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Christmas

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

Original poster

Want, need, wear, read

42 replies

Irritatedmum · 15/08/2022 10:54

I’m trying to focus my gift buying this year - partly so my kids don’t get too much, partly because of money. Does anyone use a list like something they want, need, wear, read? Or do you have other ones? I’m thinking of adding ‘something to do’ as well like making a cinema ticket as a promise of a trip.

OP posts:
Elisheva · 15/08/2022 11:18

Something to eat

KyrieEleison · 15/08/2022 11:19

It's been years but I remember this add on - Make, Do, Share, Feed.
Which is fairly open to interpretation!

KyrieEleison · 15/08/2022 11:20

It worked really well when mine were small and I might give it a go again this year. It's nice to have limits sometimes!

Mrsfussypants1 · 15/08/2022 11:30

KyrieEleison · 15/08/2022 11:19

It's been years but I remember this add on - Make, Do, Share, Feed.
Which is fairly open to interpretation!

I think I'll use that one but add on 'warm' (oodie, hot water bottle etc)

Olivia199 · 15/08/2022 11:39

I'm doing "Want, Need, Do, Read". Mainly because "need" will likely be clothes anyway!

Original poster
Irritatedmum · 15/08/2022 11:40

Got to get Eat in there 😂. I’ll probably also have Lego as a separate item too!

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 15/08/2022 13:14

I tended to do "want, need, eat, read" for DD's stocking - there was usually a "wear" in there as well, but there was both fruit and a treat that she could eat straight away in the morning to keep her going until breakfast was ready. Sometimes that included a selection box of cereal (the multipack of individual servings) which was a treat to her.

And always at least 1 book she could enjoy - it expanded later to include both a fiction and a non-fiction book.

Need was usually things like toiletries she needed but maybe a character toothbrush rather than a normal plain one, or character underwear (as Mom would NEVER buy those!) etc. Nice socks. Nowadays, nice shower gels are appreciated or fancy lip balms.

mam0918 · 15/08/2022 15:25

All gifts should be wants... if they arent wanted they arent a gift and if they are needed they are a requirement that you have to provide so not a gift.

I go by numbers rathers than the 'twee poems', I always did 12 (like the 12 months) but I think i'm going to try cutting it back to 10 this year.

In some christian based cultures 3 is very common as its the number jesus recieved - I do the 3 thing for my family (parents, young siblings etc...) and throw in a few sweets making it like a stocking/sack.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 15/08/2022 15:32

We do want, do, wear, read - so something she has asked for, some sort or arty thibg normally for do, clothes normally with her fav character/film, and then same for book.

DD gets presents from other family and friends, and i hate piles of presents at xmas, less is definitely more, and DD normally wants to play with them straight away, so better not to have lots to open.

Birthday DD only gets 1 or 2 small things from us as well, but we will do a party for her

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 15/08/2022 16:17

With older primary age children, if you have two or more, a simple game to play together eg: Top Trumps, or part of a game/kit each eg: a walkie-talkie each, or the hat/balls of Butthead can buy you a bit of a lie in!

Also socks and pants with cartoons on.

Sisisimone · 15/08/2022 16:31

All gifts should be wants... if they arent wanted they arent a gift and if they are needed they are a requirement that you have to provide so not a gift

Completely agree with this. Can't bear this twee poem, really grates on me for some reason maybe because it just sounds really joyless

Stag82 · 15/08/2022 16:39

I'm thinking mostly of to do presents this year. For DS 8th birthday he got football tickets and he said it was by far his favourite present so think I'm going to go along these lines...

I don't buy my kids things they need as gifts but will happily treat them to a special item of clothing or something that they want!

InDubiousBattle · 15/08/2022 16:44

How old are your dc? We just get them what they want and anything else we see that they might like within what we can afford to spend! Ds has a December birthday so it is nice if he can get something he can use later in the year, a lego gift card or a subscription (Beano one this year I think).

Insomniac2507 · 15/08/2022 16:46

I think that's a fab idea. Never heard of it before!

stargirl1701 · 15/08/2022 16:50

We've done this since the beginning with DC.

Want
Need
Wear
Read

I just love it. Really reduces the number of 'things' they get.

DD2 has her birthday on Wed. She is getting:

Want - LEGO set
Need - Horse riding hat
Wear - Pony Club jacket
Read - Yoto card

Mammyloveswine · 15/08/2022 17:27

Ds1 has asked for a ps4 (can pick up fairly cheaply at CEX) and a tub of ice cream and some ice cream cones to "make my own ice creams!" So I'm gonna get him an ice cream maker too and cones and toppings! Hes inti Lego and minecraft too so will get up hun a couple of small Lego sets and some ".unspeakable" merch! Then some books and sweets and small things to unwrap. It won't look loads but he appreciates the price if things (he's 7 just after Xmas).

Ds2 will be 5 just after Christmas and just wants "dinosaur toys and sea creatures"... his best birthday ever was getting a big giant octopus Teddy age 4 3 Grin. This year he's getting a colossal T. rex and a "realistic looking octopus like my realistic lobster toy". So he's also getting a trip to the Deep in hotel and I'll adopt a sea creature for him.

They really don't ask for much bless them!

SilverGlassHare · 15/08/2022 17:31

I hate the twee rhyme too. DS does get nice clothes and books but mainly he get stuff he wants. He is spoiled rotten though 🤷‍♀️ I grew up poor and I’m overcompensating.

Mammyloveswine · 15/08/2022 17:33

Sisisimone · 15/08/2022 16:31

All gifts should be wants... if they arent wanted they arent a gift and if they are needed they are a requirement that you have to provide so not a gift

Completely agree with this. Can't bear this twee poem, really grates on me for some reason maybe because it just sounds really joyless

Ha agree

Mammyloveswine · 15/08/2022 17:34

Mammyloveswine · 15/08/2022 17:27

Ds1 has asked for a ps4 (can pick up fairly cheaply at CEX) and a tub of ice cream and some ice cream cones to "make my own ice creams!" So I'm gonna get him an ice cream maker too and cones and toppings! Hes inti Lego and minecraft too so will get up hun a couple of small Lego sets and some ".unspeakable" merch! Then some books and sweets and small things to unwrap. It won't look loads but he appreciates the price if things (he's 7 just after Xmas).

Ds2 will be 5 just after Christmas and just wants "dinosaur toys and sea creatures"... his best birthday ever was getting a big giant octopus Teddy age 4 3 Grin. This year he's getting a colossal T. rex and a "realistic looking octopus like my realistic lobster toy". So he's also getting a trip to the Deep in hotel and I'll adopt a sea creature for him.

They really don't ask for much bless them!

Ignore my million of typos!!

HardRockOwl · 15/08/2022 19:31

Oh I can't bear this pious little ditty

Just get them what they want within your budget

Olivia199 · 15/08/2022 20:54

I think, even using this type of list they still get what they "want". It's just nice to balance out what they're getting and not feel like you're falling down a rabbit hole of overspending randomly.
For my 1 year olds birthday, it's all about the fact she doesn't really know much about any of it. Obviously I'm keen to spoil her but having a bit of a guide into what to get helps because otherwise.. where do you stop?!
So I've done:
Want - A train with building blocks
Need - Winter wardrobe (it's all about unwrapping at that age so clothes are fine. As they get older this can be anything)
Do - Farm annual pass
Read - "That's not my" books.

As they get older, the same applies.
Want - whatever they're currently into.
Need - If they need a nice new pair of shoes then make it a fun day out to pick their favourites. Or maybe they need new bedding. So go ahead and get a super cool character one that they'll be thrilled with. Yes you might have bought that anyway because they need it, but that doesn't mean they won't be delighted to open it as a gift.
Do - A super fun day out or an annual pass. Kids get tons of gifts and sometimes something like a day to look forward to just prolongs the joy.
Read - Always a staple in our house and most others I know. The little ones love new books and story time.

Even as teens and adults this works.
My mum followed it roughly for our Christmas last year. I got:
Want - An old ps2 game me and my brother used to play and wanted to revisit.
Need - A new winter coat. Yes I needed it but I appreciated it as much as the stuff I wanted because it was gorgeous and useful.
Do - Spa day. Heaven..
Read - A new book out by my favourite author.

It isn't about getting them stuff they don't want. It's just suggestions of things you can get for them. Realistically they'll "want" all of it but having a little guide like this offers some suggestions on things to get. It's not about sucking the joy out of it...!

GroggyLegs · 15/08/2022 21:00

Ha!

We add something to eat & something to love as well for extra sickly, twee sweetness!

They still get too much great stuff, it just gives me a bit of inspiration for the stockings.

Original poster
Irritatedmum · 16/08/2022 11:39

I’ve never used the poem or anything before, and I can see what people mean about ‘just getting them what they want’. I’ve always done that, just picked up anything they like, and 1) they get just too much stuff and 2) we can’t afford it this year. I doubt anyone can afford to do what they usually do this year. It would all still be special things that they want but I’m trying to find a way to make it varied and interesting rather than just 10 toys.

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 16/08/2022 11:46

All gifts should be wants

I disagree entirely. I have always loved receiving things I need. I needed a new hoover one year (mine blew up on Dec 1st) and my brother and parents clubbed together to get one. This year, my brother knows I'm short of a piece of camping equipment and has said he'll buy one for me for Christmas. It really makes me happy to receive something I know I'll get lots and lots of use from and will feel grateful every time I use it. My mum bought a peg bag and pegs for me one year and I was jolly happy!

My dc are the same. DS said only recently that he'd be gutted not to get socks and pants for Christmas. I mean, new pants. They feel great don't they?

We buy wants as well of course but isn't the line between want/need a blurry one anyway?

SleepingStandingUp · 16/08/2022 11:49

Ok so o combined all the lists. I'm thinking for DS, 7,

Want - something off his endless list (£20)
Wear - sonic clothes (£10)
Read - something Dav Pilkey wrote (£7)
Make - lego (£5)
Do - theatre tickets (£20)
Share - something inexpensive like bubbles (£100)
Feed - popcorn maker (£15)
Warm - pikachu onsie (£5)
Love - Dogman plushie (£15)

Meh, that didn't really help cut costs