Christmas gifts equal betweeen children?

SallyAnneS · November 2012

Do you spend an equal amout of money and/or have an equal number of presents to open if you have 2 or more children?

I was talking to a few other moms yesterday that thought it was weird that my mom always spent an equal amount of money and had an equal number of gifts for my brother and I for Christmas. So if he asked for something expensive and I asked for less expensive things my mom would buy some how buy gifts to make sure it was all even monetarly and number of gifts wise for Christmas. The other moms I was talking to just go with what the kids want. So if one wants an ipod they get that 1 present and if they other wants legos and a cd then they get those 2 smaller presents.

With gift buying now that I am an adult I try and keep everything as even as possible between everyone I buy for. For example each set of parents get $100 spent on them, each neices gets $20 ect. And if I am randomly buying gifts during the year it is fair between siblings, a few weeks ago I saw a shirt that I just loved for ,y newphew so I got a shirt for his sister as well so she wouldn't feel left out.

Mrs.Hizzo · November 2012

Right now it's irrelevant. They're 18 months apart and mostly into the same things, so most gifts have both their names on them, since I assume they'll be sharing them. There are a few gifts meant for one or the other, and I try to make sure there is an even number of those. Later on when they have their own gifts, I'll base it on a dollar amount. If one kid wants an something really expensive, it will probably be the only thing he gets, and the other one would have lots more to open.

CiderWench · November 2012

We spend the same amount on our oldest two children (11 and 8) but a smaller amount on our 3-year old. They will still all have around the same number of presents under the tree/in their stockings though.

eaglesfan700 · November 2012

We spend about the same on both kids (4 and 3).

peacelove&mama · November 2012

We keep it pretty even in terms of cost and number of presents right now since they still ask for mostly toys and its easy to find comparable prices.

As they get older and ask for more expensive things, it will be equal in terms of money spent but not necessarily number of gifts depending on what they're asking for.

penguingrrl · November 2012

My mom and MIL always made sure to spend the same amount on the same number of packages for each kid. One year in HS ILs got DH a fancy keyboard, so since that was most of his budget they got a lego set and broke it into 4 boxes so he would have the same number of packages as his sisters. And his sister's husband and I get the same treatment as far as dollar amount and number of packages as the kids.

ridesbuttons · November 2012

We are keeping the number and general size/impact of the gifts equal.

Money, doesn't matter yet. DS1 is only 5. DS2 is 3.5 and probably doesn't care about numbers at all.

juliane2004 · November 2012

We do approximately the same amount of gifts. I don't purposely try to spend like double for one kid over the other, but I don't limit something based on cost. If that's what they want, and I can afford it, and if it's age appropriate, I'll get it. Mostly it's just keeping the quantity of gifts similar. This will be more important as they get older. I know my sister and I always compared "who got more".

Que*Syrah · November 2012

When we were little, and didn't understand about cost, my mom gave us an equal number of gifts so we both opened the same amount of stuff. As we got older and learned that some things are more expensive than others, she did equal dollar amounts.

jenniann87 · November 2012

Growing up my parents kept the amount of presents equal and as we got older kept the cost equal between my two brothers and I. As for how we are doing it with DS and my SS they are 9 years apart so it really doesnt matter. If SS wants something and we can afford it, he will more than likely get it. DS is still too young to care about present amounts and will probably be more interested in ripping the paper than anything else. But they will each get a few "big gifts" from Santa and then smaller gifts from my Fi and I. I will probably try and keep the present amount equal but wont stress over it.

lollitots · November 2012

For us it all depends on age. When they were younger we would just get what we thought they wanted. Now DD #1 (7, almost 8) is very much into "fair". She will count the bites each get if we split a muffin. I am sure she will count presents. So this year, I will make sure that there are equal number of gifts under the tree. However, she, and her sisters don't get equal value yet. When they are older I will probably spend the same $$ and not worry about equal number of gifts.

HBGroz6912 · November 2012

This is funny cause I am anal about this. Lol I have 3 kids ages 6, 3, and 10 months. I spend $200 each on them. I also try to have equal presents as well. Mainly the older two. I just think its fair. But some years are easier with one cause they need things. I noticed books (used) and $1 store items are good fillers. I know when the get older they will ask for things more expensive so then they will learn about money. But this yr I wanted to do a wii! So I put both names and got them each two games so they both were left with the same amount. My 6 and 10 month old have birthdays in Jan. So this is hard!

cactus5 · November 2012

Yes, I try to keep it fairly equal. My kids are young (1, 2, and 3), but I try to have an equal number of presents to open and equal "big presents" from Santa. Monetary value probably isn't exact right now, but I will try to keep it even as they get older and more aware. This is what my parents did when I was growing up and so it just seems fair to me.

My inlaws have a big Christmas each year and they are terrible with this. I am always really surprised about how uneven thier gifting is. Mostly this is with us adults, but I am dreading when the kids realize it when they get older.

rylen1kobe · November 2012

My kids are older, and they keep track of who gets what etc. I try my best to keep the dollar amount and number of presents equal. They are close in age, so usually they each want a big present that is around the same cost. Then from there we try and keep it even. As they get older it costs way too much money...its nuts!!

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