How to explain budget when they still believe in Santa?

[purplespink]

DD is 7 and still believes, but I think that this will be the last year as kids at school have already said about Santa. She has been very lucky to have lots at Christmas in previous years but that's because she gets sent two sets of grandparents presents as they live in another country, plus me and DH, plus two aunties, plus Santa gifts. However, her list is much more expensive this year. A few things she wants are: switch lite plus games, instax camera with film, baby born doll with accessories. Plus lots of things at the £20-£40 range. How do you explain Santa's 'budget' when she just thinks that Santa can make whatever?

I always told mine that I set the budget and let Father Christmas know what is is!!

Yep! Father Christmas brings stocking gifts, the other stuff is from family.

We explained it that we had to pay Father Christmas for the presents, he just delivered them.

Santa brings the stocking and one gift here. We also said he didn't have time to make loads of gifts for every child. Also he doesn't deliver animals (a dinosaur was requested!) as they'd get scared in the sack on the sleigh. He also can't deliver anything electronic as it messes with his magic 🤣

^^ This! So simple and it worked perfectly on us as kids!

FC brings stocking, everything else is from real humans.

Mummy and daddy give Santa the money for the presents. That's what we've said from the beginning.

We pay father Christmas for the presents, this year they asked how and we explained we get sent an invoice by the elves.

Same

We were told greedy children who ask for too much get nothing!

Complete side note but this is actually how I did it - DD gets a stocking from Santa, we buy the big ticket items. She knows Santa has a budget and doesn't bring anything expensive - for the exact reason you mentioned. And because I'm happy to take the credit for getting her that super desired and much wanted baby Annabel - not Santa!

My children have always done a list of things they would like for Christmas rather than want. Santa only does one present and the stocking, I don't spend loads on Stockings it's tit bits and chocolate.

They have been made aware since forever that the list isn't a demand and that they won't be receiving all of it. It's about managing expectations really.
Every year you see threads of people worrying they haven't bought enough and none from people on Xmas day saying that their children have had a Dudley Dursley style meltdown that they haven't received enough.
As parents we put too much pressure on ourselves.

Santa's elves only make toys, not electronic gifts.

If they want electronic gifts, Mummy and Daddy have to buy them and send them to Santa.

It is not clear if your DD believes that all presents are from Santa. If not, what’s the problem?

We did the Santa's brings stocking, presents are from real people.
My dc still thought it was unfair as some of their school friends got loads from Santa and they couldn't understand why they didnt too. I said because they had lots of people to buy them presents.
You can't win really with this as everyone isn't consistent in how they approach it which is a bit frustrating for managing expectations!

We send Santa money for the gifts in our house . So there is a budget. I’m not sure it’s the best way of doing Santa but it’s the way I grew up with so stuck with it .

You don't you first of all never explain it as though you can get everything on a list

The list is a bit suggestion and some times you may get nothing on it.

Clever woman your mum

'You get what you get, and you don't get upset.'

Presents from other people come from those people. Write to father Christmas, he brings toys not consoles..we bought ds switch not fc. Any switch games won't come from fc because fc only brings toys. Ds' ask for 3 things when writing to fc and know that fc won't bring them all but he will choose atleast one thing off the list.

I always said Santa takes each list as a general suggestion, and they might get one or two items, but they might not. For my DCs, Santa's presents were 'luck of the draw'.

You made a rod for your own back if you've been sticking religiously to the annual list or giving the impression that Santa takes the list seriously.

At 7, your child doesn't need the electronics, and the camera will be used at most once.

What children does she associate with who are influencing her desires here?

Yes!

@TickingAlongNicely I think that's the best answer and is good preparation!!

The reason why we’ve always bought the presents and they get delivered on Christmas Eve!!
No way is some made up person getting the glory for me spending hundreds of pounds every year!!

This is the exactly what we did.