One gift dude, you can't be that cheap. That's like what $15 per kid. When I went to birthday parties when I was seven I would give kids I barely knew $20 presents. Your kid derves a little more than that
Typically, I shop for the kiddos and Tara shops for the adults. I love looking for toys and gifts that I think the kids would enjoy. I usually budget out about $100-125 for each of the 3 boys. That gets them about 2-3 gifts from Santa and a few from us. Speaking of...time to go start fishing for ideas from the kiddos.
I was pretty happy when I got my Nintendo Sixty Four when I was a young lad. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hBRWacL9pDo"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hBRWacL9pDo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Man I don't have kids but I think you could be more creative than DVD's. Try to be more thoughtful into your gift. You don't have to go out of your budget but Christmas is something kids look forward to every year and once your a teeneger that feeling is totally gone. I ABSOLUTELY loved christmas as a kid and I still do but there's that feeling when you're a kid. Sometimes I want to go back to that. I don't know what your budget is but I' am sure you could do better than $15 for each of your children. I also hate the comercialization of christmas but i try to do my christmas shopping before December to avoid all the crowds and all the sales posters that are splattered everywhere. Other than that I love Christmas, my favorite time of the year.
This is, by far, my favorite time of year - between Halloween and Christmas. I learned a while back to simplify during the holidays. I don't have a lot of money, so I give small gifts and don't ask for a lot in return.
HOLD ON!!! My 7 year old "Ice Age 2" and my 2.5 year old is getting "Cars." My baby is getting "Little Mermaid!" These are usually stocking stuffers as they usually get bigger and more expensive gifts. We ALWAYS get them EVERYTHING and they have a lot and a lot of toys. But THIS year is different. My baby has many medical needs.....my wife is in limbo with her job and I'm trying to budget. We might have to pay for cobra since we have home nursing at our house. This year is different. But my wife still gives me crap about wanting to buy more and more. This time of year everyone becomes so dillusional. We are putting up a tree....I'll be hanging lights on the house as usual. We will enjoy X-Mas eve and morning with the kids. But this year instead of spending anywhere from $50-$100 PER child, I'm thinking $25 at the most. They have EVEYRTHING already...trust me. So a new DVD is perfect for them. They LOVE watching movies as they have their own DVD player in their rooms. I'm only irritated at my wife for being so pissed at me for looking at the bigger picture. Some of you step into my shoes and deal with medical equipment and nurses and see how frealing jolly you feel. My daughter has a feaking trach for godsakes. Sorry...but X-Mas is NOT that important to me. Paying for her care is.
very good point. just get the baby one of those little shaking elmo/cookie monster heads from Target. they are like 11 bucks. kids love those. hell even i love em.
well I like Christmas time. As far as presents ... my wife and I are usually very frugal during the year, so it's a chance to splurge a little on stuff we want but are too cheap to get. Then we get other people's kids some presents. Get something cheapy-ish for the moms and her sister, then bake cookies and stuff for everyone else. If we were pressed for $$$ then we would just do the baking stuff and get something small for each other. If we had a kid ... the most I would ever go for is a vgame system, but certainly not a launch system. But if you don't have the $$$, then you don't have the $$$. You do what you can.
OH, Eff yeah, I love Christmas time... putting up the tree right AFTER Thanksgiving... time off from work: America, F*ck YEAH. Yeah, they will. If it is something they requested from "Santa," they will. Trust me, they will. Bobblehead... you're having Christmas arguments already? Looks like you're off to D-vorce land... Don't be a scrooge. Make the kids remember their Christmas happily. Above all, don't argue about this in front of them... that's what they'll remember more than the presents.
