i dont want to buy dcs xmas presents this year.

[Booooooooooyhoo]

that sounds horrid but i dont. its not because i dont love them, i love them very much.
the reason is, ds1 who is 4 has sooo many toys, needs for nothing, doesnt need clothes, and will be getting presents from both sets of grandparents and other family members that he really doesnt need either.

ds2 will be 7 months old and we have all ds1's baby toys and clothes so he doesnt need anything either, he also will get gifts from other family members.

my problem is, OH was brought up to be quite materialistic, xmas was always a case of keeping up with the jones' even though they really couldnt afford to.

last year i had a real job on my hands trying to keep him to buying one gift for ds1.

so would i be completely mad to try and persuade him that we dont actually need to get the dcs gifts for xmas? and if not, how do i go about persuading him?

i feel quite strongly about this, i really dont want to buy gifts taht will end up in a landfill site. my children will do very well in life without them.

[Booooooooooyhoo]

we do gift donations every year anyway from us as a family, i also do this for anyone else who i would otherwise buy gifts for. so really the dcs are the only gifts we will be buying. i'm liking the idea of a pantomime or something that 'santa' could leave the tickets for. i'll suggest that to OH and at least then he'll still feel as though he's getting to give them something. IME the joy of seeing what present you have is short lived, whereas the anticipation of going to a show would be far more enjoyable for us all.

[mumeeee]

I think they should have something even if it is only a token gift. What about new pyjamas.

[ellokitty]

I agree with Bumpy Becky... you can actually make up most of the presents with essentials that will actually be used and so not clutter up the house.

My DDs have a huge Christmas sack every year, which they get very excited about, but a lot of stuff that they get include new pants, socks, vests, pjs, slippers, clothes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, those annoying crayola bath pens, chocolate, bubble bath, nice flannel, magazine etc etc. Most of the essentials are things that they are not normally allowed - like special cereal, or cutlery with their favourite characters on, sparkly toothbrushes when I normally buy plain ones, fancy underwear instead of plain ones and so on. I then add a few toys into the sack too.

I also find that by adding one thing into the weekly shop means that they have lots of presents, but I don't really notice the cost all that much.
HTH

[BexieID]

I kinda feel the same and luckily so does DP. Tom is 3.6 so have got him a wooden train set from ebay as he loves playing with the one at nursery. Apart from bits in a stocking that is all he is getting from us. My parents bought him a car bed for xmas and b/day. PIL have got him some kind of scalextric thing that I hope they keep at theirs and are giving him money. No idea about Aunt/Uncles, but hopefully they don't bother or give money.

DC2 is also due xmas day, so am trying to do a pre baby/xmas clear out of toys! We have asked for money towards a new fridge/freezer as we really don't need anything, except a bigger fridge/freezer! Just hope we don't get 'baby things' for xmas as we've kept everything from Tom. And I really don't want baby stuff for xmas anyway, iykwim (unless someone wants to buy me the £86 Kipling bag I want to get to use as a changebag ).

[BexieID]

Oh, and I bought the BHS xmas bear for baby as I did the same the xmas I was pregnant with Tom. If bubs does come before xmas, then thats all they'll get. Otherwise, it'll be a pressie for next xmas.

[star6]

I LOVE bumpybecky's idea of wrapping up baby bath, socks...etc. I might even wrap some little toys DS (13 months) hasn't played with in a while (I doubt he remembers what he played with even 3 days ago!!).
Not to emphasize presents, as I don't like the idea of loads of gifts and am not materialistic at all. But because DS just recently started to figure out how to tear wrapping paper off and LOVES to play with it. He's also starting to realize there's something inside of the paper, too... Maybe I'll bring some boxes home from work, too and let him have at them - he loves to play with boxes. Perfect 1 year old Christmas!! Thanks bumpybecky!

[murderonthemidnightexpress]

I second the idea of having a clear out before Xmas day and taking stuff to charity shops to help the LOs learn that some children are not as lucky as them. We have Dcs birthdays in November and January, so by the end of all that they have soooo much STUFF it stops meaning anything. DS1's birthday is next week and I'm planning a big blitz of books and toys later this week.

My DP is the same too - he'll happily buy stuff all year for them - not big things but nevertheless. I really think it becomes so much more exciting if they haven't had anything new for ages beforehand (and let's not forget the good behaviour bribery potential from about Sept onwards if they think they'll only get summat at Xmas if they act like angels ).