How many presents do your children get?

[GoldieSaysMeep]

Some of us who get lots of gifts also GIVE lots of gifts, not only to our friends and family, but also to the needy. For every gift I give to a family member, I match it with at least one charity donation.

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

I have to say, NOT a "friend" in the true sense of the word. Especially since you say your DH was less fortunate at a child. How about being happy for his good fortune NOW? That was straight, uncut jealousy. I hope your DH let it roll off.

He did. He just kind of ignored it.

BTW, Jeff Dunham stuff is at FYE music if you have those near you. Tons of it, t-shirts, figures etc.

 

[RitaE]

oh geeze I don't know. The older kids are both getting a couple of video games, new backpacks, electric razors. One is getting a docking station and bluetooth keyboard for his iPAD - the other is getting a new(ish)(to him) laptop I refurbished for him. I was going to buy them both some new clothes but then I really didn't see much that I liked that they needed so maybe I'll just hold off until January and we'll all go hit the sales.

Youngest is getting about 10 toys. I'd actually forgotten how much I'd bought him over the year until I went down to the basement the other day and saw the stash. That's really too much for him because he's the kind of kid that will open his first one to two presents and then run off to play with them and we won't get him to agree to come back and open the rest until late afternoon.

80 presents would take him WEEKS.

 

[C.Ann]

When my kids were little, it really varied from year to year.. Some years more, some years less.. Aside from birthdays though, we didn't buy them a bunch of toys and such through the year, so Christmas was kind of their "toy haul" for the entire coming year..

 

[SaraJayne]

Some of us who get lots of gifts also GIVE lots of gifts, not only to our friends and family, but also to the needy. For every gift I give to a family member, I match it with at least one charity donation.

You are right. Some do.

 

[linnell]

My family always did Christmas big when we were kids. Four-five hours of opening gifts and then we went to my Grandma's and opened up more gifts from the extended family for a few more hours. The first time my DH joined us he was shocked. He is Jewish and he would get one "big" gift for Hanukkah and that was it.

He has made it clear that he does not want four hour marathons on Christmas morning. We spoil our kids all year long and they have too much as it is. Our house is over run by toys, so I really tried to not go crazy. But just as I think I'm done, my grandmother sends me $100 to get each of them a gift, and then my other grandmother sends money... next thing I know, my kids have 10 gifts each. I'm sure it is going to get worse when they get older.

 

[islandmum]

In total they've got 4 from Santa each, and 4 from us, so 8 each in total. And a stocking with candy and small things. Then they also get their gifts from the rest of the family and friends, so I rekon it will total about 20-25 each for them, more than enough!

Ironically this has been by far the least expensive Christmas for them as their presents were pretty specific and could only be got on the net so were cheaper than shopping in the mall. Infact I'm willing to put a large wager on the fact my oldests (8 year old) favourite present will be something that cost ony $6!

They're not into anything gamingwise as they dont have a playstation etc and I think that really keeps the costs down.

They're fanatical about soccer so pretty much everything they've got is soccer stuff. I'm liking the fact its more tailored to what they want now and the gifts will get more use than previous years. Generic toys just end up in the playroom after a week never to be used again.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I have 4 boys, ages 10, 9, 6 and 4....each is getting


From Dh and I:
pajamas to open christmas eve
2 other clothing items (robes, slippers, underwear--depending on what the individual kid needed)
2 books each
a double pack of beyblades (toys)

From Santa:
Older two are getting one game each, younger two are getting a pillow pet each
Santa is also bringing a Wii and a bunch of games/accessories

From my grandparents:
one game each, plus a "family gift" (probably camping equipment) to share

From Dh's parents:
One toy each

From my brother:
Older two are getting one toy each, younger two are getting two toys--older kids toys are more expensive so he's spending same amount (basically) on each child.

I think that's it
So... About 10 per child + the shared gifts (wii and camping equipment) + stocking stuff....

This is actually a very extravagant Christmas for us. Last year was not nearly as big.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I posted on this thread early and just came back to catch up on reading. WOW! Truly not judging but where do you put 80 new items? Course I have 3 kids, just under 1200sf house, but it is already beyond full. We go though our stuff before Christmas (though I admit we haven't gotten to it yet this year and will do it between Christmas and New Years.) But I have a hard enough time finding a spot for the few things they do get (we will probably have about 25-30 gifts for all of us together.) Most of them are small in size like DS games but the few bigger things I am already trying to figure out where they will go.

More power to you, I can't imagine lugging them all home (we travel for Christmas to be with my grandparents, I know some don't) and finding a place for them. I think if I had such generous families I'd have to ask for a bigger house to put all the gifts in. Then again I'd be afraid I might get it.

As for jealous, yep, I 100% admit I am. Not cause of the stuff, I don't care about stuff, but cause you have family able and wanting to do that for you. My DH and I are pretty much on our own. The only family we really have contact with is my grandparents and my great grandma. Most of his family has passed away (including his only brother) or we have have to sever ties with for personal, but very solid reasons. My family is broken and I am begining to accept unreparable. My grandparents raised me (I'm an only) so I am lucky to have them but they are about it.

 

[wdwiala]

Posts like this remind of Chapmann's Five Love Language books. Sounds like your parents have a gift giving language. I had a high school friend whose family constantly gifted each other all year long. Not everyone shows love this way. Not everyone feels love this way. It's difficult for others to understand the necessity of it. I have a daughter who adores making and giving gifts. Sounds like I have an extreme gift giver in the making.

About 2 hours probably.

I'm going to answer this from the perspective of one of those spoiled kids who gets an excessive amount of gifts.

We are in our 30's and still get close to 80 each (me and my brother). DB doesn't get as many now, as my parents mostly give to his kids instead now. Takes about 2 1/2 hours.

Last year was DH first Christmas with us and so it took longer because he was not used to it. DH has a hard time with this. I grew up very well off and he grew up in poverty. He feels guilty and overwhelmed but there's no arguing with my parents. Last year, my parents and they got him their usual standard 80 or so gifts.

This year, my parents have decided to give DH & I and DB & his family each WDW trips with a budget of $4K each instead of a "big" gift. We are also getting about 25-35 or so gifts to open and I hope DH is going to be okay. I know they got DH a level one "Rosetta Stone" language program as well as some jeans, about 15 video games (mostly vintage ones for the NES, but I think there was 2 new ones) , PS3 Move, a couple of t-shirts, some team logo stuff for the Bruins and a bunch of gift cards to gamestop, etc. I have no idea what I'm getting.

We made lists because my mom demands lists. I have tried to explain to DH that if you don't make a list you're still going to get as many items, they will just more than likely be in the form of gift cards and things that you don't actually want or need.

I usually don't talk about it. But I'm replying here because some people seemed really shocked at that kid who gets 40+ gifts. I hope she has an easier time than we do. I don't know if it's jealousy or what, but people who DO find out about how generous my parents are typically roll their eyes and are just generally pretty horrible to me and DH about it. It's annoying and hurtful. One of DH friends found out last year because he saw the new (huge) stack of PS3 games and he's made a few rather snide comments this year. It comes off as petty and childish on his part, IMO.

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

Much of it is very small, like video games, movies etc. that goes in media storage. Books go on bookshelves and get donated every few years. Clothing tends to get recyled every couple of years. Food items get eaten. I finally had to put my foot down about knick knacks a few years ago though. There's really not much clutter in the place. DH's "man cave" room is another story... I don't know what's going on in there. lol

 

[MissyDVC]

Don't be embarrased! You aren't alone and there is nothing to feel bad about! It's your money and your life. Some of us just enjoy a big Christmas! i can't imagine it any other way

 

[jen0610]

With budgeting, finding steals and deals, there are actually more gifts than we expected to have.

DS and DD have around 15 gifts each.

 

[koolaidmoms]

Wow! I looked in here expecting to be at the very low end of the spectrum but we are not. Each of our children DS 7 and DD 10 are getting 28 things each. There is only 1 large present each and all the rest are small books, DVDs, games...

I buy all year long whenever I see clearance sales and store it all up for the next birthday and Christmas. I have already started buying for next year because I found a couple of excellent National Geographic Series Kits one Darwin and one on Explorers for DS next year and blanket sleepers on sale (which DD LOVES) but her anticpated size is hard to find so I bought 2.

I am just saying this to make myself feel better and like I am not really overindulging my kids.

 

[ameraumi]

Santa is bringing each kiddo 3 gifts. We started this years ago with the thinking it doesn't go overboard plus the logic of Jesus got 3 gifts.

Then there is 5 gifts for each from my SO and I. We also have a large family gift of a game table for the game room.

 

[SC Minnie]

I only have 1 child and I have never counted the number of gifts. She usually gets 1 'big' gift and a number of smaller ones. She will probably end up with about 20 gifts from just us to open plus her stocking.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

DD has about 30-35 plus stockings stuffers. Dh has 5 or 8, not sure yet about myself. We're adults and at this point it's more about DD than us.

 

[taximomfor4]

Dh and I will each get one gift (something small, like around $20-ish) from his parents. The kids will each have about 6 things to open at home, 2 each from extended family (around $5-10 value), and 1 (around $10-20 value) from DH's parents. MAYBE each kid will get a gift from my mom (around $5-10 value), but she doesn't celebrate Christmas so maybe nothing.

Then at home, the kids will get about 6 gifts each, plus a few snacks in their stockings. Total cost $75-135 each...not all the same, ever, lol.

Sometimes I feel bad, because most of their friends get tons more (in number and in cost) but they have a happy morning opening what they get, and enjoy their new things. And honestly, we DO things like eat out (fast food) sometimes instead of putting money aside for more "stuff".

 

[nana2tots]

I would really enjoy opening up 80+ gifts, lol

 

[goodeats]

Dh's family does bigger Christmases than my family ever did. I find it overwhelming, and not *that* much fun. His mom doesn't like to give money or gc so there's more toys and stuff to open. My mother prefers just to give a few small gifts and then a gc and a big check. Works for me!

For DD we're trying to keep things small. She's only 17 months old and we have a small house. She's also the only/first grandchild on both sides, so who knows how many toys we'll end up with.