Xmas presents - is it all worth the fuss?
- Thread starter Rockstar
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Rockstar
Re: Christmas presents is it worth all the fuss - when the kids were little YES as they have got older presents have become secondary. Breakfast together first then morning tea and present opening, lunch and snooze after seem to be the order of the day.
Over the years we have cut down who we buy for so now only buy for adult children and 1 x boyfriend.
This year our daughter after discussing with her girlfriends cut out buying presents for each other as the friends all have their own unit or house to pay off now so the girls went out for tea together instead.
The maximum I spend is $150, usually it is around $100 and I definitely didn't buy an even $ amount this year.
Personally I prefer to give gifts - if I am out shopping and I see something that would benefit hubby, or adult children I buy the gift if reasonably priced - generally it is something for their PPOR.
Also as a family we are into having a coffee or meal out during the day, so of course we pay for our adult kids when they are with us.
Cheers
Sheryn
Re: Christmas presents is it worth all the fuss - when the kids were little YES as they have got older presents have become secondary. Breakfast together first then morning tea and present opening, lunch and snooze after seem to be the order of the day.
Over the years we have cut down who we buy for so now only buy for adult children and 1 x boyfriend.
This year our daughter after discussing with her girlfriends cut out buying presents for each other as the friends all have their own unit or house to pay off now so the girls went out for tea together instead.
The maximum I spend is $150, usually it is around $100 and I definitely didn't buy an even $ amount this year.
Personally I prefer to give gifts - if I am out shopping and I see something that would benefit hubby, or adult children I buy the gift if reasonably priced - generally it is something for their PPOR.
Also as a family we are into having a coffee or meal out during the day, so of course we pay for our adult kids when they are with us.
Cheers
Sheryn
We only bought gifts for the kiddies this year, and we only got a plate of nibblies and some soap as prezzies from my parents.
The youngest was almost impossible to buy for. He got a stuffed toy and a rattle in the end.
Next one up wasn't much easier - other half went through an entire toystore trying to find something appropriate and did eventually find something, plus she got gifties from relatives. She had fun opening everything.
Big one was very easy to buy for (she's spent a lot of the year whinging about her lack of various things as opposed to asking for them) and got a fair pile of Stuff but had to be cajoled into actually opening them because she didn't want to
Fun was had, anyway, and no stress.
The youngest was almost impossible to buy for. He got a stuffed toy and a rattle in the end.
Next one up wasn't much easier - other half went through an entire toystore trying to find something appropriate and did eventually find something, plus she got gifties from relatives. She had fun opening everything.
Big one was very easy to buy for (she's spent a lot of the year whinging about her lack of various things as opposed to asking for them) and got a fair pile of Stuff but had to be cajoled into actually opening them because she didn't want to
Fun was had, anyway, and no stress.
We have a rule in our family that we buy only for the kids (between 7 and 3 weeks old) and for mum and dad only.
The kids present we set a limit of $40 each only.
Mum and dad is usually around $150 because they help at lot with baby sitting etc.
This year they gave us a little bit of cash but also gave to a charity in our names that will help support them, like fresh water, a pig, first aid etc.
Christmas is more about getting together, laughing, taking the mickey out of each other and eating.
The kids present we set a limit of $40 each only.
Mum and dad is usually around $150 because they help at lot with baby sitting etc.
This year they gave us a little bit of cash but also gave to a charity in our names that will help support them, like fresh water, a pig, first aid etc.
Christmas is more about getting together, laughing, taking the mickey out of each other and eating.
I love to spoil the kids as we don't spoil them at all during the year. Even when they were little we never bought any toys during the year. A reasonable gift on their birthday and then the big one for Chrissie. We always gave the good pressie from us and the little more inexpensive stuff from santa. I can't wait to have a grandkid to spoil next year...bring it on!
i buy the christmas presents for both hubby and i (he doesn't have time), but we discuss them first and only get what we specifically want. cost is not an issue and it is to be something that we wouldn't just "go out and buy".
this year he got $680 side runners for his new pajero. i got a $30 compost bin! BUT it was what we both wanted.
personally, i'm not big on the present thing. hubby's family buy for everyone - but fortunately they're not a big family. i'd much rather just hang out eating and drinking and falling asleep in front of the cricket.
i buy presents for junior (7), but she usually asks for what she wants - a dsi this year. i also buy for hubbys big kids, but they are all nearly out of home so generally it's gift cards and one practical physical present.
i wish my parents in law would only buy the kids only one decent present, or nothing at all, instead of giving them all (including the adult kids) a large santa bag full of cheap $2 shop rubbish. i know it's the thought the counts.
maybe i'm getting jaded at the commercialism surrounding christmas - and the pressure to try and get everyone together at the same-ish time.
this year he got $680 side runners for his new pajero. i got a $30 compost bin! BUT it was what we both wanted.
personally, i'm not big on the present thing. hubby's family buy for everyone - but fortunately they're not a big family. i'd much rather just hang out eating and drinking and falling asleep in front of the cricket.
i buy presents for junior (7), but she usually asks for what she wants - a dsi this year. i also buy for hubbys big kids, but they are all nearly out of home so generally it's gift cards and one practical physical present.
i wish my parents in law would only buy the kids only one decent present, or nothing at all, instead of giving them all (including the adult kids) a large santa bag full of cheap $2 shop rubbish. i know it's the thought the counts.
maybe i'm getting jaded at the commercialism surrounding christmas - and the pressure to try and get everyone together at the same-ish time.
We gave our boys who are driving two $100 petrol vouchers for their birthday and another $100 petrol voucher plus a $100 Myer voucher for Christmas. All three have birthdays within two weeks around Christmas, so it is a very expensive time for us. I long ago gave up trying to get them to tell me just exactly what they would like. We also gave them Scoopon vouchers for $110 worth of food/drink at a nice restaurant.
So they got $450 value and it cost us $50 (for the Scoopon). If we were not giving vouchers, we would never spend that amount, but with one about to start repayments on his first mortgage and the next one at uni, they really appreciate the vouchers.
I did originally suggest to the oldest one that fuel vouchers are an option because they cost us nothing via Altitude Awards (and hubby is not working). He said "that is not very exciting". I told him that I would then chose something I think he would like. He very quickly backtracked. He thinks my taste is in my backside, so thought he would take the vouchers.
Youngest got the same amount transferred to his bank account, which I plan on not letting him touch. We might look at buying him some shares with this plus what he already has in his account. If we buy shares, he is less inclined to want to spend it.
From my MIL I got a knitted tea cozy and a few things, most of which will find their way to the local church store. After 27 years of knowing me, she obviously doesn't know me at all . Youngest son has been wearing the tea cozy on his head with his ears poking out where the holes are. She is with us recuperating from a little operation (SERENITY NOW!!!) and doesn't seem fazed by him wearing the tea cozy on his head.
When you put together all the things that people give and get that find their way to the re-gifting box or the church shop before the week is out, it is rather a waste of money.
So they got $450 value and it cost us $50 (for the Scoopon). If we were not giving vouchers, we would never spend that amount, but with one about to start repayments on his first mortgage and the next one at uni, they really appreciate the vouchers.
I did originally suggest to the oldest one that fuel vouchers are an option because they cost us nothing via Altitude Awards (and hubby is not working). He said "that is not very exciting". I told him that I would then chose something I think he would like. He very quickly backtracked. He thinks my taste is in my backside, so thought he would take the vouchers
.Youngest got the same amount transferred to his bank account, which I plan on not letting him touch. We might look at buying him some shares with this plus what he already has in his account. If we buy shares, he is less inclined to want to spend it.
From my MIL I got a knitted tea cozy
and a few things, most of which will find their way to the local church store. After 27 years of knowing me, she obviously doesn't know me at all . Youngest son has been wearing the tea cozy on his head with his ears poking out where the holes are. She is with us recuperating from a little operation (SERENITY NOW!!!) and doesn't seem fazed by him wearing the tea cozy on his head.When you put together all the things that people give and get that find their way to the re-gifting box or the church shop before the week is out, it is rather a waste of money.
the two kids out of home both got $100 bunnings gift vouchers ths year that cost us nothing via rewards ... along with a list of items every girl on her own should have (hammer, screwdriver set, pliers, hand saw etc).
a few years back, one of them asked us if she could (instead of the usual array of book vouchers and shopping centre vouchers) get a visa debit card with the same dollar value we'd usually spend. so now all three get a $200 debit card - get them from the bank - which means they can spend them anywhere, even online.
Hehe they love their grandkids, and probably still think of them as little kids...
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