How many gifts does Santa bring your kids?

[vald1977]

Santa doesn't bring clothes in our house either. This year each kid has nine presents each. I spent about $300 total not including stockings. They will each get new pjs from mom and dad on Christmas eve which is our tradition but that's it from us. Santa gets credit for all the good stuff.

 

[disykat]

Santa brings one gift and fills the stockings. We give each child another 4 or 5 gifts. They usually get about 10 gifts altogether including grandparents etc.

We don't buy them things throughout the year either - with the exception of a few books from book orders at school. They get gifts on their birthdays and clothes in the fall and spring or as needed. Most of the time we don't even buy souveniers on vacation. Since I'm probably shocking some people I'll add that my kids get an allowance - one dollar per their school year per MONTH - that's right $5 a month for my 5th grader.

The crazy thing is, that if you came to our house, you wouldn't notice the slightest bit of difference. They still have "stuff" coming out of their ears!

 

[Bob Slydell]

When DD was small, she got one "big" gift from Santa--oh, how I long for those days when a big gift was in the $20-30 range. So, one big gift from Santa and the stocking stuffers. Everything else was from Mom & Dad.

We do the same with DS as well. One big gift from Santa and stocking stuffers. Other gifts come from us, plus grandparents.

 

[mainewmn]

My kids get a dollar amount rather then gifts. When they wore little that money could get them LOTS of presents, now that they older they get to ask for more expensive gifts. They know that the amount is somewhere around $300 but they never know exactly how much we will spend on them each year.

 

[mickeysgal]

When DD was small, she got one "big" gift from Santa--oh, how I long for those days when a big gift was in the $20-30 range.

We used to do about 8-10 gifts each. However, the older the kids have gotten, the more expensive each gift has gotten, so we've had to cut back. This year its going to be one really nice gift and a few extras. What we've also noticed through the years is when they were small, those toys in the $25 range used to come in big boxes and would look great under a tree. Now, their gifts are so small..such as a cell phone or a video game...that they're lost under the tree and it looks like nothing is there, yet we've spent a fortune.

 

[MoniqueU]

I dont go by number of gifts either but by rough budget and what I feel is an appropriate amount of stuff for their age. The older they get the less they get because the more the stuff costs. And the more content they will be happy with less stuff.

 

[MamaLema]

1 gift from Santa, 1 gift from mom and dad

 

[Iansmom]

We usually have a big Christmas, as well. DS probably gets 15-25 gifts from Santa, a couple more from me and dad, gifts from all the relatives, AND the stocking. He doesn't have enough space in his room to store everything! I just can't seem to stop myself!

But this year, I'm considering the idea of Santa just bringing money and a stocking. We'd like to sell our home, and currently trying to purge and de-clutter. If he just gets money, he can decide what it is he REALLY wants (or hopefully, he'll decide to put it in the bank and save it and besides, it won't clutter up his room anymore than all the other unused "stuff" from previous years.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Usually about one "big" item, and then 3 or 4 smaller ones. Some of the gifts are packed into their stockings.

 

[huckster]

way way to much , now i induldge the grand kids

 

[va32h]

I don't have a set number of gifts or amount to spend - each year is different, based on what they "really, really" want, or sometimes I'll spot something really neat that I just want to give them.

I shop throughout the month, and on Christmas Eve I pull everything out and just try to make everyone's "Santa Pile" look even and equally exciting. Leftover gifts go under the tree from mom and dad, or from baby sister (I will have to think of a new method once baby sister is old enough to say 'hey, I didn't pick that out!').

My method drove my brother crazy last year, when we spent Christmas at his house. He was determined that my kids and his kids would have exactly equal amounts and quality of gifts from Santa, and he was going bonkers when I couldn't tell him exactly what Santa would be bringing.

Although as it turned out, Christmas morning was so hectic and the children so excited that none of them cared if one cousin got more than the other.

 

[elan]

Ours get 10-12 presents under the tree from Santa. Than one year my oldest DD asked why we didn't get them any presents?? Next year we made sure there was one present from us. Except for birthday's mine rarely get anything during the year except books. Clothes don't count for presents, yet.

 

[DVCLiz]

My mom never gave gifts to my brother and me - everything was from Santa. So that's the way I do it, too!!! I am probably an "overboard" shopper, but I don't care. Everyone gets to do what they want for their own children.

I'm more of a "category" shopper than an "amount" shopper. Santa always brings one big gift (electric scooter, Ipod, pair of designer jeans, etc.) that's probably in the $100 plus dollar category. I fill other requests within reason. Last year, DD16 wanted the jeans, a special pocketbook, and some boots. So those were her "big" presents. Younger DD got an equivalent gift for each of those, although hers cost much less. Boy, do I miss the days when $25.00 could buy you enough Fisher-Price to fill the space under the Christmas tree!!!!

Then I always add the other categories - new hardback books, DVDs, CDs, board games, and art supplies or craft kits. These are things that haven't appeared on anyone's list, but are surprises nevertheless, and although they may not all be played with right away, they are great gifts for the long winter and spring. These numbers are fluid - for example, sometimes I won't be able to find any DVDs that we would like, but other years there might be three or four that have come out. Same with art kits or CDs (although I can always find good new books!!!)

So we have a lot of packages!