Christmas Present Pressure

ellies_angel

I bought almost all my crimbo pressies in the boots 3 for 2 range, on a night where I got 1200 points for every spend of £50 which then gave me lots of advantage points to spend on myself during the year. There are lots of lovely things for £20 or £30. spending £30 on 3 for 2 means you get 3 things for £60 which works out at £20 each x

kegg_2

We only buy for the children in the family with the rule that once you reach 18 you drop off the christmas present list. My parents get token presents usually a warm winter nightie for my mum or dvd box set and my dad a couple of bottles of wine.
I buy for my 2 nephews and my brother buys for my 2 boys but a limit of £20 each and my oh sends vouchers to his brothers 3 children.
We could all afford to buy for everyone but there is no point as none of us need anything and dont see the point of buying just for the sake of it.

emsywoo123

kegg wrote: »

We only buy for the children in the family with the rule that once you reach 18 you drop off the christmas present list.

When I read that at first I thought you meant once someone had 18 children you drop them off the list :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Too flaming right!

Blame the preggers brain

JBD

I only buy for my children now. I used to have to buy for my exinlaws and found the whole thing very stressful because I never really knew if they really liked the presents.
If you can only afford a set amount then be honest about it. If you find choosing the gifts difficult then ask for a list or give vouchers.
Just remember, Christmas is meant to be fun, not stressful!

red_devil

there is always the option for people who havent got much money or dont want to keep thinking of ideas of offering to do something for people. Ie babysitting and other chores.

Fitzio

Do It Today -

I think the best thing would be to be honest about how much you want to spend. £20 is definitely a reasonable amount, but unless you agree that with everyone else, someone will inevitably have their nose out of joint if they have spent much more.
I think you should explain "baby on the way, possible redundancy, Christmas is for kids etc" and say that you can afford a generous £20 and would they consider sticking to that budget too. You still have time, but you need to say something soon.

Yes, it should be the thought that counts and the money shouldn't matter, but it's the real world, and to some people it does.

do_it_today!

Thanks for all replies

JBD wrote: »

If you can only afford a set amount then be honest about it. If you find choosing the gifts difficult then ask for a list or give vouchers.
Just remember, Christmas is meant to be fun, not stressful!

Its always stressful, unless its some kind of big gesture present they dont think much thought has been put into it!!! xmas is always a big over the top palava of binging food drink christmas music santa hats and all that other cr*p I prefer a more low key approach.

the only kid in family at the mo is ours and if asked I point them towards practical reasonably priced gifts.

I really wouldnt mind not gift buying but in my family that would equate to 'you dont love us anymore!!!' sigh.....

I will check out the grabbit board / nightie and photo albums are also great ideas.

thank you

do_it_today!

Fitzio wrote: »

Do It Today -

I think the best thing would be to be honest about how much you want to spend. £20 is definitely a reasonable amount, but unless you agree that with everyone else, someone will inevitably have their nose out of joint if they have spent much more.
I think you should explain "baby on the way, possible redundancy, Christmas is for kids etc" and say that you can afford a generous £20 and would they consider sticking to that budget too. You still have time, but you need to say something soon.

Yes, it should be the thought that counts and the money shouldn't matter, but it's the real world, and to some people it does.

I think you are right...

DogsBody

do_it_today! wrote: »

...
I really wouldnt mind not gift buying but in my family that would equate to 'you dont love us anymore!!!' sigh.....
...

This is my mother too. She is the only person i buy for at C'mas, because the strop really isn't worth it if I don't! She prefers quantity to quality too, so 3 cheapies go down better than a decent prezzie costing the same money! OH, sister (and OH), in laws, all get cards only - we don't see any of them (hundreds of miles away and I work C'mas day). We are not religious so don't really 'do' it at all Seems like it's just a whole load of stress, hassle and expense for no paticular reason - that's why we call it 'Crassmas' NB every respect to religious folk who do it for the 'right' reasons

jcr16

don't feel pressuered. Buy what you can afford and stick to it.

imo i'd rather recive a smaller pressie knowing someone could afford it, then them buy something they can't just becuase they feel pressured.

i found this really sad , i was talking to a mum at school. me bouncing around happy as usually lol. saying not long to crimbo. and she replied i hate xmas , far to expensive. . so i said '' yes it can be. but you can determine how expensive it is. you can make it fit your budget it''.

her reply was. yes but if i don't get the kids what the want their unhappy.

omg i though. her children are my age. mine are have been brought up to appreciate all you have no matter how big or small.

but i can imagine so many families feel this pressure and it just seemed wrong. to feel such pressure around what is essentially a time of year to just be together as a family. and enjoy quality time together.