xmas morning. There is a joint family present for us all to play with after xmas dinner.
They will get a few etxra bits on boxing day if we get to see wider family.

I struggle every year with "well its not going to be an overwhelming sight" but I don't want to buy things for the sake of it!!
What do others do?

Can you buy things that are fun but will get consumed e.g. interesting snacks and drinks, socks that are themed but will still be worn, quirkier than normal hair accessories or pens etc. That way there is a bit more but it’s things you would have bought anyway.

I usually do that for stocking fillers. Could get selection boxes though

I think it sounds sensible, and an amount where they can play/enjoy their new toys without being overwhelmed. Otherwise I think toys lose their novelty but aren't played with if they get 20 things in one go

I've tried to be really sensible like that this year so when choosing extras, I'm being really strict on myself and thinking 'will it actually be used'?

I got board games for around a tenner or less each, which have really bulked up the present pile. My thinking is that they will probably be played Christmas day and Christmas week, then if they are played once a week/every two weeks after that, its better than the toys that are never played with again.

Last year we got yearly subscriptions for the kids (one to Tinker Crate, one to Mel Chemistry), so I was worried there wasn’t a big pile of presents to unwrap.

They had a stocking and about 3 smallish presents each. I was so worried they would be disappointed that I nearly bought reserve presents to bring out in case of calamity 😁 but I needn’t have worried because they were pleased with what they got.

I usually do a bath bomb hamper which is very practical as it's used for every bath time and is actually one of my ds favourite gifts. He asks for it every year. I also do a craft hamper, again it's filled with stuff which actually gets used and can be as big or little as possible.
I wouldn't do those though if I knew ds didn't like Bath bombs or crafts.

Read some articles about consumerism, the environment and kids been overwhelmed with toys to remind yourself that this better for them. I too struggle with the twitch.

No need to buy to make a pile OP :) if they're not wanting for anything they will have an awesome day. A family gift sound a lovely too!

I usually add in some £1 arts and crafts packs, books always feature. I got a great deal this year via Usborne, but pound shops, the works and bnm etc have similar cheap deals.

I usually add in something which is an extension to an already loved and well played activity or toy, like playmobil or lego but that obviously depends on what they like and what gifts you have.

But I always stick to a budget and won't buy tat. Though because we have a large family, my lo always receives a lovely range of gifts etc.

I think what's harder is if its obvious that one child's 5 gifts are worth more financially than another's....

It’s plenty, it really is!

Ours got too much last Christmas and several things didn’t really get looked at. I have recently found them in the games box and we have really enjoyed having the time to explore the toys properly. I’ll definitely be buying less this year, and anything that doesn’t initially get live, will be going away to be really-explored later on.

If you really want, maybe include a ‘voucher’ to choose a toy later in the year?

I find this hard too. My dd’s are getting older so don’t need/want piles of presents but I love buying things and wrapping them. I love the pile under the tree.

Dd1 is now 16 and has asked for either cash or a tablet, she has told me not to buy her anything else other than stocking presents, she says the stocking is the best bit 🤣, I usually fill their stocking with small items ranging from 50p each to £5.

I really need to stop myself getting carried away this year. Each time I want to buy something I ask myself “will it get used?, will it still get used in a months time? And do we have space for it?”, usually the answer is no to all 3 so I don’t buy it.

God I wished I knew the secret to not twitching!!!!
I do feel this year however with lockdown etc I’ve realised that they don’t use half the stuff I buy to bulk out the piles. I’m going to try really hard not to buy much and I think it will be easier this year as going out randomly for shopping is not as frequent due to Covid.