Sooo who's got sucked in

[darksideofthemoon]

and spending megga bucks on their kids?

You know, it's a real off put thing isn't it or am I wrong?

I was born before WWII and so Christmas was a bit on the lean side, although my mother made beautiful presents for me.  One year I found Father Christmas had left me a pink Tutu with a wand that had a sparkly star and a crown with a sparkly star.... I was about 5.

Another year when I was older I received a watch.  'Santa' (my mother) had to laybuy it so it would be paid off for Christmas.. I was about twelve and even today it happily keeps time

Now Christmas for me is waiting for my family to finally sell their property in Queensland and move down here to Tasmania.  We have waited three years, and since I have not seen my son more than three times in the last 18 years you can imagine how much I want to share a Christmas with him and his family....

So have you been sucked in to believing you have to buy up big for the kids or do you keep within your means?

[love*today]

Very other year we have. Our children only get presents on their birthday and at Xmas, so we made it a big event for them with gifts.
Now that their older and not into nasty under quality toys that break within months, we decided this year only one small present to unwrap on the day,,,,like jewellery or a book. And instead of wasting money on commercialism **bleep** we are taking a family holiday.
My New thing is that memories with the family are worth more than what Xmas has become these days 😕

[shoptilludroptara]

usually i go all out

but with the selective high school fees and extras i had to pay last week

plus all the expensive uniforms to buy in jan 2014 and the year 6 formal next week

i had to be more realistic and cut it down

my 11 year old girl gets a new computor chair(the back on old one snapped)

a new graphics pad as she loves to draw and the last one stopped working

and something online she needed for a game(around $60-)

my middle son 21 gets a new graphics card thats over $250-

my oldest son 27 lives away and earns heaps so i just give him $50-

then i spend about $60- on my mum and the same on my dad

and i have several teachers gifts already i brought a bulk lot of same item for ladies

and thats me done for the year  lol

and im broke again lol

tara

[icyfroth]

Not me I think. (well maybe a bit).

I don't have littlies any more so I gift money in a card and a small stocking filler style of gift which I send in one parcel to Mackay.

Any other kiddies in the family, I just give money ($20) in a card.

[***super_nova***]

We stopped giving each other presents years ago; we just have a lovely family day with beautiful food and good wine.  Now, that there are grand kids it is bit different, but they also only get some good quality toys that they really want, and I have to admit I did got bit carried away with books.  Might even save some for later; I just love really nice well illustrated kids books 🙂

[ten*teeny*tiny*toes]

Not yet...because I haven't started. OMG

I thrive on the last minute panic.

But I am going cheap this year so there 

[crystal**flake]

About $500 each but that is for one quality pressie.

[buzzlightyearsgirlfriend]

I work very hard and put in a lot of overtime so I can make a nice Xmas for my kids.

They don't get "stuff" during the year except for their birthdays and they never nag me for anything, so I get them a boat load of stuff at Xmas. 

Have done some awesome shopping in the last 24 hours.

[imastawka]

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@crystal**flake wrote:

About $500 each but that is for one quality pressie.

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I'm up for adoption...please....pretty please....

[purple_haize]

My two grandies parents and hubby and me put in to buy a very good quality springless trampoline, the eldest 9yrs. has always wanted one and Isla my 3yr old granddaughter was born with hip dysplasia and the hip still isnt right and the orthopediac surgeon suggested a trampoline would help to strengthen her muscles, so that was the other reason for getting it.

Hubby and me bought Oliver a scooter and Isla a doll & doll clothes, have no idea what their parents bought them, but I know they are only getting one other present each from them.

So, I dont think that is too bad.