Oh my gosh!!!

I have been working in a toy store this past week and I can't believe the amount of money people are spending on their kids its is amazing I am talking 5-6 hundrad dollar's on each child. Some of the staff are spending heap's too. It has got me feeling pretty stink Alan and Mikey have had a combined total of about $200 spent on them.
I kinda feel stink . In saying that tho I don't think I would have spent much more on them anyway even if we had a bit more money. I am not into going over bored my Question is am I mean for not wanting or spending more on my boy's I jsut kinds feel like I SHOULD be spending more.
I guess this is a bit of a rant really.

I agree, if you get too much for your kids they'll be so overwhelmed they won't enjoy it anyway! I like to go for development-stretching activity type toys because they keep the interest for longer.

We're on a tight budget so over-spending on our kids just is not reasonable. This Christmas they are getting bangles, duplo, and a pull-toy shape sorter, and for Hannah's birthday she is getting a doll she can dress. Our kids have heaps of toys, mostly hand-me-downs, and they'll get more from grandparents/uncles and aunts as well (not heaps though).

Christmas should never be about how much money you spend...you're not a bad mum for not spending that much on your kids...you're a sensible one!! Imagine them having to deal with the credit card bills and debt after Christmas when then toys are probably just about forgotten a short time later!

You know what I have found out about spending money on kids? We were always not that well off growing up, and we got so many presents. My mother stills buys a stupid amount of things for my sisters kids (To the point where it is hard for my sister and her DP to find something to buy their own kids!).

Then I met a few friends who grew up with quite a lot of money - and they tended to get one or two special things, then a couple of other bits and pieces - and there were no expectations of stupid amounts ofmoney spent.

I see it still with the kids I teach. Some people use Christmas as a way to make up for what they (wrongly) see as personal failings. In reality all they are creating is super egocentric me me monkeys who get whqt they want and don't understand the value of money nor the value of Christmas!

(Yup, huge generalisation above and I know some people just like to spend loads of money and that is great for them, but I know this happens in plenty of cases! Taht is why budget services have so many new clients post Christams as people can't pay for what they bought).

i have spent about 100 on my sona nd my newphew this year and i dont think thats too over broad mum has already given themsome of there pressy but dont feel bad at least we wont be in debt from xmas this year

If we hadnt got Hannah a swing set ($200) we wouldnt have got her much at all. Just got her a dvd, some books and a few cheapie $2 things for santa sack. I really really dont want her to be spoiled and expect heaps. So Deb, you are definitely not the only one

If she gets heaps of toys, put some in a box and rotate them every few weeks. I did this after Hans birthday and she gets so excited whenever we swap them over - they're all like brand new toys for her!!

Just gets boring opening them all!!

We've ordered Ella a Jolly Jumper for Christmas, and I've also got her a little set of money box, photo frame and little keepsake box for kids (just $2 ones, but very cute!).  I don't think your Christmas spend is a cheap one, Deb - $200 on 2 kids is a good whack of gifts!  And anyway, who cares what other families are spending?  We've all got our own priorities, eh. 

I think I have only spent $30 on Olivia, I would have spent more but 1 toy I gave to her as soon as I got it home and the other was free but too old for her.
Olivia is too young to care at this age, it is really only extra pressies for me to open on christmas day rather than her. Anyways she is getting totally spoilt rotten by my other family members .