I am SUCH a mean mum. I’m not buying Christmas presents for my children.
No, it’s not because of the double sherbet dib dab recession, it’s not because we’re so poor that I’ve started bin-raiding (although I do buy cheap meat that’s about to go off) and it’s not that I’m a selfish cowbag.
I have three sisters. I have wonderful parents. I have extremely generous in-laws. That right there is a flurry of gifts that my lucky little girls just won’t know what to do with!
Toys toys toys
Everyone’s been very kind and made sure that they’re buying stuff that the girls need, which is extremely helpful.These little people have more toys than they know what to do with. So many toys that I regularly chuck a crap-tonne of them into a storage box and bring them out a couple of months later to be met with fresh rapture.
So while prowling the aisles of Tesco looking for some ridiculously over-sized neon waste of money, I decided: ‘Forget it!’. They are going to be quite spoiled enough, and they won’t know any different anyway. Jenny’s not even 2 and a half and Rosie’s just turned 8 months old.
I’ll make a big fuss and bankrupt myself when they’re a bit older.
Hung by the chimney with care
The only exception is a stocking.
My very talented sister Silvia (Anty Soov) has been gettin’ creative with her new sewing machine. As a result, my girls (and their cousin Lily) have got their very own, personalised red Christmas sacks. Just like my sisters and I had when we were tiny. They are awesome.
So I’m off to Tesco to buy small, cheap neon wastes of money to fill them with.
Are you buying presents for your little ones?
A lovely post. Thanks for the shout-out! xx
We love Anty Soov! xxx
I’ve forgotten how old your two are, but when mine were quite little we didn’t buy them Christmas presents either. I figured they would get so many presents from grandparents, cousins, aunties etc. that they wouldn’t know if we gave them one or not, and I was right. Now they’re older (5 and 6) they get presents from us, but I don’t see the point when they’re really little. I remember one year we just went round some charity shops and got them some bits and bobs from there. Which makes me sound like a right old Scrooge, but what did they care how much we’d spent?!
The sacks sound lovely btw.
Phew! I’m firm on my decision but it’s nice to hear I’m not the only one. The charity shop idea is a great one, I might hit them up this weekend!
I’ll post a pic of the sacks once they’ve been opened.
My daughter is two and a half. She has three sets of grandparents and two sets of aunts/uncles who will buy her more toys than she needs. Santa is bringing her a hot water bottle, a jigsaw and some chocolate buttons. Ho, ho, ho! (although, next year, he might have to get something more…)
Good on you! Yes I don’t think I’ll get away with this next year…
Did you see Lucy Mangan’s article on similar lines? Her son is about 1 I think, and she wasn’t going to get him any presents either. Her parents and sister were horrified though! I sent her a ‘you go girl’ tweet.
Oh no I wish I had! I would’ve linked it. My sister and I have been discussing this and we’re thinking of starting a ‘kitty’ for BIG presents like bikes/skates in the future. It’ll be met with disgust, no doubt