I have spent about $120 on each child (i think)

DS is getting 1 big present a cozy coupe and 2 free huggies presents (laptop and activity block) plus his xmas eve pjs and his xmas day outfit and a couple of things for his santa sack.

DD has 3 smaller presents a doctors kit, a tool set and a leap frog laptop plus her xmas eve pjs and her xmas day outfit plus a few things for her santa sack and a moonhopper from santa.

Also I'm not worried that they have different amounts of presents but do you always have to make sure they each have the same amount of presents??
I'm pretty sure mine are too young to notice this year, hehe Santa and mummy even have the same wrapping paper!

I haven't brought any presents. Dh brought a couple of things in USA, we won a bike for Harry in Feb. But dh did go and spend $800 the other day on Santa presents, which is ridiculous and I was really cross at him. His argument was he works hard and if he wants to buy nice things for his kids he would. They don't need them and I think it just makes them spoilt/expectant.

Personally RD I would prefer to set a limit of 120-150, like you guys have. Next year I'm going to pre-empt dh and agree on a amount and strategy.

I think thats a good limit Shipmate!

Next year we are not buying birthday (they will get a small token gift) or xmas presents and we are going in with both sets of grandparents to buy them a big wooden playhouse.

They will still get their xmas pjs and xmas day outfits and their santa stockings but the only other present they get will be the playhouse.

Just totalled it up yesterday and we spent $185 on the youngest two and $210 on the oldest. That doesn't include their Xmas outfit though.

Yeah, DH is the same. In the w/e he went out and bought 14yr old DS a playstation 3 which I was very against. He has PS2, so can't see why he needs the latest of everything. This is when DS has a $2500 trip to Oz, for school next year which DH has volunteered to go as parent help, so that $5000 on that.

And I've said its not fair on 16yr old DD who is only getting a fraction of that amount spent on her. Her's so far is clothes etc, which to be honest she needs anyway. But she is way too fussy, so knows about it all anyway.

Way too much.
Probably around $300 each kid.
I started shopping really early and putting things away, and forgot half of what I had bought! So they have ended up with more than usual.

In my defence though I have made them have a big clean out of toys they don't play with any more and we have taken them to the Salvation Army shop.

i didn't count. i love christmas though and plan for it all year i *think* i have bought less than last year but then at the same time i bought a trampoline as well, and my youngest is getting a bed/drawers which he needed anyway so we just coincided with christmas etc. but i try and buy things that they NEED rather than just toys for the sake of it, so they get lots of clothes and books and things like that... and i have made a bunch of things for T's 'new' room.

i think how things are given depends a lot on whether kids are spoiled or not, we also make sure we give back at this time of year and we talk a lot about people who are less fortunate than ourselves. we also talk about how different things cost different amounts so someone might get a small present and someone might get a big present but that doesn't mean the big present is better or cost more. and we talk about how it's not just about getting nice things, it's also about the good feeling you get when giving things to other people that make them happy, and being able to spend time with family, and things like that.

I am not counting either. I don't feel the need to justify why we spend what we do on our kids. It is important to me that the kids have lovely things and have Christmas like I never had as a child. We have a wonderful day spending it with family and my kids don't have any expectations and I don't feel like we spoil them.

I think I have spent about $200 on each of the big kids, I've hardly spent anything on the baby as all he really needs is clothes and I'll pick those up in the post Christmas sales.

I love going all out at Christmas but have been very controlled this year as it really is just not nescessary as we already have 3 bedrooms full of toys.

They have lots of aunts and uncles that buy for them also so they are getting gifts coming from all directions

FARK! That sounds like something my DP would do. he never does the xmas shopping because if he did, he would get silly like that and i would have to throttle him.

I would kill my DH. But thats only because we can't afford that. Otherwise I would be happy to let him do that

We spent about $200 on the biggest boy, spread over the year on layby, and the poor new bubba got $40 They both get alot from lots of family too

DH never does xmas shopping either. He said one night, I might go out and buy the boys their santa presents, I said OK cool, don't go silly!!!! (famous last words) I think all the time hes been away this year has made him feel bad, but the boys think hes a super dad, hes even joined as a Scout leader this year.

I remember one year at my parents home, between our kids and my brothers kids you couldn't see the lounge floor from all the gifts, it was just silly, in the end the kids were getting bored from opening things and not paying attention to the gift or who it was from, it made a huge impact on me and I try really hard to buy a few things, so that they appreciate what they get. I agree with you teacup its also a time to teach them about children less fortunate and other good life lessons.

LOL my hubbies the opposite....tight

my brother & sister in law tend to go crazy at christmas but as they said one day they missed out on a bit when they were kids so enjoying giving what they can to their children

Admittedly we go a bit crazy with our kids. They are very precious to us and they miss out on a lot of time with me. It's probably guilt spending but I really enjoy it.

We'v probably spent in the $150-200 per child but I hven't added up so not sure. 80% of it I have picked up over the year (some stuff half price etc) so the actual $$$ that we have spent this time of year is small.

I am not sure to be honest, but I have been quite careful, not so much about the amount but what they are getting. Like you Suomi we had a MASSIVE cull last week and took 3 rubbish bags up to the Salvation army store, my oldest found this a bit challenging, he understood the concept and wanted to do it, but he found it hard to let go!
I returned some big items I had bought in the mid-year sales ( a Harry Potter lego castle!) as I just thought it was over the top, and the plan had been for the boys to get an iPad as a combined gift from my family, but I also pulled the plug on that too, as I just felt like WTF is left if they get all that for Christmas?

So, they are getting a day trip to Rainbows End from my brother, that he and Dh will take them on, lego city Rocket that Santa will give to both of them , with instructions that they must play nicely together and apart from that it is virtually all books that I bought from Amazon UK.

DD is getting a home made play kitchen and I ordered some wooden food from the States that hasn't arrived yet, fingers crossed.

My DH is a bit like yours SM, he wanted to buy them an $1800 play house! I put the cob wash on that too, I know with my Dh he wants to give his kids ANYTHNG that he can, we were talking the other day about how he only eats once a day, and the bad effect this has on his blood sugar, and he said that because food is so expensive he does not want to waste our food and only wants to eat once a day s there is more for the kids! Men are so weird, I can't believe he thinks like that.

I have to fight their Nana every step of the way, she is way over the top, Christmas is full of tension every year as she resents how strictly I tell her what she can and can't buy, I just try to re-direct her urge to indulge into things that are actually useful, I don't want spoilt kids and a house full of crap.

We've done about $100 per girl I think however as we bought most of it on sale, there seems to be HEAPS! Too much infact! We're going to go thru it in a couple of days and work out what to give for Xmas and what to keep for either birthdays or Xmas next year.

We always try to do a similar amount but as they get older and their tastes change, they'll probably get different amounts (as long as it's all evens up over the years). For example, X might get a laptop at 13 but as an 11 year old H won't need one and she sure as heck won't be getting $1000 spent on her as well lol

I have done $100 per girl from us, and then not sure what i spent on the stockings.
Braxton is getting 3 toys and then the stocking which has clothes and toys and bowls in it.
Though i had brought other things like clothes, and made skirts etc but Meh....i also try to make xmas nice for the girls coz i missed out a lot as a kid, and my dad always had to make it up to me, coz my birth mum was selfish and i never got anything.

Shippie - to the 800 but oh thats sweet of your DH, what did he buy must have come home with a lot of bags

Lol - my DH usually doesn't even know what I've bought the kids so he sits there on Christmas morning as in the dark as they are But this year he has apparently bought the kids something really awesome, but he won't tell me what it is. It was meant to be a family gift for me as well, but his Mum told him I would divorce him if he didn't get me something for me (she seems to live in constant fear that I am going to leave him because of his hobbies ) so I'm guessing it is something outdoorsy to do with hunting/fishing/tramping/boating.

I scored some cheap second hand outdoor toys for J off trade me so we are going to set up a playground for her for Christmas morning. We had a plan to give C DH's ipod touch because he doesn't use it, but we can't find it, so I ended up spending a bit on a second-hand one off Trade Me. She has been told that because we are spoiling them (we couldn't be bothered trying to hide the playground stuff of J's) they will only get a stocking from Santa (we spent about $10 on stuff for those). Usually most presents come from Santa. I also had already bought some toys for J from the Farmers Toy Sale so I gave them to my family to give to her because otherwise I felt that she was really getting too much.

For me it is less about the money spent and more about what they want (and what won't clutter up the house too much ). I also tend not to buy expensive things new.

I'm spending a lot of money on DH for his 30th which is on Boxing Day - but again only because what I want to get him is expensive, rather than because I went out with an aim to spend X amount.

Our gifts also include things they would have gotten anyway (e.g. clothes, books...) and we aren't ones to constantly buy them stuff during the year so I don't have an issue with spending a bit more (esp if it is things they need) over Xmas. Excessive volume of gifts does bother me but it is hard to know what is too much sometimes My biggest concern at the moment is my eldest liking her gift and not being put off byt hte fact that her younger sister has the biggest (size) gift cos haivng the biggest one (of anything) is a constant topic of conversation at the moment

Yeah that's what I just said to DH (home miserable with hayfever). It's less at the amount of money spent and more at where to put all the stuff

Bags and guilt, you can imagine DH ah I was like ummm how much did you spend, he was like ohhh it was a bargain

Honestly TM I can't remember, some of the bigger items were wetsuits each (cause its so cold here I mean we had a fire on all weekend) Connor a punching bag, toys. It is sweet but $800 is a lot of money when we could of had another weeks holiday as a family for that amount. He does work hard



Men are funny creatures. I think they do it from love though, and how lucky are we to have husbands and fathers for our children like that. It also must be incredible hard for husbands and Dads that desperately want to go silly buying things for their kids but can't.

$115 incl Santa pressies. DD has a birthday soon afterwards too and will probably spend around $300 on that but just because I want a good adults sleeping bag that will last her ages rather than buying something cheaper she will grow out of quicker.

Ahhh remember we have a huge Attic

Poos about hayfever, its bad ah!!!

You guys have some very lucky children there
I think all up i spent $50...? I dunno really, but i know it was well under $100. But then i spent about that on DP and DP's parents as well.. He has so much already and I know he doesnt really understand the concept of christmas, so buying him ALOT of gifts? Well, i just dunno what message that sends him. Then his grandparents buy ALOT of things throughout the year for him.. And i hate the consumer push around this time of year.. Dont get me wrong, i love christmas for the giving.. But i refuse to give in to the buying part!

DS1 will be about $200 all up inc Santa presents cos at 13 he still believes possibly cos he thinks he will get more.
DS2 $130 inc Santa, but I'm doing some family stuff he will mostly use -Tree House and Pool.
DD $50 cos she loves cheap things luckily but again she is getting a Shrub Hut

DEX and I used to be terrible, I used to buy stuff all year and squirrel it away and then he would go shopping and we would spend hours and hours trying to get it all wrapped on Chritsmas Eve and there was just so much stuff.

The first year we separated we agreed to spend $200 on each of the kids and paid half each. Then he decided to buy the boys a new bike, a new cell phone and a PSP each just from him... talk about buying their love huh?

My parents are misers, spend maybe $20 on each kid.
DEX just has his Dad who gives them a $20 note each and his sisters who went a bit OTT when they had no kids but have calmed down heaps now.

Oh, and as an aside - my parents still give my brothers and I stockings from Santa every year

DS hasn't got anything big this year, I think the most expensive thing was mario kart that I got super cheap for $55!

I have kind of lost count of what he has got because we have to shop for two sets of overseas grandparents too, they just send us money to buy stuff with! Not looking forward to wrapping it all xmas eve!

Oh, in fact he does have a big thing, we are wrapping up his tickets for the How to tame your Dragon show! Which cost a small fortune!

Last count we had spent just over $500 *faint*

About USD80 for DD1 (4 years) and USD10 for DD2 (8 months). Feel a little guilty about the disparity but see no point getting extra baby toys when DD1's are all in perfectly good order. Thought I might wrap up a couple of DD1's baby toys for DD2 (the ones I haven't brought out of storage yet - which DD1 hasn't seen in a couple of years and hopefully won't remember!).

DS got a swingset for his Birthday and Xmas combined so he just has his new Xmas Eve PJ's, a DVD, matchbox cars and some lolls in his santa sack.

I also brought a slot car set off a 1 day site for him and DH to open on Xmas Day that DH has no idea about. I cant wait to see their faces when they open it and start playing

Miss B doesnt have anything as yet, I was thinking a new outfit for Xmas day but other than that She just doesnt need anything.

I think about $150 on each of the kids. We had a layby that we've been paying off since June so it was spread out. We also have a layby of 5 or 6 board games as a family present. DS got a 2nd hand kids drum kit for $100 on ebay and DD is going to Melbourne as part of her present so she got mostly smaller things and some books.

I wanted to avoid toys that would go out of fashion by Boxing Day so I've bought art supplies and books mainly. The only thing I did buy that I was a bit about was a transformers costume for DS that was way overpriced for what it is, but it was his one thing on his Santa list and he really, really, wanted it. He's been asking me if Santa's elves have been knitting him his costume at the North Pole lol.

I agree with this. If my kids can have one day of the year where all their wishes come true, then I will try to do that for them. I've spent way *too* much probably on them but then I am getting a HOT TUB/SPA POOL from my wonderful DH this year so I can't begrudge the kids a wee bit of spoiling too.

We have spent a lot. DD1 is getting some pretty major gifts that probably will total $1k all up, but one is concert tickets for the both of us. The other big ticket item will be used for school next year.
DS is getting quite a few bits and pieces that probably total about $200? DD2 is probably the same. We have bought her a Kettler trike but I think she's still too young so will save that for her birthday in April. Major pressie for her is the wooden kitchen I got at Kmart.

Dh likes to spoil his kids too and is known to say "I don't think we've got them enough" a few days before Xmas and then go out and spend more money

$69au on one of them and $70 on the other, which is several cool things each and they'll have a great xmas & be happy. Aside from anything else I have no idea where I would PUT everything if we spent hundreds on them every year!

We have got the kids an XBox Kinect and a board game as a joint pressie. Then other than that, we have spent about $100 each on Santa stuff, but Santa brings undies, and pencil cases and jandals and other needments mostly so we would have had to spend that anyway.

Probably about $300 each?
One big one worth about $200 each then lots of small things from Santa (DS; school bag, bey blades, lego, water canon etc and DD; tea-set, duvet, togs, bubble maker etc)...

More than we ever have before but it's been a 2 year project to get them a tramp, they are getting very little else.

This will be us next year! The girls are getting a tramp which costs about $500-600 I think (we wanted a proper one, not those cheap Asian made ones) but we can laybuy from August and the inlaws plus my dad will put some in. We'll still be paying the bulk of it though so they'll get their stockings and one present under the tree and that will be it.

I don't care what people spend on their kids at Xmas IF they can afford it. IMO no sense spendings hundreds if you're going to spend the next 6-12mths paying it off on the visa.

I've spent about $100 on each including Santa presents, but on top of that they also get a Zoku popsicle maker and character set to share (another $100 between them).

I've spent about $60 on DD, including stocking fillers.

Feeling stink as my mum and dad and grandparents would spend that and more on her.

Don't feel stink Sarah, nobody is counting, least of all your daughter! At that age I hardly ever did presents for my girls at all, it wasn't like they needed more stuff!

Aww, dont feel stink!! Izzys grandparents will spend HEAPS on him Its their choice!!

and you know, i don't think its about how much you spend but the whole spirit of the day. it's definitely not just about how much you spent!

Yep.
There are years where we have spent very little, and years we have spent a lot.

We usually get DS one large present and then a couple of really small things (from santa) this year we probably spent about $150ish maybe $200

Don't feel bad SJM. The best pressies I got my kids was the year I picked up a thomas train set for $20 for DS and a Dora the explorer play set for DD for about the same. I don't usually spend more than about $50 each, as I can't afford it. Been lucky this year. Got DS the PSP he really wanted for $50 second hand. DD wanted a cell phone, and the one she wanted was only $100.

Man, I agree, who cares how much you spend. Our kids are at an age where they won't have any idea what is going on anyway.
We had am early family christmas on the weekend and Becky couldn't have cared less what was going on. The wrapping paper was the big hit of the day!

It'd not what you spend, but the love and thought behind it.

And actually poor old Becks is getting presents that the big girls will probably love and end up using more! Poor third child.

Just spent another $36 on a combined present, should get off this computer...

I'm already thinking of more stuff I want to get my girls but they might get money from my nana, so will use that instead.

No idea Got stuff I wanted to get her and she wanted.


Sarahsmummy, I hardly got anything at all for Lily's first 2 xmases. she didn't want or need anything, and the inlaws got her plenty - it really doesn't matter, she just needs what she already has from you, a mummy who loves her so much

Same here... have no idea at all! Just know that it's things that she wanted/needed so should be happy.

DD did say to me in the car yesterday after visiting Santa that she won't cry if Santa doesn't bring what she has asked for and that she will like whatever he brings her....

I don't know how much I've spent, but its not a huge amount..and its been spread over several months. I got ds3 (2) a running bike, but I'm concerned it might be too big, and wonder if I should keep it aside until his birthday in February...? He is getting one of those car road mat things, and that will keep him happy for hours!

As for the bigger kids, no big gifts this year... little things like books, puzzles...I need to get dd some shortie pajamas.

I have tried not to go OTT with stocking gifts either - in the past I've filled up stockings with lots of crap, and it doesn't get played with, so have just got a tree deco each, some toys from Trade Aid (spinning tops and the like) a wire bubble blower and some chocolate coins (tradition ) and some little star cookies from the local cafe. Oh, and for dd a little necklace and hair bobbles.

All up I've spent about $160 on the kids total, so that's for all 3 including Santa. I did a lot of shopping earlier in the year and got heaps on super special/clearance deals. I've also tried to keep it fairly simple for all the kids.

Its DD's birthday the day before and we've decided to focus on birthdays for really special presents. She's getting some goldfish in a tank, a weird dog thing that moves and a second hand Buzz Lightyear (if it arrives in time )

We were thinking of maybe getting a trampoline but I haven't done anything about it. So we might look at doing something like that in the new year maybe. I can't decide between buying a normal one or springfree, the latter seems so expensive. And whether they'd use one.

mmm not sure maybe $150 all up? Maybe a bit more, don't really keep track. But now reading alot of what you have written I've remembered what I have forgotten ie a Xmas Day outfit. Might make that DH's task when he's out getting MY present which will be on Saturday no doubt haha.

He'll think that is pretty cool buying her a special dress.

Absolutely! Spending a lot doesn't mean a happier day for the kids. We've had years where we've spent a lot and others where we've spent very little and the kids enjoyed Xmas just as much.

lol I never add it all up because I squirrel away all year in the sales. I never had great Christmases growing up as my parents arent really into it all so I over compensate with the kids. Its one day where they look forward to all year and it super exciting for them so I make it special! We also have traditions as a family so its not just about presents. BUT it is Christmas and they do expect presents - just as you would on your birthday. I dont think its fair to be a miser on such a special day If you shop wise then you get great bargains!!! Id hate to add it all up, because I have been shopping all year, and my mother in the South Is sent $$ to get them something (trampoline) so they will be super excited come christmas day.

As an aside - they have been cleaning out hings they have outgrown and we have donated those to families less fortunate and also done the school giving tree and Kmart wishing tree. They are fortunate - as opposed to spoilt. There is a difference!

Kiwimum - when looking at tramps don't forget to check the weight limits on them. Most of the cheapie ones only have a limit of 80-100kgs.
The one our girls will be getting has a 220kg limit which means both DH and I and both girls can be on it and feel safe. They actually tested the tramp with 6 grown adults (say average weight 80kgs each to 480kgs) and they had no trouble at all.

We got a regular tramp, $25 off Trade Me....best money I ever spent. No pads or sides or anything, and nobody has fallen off it yet. (Not even Mr 2.5)

I go all out for my kids and always have. Not that it matters but in my case, the kids only have me, 1 set of grandparents and one uncle to buy for them so I am a major overcompensater.
I love love love giving my kids what their hearts desire at Christmas and birthdays. I almost get more excited than them! My stepdad and others critisize my spending and I don't care one iota. If they want to be frugal that's entirely up to them. Everyone has their reasons for what they do and how they do it - it is what it is.

My kids are way older too so while your kids may be asking (or not) for lego and Barbie mine are asking for Ipads and cell phones, yanno?

We also have a family tradition of watching Polar Express on Christmas Eve which we love and do every year.

Obviously it is a lot harder for me now on one income but in saying that, my daughter who works full time has gone halvsies with me on a few gifts for my boy which has helped heaps.

Thanks for that Bekkaz, I will check it out. What brand are you getting? I find it really hard when reading about them all as they all make them sound fabulous?



Our Christmas is a bit spread out this year which is kind of nice otherwise the kids get all these gifts in a short space of time and I don't think they appreciate it so much.

We try to get a balance between the excitement of gift giving but also that what is important is remembering Jesus birth and spending time with family.

This is the one we'll be getting: http://nztramps.co.nz/product_detail.php?products_id=6

We have the same, got it when the kids were 10, 7, 5 & 5months they're now 16, 13, 11, 5 & 4 ... although I have to admit we're not doing quite as well as you, we've had two kids fall off but no injuries!

Feel like a bit of a grinch reading this thread, I think I'll spend around $75 on each of the wee ones, the older ones $75-100

DSS1 is saving for a car so he gets $100 towards that but won't actually get the money as DP workes in car sales so will just put the $ towards it once he's found the right one.

I'm a bit the opposite to a lot of people on this thread. We had very extravagant Christmas's as children I shudder to think now how much my parents (really my Mum) must have spent.

I was a bit spoilt as a kid and I don't think it did me any good, just hope I don't go to far in the other direction with my own kids!

I don't think so, Jozie. At the time, I was probably a bit huffy about not getting a Cabbage Patch Kid, or whatever was 'in' at the time, but looking back, its the rituals and traditions I have the fondest memories of....things like reading the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve, hanging up stockings, getting up early to get the little treats out of those (I think I enjoyed that more than the big presents, really) and then the most excellent feast, hanging out as a family and all that.

I hope my kids enjoy those sorts of memories as they grow as well.

Yup, the food is the part I remember most fondly nom nom , and relaxing at home all day, playing with my sisters and having our whole family together.

My grandmothers trifle is my fav Christmas treat, she passed away this year so really looking forward to getting into the kitchen and making a trifle to her recipe.

I haven't spent a heap on my kids this year. They'll have presents to open etc and they'll get things from their rellies but there is more than just presents and how much to spend.

There were some things I always wanted but never got... a bicycle (parents thought it was too dangerous), barbie furniture (ended up being creative and making my own), various other blink and miss type toys.

I think this year DS will be the most disappointed as he has a long list of 'stuff' which I suspect is quite peer influenced so it will be interesting to see how he handles it. We've had talks about how we don't get everything we want at Christmas so hopefully that has helped. Maybe.

Not as much as I usually do cos I was super slack this year and now have 4 shopping days left

Hardly slack, RG, you have had an incredibly rough time with DH and then you needing medical stuff done!

Kathmandu have a sale on at the moment, Im sure you could pick one up for a reasonable price.

I'd like to start some Xmas traditions with my kids apart from the usual getting the tree and decorating the house. What do others do?

Starting this year is our wishing tree visit (I have done it for years, but this will be Lily's first one where she chooses a gift).

Last year was our first, and tonight our second year of visiting santas grotto in Howick.

Starting this year, visiting the local xmas heirloom company and choosing a new ornament for her tree.

We have a few activities as part of our magic calendar, though some of them only have a life as longas the santa belief - writing santa a letter, going to smith and caughey santa etc

We started some traditions last year and the year before, we let the kids unwrap one pressie Christmas Eve, and funnily enough, its a new pair of jammies lol, so they put those on, and we make popcorn and watch a Christmas movie, we only have The Polar Express so its that unless there is something on tv not ending too late, then they head off to bed.

Christmas morning is the same as it was in my household when I was a child, stockings first up, then breakfast, then presents from under the tree. As a kid I used to hate that Dad made us wait till after breakfast to open them, and he ALWAYS made a cooked breakfast so no scoffing quickly some toast lol, but as an adult now I see his wisdom. Once the presents are open, that's it, they are no more lol, so he was trying to eek the excitement out as much as possible (and quite probably trying to torture us a wee bit too lol).

Oh I also buy the kids a tree ornament every year, and put their initial and year on it, so when they leave home they have a tree full of ornaments, and they must use them, even if it doesn't match their wife's theme.

I don't have a single present related Xmas memory from my childhood, so it's definitely about the traditions in our house I do clearly remember telling my parents that if I got a cabbage patch doll I would NEVER want another toy ever, and fully believing it I got one - wasn't Xmas though lol.

My fave tradition is every year I've bought each child a Xmas story book (Seuss grinch, slinky Malinki tinsel tangles etc) and they open that present on Xmas eve. They have a good collection of Xmas books now (8 years + 5 years worth) and every night in December we have hot cocoa out of our Xmas mugs while reading a Xmas story under the tree
I always make stollen on Xmas eve which we eat in lieu of Xmas cake, and during dec we usually drive/walk around neighbourhood Xmas lights and bake gingerbread cookies to decorate at some point (or several points, lol).
I have Xmas everything - tea towels, plates, cups, etc which all get used for the month of dec.
So yeah, apparently it turns out I'm stingy on presents (I never knew that til this thread ) but we have Xmas spirit galore : D

we don't have my oldest back until 2pm so we only let our kids open ONE present in the morning this year it will be none, we will reveal the trampoline, and also show T his 'new' room (same old room but with new furniture and some things i have made). in the past we've tried not to do anything because i don;t like the thought of ds missing out BUT this year we are going to do a cooked breakfast on the bbq - maybe dh and i will give gifts to each other - just chill as a family before the mania (which i love!!) of the day am hoping that we're able to enjoy it and do it every year.

we give to others as well but i don't want that to be a tradition, to me a tradition is something you do every year just because thats what you always do; i don't want giving to become mindless, i want them to give because it's the right thing to do and because they want to, not because they feel like they should because, you know, thats what we do. ITMS?

I really don't know how much I've spent as I've been collecting stuff for a while, grabbing things when I see a good deal eg My Little Ponys for $5, some fancy Crayola colouring books 1/2 price, and I've also been getting dress ups as the main presents and have gotten a lot of stuff from second hand places, and the things that I have bought new the most expensive was about $12. There are quite a few things so I'm sure its all added up but I really don't know how much that amount would be. Just out of interest I should've kept track of all the receipts.

As for traditional things I buy the kids a decoration each year for them to take with them when they leave home and I take a photo and I have a note book for each of the girls and I stick the photo in there and write the year so I can keep track of what belongs to who.

On Xmas Eve we get to open a present which contains new sleepwear and we get to wake up on Christmas morning and have the opening of the stockings in our new PJ's. (Santa brings clothes for the kids to wear Christmas Day).

The girls have a photo taken with Santa. Done it at Harvey Norman this year and the kids were really good and were quite happy to sit on his knee for it.

Kids have their own Xmas tree (the top of our old tree which broke) and they are allowed it in their bedroom and they can touch it as much as they like, but they are not allowed to touch my Xmas tree.

I also like reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve.

I think about $100 which is 5 Cars 2 diecasts, a Transformer (plus packet of Transformers plasters - he's obsessed with plasters!), some giraffes for his wooden safari set. These are all from Santa, for his stocking.

Although truthfully that's not all we spent...but it was over 3 years ago that I paid for a massive Playmobil Hospital Set which he's getting from us...thank you to Missus for finding it and her parents for dragging it back to NZ! Seeing as it was so long ago that I paid for it, I'm not counting that cost for 2011!

I've bought Josh an ornament for each year since his birth, actually I'd never considered giving them to him when he leaves home (), but what a cool idea!

We have some traditions - always visiting the local houses with Christmas lights, watching The Polar Express as a family, making paper chains, making sugar cookies to put out for Santa and decorating them, etc etc. Pretty standard I think

Some lovely xmas tradition ideas here. I love the xmas story one under the tree

This year we went to see a way over the top xmas light display at a house down the mountain and made xmas cookies and salt dough decorations. Not sure what I'll carry on into next year as a regular thing though. This is our first year alone for xmas away from family (sniff sniff) so we're working out our own new way to do xmas day.

For me growing up I remember a road trip I took with my grandparents when I was 9 (so just after mum died) around the east coast. My nana's husband asked me if I remembered that trip and what we had for christmas dinner I sure did! Corned beef stew, then microwave steamed pud with custard It was the best christmas ever, but my nana hated it because they couldnt afford more

As for traditions: I never really had any growing up. I know my mother was poor and a few christmasses almost went unnoticed and we had a sallies come along. I got one of my favorite dolls from them These days I love signing carols so I want to try to find a church that does a midnight mass so I can sing carols.. I did that every year with DEX and it was the best part of christmas for me.

Thing I remember most is a cot mum and dad got for my baby doll, they had got it from someone else and had it all cleaned up for me, but I didn't find that out for ages, but even when I did, it didn't matter, the finding it on xmas morning and thinking santa had bought it was the best! Also remember staying with Gran the night before too and going to midnight mass.

Traditions so far are a nice breakfast (me and hubby always done that) and AJ gets to pick a decoration each year. also still have his hand made ones kindy too! I don't care about colour co-ordinating my tree Oh and we always take him out with one of us to pick the other parent an xmas gift.

I have done kmart tree last few years, but didnt think to involve him actually... good idea! Although this year school did a collection for the sallies and asked for gifts, so he did that.

Oh and PNP video too is a yearly ritual...

I have spent more than I should have - maybe all up about $180 on presents - a big set of acrylic paints & paint brushes, stationary from Smiggle, some blocks, a basketball & a sticker book, and a T-shirt and jandals from a surf shop place.

Also about another $700ish on a holiday - flights, a couple of nights in a camping ground bach thing up north, a snorkle experience at Goat Island Marine Reserve (PLEASE PLEASE let it be sunny in Leigh just after Christmas!)

Blew the budget but going to be worth it!!

wow QueenK, thats an awesome xmas present for you both.

I probably spent about $400 all up on the 2 kids? maybe a bit more, bike each and then big stockings full of the things they have been wishing for (lots of Cars2 diecasts here as well!)

The things I remember most about xmas' past is all the lolly/chocolates in our stockings that had no restrictions . Showing mum and Dad everything Santa had brought us (and getting it all in and out of the stocking x10) and then family arriving and chilling out together. Although I do remember some cool presents, they aren't the highlights!

^^I think you forgot something C.....

Wow K, that is going to be so much fun! You guys will have a blast (and I'm jealous).

I have spent too much . Wrapped presents today and probably $150 on DS. Ah well, he's far too cute and easy to spoil

me?? do you mean their super cool playhouse?? lol, yeah but they have had it a week already, so not such a xmas present

hehehe, yep the super cool playhouse. Not a xmas pressie eh

TOTALLY! Growing up, we had stockings first, then the rest of the presents AFTER LUNCH. And yes, at the time it WAS torture, in a good natured kind of way. I remember the anticipation.... we actually would do presents between mains and dessert, so it wasn't as bad as all that.

But yes, I think it was brilliant, and I've insisted on that tradition in our house too.

The other thing that we did was that someone (my grandfather usually) would hand out each person's gift, say who it was from, everyone could 'oooh' and 'aaah' as they opened it... they recipient could thank the giver properly etc. I was horrified one Christmas I spent with dh's family in which the gift part was simply and orgy of ripping paper, and it was hard to keep track of what was from who. I really didn't like it. I like my tradition because I think it models good behaviour - appreciating that someone has taken time and $ to give you that gift, showing gratitude...and its more exciting for the person GIVING the gift too.... because everyone can enjoy the recipients appreciation of the gift.

Our traditions - so far its going out to see the lights - Franklin Road, plus whatever other ones we find. Also, MOTAT has done a Christmas thing on the weekends where they light up the Victorian village, so we'll do that again this year.

I have taken over the trifle making from my Mum too.... last year I underestimated how much the sherry had soaked the sponge, and just kept pouring it in...honestly, I think it was 2/3 of a bottle of sherry...you could smell it across the room My SILs are insisting I make it to the same specifications this year.

Christmas "traditions" - not sure if they are traditions as such as we are flexible each year and so don't necessarily do all of these, but most: the PNP video, lots of Christmas stories (I wanted to do the Christmas book advent calendar but started too late and don't have enough books yet! http://babyccinokids.com/blog/2009/11/29/christmas-book-advent-calendar/ ), go into Southbank to see a ballet or show and then walk across the bridge over the river to see the Myer windows and visit Santa, my kids decorate the tree themselves each year with their kindy/school made decorations and they also get to choose a special Christmas decoration each when we go on a date together (just me and them alone), we set up a Christmas train under the tree too. We went out a couple of nights ago to see Christmas lights and stumbled upon a property where you get out of your car and walk in, was incredible. Complete with music, a snow machine, and buttons you could press to activate parts of the 'show'. (My girls kept asking if they could please go on some rides, ha ha.) We've been dancing and singing about "going on the nice list!" as we clean up after ourselves lately, we do Santa photos each year (so awesome to see them grow through those!). At school and kindy, both have had stalls to buy their own presents so they've both had an afternoon of wrapping the presents they chose and bought (so funny as at this age, they just want to show you the presents NOW hee hee). Today they found a letter from Santa addressed to each of them in the letterbox, and tomorrow we have a family date to see Arthur Christmas and do the sushi train. (Sushi's often green around the outside. That's Christmassy, right?)

Far to much maybe $1000 but we have a bike from Santa which is $550

havent spent that much on DD- maybe $100 or there abouts? and a lot of that is stuff that is useful and not toys- stuff that id have to get her anyway in the new year(her birthday is 6th Jan so no prezzies until end of next year after that, and she is only 1 so might as well wrap up the new shoes, next years cute winter hat, a dress to wear on her birthday etc she needs so she can play with the paper lol) so it looks like she has heaps of prezzies, but very few of them are actually toys. and i figure being the first grandchild/great granchild she is bound to get SPOILT by everyone else so no need for me to do it! hehe.

as for traditions, its interesting how now im grown up, its not the presents i remember, but the things we did together as a family. every year (while Dad was alive anyways) me and my sister would put up the tree with Dad, thant was our "special Dad thing" we did and christmas eve Mum would help us put out Santas cookies and a beer (which of course would always be half gone by morning) and sometimes wed make a thank you card for santa for our presents, and we would put out carrots and water for ther reindeer, in the morning wed go outside to see if theyd been and the carrots always had a huge bite out of them and the water had glitter in it- ABSOLUTE PROOF in my eyes that they had been as the "flying dust" had fallen off their antlers into the water while they had a drink lol, that was my explanation anyways. those things even then were the fun bits of christmas when i look back, presents were great, but the family time was what was awesome then there was boxing day, wed always get up really early, when it was still dark and go to the coromandel and camp for a week or so.. i always found it harder to get to sleep christmas night than christmas eve it was so exciting! lol.

yeah, actually, this happens at my parents house and i am torn. i remember the wrapping paper orgy being heaps of fun when i was a kid - my fav part! but as an adult, i see my kids unwrap one thing after another - they don't care who it's from, and they don't thank, and they just toss it on the floor and there are three of them and six or seven kids and it all gets muddled and it's sooo... odd? BUT, i dunno. my parents house, their rules.

at home we open one present at a time and ooh and ahh over it (or, you know, laugh ) and then the next person takes their turn. dh's family do very small numbers of gifts, like, one or two per child, so theres no worry about keeping track (my parents do the overboard thing which i don't mind either ).

We have spent about $100 each on the big boys, less on the Tiny Terrorist but they've had a playhouse year before last and a trampoline last year so this year we have different priorities.
We always opened our gifts on Mum's bed early, then we went to Mass and spent the rest of the day with our extended family, so we would leave our presents at home. We used to go to the beach on Boxing Day, so sometimes it was New Years before we got to play with anything. I just remember Mass, my cousins and mountains and mountains of food
I really struggle with DH's family version of Christmas which is sitting at the table with the best china. Very alien to me!

i'm all for delayed gratification too! We have santa stockings on wake up.

Then as a child we would go to church come home have mince pies then it was present opening time.

It was nice, because it meant you were going and celebrating the"real" meaning of christmas before the presents. I really like that, I keep to that tradition somewhat. My church going is haphazard, and we are often at a different families house each year and each does it differently. With my mum its the same, with my dad they did it after breakfast, with other family members I made them wait for ages, and I think its fun to wait and the excitement.

We are at my BIL this year and I think it will be all over before breakkie kind of affiar there...

but we will open most presents before we leave on Wednesday anyway - not carting them all over!

At my grandparents house when there were cousins everywhere, all the kids had to go and sit in a spot. And then everyone including the adults would all get one gift and all open them at the same time, thank yous all exchanged and then the next round would start - it would just be far too long if it was done one gift at a time.

I tend to leave my presents all in a pile and watch the kids open theirs and ensure the appropriate thank yous are given.

This is what happened in our house as a kid too when we had family over, I usually got to do the handing out but everyone did open their gifts, say thanks etc and everyone knew what everyone had got. Bit sad we don't have that happening here as its just us three, so we take it in turns to open a pressy, but it gets to the stage where its just AJ with a pile left! He does have to phone grandparents and thank them though!

Hmmm but when I did some research recently on buying a trampoline there were quite a few people saying that the ones with the higher weight limit had no bounce for the littlies because the springs were so strong. I'm thinking it wouldn't be a problem with a good brand? But definitely the cheapies.
Just a thought.....

Did he wear a Santa hat? My grandad did And we still say 'who is going to be Grandy this year?'

Ohhhh, I am totally stealing this one

That's very interesting. I might take my niece and nephew to the place to jump on the tramps and see what the bounce is like. Thanks

We have done this in the past too.

My DH also went to the trouble of collecting possum poo and distributing it as proof of the reindeer !

Christmas is so magic, and I am a little sad that my youngest is past believing anymore

DH asked one year why there was no beer top by the empty beer bottle so the next year there was lol.

I have heard of people doing foot prints using talcum powder.

My sister dried some grass one year and put it in a box.

Usually we just did Christmas mince pies.

The kids were all stressed out because they brought 'magic reindeer food' home from school with instructions to sprinkle it on the lawn for the reindeer, and we don't have a lawn! Housesitting somewhere with a lawn now, so phew, crisis averted

My BIL & SIL done this a couple of years ago for their kids, they were amazed! Its great to see so many people go all out to make christmas magical.

My neice is now old enough to question whether it's wise to give Santa beer as he still has a lot of travelling to do!

We always left out milk & cookies, milk would always be gone & Santa would leve behind some crumbs.

We make the kids shout up the chimney to Father Christmas before they go to bed, just to ask him to stop at their house and bring some presents. We leave a mince pie, a carrot, a bowl of water and a nip of something for the reindeer & FC. Then in the morning the kids have to come into our bed and sing us a christmas carol before they are allowed to go and see if Santa has visited. Then they do stockings first, then gifts get handed out one by one. I hate the feeding frenzy!

oh and one year my mum went all out and actually ran around the house in the dark and jingled some little bells so wed think the reindeer sleigh was on its way and we had to go straight to bed or santa wouldnt land on our house! tell ya what i dont think ive ever got into bed so fast! my mum loved doing all that for us.. i bet the neighbours thought she was a bit mad tho

cant wait for next christmas when DD is 2 years old and can appreciate the magic more

We used to just open the presents in a free for all in our house but DH's extended family all sit around and one person (usually the youngest kid) hands them out and reads the card on them. The first few years it was absolute torture for me. A present would be read out then handed to me and I'd have 28 pairs of eyes staring at me while I opened it. I never knew if my reaction was the right one.

In our family we do the same though and I think it's nice to slow down and see what each person has been given.

Oh yes, carrots, footprints, glittery reindeer food! Love the glitter in the water too. Man, Christmas is just so much fun!!

That's the one thing I hate about opening presents!! "Do I need to look more excited?" "Can they see the dissapointment on my face?" !! I love the one by one though, we've always done it. First year with my DH family was a bit of a free for all and it didn't feel right! It's nice to take your time.

When we were kids we'd always have a "santa" and they'd hand out the gifts, we got a turn each year.

I love christmas!! I still wake up early buzzing with excitement. Such a kid.

We don't do one by one as such but it's not a free for all either.
I let the kids (and us if there's one) open presents at the same time from the same person ie they open gifts from us at the same time, they open their presents from each other at the same time etc.
We have only had small Christmases so far though so I don't know how a big gathering would be run.

And whether people think my boys are spoilt - after the past year we have had - they damn well deserve it and some

Traditions

We buy the kids a new ornament every year and put their initials on so they can have them when they leave home

We bake christmas goodies and ice cookies and get right into decorating the house christmas christmas style yeah its fun and bright and cheery love it

We also plan the "Santa" prank and runway etc for our youngest son and 10 year old (who is clinging to the "Santa" story by his fingernails - but who cares ) and its quite cool that DS aged 12 is on it this year too

We go looking at the houses lit up with Christmas lights - some cool ones we have seen this year but nothing like NZ where streets of houses were lit up - must just be where we are living I suppose

Oh and I buy the kids a new beach towel each year -cool my mum did this for us

Oh and I drag them out to Midnight Mass every year cos I like it - Conversation in car on Saturday - Boys we are going to Midnight Service at local church on Christmas Eve - MOAN GROAN etc - DH said pardon boys - they replied "Oh we would love to come Mum"

Oh and Christmas morning - cooked brekkie mmmmm then late lunch but this is one of two days a year that if the children choose to eat chocolate for breakfast they can - no dramas as they tend to realise its not a hearty meal replacement


And every year at Christmas I may not give to the Salvation Army or charity but I try to make someone's life a little better in one way or another - cos I can and cos I enjoy it

So anyway Merry Christmas everyone

Me too

Ohh dd made reindeer food at school too. I love the glitter in the water idea.

We have a little jar for teeth for the tooth fairy, and the tooth fairy leaves little star glitter sprinkles with the money.

Lovely to read all the family traditions.

For any people doing a pre xmas toy clear out - we took a bag of pre loved toys to the mothers and babies unit at the hospital (checked they wanted them first) and they were very appreciative.

I haven't added it up. DS is getting freebies from Huggies and also for his birthday in Feb. DD is getting a balance bike but this will soon go to DS as DD has a proper bike already and I'm hoping the balance bike will help with her confidence. I can't wait for DD to open her stocking this year. First Christmas that she's got one.

Great traditions as well. The reindeer one is very cute!

Traditional things we do:
Everyone gets new clothes to wear on the day (usually from Kmart).
One small gift opened on Christmas Eve.
One new decoration each (which we'll get tonight)


I've been thinking about what we've got the kids, and I know that they will be happy with what we've got them (we got what they asked for).. but I'm kind of sad because I know it's going to be overshadowed by the Tramp that the outlaws have got them... which kind of bums me out, because I tried really hard this year to make sure that I was able to come thru for them... probably sounds a bit selfish I want to be the one who fulfills their wishlist not the outlaws.. (not even sure that makes sense!)

nah I know what you mean Mel - I feel a tad ripped off that Santa will get all the credit for all the cool stuff ;-)

See, you n eed to make it clear that you have to pay santa, that way santa is cool, but so are mummy and daddy!

I don't have a problem at all with Santa getting "the credit" for any gifts. I just love the wonder and excitement on their faces as they unwrap their presents. I love their joy

Getting excited now, did the wrapping today! Not sure on how we will 'do' the swingset, DH needs to put it together, lol.

ditto we do this too.
we dont do presents other than a token box of choccies etc for extended family -just immediate and grandparetns - i post to my sister and brother and them me
how much have i spent -mmm not to bad got a trap $250, about $60 each child incld stockings......but then ds went and won $200 worth of toyworld stuff so #1DS will feel a bit ummm left out lol, i've made #2 promise to get #1 something cool like proper soccer goals etc etc

haha yeah santa gets all the credit here too - otherwise my i dont have enough money sweetheart just wouldnt fly - how can mum be richer than santa
my kids arent going to know what hit them $200 at toyworld is more than double what they've allready got lol...then add on aunties 3lots of g/parents etc
my mum was here tonight googling ipod touches for #1DS but we managed to talk ourselves out of it - lol i was looking at it going man i want one for MEEE not him hehe

OMG, DS has won 200 bucks of toys - how? Does he get to choose them, or are they preselected?

that's awesome cadium! He'll have a tough time deciding how to spend it I'm sure!

a radio competition where they were taken to toyworld by the radio host and allowed to go nuts in the shop - it was b4 it opened to the public....and could get $200 worth of stuff -including anything on sale etc etc. needless to say he headed str8 for the lego section and we now have A LOT OF LEGO - total win - he however didn't get his brother a soccer goal or anything for that matter lol -on live radio he tricked me..and well i didnt wanna come across as the grinch lol.

Oh cool prize! Grr to tricking you though and not coming through for his brother