The dreaded twitch!

[Alakazam8]

I’m twitching really badly for dd. Not stocking fillers but main gifts. I’ve got roller boots, fun lockets toys and a fake oodie but twitching really badly over a keyboard (Yamaha) which I know she’d love and get more use out of than anything….please talk me down or confirm if you would twitch in my position!

@WhoAmI22

In this position I always ask myself:

Can we afford it?

If the answer is yes, then I ask:

Do we have the room?

If the answer is yes, then I ask:

Will DC love it?

If the answer is yes, I buy it I don't believe when I'm laid on my death bed I'll be thinking that I wish I'd bought my children less at Christmas.

Thanks for this! DS (5) has just asked Santa for an additional thing when we’d already got his main presents. Wasn’t sure whether I should get it or not but this helps put things in perspective!

If you can afford it, I’d buy it. It sounds like she’d love it so would be a wonderful surprise. 🎄🎁🎅

If you can afford it, buy it OP. Your children will grow so fast and I promise you that looking back you’ll be so glad you made those lovely memories.
My children are 21 and 18 and I remember the excitement of them being little and having totally unexpected gifts so well.
Life is short, do it

@Alakazam8

Now I’m twitching again. Thought you’d got me over it…It would have an impact on her life. I can see her doing music at college and has begun to learn to play at school. She has other instruments so not her only option but im wondering if the other things she wanted will just be piled up untouched when she goes back to school.

Ok, so the final question...

Drum roll please 🥁

When your DD has finished opening her gifts on Christmas morning, will you regret the keyboard not being there? I think you will going by this post.

Do it OP, let the twitch overtake you this time!

I've just twitched and bought dd 16 a beautiful silver initial bracelet that she will love .
She's done so well with school and mocks etc and will be thrilled.

Ugh I’m the same . Am just taking a break from the wrapping and one child has more than the other . I really need to stop myself making them look even ! It’s so hard and like everyone else , they have far too much stuff anyway 🤯🤯

Twitching for DP.

He's having a really hard time at the moment - at school to retrain in a new industry by day, working in his old job by night and hating it, so he's exhausted, and really struggling with where we live (long story). Have got him lots of books and handy tools for his studies, and some luxury versions of stuff he already uses.

I've just seen tickets to one of our favourite bands on tour in Rome (our favourite city) next summer. Something to look forward to, or probably a waste of money? Am I trying to take his pain away by throwing money at the problem?

Can you afford an electric piano instead? Then maybe consider lessons in the future? DD8 started piano lessons this year and we purchased a piano for her birthday. A very expensive gift but used every single day.

@penguinwithasuitcase

Twitching for DP.

He's having a really hard time at the moment - at school to retrain in a new industry by day, working in his old job by night and hating it, so he's exhausted, and really struggling with where we live (long story). Have got him lots of books and handy tools for his studies, and some luxury versions of stuff he already uses.

I've just seen tickets to one of our favourite bands on tour in Rome (our favourite city) next summer. Something to look forward to, or probably a waste of money? Am I trying to take his pain away by throwing money at the problem?

I think it’s ok to throw money at problems sometimes. It won’t solve it but if it makes him smile and have something to look forward to then go for it (if you can afford it)

Never heard of "twitching" but I do it every year! Definitely twitching for DS1 this year. He's 18, lives in his bedroom, and didn't give me any ideas. So I've bought him a mini fridge and stocked it with booze and energy drinks. Total cost £200.

Meanwhile DS2 gave me loads of suggestions of small, cheaper stuff, so his pile of presents (totalling £200) looks massive.

It's going to be so stressful on Xmas day as I'll be watching DS1 to make sure he doesn't feel left out. Do teenagers know how much booze costs?!

I've failed miserably at twitch resistance and have bought a gaming monitor for ds12. He really really wants a gaming pc but they are too expensive. He plays on his Xbox and his tv is naff so he does need it. I just hope he doesn't open it thinking he's got a pc 😂

I would buy a second hand keyboard - my son uses his minimally but it always comes out on special occasions (in laws are pianists).

Plus it's used alongside his music class at school to practice - he used to have private piano lessons but dropped it as he does too much other things and sports are more important.

My anti-twitch questions
Would it hurt to wait til their birthday?
Do you have ideas of what you could get for their birthday? (if not don't twitch)
Will it still be getting played with in a week/month?
Do you have space for it?
Come Christmas day are you going to feel queasy about the sheer amount of stuff?

If you must twitch
Is there something you've already bought that you could return/put away for later/give someone else?
Can you buy it secondhand?
Could you spend Christmas money from relatives on it

If she'd love it I'd get it.

But it's dependant on affordability

Thanks @Plumjamorcrumblyham.

He really deserves something special to look forward to –he's working so hard and keeping his chin up as best he can. I'd just promised myself I was done buying presents and then I checked the band's website on a whim...

Now I'm REALLY done... honest...

Ha, twitch is such a great description. I grabbed something for my mum this morning and now trying to find a snack bundle for DH’s stocking. I think I’ve finally given in and won’t buy the kids anymore (apart from replacing the chocs I’ve eaten 😬)

I have twitched several times

Ended up buying DD a wooden medical centre that wasn't planned for, a 50odd doctor/dentist play set, a scooter...
That was after buying a heaping trolley load in Smyths. I just can't control myself

I've had to delete several shopping apps off my phone to prevent myself from scrolling further.

I can afford it though, she's only getting presents from me and it has been a crap year for everyone - so she's going to be thoroughly spoiled come Christmas morning.

Another good way to stop yourself is to say "do they need this for Christmas, or can I write down this amazing idea for birthdays" (I'm feeling it as we aren't seeing family Christmas day but 26th and 27th, so I fear them not having the mountain of gifts on the day as around half will arrive on boxing day, this is ridiculous of me to worry about!)

If it makes you feel better... I twitched and bought DH a PS5... I was in town they just had a delivery and it just happened! He deserves one and we got all our rent deposit back which was unexpected so I treated him. He never asks for anything, literally wears his clothes till they wear out, doesn't go out except the odd beer round his brothers, but loves gaming. Currently using a temperamental ps3 as he gave dd1 his ps4 for her birthday (he has been waiting years for her to show an interest in gaming, its been lovely seeing them share that experience together!) Sometimes our kids (or DH!) needs spoiling, so if you have the space and money go for it!

I'm well and truly twitched out, no more spending here!! Poor kids no last minute purchases for them this year!!

I am erring over an extra present for one of my children, but I work out how much I spend to the point that there is less than £2 difference between what they get, and if I spend an extra £40 on her, I'll have to spend an extra £40 on the others too which is going to get expensive! So I'm sticking with what I have. They all have three presents each, which are quite expensive but look small, so the piles this year are going to look quite sparse, but I think I just need to get over it!

@Pascha

I'm wondering about a football shirt for Ds2 and Ds1 is asking for Forza Horizon 5 on xbox all of a sudden. I've just laid out their presents and they have ENOUGH.

So I'm holding firm. Ds1 can spend his Xmas money on the game if he wants and ds2s birthday is only 2 weeks away so the football kit can wait til then.

It's a struggle though...

It's free on game pass, I know it's a subscription but it's worth it if they game a lot

I ‘twitched’ and bought DS apple EarPods last week. Swore I wasn’t going to get them as I am convinced he’s going to lose them, when he asked for them a year ago I said no due to this. But he’s a year older and I know he’ll love them so fingers crossed he’s careful!

Oh I’m terrible for this 😂 and I’m going to be no help to help you resist, but I’d definitely get this for her (if you can afford it) and then I’d bring it out as a surprise extra in the afternoon after lunch, when she isn’t expecting anything else ☺️

I bloody love Christmas!

This year I don’t know what to get anyone. I’ve always been like you OP, a little too generous with presents.
The only thing is I’m now realising that if I hadn’t got so much in previous years, I’d have more on the list for this year!

So my advice here is don’t get everything all at once. Think how much she’d like that thing for her next birthday or next Christmas instead!

As a side note, a good rule of thumb for me is to get them:

• Something to do on the day
• Something special to eat
• Something to wear
• Something they want

The ‘something to do on the day’ might be the most important for a fun Christmas!