How much should Santa "spend"?

[lurker172602]

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.

[azureline**]

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.

[daydream**believer]

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

[cherry*135]

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.

[lloydslights]

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

[aps1080]

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 !!!

[punch*drunk]

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.

[softail-joanie]

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.

[cherry*135]

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.

[cherry*135]

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

How do  they 'use' Christmas?

ALL schools or just some schools?