topic How much should Santa "spend"? in Community Spirit

How much should Santa "spend"?

lurker172602 — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 23:19:50 GMT

This just came up on my FB newsfeed. I must say I agree with the sentiment (although not neccessarily with the way it is expressed). We Santa never "spent" much at our place. Big ticket items always came from us.

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

azureline** — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 23:33:30 GMT

Lol, this has caused so much fighting on the local fb pages, unbelievable what people can use to fight over.

In our family we made it clear that there was a budget for Santa, mum and dad had to give Santa a cheque and he then chose and delivered within that budget.

Worked for us.

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

daydream**believer — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 00:23:55 GMT

My kids received a santa stocking. It had small to med sized toys in it.

Their bigger, expensive items were always from us, not santa.

But im kinda getting sick of people telling us parents what we should and shouldnt do at this time of the year.

First there was the idiot saying there shouldnt be seperated boys and girls toys. Then the idiot saying we shouldnt get kids to sit on Santas lap and now this one.

Its my kids Christmas and i'll do and spend and give whatever i want to them

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

cherry*135 — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 00:28:19 GMT

As much as parents want to spend (as they are Santa) nothing to do with how much or little any other parent has to spend.

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

lloydslights — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 00:36:30 GMT

I suggest some people should spend what they can afford.

Spending the gift of time with them that will create memories that will last longer than most presents.

Remembering that there will be electricity accounts, etc plus school fees, following the Festive Season.

DEB

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

aps1080 — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 00:40:27 GMT

Daydream

But im kinda getting sick of people telling us parents what we should and shouldnt do at this time of the year.

First there was the idiot saying there shouldnt be seperated boys and girls toys. Then the idiot saying we shouldnt get kids to sit on Santas lap and now this one.

Its my kids Christmas and i'll do and spend and give whatever i want to them"

Are you single and female by any chance

A woman after my own heart with comments like that.

Don't forget schools are banned from using Christmas as well !!!

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

punch*drunk — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:21:37 GMT

My sister lived in very disadvantaged circumstances for many years and consequently her kids rarely got anything from santa or if they did it was just a few cheapies from the $2 shop. I remember my son couldnt understand why santa would give poor children less than he gave everyone else....that was a pretty hard thing to explain, cant even remember how I did to be honest.

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

softail-joanie — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:25:42 GMT

I don't believe in the one size fits all theroy for everything and everyone in life. Things should be factored into it, cercumstances. There's a balance in it I think, that each parrent or gaurdain has to determine. In both instiling values, and remembering that these are people, as well as their children. So it's a balence of what they want, and what the parrent or gaurdain thinks the should have and when.

I remember a King of the hill episode (cartoon) where Hank brought out that box from the garage to show Bobby some of the lame things he once thought was cool. Thats a good example for this topic.

Then theres the logic that kids who get less, appreasate it more when they do get what they want, maybe take better care of it. So it's a ballance and one size does not nessarally fit all.

My own prefrence if I had any kids would to be honest right from the start about things like Santa.Video games, thats a big one, I would not get them the latest and greatest when it first comes out. Big mistake. I would wait for the smaller, more improved and less expensive models the following year or christmas, then move on it, maybe at a black friday sale. They'd get it, they'd just have to wait. This would also make them think harder and longer about what they really want, that would help them later in life. When their friend's xBox was getting the ring of death thing, their newer model would work flawlessly.

saying there shouldnt be seperated boys and girls toys.

on that, i would stay neutral, but if the kid expressed an interest in a paticular toy, I would have no problem giving a boy a dollhouse, or a girl, a radio controlled monster truck. This is by far the best way to know who your kids really are and i'm speaking more of in their intrests rather than gender. This is 2015, theres a woman driving in Nascar's top series. (Nextel Cup) i think.

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

cherry*135 — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:29:23 GMT

Most parents save money towards Christmas presents, if some don't budget for electricity and other bills through the year.. no need to hold that against other parents who do regularly set aside money for bills, presents etc.

There are quite a few stores and charities that collect new presents (or ask for gift cards to be donated so age appropriate presents can be bought) to give to disadvantaged children.

I have seen some 'new' looking toys of all types in Op Shops recently that would make suitable presents from Santa/parent for a low cost.

If any parent wants to spend $1000 on their child's Christmas present nothing to do with me. If they get into debt buying Christmas presents their own business as well. ... why should we judge them? Doesn't affect us.

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

cherry*135 — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:28:18 GMT

aps - Don't forget schools are banned from using Christmas as well !!!

How do they 'use' Christmas?

ALL schools or just some schools?

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

daydream**believer — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:32:00 GMT

@aps1080 wrote:
Daydream

But im kinda getting sick of people telling us parents what we should and shouldnt do at this time of the year.
First there was the idiot saying there shouldnt be seperated boys and girls toys. Then the idiot saying we shouldnt get kids to sit on Santas lap and now this one.

Its my kids Christmas and i'll do and spend and give whatever i want to them"

Are you single and female by any chance

A woman after my own heart with comments like that.

Don't forget schools are banned from using Christmas as well !!!

lol

married with 3 kids aps.

My kids school did put a Christmas tree up in the front office this year. However, the Christmas concert was replaced with 'A Night at the Movies' concert. No Christmas songs, just songs from movies

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

aps1080 — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:34:43 GMT

Not sure. It's so that any "non christian" children aren't offended !!!

It is Xmas or happy holidays or such like.

PC gone effing mad IMHO

Why does everything have to change for the one or two kids in the class that are something else ??????

Edit

daydream, your thoughts on the change to a night at the movies or my example above ?????

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

daydream**believer — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:41:21 GMT

My thoughts on the concert change was one of anger. Quite a few parents were angry about it.

They did the same thing 2 years ago but there was quite a lot of backlash so last year they did a Christmas concert.

The decision to change the concert was just sprung upon us, not even discussed with Governing Council.

In the beginning we were told some classes would do movie songs and some would do Christmas songs.

My sons class did 'Happy' from Dispicable Me 2.

We did not go to the concert however i asked 3 parents who did attend and no classes did any Christmas songs

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

aps1080 — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:43:39 GMT

Good on you for doing something.

You need to keep up the pressure or the PC brigade will take over.

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

azureline** — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:51:37 GMT

Some schools still do Christmas concerts, some don't. Probably a lot to do with parent participation, teachers who don't want to do it outside school hours etc.

My grandaughter's school (traditional Catholic) didn't do one this year.

My grandsons' school (state) never does one, too many children and other end of year events, like graduation.

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

aps1080 — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 01:59:58 GMT

Azure

Those are valid reasons but not the reasons Christmas in banned.

That is because of the lefty do gooder PC brigade in councils that have far too much influence

and need to be reined in, big time and told to shove it (PC) up their noses and cater for the

MAJORITY of Students, NOT the minority.

AND, if the MAJORITY are Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus or whatever, FINE BY ME not to use Christmas

but when the MAJORITY are Austalian Christians, then that is what is catered for.

Rant over !!!

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

azureline** — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 02:04:34 GMT

Please show a valid link to where this has occurred for the reasons you state.

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

aps1080 — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 02:17:32 GMT

I can't, it's the practice followed by schools / kindergartens here at council direction.

Every year the issue comes up.

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

the_great_she_elephant — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 02:38:00 GMT

Don't forget schools are banned from using Christmas as well !!!

Maybe we could do a survey. Hands up everyone here with school-aged children whose schools have banned the naming or celebrating of Christmas. (personal experience only please, not "What I read on the internet" or "What someone I met in the supermarket told me hapened at the school her sister's friends children attend."

Re: How much should Santa "spend"?

aps1080 — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 02:39:48 GMT

Maybe it is council run schools only ?