Does your family spend equal $$$....

[imgoingtodisney]

per child - supposedingly
per family - nope - we have an only child but BIL has three kids
we give to 6 nieces/nephews - ds gets 3 gifts from these 3 families and yes he does notice
ive suggested doing the pick a name and raising the limit but others dont seem to want to do that

 

[Mamu]

I honesty never look. I myself try to give equal gifts, maybe not in value, but the same amount of gifts. There will always be those few gifts, that bring laughter year after year. Those gifts that get put in the attic and left there for the next generation.

I really think we as Americans over spend on Christmas gifts. Christmas is a time to rejoice with family and friends. Christmas should be a new beginning a time to put last year in the past, and a time to start this new year, with changes.

 

[disneyjunkie]

The only time my mom gives the same amount to her 3 grandkids is when she gives them cash.

When she gives gifts, she may spend more on one than the other two. However, my sister, the kids, or I could care less about how much was spent on whom. My son, niece and nephew don't care about the cost, as long as it's something to play with they're happy. The clothes just get tossed to the side.

 

[TigH]

We try to spread things out evenly, but not to the penny. However, this year my sister moved into her first house, so we are going a little crazy getting things for her! It has been a very fun holiday shopping season.

 

[WendyZ]

"she who cannot be named" TOO FUNNY!!!! I don't have a MIL, so that's not an issue for us. She passed when DH was a child.
However, my mom tries to keep things even between my kids. She over buys too!

 

[Amy]

My parents always kept the dollar amount spent pretty equal between my brother and me, and I've continued with my own 2 DS's. I don't go down to the penny, but I try to keep it within a $10 difference. Now that the boys are older, it's a lot easier to tell them that I spent the same amount of money, but one of them might have more presents to open because of the cost of each individual gift.

DH's family is something else. He has 2 brothers and 2 sisters, and his mom has one favorite son and one favorite daughter. When the whole family is together, it is SO obvious. I remember one Christmas we were together opening gifts and she got her "favorites" each one of those bed-in-a-bag sets, while we got a set of 4 cheap glasses. Once our boys were born, we noticed the difference in the gifts for her grandkids, so we stopped visiting her ON the holiday---we see her alone after the holidays, when the other kids aren't there and our boys can't see that their cousins got better stuff than they did.

 

[Pembo]

Good to know "she who cannot be named" has allies in the world. I'd like to say that it is the thought that counts however I can't for MANY reasons. I also know that my dh's nieces get much more extravagant gifts. (They got to go to WDW one Xmas week). My in-laws are a piece of work.


Snoopy-I think you and I have a lot in common, first your friend who needs to get real and now the in-laws....


One more side note-my in-laws are VERY, VERY, VERY wealthy so I guess that makes it even more annoying.

 

[sharbear]

Isn't that so sad that your kids don't see their cousins on Christmas because their grandmother can't treat each kid equal. I know that my kids are so excited to have Christmas come because they get to see their grandparents and their cousins. My DD keeps saying that she can't wait to see my cousins on Christmas. I know that it has nothing to do with getting gifts she just wants to be around family.

My grandmother played favorites also, I think that it has affected my relationships with my cousins to this day. We have one cousin who never participates in family events and I think it is because she feels like the unwanted one. I hope this never happens to my kids. My SIL and I (and my sister) make great effort for our kids to know each other and to like each other.

 

[dianeschlicht]

My mom was always very equal with the grandchildren, and we always try to be with the kids too. I sometimes have to remind them that value and number of packages might not match!

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by tiggerlover
I grew up with parents who spend equal amounts (usually to the penny) and they continue that with us today, as well as with our spouses and children. Because of that I tend to do the same, but usually not to the penny, if I spend $30 on one and then see somethign for another at $28, I won't add the extra $2 to the box like my mother would.

My grandmother/mother are like that, and I hate to say that I sometimes can get like that.

I like to be even. Yes, its only $2 difference, but with that $2 I can get four hot wheels cars, a set of play doh, a Barbie outfit, some makeup, deck of cards.. well, you get the idea...

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

My MIL always gives gift certificates to her grandchildren. I assume she gives the same amount to each, though I've never asked.

When I buy for my nieces and nephews, I keep the costs very even. I have only one child, so I don't have to balance anything out there.