What's an acceptable amount of christmas presents?

[Moshi]

We have no money this year due to taking the kids on holiday of a lifetime (america) next year so are having to start christmas present buying already just so they get something.

To make things easier I wrote out a list of things I was going to buy them. DS's list (9) includes:

2 xbox 360 games
3 Wii games (including mario kart with wheel)
2 pairs of pyjamas
a dvd

Most of this stuff I've bought off ebay at £10 each or so.

Is this enough or is that a really crap christmas list? they're used to getting loads but I just can't do it this year. I have explained to them that they won't be getting much and they will still be getting presents of 2 sets of grandparents etc...

5 Video games should be more than enough for any 9 year old without a fab holiday thrown in too!

Especially as they also get pressies from Grandparents, Aunties etc.

It sounds fine to me as long as you aren't expecting a nine year old to get too excited about two pairs of pyjamas

Oh and they've got a wii console to share as main present too (forgot about that

pmsl the pyjamas are just there as something extra to open and he'll like these ones...they say "tough guy" on them

FWIW I've found that buying way in advance ends up costing me more though as my dcs find the thing that they really really want in the month or so before Christmas.

Certainly he is getting plenty. But the main issue for him is whether he is getting the stuff that he would really value.

It's more than mine would be getting in similar circumstances, so I think your list is plenty.

This year mine are hoping for a wii console between them, and won't be getting much else (we're also going on a fab holiday next Easter).

How many children do you have? With a Wii thrown in too I think that it is a bit ott. If he has an xbox and you have no money then I'd not bother with the wii personally.

I think at 9, he is well old enough to know that money doesn't grow on trees and that you have a holiday of a lifetime coming up next year.

I'm particularly pleased this year, as DD has asked for tickets for McFly for her birthday and she has said, 'as they are quite expensive, I won't even mind if it was for Christmas too' Result! They are £27.

Yes I've worried about that too. I mean, for months DD has been nagging for "My sims" for the wii and I've been bidding furiously for it on ebay. Today she turned around and said "oh, I've changed my mind about mysims now by the way" so its a good job I never won it.

That sounds like loads to me. ds gets one big(ish) present for each christmas and birthday, he is only 4 though and doesn't know that some people get more!

mine get one main present plus a stocking (well, pillowcase really) from me.

And the normal stuff from other relatives.