How many gifts do you wrap?

[Freyja]

hehe there's still absolutely no gurantee that we'll get everything we want. Whatever we don't get we either deal with it and go without, or we go buy it ourselves. It's definitely not a situation where you make a list and you definitely get everything on it

Just curious, didn´t you just say in the other post that you don´t buy anything for yourself throughout the year?

 

[Angelhalo]

Just curious, didn´t you just say in the other post that you don´t buy anything for yourself throughout the year?

Not very much. I do buy clothes now and then at the thrift store, but other than that no, not really. I mean we buy toiletries and such but fun stuff like cd's, movies, etc, not really. Obviously, my husband didn't grow up the same way I did so of course he buys some things here and there. But as for myself, I really don't buy a whole lot during the regular year other than some thrift store finds. And if there is something on your list that you really wanted and you didn't get abviously you have the option to go buy it yourself after Christmas. Its not a nazi state where you must go for year after year hoping you get it for Christmas.

ETA: Although when I was growing up I did go like 4 years waiting to get some movie that was on my Christmas list. I finally got it one year when my mom decided I was old enough to have it LOL!

 

[C.Ann]

I'm sure people probably judge us because we have a HUGE Christmas with hordes and hordes of gifts. BUT, what they may not know is that we don't buy anything else for each other or even for ourselves the rest of the year. It was like this when I was growing up too.

I don´t judge anyone, I´m just surprised. I´m just happy when people can have the Christmas they want to have, no matter how it is.
I don´t buy my kids or spouse stuff throughout the year either, apart from some clothes I might pick up when I travel to the US since it´s so much cheaper there. I just can´t see myself giving them dozens of gifts at a time. Can´t see the use for it nor do I think they would really, genuinely enjoy all the stuff they would get, all in one pile. I like the idea of them having to prioritize what it is they want MOST for Christmas, instead of them being pretty sure that they´ll get everything on their list. But then again, that´s just my way of thinking.

No judging - just surprised by the sheer volume.. Thus my initial reaction that they were wrapping for charities or something..

Back when my kids were small - and I had 5 stepchildren as well - we also did the "need something throughout the year - get it at Christmas" thing - as well as buying for many, many siblings, spouses, neices, nephews, parents, grandparents, etc.. But I've never wrapped over 100 gifts for a family of four.. Upon reading that, I realized people weren't wrapping for charities or very large families..

As long as people can afford it, it's all good - and definitely a personal choice..

 

[golfgal]

We will buy the kids clothes as needed through the year and other necessities but at Christmas it is about buying what they want. Even with THAT we don't have anywhere NEAR 100+ presents. I would be hard pressed to come up with that many even if we never bought anything through the year and wrapped everything (well I suppose if I wrapped each pair of socks separately maybe). As far as getting the kids things they WANT through the year, we hardly ever do that, except at birthdays and Christmas.

 

[Angelhalo]

No judging - just surprised by the sheer volume.. Thus my initial reaction that they were wrapping for charities or something..

Back when my kids were small - and I had 5 stepchildren as well - we also did the "need something throughout the year - get it at Christmas" thing - as well as buying for many, many siblings, spouses, neices, nephews, parents, grandparents, etc.. But I've never wrapped over 100 gifts for a family of four.. Upon reading that, I realized people weren't wrapping for charities or very large families..

As long as people can afford it, it's all good - and definitely a personal choice..

Its ok C. Ann I didn't really mean that you were.

I just know, having grown up with this tradition, that there definitely are people out theree who have judged us thinking that we are charging everything or spoiled, or crazy, or whatever, yet they never knew anything about the facts behind it about how we didn't really get much else during the regular year. My parents were poor as dirt growing up so they decided when they got married that they wanted to have the kind of Christmases that they never had growing up with lots of presents and wrapping paper everywhere and piles of treasures after it was all over with. But, they decided that the only way they could afford to do that was to save up all year for Christmas. So this was what they came up with. I'm so glad they did because we all love it so much. It just bugs me when people who know nothing about our traditions or the story behind why it happens that way, judge us. I don't judge anyone else for their holiday traditions.

Not upset, or anything, and certainly didn't mean anything toward you at all

 

[Angelhalo]

We will buy the kids clothes as needed through the year and other necessities but at Christmas it is about buying what they want. Even with THAT we don't have anywhere NEAR 100+ presents. I would be hard pressed to come up with that many even if we never bought anything through the year and wrapped everything (well I suppose if I wrapped each pair of socks separately maybe). As far as getting the kids things they WANT through the year, we hardly ever do that, except at birthdays and Christmas.

100 things for 6 people really isn't that many items. Think about the stocking stuffers...candy, lip glosses, nail polish, batteries, cd. That's like 7 or 8 things right there for one person. Then a few gifts each and bam there's a hundred total gifts for 6 people.

To each their own

 

[Lucky4me]

It used to be at least 80. This year it's about 30.
I've forewarned everyone, I won't be lugging hefty bags full of gifts into the Christmas eve party this year. My children, three adults and a teenager, won't have their usual 10-15 gifts each to open up on Christmas morning, but they will be fine with it.
I really think it's one of those- to each their own- things.
I know there are people who think I'm nuts for still filling a stocking each year for my 28, 27 and 23 year old kids. I don't care, I'll do it as long as I am able. I think they like the stockings better than the rest of the gifts.
Last year I wasn't here to do it. They came over, took my tree and all the decorations to their house and bought things to fill each others stockings. Then they took videos of them opening presents and the stockings on Christmas morning. It warmed my heart to know they will keep the tradition long after I am gone.

 

[golfgal]

100 things for 6 people really isn't that many items. Think about the stocking stuffers...candy, lip glosses, nail polish, batteries, cd. That's like 7 or 8 things right there for one person. Then a few gifts each and bam there's a hundred total gifts for 6 people.

To each their own

It is still about 16 presents/person. It must take HOURS to open your gifts

 

[Angelhalo]

It is still about 16 presents/person. It must take HOURS to open your gifts

yup. We take turns so that we can watch each person opening their gifts. One person opens one and then the next person opens one, and so on. We like to see everyone's expressions as they open things.

 

[Freyja]

It is still about 16 presents/person. It must take HOURS to open your gifts

yup. We take turns so that we can watch each person opening their gifts.

It takes us hours too, for the same reason. We open only one gift at a time, and everyone watches.

 

[Angelhalo]

It takes us hours too, for the same reason. We open only one gift at a time, and everyone watches.

It is so great to see the expressions on people's faces!

 

[Lucky4me]

It used to be at least 80. This year it's about 30.
I've forewarned everyone, I won't be lugging hefty bags full of gifts into the Christmas eve party this year. My children, three adults and a teenager, won't have their usual 10-15 gifts each to open up on Christmas morning, but they will be fine with it.
I really think it's one of those- to each their own- things.
I know there are people who think I'm nuts for still filling a stocking each year for my 28, 27 and 23 year old kids. I don't care, I'll do it as long as I am able. I think they like the stockings better than the rest of the gifts.
Last year I wasn't here to do it. They came over, took my tree and all the decorations to their house and bought things to fill each others stockings. Then they took videos of them opening presents and the stockings on Christmas morning. It warmed my heart to know they will keep the tradition long after I am gone.

 

[OK!]

The only ones I use gift bags for are oddly-shaped ones (Yankee Candle, I'm lookin' at you) or occasionally a little group of presents that should be opened together. Otherwise, I wrap them all. I'm not huge on bows for them all, however.

 

[N.Bailey]

We have always had big Christmases with our children. Growing up, my mother could never afford it and my husband came from a military family with 5 kids. They certainly couldn't afford it either. I think there are times when you grow up like that that you try to overcompensate with your own children. I have to admit be quite guilty of that.

Our shopping habits have changed dramatically over the past couple of years. Since joining Netflix and combing it and Redbox, I just don't buy DVDs anymore at all, aside from the occasional must have movie. The kids are getting older (18 in a few days and 19) and they're basically done growing, so they have literally 100s of outfits of clothing to wear. They have things that are a few years old that look brand new. Add the fact that they're both heading off to school next year and I'm just at a loss as to what to buy anymore.

I'm debating back and forth on picking them each up an iPod Touch (paid $300 a few years back and someone stole my daughter's). They're getting new Droid phones though (our contract is up with Verizon), so I can't decide if the iPod would be a waste or not.

You just eventually hit a point where there really isn't anything left to buy. They don't need clothing, they both have computers, they both have their own car (which we bought for 16th bdays), they have cell phones and about to get new ones, they have every gaming system they want, yada, yada, yada.......

1 thing though, I have NEVER wrapped batteries in my life. I'm not picking, hey more power to you, but not me!!! I have never wrapped things for the stocking either and I'm not about to start now.

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

We have a few to wrap...ok, we haven't even started so there is more than just a few lol...I HATE HATE HATE wrapping so I plan to make DH do all of it, fair no..does it keep me from being cranky yes lol. The only things we DON'T plan to wrap are the girls PCs (putting a bow on them..which I can do lol) and this stupid life size cardboard Edward from Twilight that Remy is in LOVE with..him we plan to just put together in the corner and place a santa hat on lol..

On a side note, I was embarrassed to be seen buying that Edward at the mall lol...I am sure I was a sight to see as an eight mo preggo lugging this huge cardboard man and trying to waddle FAST to the car to avoid anyone seeing me lol..yes, I admit it...I even assured the FYE employee that it was NOT for me lol..

 

[N.Bailey]

It takes us hours too, for the same reason. We open only one gift at a time, and everyone watches.

We always take turns too.

When the kids were younger, it was always super special to go to the in-laws on Christmas Eve (my mother in law was born in Germany, so she brings lots of German customs to the table). Anyway, there would be about 30 people at her house on Christmas Eve and each person would have maybe 3 or 4 gifts each. They were never anything super expensive and my MIL was such a fabulous bargain shopper that she'd really get nice gifts for probably the cheapest the item could be bought for. I'd get like one of those huge Revere nonstick skillets (I loved that pan - it was my favorite pan EVER) and she probably got it for under $20 (knowing her).

$20 would probably be an expensive gift and most were a lot less, but that's not the point. The point was, everyone LOVED getting together down there each year and those Christmases were truly the best.

She's since come down with Alzheimer's and they really don't celebrate the holidays so much anymore. It was never about the gifts really, but it's so sad that no one gets together like that anymore. It was something to watch 30 people tearing into gift though. Watching all the kids was priceless.

I hear in Germany, the parents wake the kids up at midnight to open the gifts. I was adamant with my husband that we wouldn't be doing that EVER (I did give in 1 year but didn't care for it so much, I really missed the kids begging me to get up). I think they do that so they can sleep in in the morning. They ain't stupid, are they? Anyway, going to the in-laws was always the compromise for celebrating on Christmas Eve.

 

[N.Bailey]

We have a few to wrap...ok, we haven't even started so there is more than just a few lol...I HATE HATE HATE wrapping so I plan to make DH do all of it, fair no..does it keep me from being cranky yes lol. The only things we DON'T plan to wrap are the girls PCs (putting a bow on them..which I can do lol) and this stupid life size cardboard Edward from Twilight that Remy is in LOVE with..him we plan to just put together in the corner and place a santa hat on lol..

On a side note, I was embarrassed to be seen buying that Edward at the mall lol...I am sure I was a sight to see as an eight mo preggo lugging this huge cardboard man and trying to waddle FAST to the car to avoid anyone seeing me lol..yes, I admit it...I even assured the FYE employee that it was NOT for me lol..

After reading this, I gotta Google that to see what an Edward is.

EDIT: After seeing what you're talking about, all I can say is, you've not done a very good job at brain washing your child. Why or why didn't they want this instead? ROFLMAO

http://geek.dealtime.com/xPO-Advanc...-657-Tinker-Bell-Life-Size-Cardboard-Stand-Up

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

After reading this, I gotta Google that to see what an Edward is.

EDIT: After seeing what you're talking about, all I can say is, you've not done a very good job at brain washing your child. Why or why didn't they want this instead? ROFLMAO

http://geek.dealtime.com/xPO-Advanc...-657-Tinker-Bell-Life-Size-Cardboard-Stand-Up

LOL, sadly she has been brainwashed by Twilight as are tweens (and middle aged crazy women) everywhere lol...no offense to you crazy women lol. I swear I hear the words Twilight this or that sooo much I feel like sitting in a corner and screaming with my hands over my ears..that girl is obsessed with it and driving me nuts..its gonna be a Twilight Christmas at OUR house lol.

 

[Molly Meow]

I wrapped for 4 hours today & am only halfway done. I HATED every second of it! To me, wrapping is a huge chore. I'd rather be cleaning bathrooms!

Haha, read my tag! We're a lot alike!

I'm wrapping about 25ish all told. I hate it. I'm bad at it. I'm too impatient and end up cutting the wrapping paper wrong and then having to do a lousy patch job. I swear, your average rabbit could probably do it better than me!

I don't mess with gift bags because then I still have to wrap the darn thing with tissue paper or the recipient will see into the bag. And I can't do tissue paper - I rip it by just looking at it! LOL My family has learned to give me an 'E' for effort and don't tease anymore.

 

[Sparx]

i wrapped about 50 for four people.