Kids Xmas, is it enough

[Ywosdwos]

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

Blimey I thought we were generous with £500 limit each (that does include some Lego for the younger one). I'm sure they'd be thrilled with half of it and some investment in a university fund.

I actually did an experiment last year and really simplified the presents. We could afford to spend as much as we wanted but I wanted to focus more on the joy of the season and not the presents.

We did lots of lovely things in December (we do spend on trips and experiences). But we also bought Christmas food for the food banks etc and discussed this with out children.

Did they notice that the presents were reduce? No! They played more with what the had, weren’t overwhelmed and seemed really happy. Bigger doesn’t always mean better in my experience.

It is depends where you buy your holiday and what type of holiday.

Our holidays have never cost that much. For very young dc you can give them second hand, free stuff. One year I had a huge sack from a free cycler who was clearing out before Xmas. We got lovley stuff, free, eco.. And passed it on again...

Win, win, win...

Clearing out our loft, so many toys got placed up there (plus my old vinyl )😊

Applebloss0m can I ask roughly how many gifts did you plan to give this year per child inc family gifts?
I don't want know value as I don't like discussing budgets on here. I am never sure how much I should pad piles out by.

In the past when I have bought too much (it’s happened a few times) I have noticed that most things only get played with once, there’s also a lot more mess to tidy up, both DD’s were just overwhelmed and unsure what to play with first and then ended up only really playing with one item which was usually something that cost less than £5 such as a tea set my mum bought them from wilko’s.

There’s no right or wrong way of doing Christmas, no set limit other than what you can afford but I find for us it’s best they have one main gift that they have asked for (no real limit on price but obviously nothing silly), so a big Lego set for dd2 this year and a ipad for dd1 which she needs, I then trying and buy 5 smaller things that will get used or played with. Dd2 is pretty easy to buy for as she still loves Lego and loves STEM toys, dd1 is trickier and I’m struggling, so far she has 2 smaller gifts. I try and buy things that will have a wow factor but will also get used for the rest of the year.

If I bought dd2 that amount of Lego she would still build it over the course of a couple days and then not have much to do for the rest of the year, so £1000 worth of Lego for a couple days building? I would rather spend that money on a holiday or experiences or even a piece of equipment that will be used all year (dd would love her own surf board or paddleboard).

I understand people wanting to spoil there kids this year due to covid but will they really appreciate being showered with Lego sets?

I’ve never known my kids of any friends/family kids to be overwhelmed with the presents they’ve got. They always enjoyed opening them and playing with them even when there were loads.

*or

Sure, for the older primary school age child - one main present. Then a nice book, I get a new one every year and then we have a nice collection to read in December.

Grandparents would probably buy another biggish present set (Lego etc). They will get presents from other grandparents and cousins. A couple of gifts from close friends.

Other gifts from us would probably include fancy dress outfit and a game like doble. Then stocking gifts. We also have new pjs Christmas Eve/new Christmas outfit (jumper etc).

The pile wasn’t massive last year and I as worried there might be some Disappointment but it was perfect. Everything was enjoyed, easy to put away.

For a 'communications manager for a large corporation', the OP has a curiously random approach to grammar and punctuation.

Thank God neither my DSs or our DGCs liked Lego.

@TrickyD I'm typing off my mobile and quickly at that.. I dont dave my best for mumsnet lol and I defo don't spell check it and so forth.. dont have the time.

[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]
Lockdown ends on the 4th so of course he can have a party,just a few days later if his birthday is on those four days

For a 'communications manager for a large corporation', the OP has a curiously random approach to grammar and punctuation.

Thank God neither my DSs or our DGCs liked Lego.*

How odd. I'm also in comms, not doing badly, and would in no way spend £3k on my daughter for Xmas. I've spent £100 and DH and I thought that was maybe too much.

Applebloss0m thanks, that doesn't sound like I'm too far off the mark.

Those look great don’t let people upset you over it , your kids will love it ! I haven’t started on my 3 yet as I’m waiting until after my youngest ones birthday this year ... i tend to get a stocking each that has a couple of toys , sweets chocolate toiletries etc ,they also get a onesie to wear on Xmas night and a Xmas day outfit to wear then they get around 10 -12 (maximum) presents a box of chocolate and sweets ,1 middle range present from Father Christmas (no more than £30) 1 present each from there siblings (they will have 3 this year as they will have a gift off their unborn sibling too) 2 big presents of us and 3 smaller presents like a playdoh set or art case etc + we get them a set of books each .. this works well for us as we have 2 sets of grandparents on my side both spend a large amount , then my husbands mum who spends around £25/30 then they have family friends of ours that buy for them and we have a large family of aunties & uncles cousins etc etc who all spend between £30-£15 so if we brought more we would be over run with presents ! The only thing I will say is I do believe that kids should only get their stocking and one smaller gift from Father Christmas and the rest from parents/family in solidarity with families that cannot afford much for Xmas x

I wanted to add that the foodbank and a couple of other organizations do toy collections and give out Xmas presents so if anyone feels that they are lacking for Xmas because they are having a rough year then never feel in any way uncomfortable they are there to help and you are not alone and for those who can afford it every year we go out with our children and buy selection boxes and presents to donate to our local food bank they love looking for gifts to donate (we get them to choose 3 presents each and they can be for any age group and gender they want )and I think at this time of year it’s good to put in perspective how lucky they are and to realize there are others who aren’t so fortunate I feel it really creates kinder & more empathetic children if you show them what goes on outside there little world so might be something to think about x

It's your decision OP! It's your money and your life! My mum used to find it really difficult not to spoil us my dad would roll his eyes every year, yes it was never this much but we went into expensive Lego sets. She once got us Nintendo Wii, another year she got us an iPad (when they first came out) I felt so lucky and loved it. She loves to spoil my daughters as well.. so do I! But I dont have that kind of money so i reign it in every year, I've spent about 120 on my DD and I know I need to stop! As my OH will go mad Haha. I've spent a bit more this year for me as she is 4 and really excited, she has also had a stressful year with everything that's going on. Her main gifts are woody, buzz and jessie from the Disney store! I'm so excited for her to open them! If you are really worried you can always save a few for birthdays. These are your children and your choices. :)

I've spoilt my kids this year because I have the money to do so.

Get your children what you can afford, if you want to spend the money.

Your kids will love what you've got them.

@vipersinc actually no he can't as after lockdown we go back into tier systems and we were in tier 3 before and cases still rising here.

@KimchiLaLa thats your choice to and this my choice.. I'm not judging your choice

[quote Ywosdwos]@vipersinc actually no he can't as after lockdown we go back into tier systems and we were in tier 3 before and cases still rising here.[/quote]
My mistake, sorry about his party.

@Fromthebirdsnest

I wanted to add that the foodbank and a couple of other organizations do toy collections and give out Xmas presents so if anyone feels that they are lacking for Xmas because they are having a rough year then never feel in any way uncomfortable they are there to help and you are not alone and for those who can afford it every year we go out with our children and buy selection boxes and presents to donate to our local food bank they love looking for gifts to donate (we get them to choose 3 presents each and they can be for any age group and gender they want )and I think at this time of year it’s good to put in perspective how lucky they are and to realize there are others who aren’t so fortunate I feel it really creates kinder & more empathetic children if you show them what goes on outside there little world so might be something to think about x

Great post

Lmao I thought I'd gone OTT spending 100 on my 18month old. Wow.

OP I love the feel of it myself!!!

@Ywosdwos

Close to £3k for everything I think But again I save all year for this one day

Dear God. 😱

I know I'm late to this thread, but this is obscene. Saved or not, that is insane.