Cutting down on xams presents

nannymiaow

victory wrote: »

My friend was telling me about a phone call she made to her mum asking to reduce outgoings this xmas as money is tight, explaining away suggested to her mum to just send a card and no pressies.

Her mum agreed but 'oh you must buy one for grandad, he doesn't get much' Fair enough.

'Oh you must buy one for great aunt x, she really looks forward to one' fair enough.

'Oh and all the elders in the family your dad and me also oh and the kids, well xmas is all about the kids'

So, that leaves her 2 brothers presents less!

Oh well she tried:rotfl::D

This really annoys me. If your friend cannot afford to buy presents, then she should stand firm, explain that she is not buying presents and not allow herself to be emotionally blackmailed. What on earth happened to giving freely, willingly and with love? Are these family members so shallow that they would greedily take a present, knowing that it might put the person that bought it in a horrible financial situation - possibly in debt? No one should ever feel obliged to buy a present.

indebtinsussex

we have a huge family, so its been cut down to what we think we can get away with which is 5 nephews on my side and 4 on dh side, plus 3 nans to buy for and 3 sets of parents then there is the friends and other family members. so the children have all got pressies from boots 3 for 2, the parents are getting photos of our two kids with their handprints and a poem about handprints in it. the nans are getting photo calenders and all friends and brothers and sisters will be getting homemade cakes and biscuits. if people in my family or friends dont like it then tough, the gifts might not be expensive, but a hell of a lot of thought and consideration has gone into each one as well as time

we've used the tescos double up vouchers on our on kids and have got them some fantastic bits and also have been keeping our eyes out over the year for bargains from santa. our ds who will be six will have about ten items from santa and thats it, and our dd who is 18 months will have about 4 items. we've spent about £50 in actual money on the two of them and the rest has been tesco vouchers

Mimi09

I have 5 brothers and sisters (some steps!) and 14 children between us. We put all the childrens name in a hat and draw out the equivalant number of children that we have, with a spending limit of £20 per present........works really well for us. OH and i do a stocking each with limit of £10..makes it fun to buy. I've squirrelled away sale and charity shop items through the year for the kids. I usually change tesco vouchers for magazine subscriptions for mum and mil, however don't have enough this year as now an Al*i convert!

jamespir

victory wrote: »

My friend was telling me about a phone call she made to her mum asking to reduce outgoings this xmas as money is tight, explaining away suggested to her mum to just send a card and no pressies.

Her mum agreed but 'oh you must buy one for grandad, he doesn't get much' Fair enough.

'Oh you must buy one for great aunt x, she really looks forward to one' fair enough.

'Oh and all the elders in the family your dad and me also oh and the kids, well xmas is all about the kids'

So, that leaves her 2 brothers presents less!

Oh well she tried:rotfl::D

the adults should do fine with a card the kids should get small presents theres no need to go ott ive set 80 quid max on all this year

VitaK

In my family only kids get a small present. Going through this struggle 10 years ago we even had to put an age limit for when you are considered a kid.

POPPYOSCAR

I have been asked by various members of the family what I would like for Christmas and when I tell them not to worry about it they always insist. So I have told them to 'make me' something and they have agreed.I am just hoping they stick to this as I am really looking forward to seeing what turns up!!

OrkneyStar

I am really trying to cut down on presents. DS got his main present early (a bike, so he could use it) but even at 4 he knows and has told me he is looking forward to a few small pressies on Christmas day (I mean small like a toy car, a book, maybe a game, and I might get him some clothes). DH and I will set a budget for each other. My mum always gets me too much, and I never get her as much, I get her something nice and leave it at that as I don't see buying presents as the best way of showing love! Mum will also get for DS, and again, will likely get too much, but then she wants too, I would never ask her (have gave her ideas but nothing expensive and she welcomes some hints on what DS likes). Cut down on adult presents last year for sis/BIL (and also suggested we don't bother with kids either this year- we have to post everything being so far away and I cannot afford the sort of things they want anyway! Her kids are both nearly teens anyway and I have spent a lot on them over the years) and we don't really get presents for DH brothers. DH dad (grandad) will also get something nice and thought out. Might get something for my Uncle (have a few aunts and uncles but closer to this one), and he normally gets us something too.

In all honesty I hate the commercialisation of Christmas and would rather save any spare money for our new bathroom!!!

xx Scrooges Sister

CH27

OH & I haven't bought for each other at xmas for years.

I've squirrled money away each month to cover xmas & but throughout the year when I see a bargain but that's getting more difficult as the children I buy for are getting older now & prefer cash or a voucher.

tori.k

We dont have many kids in our family but I have a lot of siblings as nobody has a house big enough to fit everyone in lieu of gifts we book a table somewhere and have a family meal and split the cost,

mummyroysof3

we buy for neices and nephews and grandparents so in total we buy for 3 children and 5 couples and my grandma. me and hubby have something to open but its usually something we would have had anyway such as clothes,books or a computer game. i find coming up with ideas for presents quite difficult so am glad we dont buy for anymore lol