Christmas stockings trap

[Freakon]

So we fell into the trap of getting our dc huge stockings when they were small. Every year we regret it. I only had a pillowcase when I was a kid. Also how much does everyone spend? It seems obscene every year and makes me feel like we’ve spoiled them and can’t reverse it! They also have a main present from us which is equally expensive. I do try to give them lots of practical gifts like pyjamas slippers etc to even out all the non essential indulgence. They don’t have toys etc bought all year apart from the occasional thing they use their own money for and birthdays of course.
What I’m interested to know is are we the most awful material givers or are others in this trap too? The last thing you want is for your kids to think Santa has copped out this year! So we keep repeating the cycle as it gets harder and harder to find good gifts. One days costs us so so much money!!

We give what we consider a lot for Christmas but we are just giving them a year's worth of stuff in one day. They get a few nice toys that they want but they also get sports kit and sports equipment, pjs, slippers, dressing gowns, books, stationery, hair accessories, lip balms, etc that we would be buying them throughout the year anyway. We like giving it to them in one exciting moment that they enjoy and look forward to. Could you change some of the things you give them to useful things they will need anyway? Keep the same number of presents but reduce the tat.

Stockings can be really expensive if everything costs about a fiver. I mix practical stuff like new socks and pants that they would need anyway and then I go to primark and get lots of lip balms , nail varnishes etc that are under £1. I try to send under £20 per stocking as I have 4 and that is still £80. I would either bulk up with things they need anyway or just downsize

Also, I buy early and throughout the year, taking advantage of sales. So when supermarkets have all the back to school offers I buy stationery then, for example.

You’ve not been a dick and you can definitely change them. Yes, your kids will notice, how could they not? But that’s ok. Just say look we’ve got these lovely new stockings with your name on.
Tell them Santa needs to be eco friendly and give less plastic toys😂. It’s fine , you’re not going to traumatise them.

Your problem is the stocking. I made both of my Dc a stocking when they were tiny - it is about 40cm long and big enough to get my hand to the bottom. It means it doesn't take a lot to fill. WHen they were small they had a combination of essentials - socks/pants/gloves and nice things stationary sweets etc, Now they are teens I've upgraded the budget but it was no more than £100 each. I struggled to fit everything in.

THere are lots of lovely handmade stockings on ebay each year that are the same size as mine so buy them one each and cut the content.

My dd gets 1 present from santa, usually it is around £15. Then we buy the rest of her presents, normally 3 or 4, about £100. Then obvioisly she gers presents from other family members

Thank you everyone. I will scale down the stockings and keep on with the useful things. They had no cheap tat this year which was a first. The soft toys I am not a fan of but they adore plushies. The whole lot was things they really wanted added to stuff they actually needed and I’d have had to buy anyway, plus plenty of edible gifts like chocolate and biscuits etc. But I still want it scaled down as it’s too many things and too many things that cost a lot. Whilst I’m horrified that I appear to be the worst on mumsnet for overdoing the stockings I also am grateful to have this realisation and be able to go fix it.

I love the idea of slyly taking in the stockings. Good luck OP!

@MaggieCassidy if I do then I’ll be taking them in and up!

Honestly, don't feel bad. I always have to avoid the amount you've spent on your kids threads in the run up to Christmas because there's always someone spending hundreds more than me and stressing me out that I haven't spent enough and the kids will feel hard done by.

Then Christmas rolls around and I made one kids day with a notebook and a keyring connected to something they really like. I didn't need to spend more.

Honestly - chuck those stockings away now while it's fresh in your mind. Then you can get DC to help you pick new ones. I bet they'll be far more interested in a fun design than how big it is.

We have a budget and stick to it.
Only small stocking comes from Santa, the rest are from whoever bought them. I didn't do stocking this year because our kids said Santa wasn't real, doubt they'll say it next year .

These stockings are just Santa. Our family always did Santa separate. I know some do it that Santa brings everything.

Oh my OP, that image is massive. No wonder you were talking about only a pillowcase.

These are the stockings we have downsized to. Perhaps you could say they shrunk in the wash?

www.rocketandrose.com/products/personalised-christmas-stocking-embroidered-with-a-name-of-your-choice

@Freakon

Thought I’d show you the true monster of a stocking. It’s similar to the one in the photo. I’ve been a dick.

I did exactly the same! When they were small most things were big so we bought a Christmas sack as the stocking. In the end the elf left a note to say now they were older they got a Christmas Eve box instead which has worked out much better as I put in new pjs and slippers as well as fun things. I also buy a small Lego set every year for them to share as well as a board game, as this keeps them occupied on Christmas Eve

A good sense checker is to ask them to tell you at Easter everything that Father Christmas brought them. We did this one year and they couldnt remember hardly any.

My DS also has an enormous stocking I do enjoy filling it up though! I think I spent about £100 in total on his stocking this year but as others have said that does include some useful stuff that he needs anyway (pyjamas, socks, bubble bath etc), some edible stuff and always a few books. Even though it’s huge this year I couldn’t fit everything in as he had a few things that came in big boxes (a puzzle, a slime kit) which take up a lot of space. I don’t feel any pressure to ensure it’s full, as he gets older the gifts will get smaller but more expensive so there will be fewer of them!

socks, pants
but actually the stocking fillers can mount up in price.
go smaller, as already said

We have absolutely enormous stockings. Pillowcase, or bigger size. I can fill them for £25-£30 each.

Each had 4 large presents, but no little bits of tat or food. For example: doll (still in box) £10, large book £6, chunky jumper from supermarket £8, football £5. It's actually difficult to fit it all in.

That's everything from Santa in our house. We also give something small from us, like a small Duplo set. That brings it to around £40 per child.