How much to get for Christmas???
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How much to get for Christmas???
| Mon, 10-09-2006 - 10:27am |
We usually get the kids way too much for Christmas. I like them to have 8-10 things apiece to open and they usually end up with more. This year, all the gifts seem to be really expensive (a camera for dd for instance). So, by the time we're done each child will probably only have a few things to open. Do you think they'll be disappointed that they don't have a lot to open? Or will dd realize that everything is expensive and appreciate it? DS is 5, so I'm not too worried about him. What does everyone else do? It's just so hard not to spoil them at Christmas, but if I keep going I will have spent over $800 on just 2 kids! Ugh.
Lynn
Hannah (10)
Conor (5)

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Lynn, I think that when they're age 10 and up, they have a concept of money and can understand that if they're asking for an expensive gift, that may be their only gift, or that and a couple of small things, and they can understand why they only have 2 or 3 gifts, and their younger sibling has 8 or 10 to open.
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My youngest brother who is 11 years older than Jordyn used to complain when he would get 5 or 6 items under the tree, gameboy system, games, cd's, etc. and Jordyn would get 20 because they were not expensive at all. It took him a while to understand that its not about quantity, its about quality and the price of items.
We usually try and get Jordyn one larger item and then some smaller or medium size gifts. We never have a specific price range we stay in though. Like last year she got a regulation size balance beam that I got on ebay custom with her name on it. It was about $115, then we went with about 7 or 8 smaller gifts and stocking stuffer stuff. I have asked my parents to stick with one large gift or 2 or 3 medium gifts or gift cards, one because they have to ship it from Michigan to Texas, and two because she's getting to the age where its harder to figure out what to get her. Now this year my plan was to get her a new computer and then 2 or 3 small gifts that I know she really wants. We haven't decided completely on a computer, so I am trying to hold off buying other gifts so I don't go overboard, but the other thing that is nice is that her birthday is in March, so if I get too much for Christmas, there have been years where I have just held 2 or 3 things back and waited to give them to her for her birthday.
Goodness, sorry for rambling. Tracy
We've noticed through experience that after 10 - 12 presents, the kids lose their enthusiasm, so we try and stay under that.
When they were younger the thrill was in opening the stuff, even if they never touched it or broke it the first day.
I try and make sure I buy great gifts for them and I've really tortured myself. My son told me I'm the best present buyer because I get them great stuff he never even thought about.
My husband urges me now for quality over quantity. I try and buy at least one "big" thing. Last year it was ipods. I also try and get stuff they can play with that day, regardless of if they'll use it again and then stuff they'll continue to use.
This year we've already bought my dd her 'big' gift which is a sewing machine, and I'll buy her little things to make until she can take her class. This will be an interesting one because she's 10 but sooo into arts & crafts and making things and loves to see her grandma sew. She can also keep this machine until and if she's ready for some real top of the line machine.
I have no clue what to get my son. He's so hard to shop for. He's 12 and really doesn't want for anything. He's not a list maker, he never mentions things he wants and he's just completely content as is. Yet, he sooo appreciates cool gifts or things he wouldn't have thought about.
When the ideas strike me I go out and get them. I like to try to be done by early december, and wrap them and keep them in my office. I get way too overwhelmed when I'm still trying to do a lot of shopping close to christmas.
We have always done just three gifts. One gift from mom, one from dad and one santa gift (which our son has been raised to see as an extra gift that we give thanks to the provisions that God has given our family).
The price of each gift has nothing to do with the number of gifts given. We always give three gifts. I've actually finished the shopping for my son's Christmas gifts this year and the total came to $80. Connor will be 13 years old and the most expensive item this year was $30.
I should note that we do not allow our son to actually "ask" for a specific gift. We have taught our son that Christmas is about Christ and sharing in the knowlege, the life and the love that we have been given. ... not about opening a pile of presents. We already got our gift and nothing else will ever compare. While we do exchange gifts, we feel that the gifts need to come from the heart, not from some wish list.
Our Christmas celebration centers around our faith and is rich with tradition. (spending time with family, volunteering, adopting a family, decorating a small simple tree with popcorn strings and cranberries, baking, singing carols, going to Christmas concerts, gifts are a very, reading a Christmas Carol, Reading the story of Christ's birth, attending a Christmas day worship gathering, special Christmas dinner etc..)... The gift giving is a very,very small part of our Celebration.
We do, do stockings but we only fill them with consumable items. A magazine that person enjoys, a bottle of pop, candy, gum, nuts, gingerbread, dried fruit, and a new book mark. We don't actually put "gifts" into the stocking.
stacy
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