If you’ve bought 15+ gifts for your child/ren where are you from?

[PinkyU]

I have a theory that different parts of the UK view giving Christmas gifts differently (based solely on anecdotes and experience, so very scientific).

I’m from the Scottish central belt and don’t know anyone, regardless of income (in fact more so for working class families), who gift less than 12/15+ presents to their children, nor do any of the NI parents I know.

Conversely my experience of English families (almost exclusively on here) is that there’s competitive minimal gifting regardless of financial situation.

Is it different traditions across the nations?

Prove or disprove my very scientific theory.

(Apologies to the Welsh, I have no experience but am happy to be informed)

Wtf

@BluOcty - I’m 100% with you!

Dd10 has 8 and ds14 has 5....we are from south east England.

North West England, not including stocking mine get 10-15 presents each under the tree.

@JenniferWooley I tend to get mine a toothbrush in their stocking, it's usually a novelty one like a battery Disney one or a flashing one or something. I distinctly remember getting the same at Christmas and it being exciting so it's just nostalgic, and since toothbrushes need replacing regularly they usually need one.

It totally depends on the age of the child and the size of the presents!

DS got a bike last year - he did not get many other presents. This year it is all Lego and dinosaur figures, costing between £5-40, so he will get a big pile. We will still spend less than we did on the bike.

I'm Scottish (central belt) and WC. We normally buy between 10-20 gifts each for our 2 plus a stocking. We normally spend between £400-£600 between them. Most people I know give way more than this, as in piles and piles under the tree and on the sofas.
I lived in the north of England for a few years and most people were around the same, some more some a bit less.

Growing up I got one big present (tv, games console, cd player etc) then tons of little ones. These sometimes were things like Barbies, but it was mostly small gifts such as annuals, calendars, selection boxes, colouring books, underwear etc. My kids don't get a 'main' present, they're only 4 and 6 so this might change as they get older.

However, I don't think it's always class related and sometimes it's about what you were brought up with. I know a lot of MC people who buy loads for their kids, some are distant relatives, and their kids get thousands every year.

Wiltshire, well over 15 presents - it's just as much for me as it is for them, i LOVE giving presents - don't spend anything on myself really.

I used to receive loads of presents and could do the same for my child but our house is small so we try to avoid buying too many toys and go for quality over quantity. Also can't be good on the environment to buy dozens of manly plastic toys each year.

@user375242 ah I get the nostalgia & fancier than normal toothbrush thing - I've always got a stash of new/spare toothbrushes so when they need one they just take one from there so wouldn't consider it a gift.

I'm trying to convince DD that she should think carefully about what they want to do for DGS at Christmas so that they don't fall into the trap I did which was everything I bought came from Santa & there was always lots of it - thankfully he has a June birthday so hopefully she can spread presents out a bit (all mine were within 8 weeks of Christmas).

When I was a child we had those face cloths that came in a block and you added water one year. I loved it and kept and used mine for years.

I think I wasn't on it often enough maybe, it's easier these days with smart phones! DS is a teen now but I will need to get some things for my nephew when my sibling moves here.

Depends if you include stocking presents. Mine are having 5 gifts each from us, but at least 10 in the stocking.

They'll get about 8-10 things from family too.
Southernmost England

SIL in England wraps up al sorts of crap for her kids

It overshadows the day. It takes hours watching them unwrap the sack fulls of utter tat inc boxes of biscuits

I am from the south of england and mine are only getting two presents each (plus stockings). They get loads from family though so i would buy more if they didn't.

MC, Hampshire. This is the most eye opening thread ever on Mumsnet. Can’t believe the number of gifts given to children. Where do you keep all this stuff?
Stockings with a few things, one main present from us parents for each of the three DC. Don’t spend more than about £70 in total on each.
I hate rampant consumerism. MIL grew up very poor in the NE and we have had to ask her to cut back substantially on the number of gifts she gives. I don’t want plastic tat that is broken by evening strewn around the house and kids crying with disappointment.
We don’t equate amount spent with showing how much we love the DC and prefer to spend money on interesting holidays and fulfilling hobbies.

If you buy a lot for Christmas do you buy much at other times of the year? I don't get mine masses at Christmas, but also not just like one thing. But they do get bought things through the year a lot. Mine actually can't really cope with a massive pile of gifts. They're both autistic and they get really overwhelmed by it. We do much better just sticking to a small number of things they asked for.

Haven't read the full thread but we are central Scotland and I try to have a 10 gift limit. It usually sneaks over to about 15 by the time I've included little things in stockings.

Probably spend about 100-150 max, the two older ones are getting a main toy that is £50 then a few at the 15-25 mark and then small things. The baby is getting a few second hand things so probably £50 max.

i don't have a fixed budget or strict ideas about anything really, just buy them the things they'd like and enough to have a wee pile without it being overwhelming.

I have never bought by number and just broadly stuck to a budget.

About 10-15 here plus stocking fillers. Half are necessities wrapped up (fluffy pj’s, dressing gown, slippers) and half treat items. Originally West of Scotland. Dh family: no necessities, all treats, similar amount - North East England.

I dont use freesite but do buy cheap secondhand stuff off markerplace/Ebay and I find you usually get bigger/older/bulkier stuff cheap (like you said antique 'out of date' style wardrobes etc...) because otherwise it would cost people to hire someone to remove it.

Sometime you can even get brand new condition big/bulky stuff cheap because people want the space and can't move it themselves.

Its like pianos, really expensive to buy new but cheap or free secondhand because with new your really paying for the delivery and set up as much as anything and then moving it again is a near impossible PITA.

Small easily sellable sort after items are really not that common cheap unless someone really wants an instant sale.

My kids are getting fridge, wood kitchen, vintage rocking horse, handbag, several of games, a few books, a watch, several plushies, VR helmet, gaming chair, doll and wood accessories, wood train set etc... virtually no 'plastic tat', people really need to stop throwing that phrase around as if those of us that buy more don't understand quality.

@Feelingsobloodybloated But for WC people it's a lot easier to buy your kids a lot at Christmas and make it special for them than it is to afford interesting holidays and fulfilling hobbies year round.
Christmas can be special without piles of gifts (we also put more emphasis on things other than gifts), but sometimes when you can't afford to treat them often during the year it's nice to see their faces on Christmas morning.
Not all gifts are plastic tat either, I buy wooden toys, lego, books etc. I also buy plastic toys because not all of them are tat.

@TheStormDragon I get a decent amount at Christmas, 10-20 presents depending on what I've planned/what they've asked for. I spend around £200-£300 each, that includes presents and stockings. For their birthdays I spend around £100-£150 each. I don't really buy through the year, only essentials and the occasional things like art supplies or books if needed. I have a £10 limit on anything other than clothes throughout the year.

Agree.
Just because my children are getting 12/13 gifts doesn’t mean it’s tat.. DD is getting a new laptop, a printer, AirPods, an electric scooter, a few Lego sets, a camera and some games. Not a single piece of tat.
As for where is it kept, well I would imagine the usual places one keeps one’s belongings; in their rooms or in the playroom or the study, depending on the item.

And no, I don’t equate it to how much I love them either; what a bizarre thing to say.

My children enjoy a fabulous school, several holidays a year and a range of hobbies. The gifts they receive doesn’t mean they forgo other things.