After the tsunami, I was so appalled by the fact that my children had a mountain of presents they didn't really want while other children didn't even have a roof over their heads that I wrote to all our relatives and friends and asked them not to send presents for Christmas any more. We don't send them presents to them either, and instead sponsor a child in Senegal. I feel this is not only a much more worthwhile exercise, but also cuts out the horrid present buying .
There are one or two relatives who still insist on buying for my children, and that's entirely their prerogative, but on the whole everyone was happy to go along with our wishes.
We still buy for them, as do their grandparetns, and I can't honestly say they've noticed any difference.
Just a thought for any of you who are bogged down with buyhing presents for second cousin's children who you haven't seen for 10 years!!