Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

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

Original poster

Did you get it right on amount for DC?

36 replies

PinkJam · 25/12/2020 20:21

Do you think you got the right amount of presents for your DC?

Or too much? Too little? Wrong balance on quality v quantity?

I cut back this year so was happier with the amount but still wish I had bought less. I always think I haven’t bought much until I get everything out for wrapping a few days before.

I want to focus on just quality next year and cut out a lot of the “filler” type stuff that just isn’t necessary.

OP posts:
Beach11 · 25/12/2020 20:28

I cut back too but ended up getting some last minute gifts so they ended up with more than I wanted. DC hadn’t asked for anything and then suddenly had a couple of ideas when we visited Santa.

CaramelCandle · 25/12/2020 20:28

Probably a bit too much here but there wasn't any tat so don't know what I'd do differently

AnneLovesGilbert · 25/12/2020 20:35

Right amount and things but we should have staggered it better. We had to get her to open things from other people so we could thank them on the endless FaceTime calls and should have held back some of ours till tomorrow. She’s nearly two and got a bit overwhelmed, at one point DH asked if she wanted another present and she shook her head hard and said nope daddy, nope! Grin

PumpkinPie2016 · 25/12/2020 20:39

I think I got it about right this time. He had a nice amount to open without being overwhelmed. His main things were some minecraft lego and a hot wheels set (he absolutely loves lego/minecraft and cars so all will be well played with).

Then some smaller things but again, things I know will be used - monopoly (we played today!), two David Walliams books amongst others.

I think his two favourites today were the silly sausage game and a voice activated toy tarantula- both of which were less than £10!

beepbeeprichie · 25/12/2020 20:44

Probably too much, but the “much” was lots of craft kits, hamma beads, magic clay, kinetic sand etc. I’m thinking that if we go back into lockdown that is enough stuff for Saturdays of fun.

Porcupineintherough · 25/12/2020 21:01

Just right. But they are teens so I've had years of practice plus everything they want these days is so blooming expensive so that makes it easier not to get carried away.

Stompythedinosaur · 25/12/2020 21:11

Probably too much, but I don't really mind. We open gifts a few at a time so we still have some left to open tomorrow. The dc were delightful and grateful for the things they got. I probably got too many books, I will admit.

Smartiepants79 · 25/12/2020 21:12

I was worried we’d over done it agin this year but once they’ve opened it all it’s actually worked out just right I think. I can see only one smallish gift each that I think will prove to have been a waste of money. The rest has already been opened and played with or worn. A success this year I think!

chubbyhotchoc · 25/12/2020 21:37

Much better than last year. Still too much. Last year it was obscene. I wanted to take a load down to a charity or something but dh said no.

Bikingbear · 25/12/2020 21:54

I think we got it about right.
They have about 6 things from extended family. And about 10 from us, ranging from selection boxes to scooters.

It looked massive mainly due to DS2 still being at the bulky toy stage.

Littlemissnutcracker · 25/12/2020 21:57

I think I got it right. Plenty to do. Some consumables in there too. They were very very happy. I am going to make a note of stocking fillers and things that worked well. Novelty straws were a big hit Xmas Grin

SaveWaterDrinkGin · 25/12/2020 21:59

I think we got it spot on.

Last night when we were putting the presents out it looked a little sparse on the Father Christmas front, but combined with all the many kind and generous gifts she’s got from family and friends, she actually got plenty.

Lovemusic33 · 25/12/2020 22:00

I think I got it right, dd2 had more than dd1 but dd1 had a ipad (which she was very surprised to get). I’m hoping dd2 has enough to keep her occupied of school doesn't go back on time, she has ASD and needs to be doing things so I tried to buy things that will last and hold her interest for a while. The past few days I had been worrying that I hadn’t bought enough or I had bought too much but I think I got it right.

trilbydoll · 25/12/2020 22:02

DD1 had bigger boxes so I panicked and did a few extra for DD2 forgetting she is so much slower to open presents. So there was a bit of awkwardness while we distracted dd1 and made sure she didn't start counting! Other than the few panicked extras I think it was about right.

FortunesFave · 25/12/2020 22:04

Mine are 16 and 12 so their things are so expensive AND small that I do worry. But both wanted things that cost a lot before Christmas....one a phone and the other an expensive salon dye job...so they had those in mid December and I told them that that was part of their Christmas presents!

They had about 20 small things to open...mostly clothes and makeup and a bag each.

They seem very happy...it looked enough on the morning but this is the first year there wasn't a single toy in the batch!

Last year, my 12 year old still liked some toys...not anymore!

All about clothes etc now,

Sonicthehedgehogg · 25/12/2020 22:09

DD is almost 2. She had a small stocking, and four gifts from us (stolen from that blog about one thing you want/need/to wear/to read). She did the stocking in two stints and opened a couple of 'proper' presents and then didn't want to do anymore. I'm happier that way as it'll spread it out over the next few days.

dingoesatemybaby · 25/12/2020 22:21

They had less to open this year but focussed very much on quality over quantity to avoid buying unnecessary cr*p that ends up int he bin by February.

Bikingbear · 26/12/2020 13:27

If you think you got it about right, how many gifts / things did your kids have to open?

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/12/2020 13:30

I thought I had overdone stockings... But they loved all of it.
Presents from us/Santa... Just right
Presents from grandparents... Totally overboard. As usual. The tricky thing there is I know online shopping was a displacement activity for my DM this year, especially for her grandchildren.

Hohomerryxmas · 26/12/2020 13:43

I got a little too much than what I planned but none of it was plastic tat and everything will get used.

MarthaWashingtonsFeralTomcat · 26/12/2020 13:47

About right. 4 presents each in total (2 from us, 1 from grandparents, 1 from great grandparent). Stockings don't contain anything above £5 in value though each get a book and a small toy like a tiny playmobil set. They get exactly what they ask for for their main present from us though - no budget as such, but theoretically that would be "no budget within reason".

delilahbucket · 26/12/2020 13:53

No tat this year, only things ds will use, so a heck of a lot less, but two very high value presents. DS was chuffed to bits and declared it the best Christmas ever. Can't say fairer than that!

santasmincepie · 26/12/2020 18:38

About right I think. My DS is 14 months. He had about 7 things in his stocking and then 10 in his sack/under the tree (not all toys). We just went at his pace and didn't make a fuss if he didn't want to open something/wanted to play straight away. I think putting things in a sack rather than a pile helped as it didn't look as much that way. It took him hours to open everything and a few things went over to the following morning, but he's played with it all. There are a couple of things that he's still a bit young for (he's only 1 and not walking), but he'll grow into them!

sonsmum · 26/12/2020 19:51

Think we were spot on this year. Our 13 year old who loves christmas as an opportunity to see fun relatives, enjoy some frivolity and of course gifts, said unprompted that he had had a good christmas and said 'we had gone all out' !! I take this as a high compliment!
In reality, it was the easiest christmas ever, no guests, no travel, and we scaled back the santa gifts for quality over quantity.
Food, everyone had what they wanted but there was no excess either.

SnowmanatChristmas · 26/12/2020 20:31

Spot on for eldest (small but costly presents), youngest probably had a little bit too much as thing are large and cheap.

But they were both so, so grateful for everything and none of it was tat.

We have just sneakily put a couple of youngest boys to the side and will get back out when he's bored.

Swipe left for the next trending thread