Is this a new Christmas trend on gift giving ?

[SC Minnie]

We did, when our son was little, have Santa bring 3 gifts. Everything else was from Mom and Dad.

We did this with DD too. She could ask Santa for 3 things (of course I had veto power just in case one was a pony or something) and she always got those 3 things. We bought way more than those 3 but no way was Santa getting all the credit!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Pshhh... it's Christmas. I buy DD whatever I want to give her. Oftentimes it's "exciting" things like socks and underwear, but if that's what she needs and I'd be buying them for her anyway, why not wrap it as a present? It's always more fun to give them as gifts and watch the pile grow under the tree!

This is me!

 

[BLAZEY]

DD8 produces a list and we tend to buy from that list. Santa brings 1 special gift the rest are from us and family. Some are clothes and practical things, others are purely fun things. She's been wearing her "Christmas jammies" for weeks since the weather turned. The have a kittens in a stockings with a Santa hats on them.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

My cousin does this. It’s a nice idea, but I’d never stick to it.

This is our first Christmas with two kids. Both will get a Hallmark ornament in their stockings and new pajamas. The big girl is getting a lego set, some American Girl books, and some other stocking stuffers. The baby is getting a bigger car seat, a teddy bear, a wooden block train, and some other stocking stuffers.

It’s a little lean around here this year, but we have all we need and refuse to go into our savings or debt to buy things just for the sake of buying them.

 

[bethy]

I have heard of it. We have our own approach - 3 gifts for each kid from us. ONe is from Santa and is unwrapped and the other two are wrapped and from us. Plus santa does stockings which are my personal favorite. and then there are a few gifts from relatives.

It still turns out to be a pretty crazy day with piles of gift wrap everywhere. And plenty of work on my part leading up to Christmas.

 

[Kimberle]

A few of my local Facebook groups for moms have been talking about gifts.
The majority said that they follow the 4 gift rule. 1 gift that is a want , 1 that's a need, 1 something to wear and 1 something to read.

I have never heard of this before.

LOL This was followed when I was a kid in the 1960's...

 

[NYCgrrl]

Never heard of this rule but my holiday shopping is now limited to the very young and the very old ie. my about to be 94 y/o mother and my DGD. Everyone else is pretty much on their own and can consider any holiday meal I host as my annual gift to them.

I do have "rules" regarding any gift to DGD.

One has to be of use to her education.

Another has to be an item of classic clothing. I don't get the Rainbow Brite look and don't plan to ever get on board with it. Fortunately, DGD is slowly but surely coming around to my way of thinking.

The third gift is money for her college account.

The 4th gift is holiday p.j.s from Hannah Andersson. She wears them from Christmas Eve straight up to our regular summer camping trip which allows me to pick her out from the herd of children at the campground's movie screening.

My mother gets whatever her heart desires as long as it doesn't include HSN, QVC or those jewelry shows she watches in the wee hours of the night, LOL.
Wayyyyyyyy too many returns.

 

[wenrob]

I don’t buy “needs” for Christmas, I buy them what they need when they need it. I’ll buy my kids a book any time they want one. For me, Christmas/Birthdays are for getting those things you’ve been looking at all year. They’re special, sometimes magical and it only happens once or twice a year. That list doesn’t cover it. It’s someone’s idea of trying to tell you how to keep your kids humble. I’ve already taught (and continue to teach) them that.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I don’t buy “needs” for Christmas, I buy them what they need when they need it. I’ll buy my kids a book any time they want one. For me, Christmas/Birthdays are for getting those things you’ve been looking at all year. They’re special, sometimes magical and it only happens once or twice a year. That list doesn’t cover it. It’s someone’s idea of trying to tell you how to keep your kids humble. I’ve already taught (and continue to teach) them that.

Oh, my gosh yes.

Thankfully, we were always in the position to buy a book. My son could have opened a library with the books that we bought him, plus the books that my parents got him. He loved to read so he always had something to read. I don't think I ever said no to a book.

If he needed pants, he got pants. Period. He didn't have to wait for Christmas.

 

[wenrob]

DD8 produces a list and we tend to buy from that list. Santa brings 1 special gift the rest are from us and family. Some are clothes and practical things, others are purely fun things. She's been wearing her "Christmas jammies" for weeks since the weather turned. The have a kittens in a stockings with a Santa hats on them.

I bought my younger DD a pair of Finding Dory pajamas for Christmas Eve last year and she has been wearing them non stop, even throughout the summer. They hit her mid calf now.

 

[cleverclovers]

I started using this but as 4 categories. Try to get something from each for my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.

 

[goodeats]

We do this plus a gift from Santa. I have a tendency to go overboard and this helps reign me in. I also want to keep things even between the two kids so this helps.

The need is not a true need (like food or shelter), but something like an Ipad for school or gear for an activity. Maybe fun new bedding. Generally it's one of the more pricier gifts but a gift we would have bought anyway.

I don't know, my girls have so much and get to do so much and I know there are many children that don't. They don't need a whole toy store under the tree on Christmas morning.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

This is me!

This is me too.

 

[lovin'fl]

Never heard of it but I like it. May do it this year with my three college kiddos. I am not one that has gone overboard at Xmas or with birthdays...but my kids get stuff throughout the year and cost us a lot (two DDs played competitive sport which cost big bucks for fees, gear and spirit wear). Thanks, OP, for the idea.

 

[mom2rtk]

Anyone ever see The Middle episode called "The Simple Christmas"? It reminds me of this. And it was a resounding failure.

 

[LilyWDW]

Oh, my gosh yes.

Thankfully, we were always in the position to buy a book. My son could have opened a library with the books that we bought him, plus the books that my parents got him. He loved to read so he always had something to read. I don't think I ever said no to a book.

My nieces and nephews get a book from me every Christmas fro two reasons. Reason one is because I love to read and I want to try and influence them in that way as well. Reason two is because for the older kids I couldn't be sure if anything else I got them would actually kept or if their mother would sell it off for money for herself. I feel bad about it, but I got tired to spending money and then the item just disappeared.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Never heard of it and will never do it.

 

[superme80]

I have heard of it. I'm not doing it, but I have hard of it.

 

[aprilgail]

A few of my local Facebook groups for moms have been talking about gifts.
The majority said that they follow the 4 gift rule. 1 gift that is a want , 1 that's a need, 1 something to wear and 1 something to read.

I have never heard of this before.

Sounds like a cheapo version of Christmas to me.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I follow it but mine is 5 gifts due to the Santa gift. 4 gifts from me, 1 gift from “Santa. “ DD also gets gifts from all the grandparents and aunts and uncles. Even with me only buying the 5 gifts she still makes out like bandit.