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Christmas

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

Original poster

Am i tight arse mummy if i give my dd these for Christmas?

74 replies

huffpuff · 27/10/2007 11:23

DD (5 2 weeks before xmas)

Big pressie:
New bike

Other pressies:
sticker maker
game of some sort
book of some sort

Stocking:
tape dispenser (she LOVES cellotape!)
torch
disposable camera and album
chocolate coins
glitter pens
notepad
hairbrush and grips

I normally go mad at xmas but need to budget this year - does this seem ok to you or is it a bit stingy?

PS: her birthday is just before xmas and she is getting a bunny and hutch etc and a letterbox dressing table (2nd hand!)

OP posts:
themildmanneredaxemurderer · 27/10/2007 11:24

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JARM · 27/10/2007 11:25

I think its PLENTY!

Jeez, if my DD was getting a new bike for Chirstmas - its all she would get!

pukkapatch · 27/10/2007 11:25

errr, let me get this sttraight, you are buying her a brand new bicycle, and lots of other stuff as well, and you think YOU are being stingy?

what do non stingy people do then?

ledodgy · 27/10/2007 11:27

I think your idea of a budget and mine are a long way off. That is more than enough!

Wisteria · 27/10/2007 11:27

That's loads IMO!

Don't forget that at 5 they have very little concept of what things cost - and a bike is still a big pressie, isn't it? Thinking back and looking at your list I don't think I spent more than that (ever) when mine were smaller and you are best advised saving your money until they're teens and need more expensive things!

I think children get far too much on average anyway these days.

Original poster
huffpuff · 27/10/2007 11:28

its just usually she gets lots of little pressies - not just one big one! She's not spoilt honest!

Also, ds is getting a ride on tractor this year so money is a bit tight this year!!

OP posts:
pukkapatch · 27/10/2007 11:31

omg.
spend less woman, then it you wont be so tight monetarily.

nappyaddict · 27/10/2007 11:31

no, a bike is quite a big present

Wisteria · 27/10/2007 11:31

Well my dds have been warned that this is an extra tight Christmas (as we are seriously financially challenged at the mo!) and I'm looking forward to it to be honest, far less pressure!

The most my girls (14&11) will have spent on them will be £50 each or thereabouts - so if you're a tight arse, I must be scrooge!! , I shall be getting little things and making more of a fuss about spending time together. They get plenty of things from other members of the family and they are both fine about it as they know how tough things are at present...

pukkapatch · 27/10/2007 11:35

fifty quid per child???
what planet are you lot living on?
or am i on the wrong planet? my kids are lucky to get a fiver spent on them. unless it is a big huge thing like a bike?
once a few christmass ago ds1 got a psp. but since then nothing more than stuff he actually needs. and ds2 got a nintendo ds for his bday. they dont get new games for them, unless something huge, they dont get a ton of toys for no reason. not even birthdays.
i must be living on the wrong planet.

ledodgy · 27/10/2007 11:36

Same here Wisteria. Ds's Birthday is 25th Nov my next ds is due on 6th january and dd's Birthday is 3rd April. This year I am spending no more than £30 on their main present and they'll get cheap stocking fillers from Hawkins as usual. I'm starting early so they realise with 3 children we are not going to be able to spend ridiculous amounts of money at Chrtistmas and Birthdays especially with them all being so close together.
They get presents off family and friends as well. I'd sooner make Christmas special by making decorations and cooking christmasy things with them. They need to know the value of money as well as learning that Christmas isn't solely about presents.

nappyaddict · 27/10/2007 11:38

i spend about £30 on ds. can't afford anything else cos i have a big family to buy for.

LIZS · 27/10/2007 11:40

Sounds plenty tbh , if not ott.

Notquitegrownup · 27/10/2007 11:42

We're in the same ballpark as you guys. I am for around £30 for their present, plus a few stocking fillers. We get second hand bikes etc and "pre-owned" computer games, as we want our boys to know that it is OK to use things more than once.

Pukka - I think last year the average spent per child nationally was around £300 at Christmas!! There was a programme recently about people who save all year to be able to 'splash out' on Christmas. One family had never had a holiday together, because they were always paying off the previous year's Christmas bills!!

notjustmom · 27/10/2007 11:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fortyplus · 27/10/2007 11:47

That's loads!!!!

Can't believe you think it's stingy. Mine have usually had modest gifts at Christmas unless there's something big that they 'need' - like a bike.

One year ds1 had a mini pool table that cost £5 and was delighted with it. I don't know why people think they have to spend money just for the sake of it - as others have said - a 5 year old has no concept of what things cost.

This year thing will be different as they're so much older - ds1 is getting a £300 bike and ds2 wants an electric violin - God knows what they cost. But for years they mostly had gift costing £20 - 30.

CarGirl · 27/10/2007 11:48

The little ones have often only had £10 each spent on them - less then relatives who we buy for!!!!!!!! Not because we can't afford more but we're saving up to have work done on the house and what's the point, we have 4 dds they don't need heaps of toys each. If I can think of something they need or will love I'll get it other than that it is token gestures. Usually they enjoy something like a pack of new pens each just as much!

They get stuff the need like clothes etc if they need them too. I don'think dd4 is the only one to ever have a brand new bike and that was because it as £18 in TKMaxx, it's Noddy her favourite - that and her stocking of cheap bits will be it.

Original poster
huffpuff · 27/10/2007 11:50

thanks guys - will be sensible this year. You're right - she has no concept of money and is grateful for whatever she gets.

OP posts:
unknownrebelbang · 27/10/2007 11:51

Your DD won't know the monetary value of the stuff, you're buying her. It's certainly not stingy. I understand why you think it's stingy if it's not a lot compared with previous years, but if you need to budget, then you need to budget, so whatever you buy needs to be within that budget, be it £10 or £1000.

FWIW, mine generally have a main present, an outfit, PJs, a book and a stocking (filled with cheap items, not expensive stuff). They also have an item bought for them to share, and I buy a family game.

Sometimes their main present has been purchased second-hand - some of their bikes, ps1 etc.

These days mine usually get around £100 each - but they're older, and I sneak in things for their activities, eg last year they all had a load of karate stuff for Christmas. This year, however, because we're in Florida for Christmas I'm not planning on buying a main present for them.

pukkapatch · 27/10/2007 13:39

notjustamom? i dont understand? rude? kids minding about not getting expensive plastic tat?
the kids have plenty of money spent on them. they have good quality clothes to wear. a nice house and garden to play in. tv, games consoles. gymmebership. a mother todrive them to all their activities. bikes, scooters etc etc etc etc.
they dont need my little pony or power rangers or doctor who tat. they are hopefully understanding that things, i.e stuff costs monwy and is usually a waste of it anyways as they will never get the play out of it they think they will.
they certainly dotn have any less stuff than children around them do. because even kids know that plastic tat is useless.
every time i see threads discussing stocking fillers, i always wonder why the posters dont just burn their cash in flames instead. seems more environmentally friendly.

notjustmom · 27/10/2007 13:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

admylin · 27/10/2007 13:56

My dc have asked not to go to the UK this christmas because they get too much plastic tat from aunty! She thinks along the lines of - the more the better, but I'm quite pleased that my dc aren't materialistic. Sometimes alot of the stuff we spend hours buying and wrapping just for the sake of having a big pile under the tree are a waste of time and money.

pukkapatch · 27/10/2007 13:56

no notjust a mom, you havent offended me! i'm a regular mumsnetter. i;'d never survive if i was that thin skinned.

i sometimes wonder as well actually that i dont buy my kids as much stuff as some people do. but, i find that they just didnt play with the toys i would buy for them. and it was just me constantly trying to tidy them up. at one point i removed 50% of their toys in frustration, and they didnt evn notice since then i have gotten rid of the vast majority of their toys as they dont play withthem. i have found that they simply dont need a most of the stuff touted as essential to us. and so wonder at other peoples spending. iyswim
perhaps its also the fact that there are three of them. they prefer to play together. running round the house like loonies, instead of sitting nicely and playing with knex. or dolls house etc

CarGirl · 27/10/2007 13:59

pukkapatch I'm the same we have a small house and anything not played with goes to the next NCT sale, stuff that they are a little young for goes away for a few months etc. They have their firm favourites that are played with to death they just aren't bothered about lots of stuff. DD3 has asked for a new barbie but a £3 will do her she isn't wanting one of the latest frilly dress ones or anything.

DarthVader · 27/10/2007 14:04

It sounds like a great list, even if nobody else was going to get her anything!

In no way stingy. I think kids actually want a whole lot less then they are given on the whole, especially young children!