Assessing and downsizing Christmas gifting

We have always done Christmas up big, but so does my MIL. One year we opened presents for 7 hours. The kids gave up after 3 hours and I was frustrated. We have been paring down ever since, but our children still get 30 or more things from Santa alone. And that is in addition to the one BIG gift -- a bike, swingset, iPOD, etc. I do work in lots of practical stuff. They always gets a new set of sheets, etc.

This is likely the last year that my youngest will believe in Santa, and e are going to change things up. They are going to get 3 gifts (a la 3 wise men) and I intend for it to be one thing they really want, one thing they really need and one other.

Then...I'm going to take the money I used to spend on stuff (that they don't want or need) and take a family vacation at Christmas. All family members are welcome to make their own arrangements and join us (they won't), but we are going to focus on EXPERIENCES instead of stuff.

I'm going to tell everyone that we are no longer buying gifts and we do not wish to receive them. I do plan to concentrate on birthdays instead. Hopefully, we can focus on spiritual issues more without the distractions of "stuff."

Of course...this is just the PLAN. I'll let you know how it goes over! LOL

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"#
# Spend more on traditions, less on stuff. It's easy to get sucked into thinking you have to spend a lot to make your holidays wonderful. But kids tend not to remember the things they got for Christmas; what they talk about most, long after the holiday has passed, is the fun things they did to celebrate as a family. "

That's good advice for everyone, year-round. Do people really need more stuff?

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Since we had all girls, I'd often get one big (relatively speaking) for them to share. Last year it was the Play Station; the year before a keyboard and karaoke (sp?). Two years ago (I think) a used computer.

The rest was mostly clothes, art supplies, and a few stocking fillers (fancy bath supplies, etc.)

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I'm only in my twenties, so I came of age in a time when over-the-top Christmases were gaining steam. I have wonderful memories of my own childhood holidays, though, so I've taken the same approach with my kids - one wrapped present from my husband and I, one each from the grandparents, and a little stocking full of things from 'Santa', which usually includes a paperback book or a CD plus chocolate (and an orange in the toe.)

Now that I'm an adult, a few great gifts stand out, but for the most part it's the season I remember: reading Christmas stories or watching holiday movies, baking, and going out to see the light display at the park. I grew up not having as many trendy toys as my friends, but I was happy to play with them at their houses - and those trends passed quickly. I think I came to a sense of quality vs. quantity a lot earlier in life because of my parents' restraint, and I'm hoping my kids will come to the same appreciation.

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I love the Little House Books! Remembering those Christmas gifts brings back the best memories.

Here is our Christmas policy we decided two years ago:

Each child gets: Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.

It has worked great for us! It gives them some variety, but keeps the gifts down to a manageable (and enjoyable) number. It is also a catchy rhyming saying I can use to remember what I am looking to buy!

They recieve gifts from other people too anyway, and I think after a certain point too many gifts are overwhelming and go unapreciated.

I was inspired to think about planning gifts more carefully after reading "The Complete Tightwad Gazzette" by Amy Dacyczyn. She has this theory about how kids really don't get anymore excited after the second present so after that it is kind of a waste. I am not down to two presents (yet!), but that inspired me to talk and really plan out how I was going to do it from then on.

We also purchase a gift from Oxfam with the kids for someone in a thrid world country each Christmas, to encourage them to think of others. (Similar to the Heifer project I remember as a kid) http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/Browse.aspx?catalog=Unwrapped&category=UWGifts

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My children are young, 3 years and 20 months respectively. We have always done a simple Christmas for them. It seemed I was forever hearing my coworkers with older children complaining that they couldn't keep up with the expectations of their children. As their children's tastes became more expensive they still expected the same number of presents. I vowed to nip the material ideas of Christmas in the bud. In our house Santa brings a stocking and one present per child which is unwrapped and waiting for them on Christmas morning. It is often whatever toy they have coveted. We get them each a present that is wrapped. So they have one gift from Santa and one from us (with a stocking which is full of nice things as well). However the kids still get tons of stuff from grandparents, aunts, uncles, coworkers, their daycare provider etc. They most certainly do not go without. I can't even think of how much they would have on Christmas if we did dote upon them as well.

Now my brother purchases his children many presents and thinks that I am being stingy and mean. However, the bottom line is that my kids enjoy their holiday every bit as much as their cousins. There's excitement, energy, and spirit thrown into the season. That is all they need.

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We do the rule of 3. The kids each get a gift from Mommy, a gift from Daddy, and a gift from Santa. My parents, gradparents, and inlaws go overboard, so we do not. We get enough plastic crap influx as it is. We decided that this was the original Christmas tradition - the 3 wise men, and all that, and it keeps us in check. Each gift is carefully chosen, and the kids are perfectly happy. Of course, being 5, 3 and 10 months at Christmas makes taht part easy.

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Agreed. We are definitely going into a "less stuff" phase (after three years of way too much baby/toddler/kid stuff!). This Christmas we have agreed to give only quality wooden learning toys, games (he loves the Haba German board games and they are great for his development on so many levels), books, and practical items. Its the "new"ness that makes things special to our guy, he doesn't care if its only a book, but unwrapping it and having a new book is a big deal. No more plastic junk. No more junk period.

Also, same as one poster above, we showered him with gifts last Christmas (the first year that he really "got it") and guess what? He opened a couple of great toys, wanted to play with them, and completely ignored the rest. We ended up opening his presents and showing them to him while he moved on to other activities. What's the point?

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I guess that I've been living in a closet somewhere.

I recently got into a discussion elsewhere about children's FAMILY-ONLY birthday parties were the kids were receiving 30-50 gifts each. That just blew me away: my son received 10 gifts for his birthday this year, and I thought that was a bit over the top.

For Christmas, he's probably going to get one "big" toy from us (I've been looking at kitchen sets and little kid railway sets since he loves both of those type of things), some clothing, some books. The gift limit will probably be about $100.

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