Self-control

Stewartandmaura

I am having a hard time controlling myself Christmas shopping for E.  I want to buy everything I see that she may like. I keep telling myself we are finished shopping for her, but it's really hard not to pick up a few more things every time I am out.

How many presents will your LO have on Christmas morning?

How do you keep yourself in check? 

 

 

stardust317

I'm not very good at selfcontrol either. DH and I went Christmas shopping yesterday, and I bought something for DD everywhere we went. I don't know why....I just can't help it....

LCass

My family's tradition was always one big present and 7 small ones for Hannukah.  Lily's big present is the play kitchen DH has been building for her (and some play food to go with it, but we won't have that until much later in December) and then we've got some dollar store puzzles and a dreidel and I'm going to pick up a couple more board books and a colouring book for her.  I know that the grandparents are also going to give her a bunch of presents for Hannukah and Christmas.

CMonkey515

I stink at self control too when it comes to DS. My original plan was to get 3 gifts and a few small stocking stuffers, like socks and a few small books. I mean, he doesn't know or care, and he'll get plenty from the relatives. I ended up with about 6 main gifts, and so many stocking stuffers I doubt they'll all fit. I have to learn some self control by next year though. I really don't want DS to think Christmas is all about gifts. So far I'm failing at that concept.

nittanyllama

I can totally relate. I want to buy him everything! I know he doesn't NEED more toys, but I see something and I just think how much he would love it. I also know he's getting a good bit of stuff from his grandmas, so I really need to cool it. Grandmas got him a play kitchen, basketball net, drum and other little instruments, wagon, books, and probably other things. So far I got him a dump truck, tug boat, bath stickies, fridge magnets, puzzles, a shape sorter, Play With Me Sesame on DVD, and a tunnel. I also want to get him a piano keyboard and a few other things. I need to stop!!!

jonnygurl76

I was don shopping in August but I still got them each a few more things.  I buy things I know they will love right now and then toys they will grow into over the year.  If you need to put a few things away until they are a little bigger or you want to have toys to trade out once they get bored then keep shopping, the deals are going on now!

HappyAardvark

I feel like a s hitty mom. I haven't bought wes anything. He still has toys from his bday he hasn't played with.

Maybe it's because I know that no matter what I spend our hard earned money on to get him, he'll probably still prefer playing with the ugly plastic watering can from the back porch, or bouncy skyball that he appropriated from the dog toy stash. Or find some other random thing around the house that's a million times more interesting to play with.

::shrug::

blu-eyedwife

I'm the worst.  We do presents every night of Channukah, and then one for Christmas - so 9 gifts total.  Well, then I realized we needed something from Santa - so 10 gifts.  But then I saw a train set he'd love, and a little blanket, and more and more.  He now has 16 gifts total, not counting his stocking.  So I think we're going to add some of his smaller gifts to his stocking. 

But I've had to be done with shopping since we started last night with Channukah.

scarlettoctober

Having a small budget really helps, although I think I ended up spending as much on our Goddaughter as I did DS. From us, he'll have 4 gifts and his stocking. We got him pj's, a small set of books, a toy laptop, and an ornament for the tree. Not sure what's going in the stocking yet.

Stewartandmaura

HappyAardvark:

I feel like a s hitty mom. I haven't bought wes anything. He still has toys from his bday he hasn't played with.

Maybe it's because I know that no matter what I spend our hard earned money on to get him, he'll probably still prefer playing with the ugly plastic watering can from the back porch, or bouncy skyball that he appropriated from the dog toy stash. Or find some other random thing around the house that's a million times more interesting to play with.

::shrug::

We are in the same predicament. E would rather pick up leaves outside and chase the dogs to pull their tails then play with any of her toys.

Yet I can't help but buy her "things i know she'll love". Yeah, right. It's more things I wish she would play with.

adge629

I am the same way. I keep buying my LO more and more gifts. It is all stuff that is educational (books, a vtech cube), bowls and plates, and bed sheets, plus some other odds and ends. 

pennysuedog

 

From us, each kid got 8 things from Santa this year and 4 gifts under the tree.  Plus they also get a certificate for their day out with mom and their day out with dad.

Elsa1984

Gator got a few things. On the 6th, we celebrated St Nicholas day and she got an apple, a small chocolate candy, and a bear for her Little People Talking Zoo. In her stocking, she is getting a Hippo for her Little People Talking Zoo, and like two German cookies. Under the tree, she is getting a Melissa and Doug knob farm puzzle and a cozy coupe we got off Craigslist that we are going to repaint.

I didn't want to go overboard because the only thing she really "plays" with is her Talking Zoo. She got a ton of gifts for her birthday and hardly touches them. I didn't want to get her a ton of items she won't play with. I am going to save the money on additional gifts and use it for around spring time on something big once she is a little older and more into playing.

LCass

pennysuedog:

 

From us, each kid got 8 things from Santa this year and 4 gifts under the tree.  Plus they also get a certificate for their day out with mom and their day out with dad.

I love this idea.  I remember you telling us about what Audrey chose for her day with you this past year.  So cute!  I told DH about it and we're going to steal your idea, hope you don't mind!

aml+japan

This is weird but L doesn't have nearly enough toys. She has TONS of clothes. Two boxes of handmedowns from her cousin, and ny side of the family sent only clothes for her birthday. Sometimes when I'm dressing her I feel sad that she doesn't have any outfits that I picked out, but I can't justify buying any more. As for toys, she has her cardboard house, a few stuffed animals, books, blocks, some toy food, and a box of little dollar store type things. That's all! Yet somehow she manages to keep herself entertained!

I haven't started Christmas shopping yet but I want to get her new shoes or boots, a potty, backpack, magnetic puzzle, a bathtub book, and maybe an Etchasketch type of thing. For her stocking there's a lunch kit for day care, markers and coloring book, and some realistic animal figures. Trying to think of more stuff.

Chunstad

I'm feeling like a bad Mom reading this, since all C has is two gifts under the tree. One of those was a box of blocks that he never got around opening on his birthday.  He's got Gerber puffs, crayons, and fruit pouches for his stocking.  I think that I would be more tempted to buy him stuff if I had a (paying) job.  It seems like most of C's stuff is hand-me-down.  His clothes, his toys, but he really doesn't care and I don't dress him in things that look stupid, have stains, or signs of wear.  To be honest with you, one of his favorite things to do is to open the tupperware drawer and empty the contents.

 

Elsa1984

Chunstad:

I'm feeling like a bad Mom reading this, since all C has is two gifts under the tree. One of those was a box of blocks that he never got around opening on his birthday.  He's got Gerber puffs, crayons, and fruit pouches for his stocking.  I think that I would be more tempted to buy him stuff if I had a (paying) job.  It seems like most of C's stuff is hand-me-down.  His clothes, his toys, but he really doesn't care and I don't dress him in things that look stupid, have stains, or signs of wear.  To be honest with you, one of his favorite things to do is to open the tupperware drawer and empty the contents.

 

we are kind of the same. I am not working and although we can afford to go all out, we just aren't. I don't feel right about going all out because she honestly doesn't care about toys and stuff. She would be perfectly happy to get a helium filled balloon for Christmas. We said no gifts at her birthday and still came home with literally, a truck bed full of toys. Her favorite thing (and the only thing she played with) was a helium filled balloon my uncle got her that was attached to her gift from him. She gets spoiled rotten from family members and gets hand me down toys from cousins. So I felt like getting more items was wasteful when it came to our funds. Andplusalso, we have a 900sq ft house and nowhere to put more toys or clothes. Honestly, I wish family would stop buying her so many things because of the lack of space and because I don't want her to grow up thinking Christmas is about gifts.  

Ms.Jade

We swore she would only get 3 gifts, but I've cheated a little with one of them. In addition to a handmade doll from Etsy, she's getting a Radio Flyer ride on toy and an art set which has several parts including a table and chairs. We're also stuffing a stocking with wooden cars, hair bows, balls and more TBD.