xmas

Katie-Kat-Kins

madnessandmayhem wrote: »

Hubby and i have 3 nieces and 1 nephew, and as we can't afford to spend loads andd loads on them getting them a pressie they would really like we usually just give them £10 and they put it towards clothes or game or whatever it is that they are into atm!!! I don't like to sound ungrateful but i usually ask people to give my boys (2 and 6) money or vouchers as they don't need anymore toys!!! My in laws usually like to get them something they 'need' last year they paid for their new bunk beds so ds2 could move from his cot. This year they are going to pay for a term of playgroup for ds 2 and I think i will ask if they can pay for a term of swimming lessons or beavers for Ds1 . They get them a few little bits to open, but they do the same for birthdays as well, and it really helps us out and doesn't add the already large collection of toys!!!

Sorry just realised absolutley no help to the op what so ever, but you are not alone in your way of thinking!!!

I think that is very helpful and what your inlaws do is excellent. :rotfl:My parents have paid for my nephew's swimming lessons as presents. I have paid for his horse riding lessons. He probably couldn't do either if he didn't have these presents.

That sort of thing might be too expensive for the OPs sister in law, but maybe she could do something like that for her son and the SiL could buy a DVD that OP was going to give him. Or maybe the SiL could pay for something as a one off treat. I can't afford a full terms riding for my nephew and so buy as many as I can afford.

In terms of your neices and nephews you can get really nice presents for about £10 so you don't have to give cash. I only have one nephew to spoil :cool: but I guess it gets expensive with several. If you shop around and buy in sales you can get lots for £10. That is my budget for my two teenage cousins that I buy for and I always manage to get them something either fun or useful. This year the older one got pjs and a pair of slipper socks, she text us on the day to say she was wearing both that evening! :rotfl:

vintage_beanpole

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle wrote: »

I am so glad you said no to the Nuts mag, that made me gasp the first time i read it - i dont even like my OH who is 24 reading stuff like that.

Me too! Teaching young boys how to objectify women is really pretty appalling. And Red Bull is actually dangerous to give to young people, as their bodies are not fully developed to handle such large amounts of caffeine (causing moodiness, addiction and putting huge pressure on underdeveloped heart valves). Besides you should be encouraging them to have healthy sleep patterns. :eek:

Hmmm, when my brother was a teenager he was bought puzzles quite a lot (those sort of miniature 'Crystal Maze' type things), books, tennis racquets, shirts, footballs, running shoes, mugs, socks, scarves, camera film. I think anything that might encourage a hobby or getting his eyes off the front of the tv would be worth a shot perhaps.

It's so true that girls are easier to buy for than boys! But then I don't think boys care half as much about what they get (if anything at all!):rotfl:

jellyhead

Molly41 wrote: »

"Teenage boys do just want money. I have one so I know"

Oh I so wish my kids just wanted money! I have three DS and 1 DD (all teenagers) and I broached the subject of money for xmas only last weekend. They just dont want it. They want presents and were upset that I was changing the christmas tradition. I wasn't suggesting no presents but mainly money, then a few pressies to open and a stocking. Im really not well at the moment and dont have a clue as to how I will go shopping for gifts. I can do it online but like to see things before i buy.

I remember the year I just got a cheque for christmas, and like your kids I would have preferred presents but we were in a car accident just before christmas and mum couldn't walk for a week or two. I was 'the difficult one' and she didn't know what to buy for me so she'd already bought for my siblings and we were chatting about what I wanted just before the accident (she wasn't driving, the chat didn't cause the accident!) and I just sort of grunted and couldn't give her any ideas - teenagers want the impossible :rotfl:

Are these too babyish for your daughter? http://www.play.com/Clothing/Accessories/3-/138823/2-/promo.html

Sarahlou_2

We don't spend a great deal on our son (4) because his birthday is in December (bad planning there.....). Neither of us are materialistic, we spend £10-£20 on each others Xmas and Birthdays!

Oh's parents however wind me up. They are this year buying him a Nintendo DS. Which I'm not very happy about. I think it's too much too soon. He doesn't even want one, they are only getting him it because they are buying the other grandson one (his mum specifically asked her parents to buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). They also buy him shed loads of other things to go with it........

It makes me feel embarassed because we cant afford these things and my mum gets upset because her and my Dad can't afford that much (not that I'd dream of letting them spend this amount, its ridiculous). My mum specifically finds out what he likes and buys accordingly to the amount of £25-£30.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr winds me up every year!!!!!!

Sarahlou_2

vintage_beanpole wrote: »

Me too! Teaching young boys how to objectify women is really pretty appalling. And Red Bull is actually dangerous to give to young people, as their bodies are not fully developed to handle such large amounts of caffeine (causing moodiness, addiction and putting huge pressure on underdeveloped heart valves). Besides you should be encouraging them to have healthy sleep patterns. :eek:

Hmmm, when my brother was a teenager he was bought puzzles quite a lot (those sort of miniature 'Crystal Maze' type things), books, tennis racquets, shirts, footballs, running shoes, mugs, socks, scarves, camera film. I think anything that might encourage a hobby or getting his eyes off the front of the tv would be worth a shot perhaps.

It's so true that girls are easier to buy for than boys! But then I don't think boys care half as much about what they get (if anything at all!):rotfl:

My OH stands there reading Nuts in Asda in the magazine aisle........I'd rather he bought it and spared me the embarrasment!!!! :o

jellyhead

Sarahlou wrote: »

We don't spend a great deal on our son (4) because his birthday is in December (bad planning there.....). Neither of us are materialistic, we spend £10-£20 on each others Xmas and Birthdays!

Oh's parents however wind me up. They are this year buying him a Nintendo DS. Which I'm not very happy about. I think it's too much too soon. He doesn't even want one, they are only getting him it because they are buying the other grandson one (his mum specifically asked her parents to buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). They also buy him shed loads of other things to go with it........

It makes me feel embarassed because we cant afford these things and my mum gets upset because her and my Dad can't afford that much (not that I'd dream of letting them spend this amount, its ridiculous). My mum specifically finds out what he likes and buys accordingly to the amount of £25-£30.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr winds me up every year!!!!!!

Will your son be 5 when he gets the DS? Lots of 5 year olds seem to have them, but I understand your feelings. My son doesn't have one but my husband does, so son plays on it on long car journeys.

Perhaps your MIL could be persuaded to put the money into an account for him if she feels obliged to spend the same amount on him as on the other grandson - or if she buys the DS would she be willing for it to go in his pile of gifts from Santa?

We spoke to both sets of grandparents last year and said we can't afford much and could they please not get our children a massive pile of gifts that makes santa look mean! Both sets agreed to give us some of the gifts they'd bought, to add them to the santa pile.

lolly1981

i too never give money or vouchers...i get embarressed by the fact people know what its worth (if that makes sense)...plus i feel that no thought whatsoever has gone into it.

christmas isnt about getting 'what you want'..thats such a materialistic attitude to have and not a great one to instill in young children...my son has a made a xmas list for santa but it is very modest bless him..he is 5 and he wants 2 wheres wally books, a venus fly trap (i have no idea why), pjs as all his are too small...and new 'cool' pants, plus a torch so he can see his drink at bedtime
of course he sees ads on telly and we get can i get that..can i have this etc however he understands that just because he wants doesnt mean he will get.
my OH halfs 6 yr old however is very materialistic..i want this i want that and they are never cheap things always expensive gadgets or what everyone else has.

our house at christmas is spend baking, putting the tree up together, making cards and decorations etc making our own traditions (this year we will be getting a visit from a xmas elf..a suggestion off here somewhere)
our nieces and nephews dont get bought much at xmas they geta selection box...we get them something more personal and suited to them for their bdays so i can spend more time thinking about them rather than panic buying.

sorry again off topic and no hope to the OP...i would say however that if there is some sport, car, film, book that he is really interested in to get something associated with that..sometimes for free...my OH loves mustang cars so my sister is going to sketch him a mustang...personal to him, costs very lil (paper and pencil) something he will love.
my children are getting stars named after them (can be done for free but need to pay 1.50 ish to remove the website name off it lol)...plus an acre of the moon as it is unusual and they will get a kick out of owning a piece of the moon...it is all above board but has to be bought off a certain company or their affiliates..as one clever man claimed the rights to mars and the moon lol.
or get you SIL to write to his fav celeb with a xmas card in it asking them to sign it for him..might be pushing ita bit now but some will do it and you will get it in time for xmas...costs the price of the postage (make sure to include a SAE and a very nice letter)

sorry to waffle

SingleSue

pebbles88 wrote: »

oh i know exactly what you mean..... i have been asked a million times by mil what i want, said i dont need/want anything. my dh suggested to her poss money to go towards our little hol just after christmas.... she was horrified by this so no doubt i will get something along the lines of:

• pyjamas that would be too big for a giant....im only 5' 3"
• knickers that are either far too small (i have some she bought me 3 christmasses ago that still dont fit me now even though i have lost 3 stone since, and also some that wouldnt cover the bum of a size 8 woman! also the ones that were too small were very flimsy and she made me open them in front of all DH's family..:o:o:o
• a tealight in a glass holder.... which was very pretty, but perhaps more suited to a church...
• a pink fluffy diary.... im 30 next year
• slippers 3 sizes too small.... to match said giant pyjamas

i know i sound an ungrateful cowbag, but she always goes for quantity over everything else, so everyone ends up with bags of tat... .... like this year i know she has got me some smellies, and i said thats great, thats all i need then....has she listened ....no chance..... and i saw her squirreling away size M t shirts for DH the other day...dont think he has been a size M since his teens.....
my mum always feels awful cos she gets me n dh 1 present each, but its always something we need or have asked for

Hehe, reminded me of my Ex MIL.....she had the habit of buying me knickers and always in a huge size (I know my bum is big but not THAT big!), came in handy for a friend who had just had a C section though, they were plenty big enough to go over her just deflated pregnant bump and avoid the scar area.

Now she just gives me bath salts which I can't use because of my skin sensitivities.

My best pressie would be money, not because I am obsessed with it and want more but because I like books and would rather have the money someone would spend on one full price brand new book, to go online and buy several second hand ones from Ebay or Amazon.

OP - Does your teen read? Maybe a book he wants.
Like music? A multi pack of CDR's to make his own CD's.

I know some people don't like lists but we ask the children to do lists for birthday and Christmas with a range of prices so that there is something that everyone can afford. I suppose I am lucky in that my children understand that the expensive pressies are just not going to happen (both eldest and middle one have saved and purchased their own Wii and Xbox 360 Elite) and that it is more likely they will get those that are mid (£25) to cheap (a fiver and above) in their stockings but at least they get something they want.

SailorSam

Not about presents but have you started to make a Christmas Cake.
I came across this recipe that sounds nice,

CHRISTMAS CAKE

Ingredients:

* 2 cups flour
* 1 stick butter
* 1 cup of water
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1 cup of sugar
* 1 tsp salt
* 1 cup of brown sugar
* Lemon juice
* 4 large eggs
* Nuts
* 1 bottle tequila
* 2 cups of dried fruit


Sample the tequila to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the tequila
again. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and
drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a
large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point
it's best to make sure the tequila is still OK. Try another cup... Just
in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 eggs and add to the bowl and
chuck in the cup of dried fruit.

Pick the !!!!!!!g fruit up off floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit
gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a crewscriver. Sample
the tequila to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or
something. Check the tequila. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your
nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or some fink. Whatever you can
find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall
over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, finish the tequila and wipe counter with the cat.

Bingle Jells

Rainy_2

:rotfl::rotfl:Now that's my kind of cake! :rotfl::rotfl:

I do understand why people don't like to give vouchers and the variety of reasons but I absolutely luuurrrvve getting vouchers for Xmas/Birthdays!

It means I get to go shopping (which I very rarely get to do due to money being tight!) and pick out something for myself which I know I like and will get use out of.

I always tell the person who gave me the voucher what they have 'bought me'

I always ask my OH for vouchers which he HATES! He says it's so unromantic/not personal etc but he knows how much I enjoy shopping-he's giving me the gift of shopping!

Romance? Dead? Nah...:o