How many gifts for DC?

[Inasec24]

Sorry if this has been done, had a search but couldn't find a thread.

Just interested if we have gone overboard. This isn't about budget, just actual number.

We have 2 x DC, age 6 and 4.

They have 14 little things each in a stocking - things like chocolate coins, top trumps etc.

Then 12 things each under the tree. Nothing expensive but some are physically bigger than others.

Then 1 thing each from FC that he leaves on the end of their bed.

I'm guessing as they get older their gifts will be fewer but more expensive like tech etc.

We just went through it and wonder if it seems too much or about normal for this age.

@Favouritefruits you’d make your child wait for a new coat until Christmas? That is absolutely disgusting.

I generally try to fill up their xmas sack (initial ones from b&m) and I'm kind of unabashedly a woohoo f it it's xmas kinda gal lol so in the past I know I've definitely overdone it at times, this year I've been more restrained. I try not to have a target in mind, I just don't bust my finances. The kids birthdays have just been so it makes it easier.

We do stockings. From Santa

Then -

Something to wear
Something to read
Something they want
Something they need

And 1 big sharing gift, from Santa

I just have DD who is grown up now but at Christmas she usually had about 6-8 decent presents plus stocking from Father Christmas. That was enough I think. Any more and things wouldn’t have been enjoyed as much or played with.

I am not a fan of “padding piles out” which to me seems code for wrapping up landfill tat just for sheer hell of it. I think buying loads is done for the parents not the children.

This is MN, people are going to say it’s too much and their dc get less….but then those dc might go on expensive holidays, days out, activities over Christmas and may get lots of gifts from family? No one’s going to admit that they give their dc 30+ gifts but I’m sure lots do.

I think it sounds fine OP, if it’s things they are going to like and use/play with then I don’t see a issue. They don’t have to open them all at once, spread it out through the day so they don’t get overwhelmed.

MY dc are older teens now so get a lot less but when they were small I got a bit carried away and they would have 20+ gifts, they didn’t get much during the year, we didn’t take them on expensive holiday or buy them toys unless it was their birthdays. They were never overwhelmed.

Mine (15 & 16) have 4 gifts each, and a stocking with maybe 10 things. They're all nice bits, there's no cheap filler tat, and I've spent about £250 on each of them.

DS will be getting around 18 presents from us. Don't do stockings as find I just waste money on rubbish he doesn't need.

These threads are always revealing and make me realise how culturally different we are. I'm Irish and Christmas is a BIG thing here and all gifts come from Santa (or Santy) except those given by friends and family - they go under the tree.

Santa has always brough dc many, many presents and it's the same for all their pals and cousins etc.

Now we have a teen they will get a stocking left out (the same one from childhood and it's fairly large) and it will be filled with:
airpods in the toe,
lindt chocolate reindeer - every year
clinique lipstick
curly hair products
makeup brushes
makeup bag
mini prosecco
chocolate coins
chocolate orange
fluffy slipper socks
pretty candle sticks

main presents used to be arranged beside the stocking and were never wrapped but arranged nicely into a 'display'. This year we're thinking about wrapping them and putting under the tree. There will be lots of gifts including:
Shoes
expensive make-up
jewellery
perfume
pj's
Huge box chocolate fingers
clothes
luxury scented candle for room
Rituals box set

We work. We don't get into debt to provide this and we love Christmas. It;s always been like this and dc is grateful and appreciative and has never ever been overwhelmed by receiving presents.

OP do what you think it right for you and your family. There's a lot of parsimony on these boards when it comes to Christmas and not all of it is driven by necessity (which is an entirely different thing). So much middle class angst.

That's how my parents did it for us. :)

@NegroniLover I’m floored at the thought of wrapping all of that 🤣

You’re dead right that we’re all different. My numbers aren’t low this year by design, and I do feel uneasy that there won’t be the usual big pile, but we set a budget and stuck to it. I definitely have the angst 🤣

Now I have the angst about my post @NegroniLover ! It wasn’t meant to sound judgey, your Christmas sounds absolutely magical.

Hmm mine have quite a lot wrapped up. It probably is about 15-20 things each.

However a lot of it is somewhat boring practical things that they happen to need - a new swimming towel, new trainers (old ones outgrown), new piano book, umbrellas, lunchbox. None of these are very exciting and tbh if they needed them at another time of year we’d just buy them. But they do add to the pile.

Also this includes the whole family ie presents from grandparents, uncles and aunts, not just us.

Something to wear
Something to read
Something they want
Something they need

I’ve always liked this idea in theory but it depends on your DC… DD1 would prefer 4 books and none of the rest, DD2 would like all of it bar the book!