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Christmas

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Original poster

Kids Xmas, is it enough

389 replies

Ywosdwos · 08/11/2020 12:44

So here is what I have so far and now I think I'm spoiling the kids...

DS1 11 YO -
Lego star wars darth vader tower
Lego stranger things
Lego star wars genesis
Lego ideas nasa
Lego creator book shop
Lego Xmas train
Lego star wars at p walker
Lego madalorian set
The child mandarlorian teddy
Lego colleseum
Inline roller skates
Lego star wars sith art

DS2 aged 9

Lego lamborghini
Lego ideas piano
Lego marvel hellcarier
Lego marvel avengers tower
Lego star wars boost
Lego marvel art
Football
Roller skates
Magic trick set
Retro sega mega drive
Lego architecture London
Break the board
Madalroian teddy
Lego super Mario starter set
Lego super Mario Castle
Lego technic cement mixer

DD aged 7
Lol doll remix super surprise
Fun locket secret journal
Kodak printomatic
So bomb DIY
Present pets
Squeake interactive dog
My own rainbow
Vtech secret diary
Scruff a lov snow pal
Little live pet bird
Flossi flamingo
Rainbowcorn
My baby tumbles
Hatchimal flying fairy
Lots of teddies
Aquabeads
Playabil scooby doo
Little live pet fish
So slime
Kenitic sand

OP posts:
Original poster
Ywosdwos · 09/11/2020 10:34

@user686827 does lego care. If lego didn't exist I'd be happy as my kids wouldn't ask for it. But it does and if I don't buy it someone will so how does the environmental speech just fall to me. Lego is always selling out of their sets so whoever buys it the outcome would be the same. I know its a lot of plastic but so are 90% of toys, household items etc etc nowadays

OP posts:
laudemio · 09/11/2020 10:39

Of course it is relevant, every pound you spend today is a pound you can't spend in the future. Add in compound interest and you can end up with some big numbers.
We earn a great deal by anyones standards, I would not spend that much on Christmas and I would certainly salt away decent savings first. I think to be able to give your children meaningful life choices is more important than a huge pile of lego.

Original poster
Ywosdwos · 09/11/2020 10:42

@laudemio again only relevant if I was doing this every year and every year blowing a truck tonne on lego. This is very much a one off and all years before and after hopefully we will be saving etc... but I've done it once and like my post says my mum is kicking off over it... one time in 11 years and I get more abuse then all the years of being frugal

OP posts:
bumblebumblebumblebee · 09/11/2020 10:44

So if this year is a one off, and in your first post you already knew where spoiling them, then what is the point of this whole post?

No having a go, genuinely pondering

Ickabog · 09/11/2020 10:46

This is very much a one off and all years before and after hopefully we will be saving etc..

You could have spent £500 each this year which would be more than geneorus if they're used to a more frugal Christmas, and saved the other £1500 in their saving accounts.

Original poster
Ywosdwos · 09/11/2020 10:48

@bumblebumblebumblebee because I wanted to rant.. it is a lot but my mum makes it out like I've committed a sin somehow.. and its like ... really???... is it so bad I've had none stop abuse from her for weeks..... is it really that much to have that kind of headache over....

OP posts:
Original poster
Ywosdwos · 09/11/2020 10:50

@Ickabog its because they didn't get to go on holiday this year like we promised them as it was cancelled so that was a let down, their dads mum passed away in April and we couldn't even get to the funeral because of Covid... and so shit year for them I spoilt them more then I should have but felt it was a nice thing to do.. didn't think it would cause drama from my mum... normally we spend £300 per child and they are happy either way but wanted to make it more this year

OP posts:
Ignoringequally · 09/11/2020 10:53

[quote Ywosdwos]@Ickabog its because they didn't get to go on holiday this year like we promised them as it was cancelled so that was a let down, their dads mum passed away in April and we couldn't even get to the funeral because of Covid... and so shit year for them I spoilt them more then I should have but felt it was a nice thing to do.. didn't think it would cause drama from my mum... normally we spend £300 per child and they are happy either way but wanted to make it more this year[/quote]
So if you normally spend £300 and they’re happy, you would know that spending £1000 per child is ‘enough’ yes? You asked in your title whether it was enough.

Bikingbear · 09/11/2020 10:54

Right so you drop a shed load of lego on them and next year your back to £300 and three very disappointed kids.

You really need to listen to your mum.

Original poster
Ywosdwos · 09/11/2020 10:55

@Ignoringequally yes and my wording was incorrect.. I should have worded it with my mums annoying... I was fuming when I was writing ...

I know its enough but what I was trying to ask is it too much that it's worth weeks of abuse from my mum...

OP posts:
Original poster
Ywosdwos · 09/11/2020 10:56

@Bikingbear yes I did but they know that they will get more as they missed their holiday.. I've explained to them so they know and they won't be disappointed as they are more mature than that.. as for my daughter that's her standard pile even in normal.times as she only asks for smaller not so expensive things so gets a lot more then them

OP posts:
Ignoringequally · 09/11/2020 10:58

[quote Ywosdwos]@Ignoringequally yes and my wording was incorrect.. I should have worded it with my mums annoying... I was fuming when I was writing ...

I know its enough but what I was trying to ask is it too much that it's worth weeks of abuse from my mum...[/quote]
Well no one should be abusing anyone really.

steppemum · 09/11/2020 11:00

wow.

I know every parent is different, but just to compare, mine woudl have got a
stocking with bits and bobs in
one large lego kit as their main gift.
Then an 4-5 small items usually around £10 to unwrap eg an annual, or game.

I find your list quite stunning. Just 100s pounds per child.
WOW

Ickabog · 09/11/2020 11:00

I know its enough but what I was trying to ask is it too much that it's worth weeks of abuse from my mum...

Your mum saying they're spoilt isn't abuse. I appreciate you and the children have had a tough year, but mountains of presents isn't going to replace their grandma or the holiday they missed out on.

I also think you run the risk of disappointed children in the future. Going from £300 to £1000 in presents is a huge leap, and no matter how frugally you shop next year will be be very different in terms of gifts they recieve. I really do think it would be more sensible to return some gifts, especially the fake Lego and duplicate seceret diary, and save the money for something fun in the future.

Original poster
Ywosdwos · 09/11/2020 11:01

@Ignoringequally and that is all I wanted to know.. if it warranted it... what i spend determines how my mum treats me.. so much so she is now saying that as I did so she won't be getting anything for the kids... wtaf... so as u can imagine I'm livid...

OP posts:
anappleadaykeeps · 09/11/2020 11:01

Please can you add me to your shopping list too - I love Lego!

Ickabog · 09/11/2020 11:03

so much so she is now saying that as I did so she won't be getting anything for the kids...

I'm not defending her behaviour, but I can see why she has reacted like this. You've spent so much that she may genuinely feel that anything she buys will be overlooked by the sheer volume of other gifts, or will look cheap and insignificant compared to the expensive presents.

LittleMissLockdown · 09/11/2020 11:04

so much so she is now saying that as I did so she won't be getting anything for the kids

To be fair if I were her I would be struggling to think what else I could get that your children would play with or enjoy. You've not really left much room for others to buy them anything and her gifts are just going to be lost in amongst the already huge amount of stuff.

Original poster
Ywosdwos · 09/11/2020 11:05

@Ickabog only fake lego is the colleseum. Rest are from the lego shop.. so id be concerned if they were fake.. I get 25% of lego, argos, curry's etc as part of a package at work
. I'm not trying to replace grandma at all but I won't lie I am trying to replace the lack of holiday and the disappointment of it. My son will be 10 in December during this 2nd lockdown so can't even have any kind of small party even with 1 friend..

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 09/11/2020 11:06

I get the point re holiday but yes, I think 1k is excessive per child. Also not sure if the logic on spending so much on one day so present opening becomes a conveyor belt but then only doing 2 presents on their birthday.

I'd save the holiday money and look at going away twice if AL allows it, or spending it on some annual passes once the world stops being shit.

Original poster
Ywosdwos · 09/11/2020 11:07

@LittleMissLockdown okay see if she said it like that I'd understand more as I never saw it from.that point of view.. just my own I won't lie.
That's why I posted so that I can see what I've done wrong here.. I guess she is probably thinking what she can get for them now I've got them everything 🤔

OP posts:
Ignoringequally · 09/11/2020 11:08

[quote Ywosdwos]@Ickabog only fake lego is the colleseum. Rest are from the lego shop.. so id be concerned if they were fake.. I get 25% of lego, argos, curry's etc as part of a package at work
. I'm not trying to replace grandma at all but I won't lie I am trying to replace the lack of holiday and the disappointment of it. My son will be 10 in December during this 2nd lockdown so can't even have any kind of small party even with 1 friend..[/quote]
I get that, we had two holidays cancelled and DD’s birthday is this week (not only in lockdown but also isolating due to a positive case in her class, so she can’t even see her friends at school).
I’m compensating with telling her she can watch a film in my bed with popcorn when her siblings are asleep though, not with £1000 of presents Grin.
To be fair she’s the same age as your daughter but doesn’t like toys particularly so wouldn’t be interested in a big pile of them for Christmas.

DanceWMe · 09/11/2020 11:11

That's at least 3x what I get my kids and we are quite comfortable and consider our kids spoiled. :)

Original poster
Ywosdwos · 09/11/2020 11:13

@Ignoringequally I guess everyone does things differently ands why you watch these forums to see others views and what they do.. but to insult is not on.. imo.

My daughter likes toys but she prefers to cuddle and watch Disney movies too... and the only toys she loves is those what she can play with others.. she visually impaired so there are toys she has that are not on the list that we got from RNIB

OP posts:
TheLastStarfighter · 09/11/2020 11:18

@Ywosdwos I’ve not read the whole thread, just the first page and your comments.

Only you know what works for your family, and I’m sorry your mum has been giving you a hard time. It sounds like your kids are very sensible with how they store away the Lego sets and then complete them one at a time, savouring them. It sounds like they have been very well brought up. How lovely to be able to “spoil them” as a big treat, while knowing they will appreciate it. I hope it brings you all joy!

I would appreciate some advice though .... I have pretty much stopped buying Lego because we have run out of places to display it. What do your kids like to do with the finished sets? Do they keep them all on display, or rotate some of them into storage, or pass them on to others?