Am I being to tight??? - Christmas Pressie help

Okydoky25

I only buy for parents now that's £30-£50 each. I only buy for friends & family kids not adults of up to £15 each but buy throughout the year so they could be 'worth' a bit more but I've got them in sales. My own kids I don't really have a limit at the moment. They are still little so I get them what they want or think they would like.

Personally my hate is receiving money or vouchers. I would honestly prefer hand made biscuits or a thoughtful £5 gift than money.

hellokitty08

I havent read all the post, but after reading the opening post, I just wanted to say if somseone had said that to me I would have laughed in their face! (probably a bit mean)

I would have been thinking inside (hopefully not said it out loud) well your a moron, because I bet they arent a very MSE shopper if they are spending that sort of money! I know what type of person I would rather be.

Some of my friends and family are getting freebies as presents this year, one Ralph Lauren, one Channel! Now I would be feeling rather smug that I got these for free when someone else would have paid about £80 for them. I have thought really hard as well about making sure they go to the right person, who will appreciate them.

The best presents are ones that thought, attention and love have gone in to, not the ones that cost the most.

vic_sf49

Wow, I had no idea people did this much Christmas shopping!

OP, stick to your guns, and don't let others guilt you / upset you. When did we all decide that to be a good friend / relative, you have to spend a certain amount on each other? I want you there to chat with, to help with life, to amuse each other and laugh with; I don't grade our relationships based on how much you spend on me on Dec 25th. -->>>

My friends and I quit buying for each other years ago, as we were just swapping vouchers. It's pretty much the same with family now too, after I pointed out that the following question & statement shows how ridiculous it all became.....

- "Can I buy you that for Christmas so you have something to open?" (I'm well well well past the age where I expect Santa to visit.)

- "But I want to show you that I love you by buying you something." (Does that mean you don't love me every other day of the year?...lol)

I spend a few days sorting through my (zillions) of photos to create a calendar, which is what I get requests for from about September, and the only other thing I've bought is a secret santa gift.

The fact that people like my photos, and want them to grace their walls, is present enough for me. I feel I'm lucky that I don't 'need' anything, so I tell people to spend it on themselves instead......although dearest granny cannot be dissuaded from gift giving, but then you have the right to be stubborn at the age of 86.

I hope all you MSE posters have a nice Christmas, and enjoy doing what you want to do; whether it's being with family, or holed up in your house in your PJs. My thoughts are extended to all of those that can't 'celebrate' how they want, especially if they're having to work, or are away from loved ones due to military commitments.

Spendless

I tend to do 'upto' amounts, so

upto

£35 for parents (4 of them)
£20 per sibling, neice, nephew, grandparents (7 of them)
£10 per Aunt/Uncle (2 of them)

and then around £50 for me and husband

and from £50+ upto around £200 for the (2) kids, very much dependant on what we decide to get them each year. Eg son had an experience last year that he is unlikely to get repeated during his childhood which cost far more than we'd normally spend.

I don't know anyone who spends £100 on anyone other than a partner/spouse or their own kids. Does your sister have a well paid job or not many people to buy for?

pigpen

I don't appear to have any willpower.. I see bits throughout the year which I pick up for everyone.


I spend about £20 each on 3 of my 9 siblings.. I rarely/never see the others so don't buy for them. and also for my niece.. it was less than £10 for my nephew.


I have restricted myself to around £50 for my oldest 2 and my 3 grandsons, my mother and stepdad this year.. I do other peoples shopping do take advantage of the BOGOF/3-4-2 offers. I don't buy for my grandmother or my dad.. I don't see them so don't buy for them.


My children get £150-£200 each BUT.. a huge proportion is stuff I would have to buy anyway, stuff like toiletries and clothes which I would hope everyone uses so it does sound a lot more than it actually is.. the only stuff I buy midyear are shoes and school clothes so other than Christmas and £20 for birthdays they get nothing. They don't get rubbish, they get learning aids and books with a few craft bits and this year they have a scooter each.. the physio said they might be good for their development.


OH, I get him clothes and books and xbox game or 2 usually.. I usually spend more on him in the sales to replace his worn out clothing.. he doesn't know it yet but he is having a wardrobe cull in the new year, he has a few tshirts fit for the rag bag which he insists on wearing!


I have Christmas dinner on Christmas eve, we have Christmas day at home then boxing day we have my family round.. OHs are too far away but they can come too if they wish. I'm not sociable at any time but even less so on 10 minutes sleep!!

Mrs_Ryan

I bought the vast majority of my pressies from Boots this year Mum I spent £43 on, her other pressie was free in the 3 for 2 and I gave her £20 cash to buy some trousers. Dad got a £25 Amazon voucher and some of his fave beer. OH has been spoiled- I bought him a ticket to the Leicester Tigers match the other week and he has clothes (3 pairs of jeans, a polo shirt,a heavy cardigan, three pairs of boxers, 6 pairs of socks) and the rugby calendar I get him every year so he's had probably a hundred and something quid. Best mate has had a Dove set, a Simple set and the player she sponsors's match worn shirt, and I've just bought everyone else stuff from the 3 for 2. I think I've spent about £300 this year which is very little for me, me and Oh spend £100 on each other every year- he's got me a £70 Next gift card, some Lipsy perfume and gave me £20 cash which I'm happy with.

mr_knight

Just reading this has made me realise I had been guilted into spending more than I wanted. I have one sibling so I spend £20 each on him and his partner. This year they have a baby (won't even be 6 months at Christmas) I was going to spend around £15 and then buy an extra gift during the year as they don't understand and they grow out of the toys so quickly at that age.

Anyway mum rings and asks if I would like her to buy an extra gift for the baby. I said no that's plenty but she put a big guilt trip on me (do you know how much they spend on your child etc) and I ended up buying an extra pressie. I'm annoyed with myself as I didn't want to but also wanted to keep the peace. What has really annoyed me is they haven't even acknowledged it has arrived! Just a text or something maybe that is just me). Ah well I know for next year.

NatalieB23

mr_knight wrote: »

Just reading this has made me realise I had been guilted into spending more than I wanted. I have one sibling so I spend £20 each on him and his partner. This year they have a baby (won't even be 6 months at Christmas) I was going to spend around £15 and then buy an extra gift during the year as they don't understand and they grow out of the toys so quickly at that age.

Anyway mum rings and asks if I would like her to buy an extra gift for the baby. I said no that's plenty but she put a big guilt trip on me (do you know how much they spend on your child etc) and I ended up buying an extra pressie. I'm annoyed with myself as I didn't want to but also wanted to keep the peace. What has really annoyed me is they haven't even acknowledged it has arrived! Just a text or something maybe that is just me). Ah well I know for next year.

I'd be saving the extra gift for later in the year like you initially planned to. You should never feel bad for spending within your means. My sister is the same in the sense that she will deliberately tell me how much my sons pressies have cost so I know how much she expects back. She will be in for a shock this next birthday simply because I cannot afford to match what she spends since our personal circumstances are so different.

zaksmum

I spend around £100 for each of my grown up kids and each grandchild and my husband.

Everyone else gets about £20 spent on them.

carebabe

Agreed in past not to exchange presents with siblings or friends. Our adult kids get 50 pounds cash each plus wrapped gift under 5 pounds. Some people seem to really make a rod for their own backs.