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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Oh god, I’ve over done it.

77 replies

MegRo · 20/12/2020 22:50

Has anyone ever started early, felt really proud of them for having it together, then come
December pulled everything out and felt a little bit of shame?

I have one child. Just one. And enough presents for half of England. Is she going to be a brat? Overwhelmed?

What are your experiences? Any advice? (Other than to get a grip and stop buying toys!!)

OP posts:

thesunwillout · 21/12/2020 09:04

Definitely rethink or return some.
In hindsight I made it difficult for myself trying to replicate the amount, over the years!

Girlyracer · 21/12/2020 09:06

Yes bit some aside for her birthday.

Lovemusic33 · 21/12/2020 09:08

I am panicking that I haven’t got enough, usually I have too much. DD’s are now teens so the things they want cost more but come in smaller boxes, they probably have ten things each plus a stocking, no big piles of presents and for the first time I suspect everything will fit under the tree.

lazylinguist · 21/12/2020 09:09

I don't understand this. Have a list/budget. Buy according to the list/budget. It's not hard!

WeCameToDance · 21/12/2020 09:09

Me! I know where I went wrong though. Ds wanted a long discontinued toy that he saw in a old YouTube video . I managed to find one unused and quite cheap but thought there would be a catch, like it wouldn’t work when I stuck the batteries in.
So I overbought certain in the fact the main toy would be a dud only to find it works perfectly. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!

SmileyClare · 21/12/2020 09:15

I'm assuming she's young? Pre school age? I think she 'll be completely overwhelmed and frankly quite bored of opening presents after the tenth one.

IME small children enjoy opening a few toys and then spending time setting them up and playing with them. You're well intentioned but Christmas day won't be as enjoyable for her if confronted with an endless stream of presents. It's all too much choice for a child.

I vote for put away or Regift. Once she starts school and begins to get invited to birthday parties nearly every weekend, you'll be glad of a stash of gifts.

Oh well at least you and dh have poured lots of money into our crumbling economy this year

Luffsmypup · 21/12/2020 09:28

Every Christmas I over buy because I start early and then don’t know when to stop, there is always something else that catches my eye that I think they would like. I then end up keeping a few back for birthday gifts instead. You just have to remember 1. Where you’ve re-hidden them and 2. What they were. 😀

FearlessSwiftie · 21/12/2020 09:29

That's what usually happens to me: I start all the preparations earlier and end up having a huge pile of gifts for my mom. Luckily, her Bday is in the mid of January, so I just put some presents off for the later

ProfessorInkling · 21/12/2020 09:36

I’ve overdone it a little but with lots of practical things, books clothes cosy blankets nice lights - my kids have had a crap year like so many, so fuck it 👍🏻

Sn0tnose · 21/12/2020 10:18

...knowing where to donate toys is a struggle!

Have a look in your supermarket. A few of them have boxes next to the food donation boxes where childrens gifts are being left. Some are for charities to distribute and others are for children in hospital over Christmas.

alwayslearning789 · 21/12/2020 10:33

"Every Christmas I over buy because I start early and then don’t know when to stop, there is always something else that catches my eye that I think they would like. I then end up keeping a few back for birthday gifts instead. You just have to remember 1. Where you’ve re-hidden them and 2. What they were"

Definitely this ^

As PP have said, save it for birthdays, other events, etc.

For some reason I find that the nicer/ fancier things are sold by shops during this Season so that's my go to method if anything is in excess.

Saves you later down the line in the year, and with Brexit coming along things may well be more expensive for the same product?

Sawyersfishbiscuits · 21/12/2020 10:35

Just wanted to say, if you're in the South West maybe Gloucestershire Bundles would be a place to donate. Sorry I haven't RTWT. There are many hostels and shelters in Bristol too.

SinkGirl · 21/12/2020 10:37

My DTs have some of their birthday presents for Christmas as they didn’t open them all (they’re autistic and don’t get the concept yet). I’m sure some of their Christmas ones will be put away too. Will let them get bored of what they do open then trickle the rest out when I’m desperate 😬

LutinDeSapin · 21/12/2020 10:44

Oh gosh yes. I thought I'd spend this morning wrapping the presents...and felt the shame when it was all out on the table. This is the first year I haven't left it until Christmas Eve. I've partitioned some off for birthdays and holidays (always give a couple of new books at the beginning of holidays) and some of it is clothes that would be needed anyway. And I also have more for one than the other

CeeceeBloomingdale · 21/12/2020 10:47

I find it bizarre that people think children will be overwhelmed by half a dozen presents. I was never overwhelmed, nor were my children and we always had dozens to open. Opening took place all at once, nothing was saved or held back. As long as you can afford it I don't see an issue. Both me and my parents shopped carefully all year to be able to afford it.

I live in the North East and Christmas has always been huge here, we look conservative compared to most. I'm always surprised when I see friends and family down south with a small stocking from Santa or four wrapped gifts, normally with a firm, tight lipped "it's sufficient". It might be enough for them but it isn't enough for me. My children aren't spoilt in terms of behaviour, don't ask for anything, don't get much else through the year nor o they get individually expensive items. I have bought and donated new toys to charity. Go mad, and own it!

BakewellGin1 · 21/12/2020 10:53

I've decided I'm going to put some presents away for my little ones birthday. He's only 20 months and his birthday is in March.
I started buying early and I've decided now that im going to put a few away. Giving myself a nice job for Christmas Eve sorting them

NamechangedforAIBU · 21/12/2020 11:03

As others say put some away for her birthday.

Maybe donate to a charity for children who have very little - or to a local refuge for children who will flee home due to domestic violence leaving their smashed presents (if they have any) behind....

Italianmoma1983 · 21/12/2020 11:04

I went mad this year - I have 2 teenagers. This year has been so hard on them that I have decided to blow the budget ! No regret

SinkGirl · 21/12/2020 11:05

@CeeceeBloomingdale

I find it bizarre that people think children will be overwhelmed by half a dozen presents. I was never overwhelmed, nor were my children and we always had dozens to open. Opening took place all at once, nothing was saved or held back. As long as you can afford it I don't see an issue. Both me and my parents shopped carefully all year to be able to afford it. I live in the North East and Christmas has always been huge here, we look conservative compared to most. I'm always surprised when I see friends and family down south with a small stocking from Santa or four wrapped gifts, normally with a firm, tight lipped "it's sufficient". It might be enough for them but it isn't enough for me. My children aren't spoilt in terms of behaviour, don't ask for anything, don't get much else through the year nor o they get individually expensive items. I have bought and donated new toys to charity. Go mad, and own it!

Some children are overwhelmed though. We used to get loads for Christmas and like you not much through the year - it would all get opened and half of it ignored in favour of the more interesting stuff.

We have a different situation than most as our twins are autistic and hard to engage in play so I buy new things quite often through the year. On their birthday they opened a few gifts each and were entertained by them and the others sat there unopened for days so I put them away. I’d rather trickle stuff out through the year when they are bored of what they have and need some novelty.

Barmyfarmy · 21/12/2020 11:13

I had 4 Dc and seem to have forgotten to buy for 2 of them- DC4 is 10 months and only has a handful of gifts (We bought him clothes as he needed them and won't have a clue what day it is). DC3 has 3 gifts and DC1+2 have 3 massive bags full! DH is watching them while I frantically buy all of Amazon's stock Definitely sending some to a food bank and some to a children's home tonight though.

Barmyfarmy · 21/12/2020 11:19

That should say have, not had. I still have my children, didn't accidentally wrap them

FoxInABox · 21/12/2020 11:19

Oh I hate this shame! I tend to feel it when all the gifts are out on Christmas Eve. I always think I have managed to rein myself in more each year but then I look at them all out and think I’ve blown it again. We don’t use credit and can afford it but the shame still comes.
This year is a bit different as they are getting older- their piles are certainly less in size but cost a lot more. My eldest DDs pile is mostly clothes as that’s what she asked for, although I don’t normally give clothes as presents. They are more expensive than I would normally buy as she wanted certain brands and I know she will be happy but I still get that feeling that she doesn’t have much. Logically I know she does and she will appreciate it all. It’s just that feeling! So I am getting the shame as I think there’s a lot and then that feeling that I haven’t got enough for the eldest

windturbines · 21/12/2020 11:24

I think they deserve it this year, tbh. Esp as it's probably likely we'll be in a lockdown again soon. At least she'll have plenty of things to play with and keep her occupied

CeeceeBloomingdale · 21/12/2020 11:31

@SinkGirl I can 100% understand why you have had to adjust, one of mine has many spectrum markers although we made the decision to not to go for diagnosis. The excitement definitely needed to be managed, we had to downplay excitement rather than hype them up, all very controlled on Christmas morning etc.

Having said that parenting is a learning curve, you try something and it does or doesn't work and you adjust accordingly. As you did when birthday gifts were left unopened. My point is you tried, you didn't just assume their reactions and only buy 2 gifts from the start, you assessed the situation first. Mine were ok with opening it all once so no need to adjust. Whatever works for each family is best, but I think assuming reactions is bizarre. (That last statement is general and not at all aimed at you).

SmileyClare · 21/12/2020 11:37

I'm surprised that so many people don't set themselves a budget for Christmas and stick to it? I mean if you can afford a high budget, crack on but to have no real idea of what you've bought or spent seems a bit

Maybe I'm old fashioned. We've also never been in a position to say Sod it, money's no object this year so there's that.

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