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Original poster

The twitch and worrying that I haven’t bought enough

36 replies

Lovemusic33 · 14/12/2020 08:52

It’s that time running up to Christmas where I have finished my Christmas shopping but I’m starting to worry that I haven’t bought enough or that the kids gifts are not even. Anyone else start panicking and then end up twitching and buying things you don’t really need? Things that won’t get touched?

I need to learn from previous years that most last minute buys never get used or played with.

DD’s are 14 and 16, the 14 year old is mentally a lot younger (ASD), my 16 year old hasn’t asked for much and isn’t expecting a big pile of presents, she couldn’t really care less if she has 3 presents or 33. Youngest doesn’t really have a ‘wow’ present but has 3 Lego sets and a few little things plus clothes. I know they will be pleased with what I have bought them.

I need to stop myself buying anything else, they don’t need anything else and dd2 is probably more excited about food than she is presents.

Anyone else feel like this every year?

OP posts:
OrigamiParrot · 14/12/2020 08:54

Every single year! Like you, I’m really trying not to buy anything else.

Found games that I bought for my eldest last Christmas unopened on top of her wardrobe last month, which I’m keeping in mind!

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 14/12/2020 09:05

Yes, I often find things from previous years that dd1 hasn’t touched. Dd2 tends to use or play with most things but because of her ASD she breaks things (which is why she mainly gets Lego or puzzles). I feel bad that dd1 only has a few gifts but there really isn’t anything else she needs and she only really plays on her switch, doesn’t touch anything else so it’s not worth buying anything.

I’m going to go and write a list of what I have bought and then I probably won’t feel as bad, sometimes I forget what I have bought as I wrap as I go. I’m sure they have plenty and I don’t need to twitch.

OP posts:
BangingOn · 14/12/2020 12:53

I always do this too, although I have found some of my twitches to be the most popular presents. Maybe I need to hold off buying so much early on and leave room for the inevitable twitch instead.

BangingOn · 14/12/2020 12:56

Also, one of the most helpful suggestions I read on here was to create a secret Pinterest board with visuals of all of their gifts. Seeing them all grouped together like that gave me a much better sense of how much I had bought.

TwnklTwnklLittleStarfighter · 14/12/2020 13:07

@BangingOn

Also, one of the most helpful suggestions I read on here was to create a secret Pinterest board with visuals of all of their gifts. Seeing them all grouped together like that gave me a much better sense of how much I had bought.
That Pinterest idea is a great thought. I might try that. I keep a spreadsheet of what I have bought for whom, but find I don't really get an idea of it until I have everything collated together.

I nearly twitched this morning, thinking I hadn't bought enough for my Mum, until I remembered that my Mum and Dad just rip though all of their presents, not even reading the labels as to who gave what, so she never has any idea what I got her anyway! (and I have bought her enough, it just doesn't look like much when wrapped).

Simplyunacceptable · 14/12/2020 13:29

I do this every single year without fail. I said I’d finished buying gifts but then saw some books on the Aldi website I couldn’t resist the other day. They definitely have enough gifts now but would not surprise me if some last minute Amazon purchases happen.

TheGremlinsAreComing · 14/12/2020 13:36

Every year. And I end up 'bulking' up the presents with board games that never get played and interesting kits that no one can really be bothered with.

You'd think I'd have learned by now. However, this year my twitches are aimed towards books. Hopefully JUST books 😂

RoseZinfandel · 14/12/2020 13:41

Yes, I worried DC's stocking gifts weren't the same number (they like to take turns unwrapping) that Dd1's were less "fun", so ordered Dd1 a card game to balance things out.

When it came, it was more like a board game, in a massive great box that wouldn't fit in the stocking, so then I had to wrap it from us under the tree instead.

And then dd1 had 3 presents from us under the tree and Dd2 only had 2, so then had to go shopping and get something equivalent for Dd2, and then I still had to get another stocking gift for dd1.

SpamIAm · 14/12/2020 14:11

I've bought DD more twitch presents than I did initial presents 🤦‍♀️

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 14/12/2020 14:20

It’s hard isn’t it? I just need to control myself. I was going to do my shopping later this year but then covid hit and we were told not to leave shopping until the last minute so I kind of started buying in October, I finished a week or so ago but have twitched several times since. The dc’s like going shopping after Christmas with any money they have been given so I keep trying to tell myself that ‘if there’s something else they want they can buy it’.

OP posts:
MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 14/12/2020 14:30

I do this every year too, but am trying not to this year - last year I went a bit crazy and spent sooo much money, but it's ridiculous and has to stop.
That said, when my DC were smaller I once stumbled across micro scooters in Halfords (while looking for a car part) for the bargainous price of £15 each. They were my DC's favourite presents that year, so I would say that you shouldn't buy just for the sake of it but if you did happen to stumble across something amazing,bthat you know they'd love and it's not more than you can easily afford, then there's no harm in twitching a bit.
Another year I twitched and got my DC light sabres. I honestly thought they'd be broken by boxing day, but they lasted years (and were not expensive, so I didn't feel bad buying them) and again were something they played with lots. Do sometimes a twitch is good.
Sorry, I'm no help Grin

lunar1 · 14/12/2020 14:37

One year my twitch present was the thing they used the most, that made me so much worse! I try and buy clothes as twitch presents now-at least they won't be a waste whatever happens.

SpamIAm · 14/12/2020 14:58

I think I just need to start later next year. I normally get all my shopping done early and just leave a little bit of the budget for DD for closer to the time for things she's interested in, but she's 3 now and has come out with a lot of things she wants in the last few weeks, plus has developed a frozen addiction.

Baileysoncereal · 14/12/2020 16:12

A gift just came today and it’s not nearly as good as I hoped it would be
It’s a bit of a let down and now I’m panicking that I need something to take it’s place!
I Was already trying hard not to twitch with everyone else’s gifts, but now I feel like as I have to get an additional/replacement gift I’ll be shopping anyway I won’t have the will power!

KeyboardWorriers · 14/12/2020 16:17

So far my twitching has been limited to two Pandora charms for DSD, although that was partly because Dh had brought the bracelet and hadn't thought to get any charms!

but I agree, getting all the gifts out and seeing them together is a good way to stop the feeling of needing to get more.

Spied · 14/12/2020 16:25

This is the week I start twitching and I can usually be found early evening after work in TKMaxx or Boots topping up my gifts that I'd bought, wrapped and was completely happy with in November.

Original poster
Lovemusic33 · 14/12/2020 16:27

@Spied

This is the week I start twitching and I can usually be found early evening after work in TKMaxx or Boots topping up my gifts that I'd bought, wrapped and was completely happy with in November.
I found myself in Aldi bargain (shit) isle today on my lunch break 😬, TK Max is one of my usual twitching spots too.
OP posts:
Scanner20 · 14/12/2020 17:41

@BangingOn what a fantastic idea!

BangingOn · 14/12/2020 18:44

It is so much easier to see the presents grouped visually rather than just on a list. I can’t take credit for the original idea but I do like to share it.

Baileysoncereal · 14/12/2020 18:53

DH has just come home with a ‘gift for himself’
That is of course, something I have already bought him.

Brilliant.
Now I can add that to the list of gifts to sort out

Scanner20 · 14/12/2020 19:01

Sure is a great idea, I've just done it for my dd gifts from us and the ones I know she is getting. Safe to say I will not be twitching! Plenty there Smile going to do ds now and I will do this every year for Christmas and birthday

Thedarknightsaredrawingin · 14/12/2020 21:29

You guys have put me in the mood for a trip to TK Maxx Xmas Grin

LadyCatStark · 15/12/2020 13:49

I twitched know Stories For Boys Who Dare To Be Different 2 (although this is ok as you can never have too many books, £15 though for a book!!), Stranger Things vinyl stickers and a snow scooter (despite us living by the sea and hardly ever getting snow). I got excited by all the weather reports last week 😂.

BloddersMum · 15/12/2020 13:59

Think I will twitch with Witch Wars Books Collection Set by Sibéal Pounder for DD8. I keep trying to convince myself that book twitching is fine Grin.

lunar1 · 15/12/2020 14:39

I just ordered the maze runner books for ds1 that a friend mentioned this morning 🤦🏻‍♀️

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