I can't be the only one...

[Mattemma]

I used to buy a lot of presents for my kids,but noticed most stuff collected dust. I cut it down to 1 or 2 things they actually use. Holidays are strictly family time with a nice meal.

Parties were a big expense with food,gifts,and goody bags for the kids we invited. Kids that we never saw outside of school/birthday parties. We stopped the public parties and now just have a nice lunch/dinner and cake/ice cream.

We also had to stop accepting party invites because 1. the cost of buying presents for school mates was getting expensive and 2. my kids would see what the other parents did for their kids on birthdays and wished we.....rented at the skate zone,bouncey place,pool...and invited 20 kids which meant 20 presents. People say it is only one day and we should spend to make the birthday event special,but we just can't afford(or even want to) keep up with the trends. Hopefully the kids won't hold it against us later!


And to be honest I don't want my kid invited to a schoolmates house just for a birthday party.How about just having my kid over one day?I always try to get kids together outside of school,and no one ever accepts....but those birthday invitations come in the mail without fail for my kids!


My kids have 2 friends whose sick mum can't afford to do any party stuff,so I am planning a party for them AND my kids for this summer.Cook out,cake,and $20 for each to buy whatever they want.I know $20 isn't much these days,but hopefully they will have a good time together.

 

[asher]

I am all about getting my kids gifts, but just randomly. (Although I did spoil my son a bit this year when he promoted from elementary.)

B-days are just their choice of supper and their choice of cake or cupcakes.

 

[kjhowe77]

I am the same way. I wait until after their birthday parties to see what they need. I tell people they don't need anymore toys, they have way too many that just sit around so they can buy them clothes if they want. Usually they get so many new clothes that they are set for the year. They just don't need all that junk.

 

[tobin123]

I have one son(9) we only buy clothing from yard sales and if I see toys that I approve of he may pick some out,EXAMPLE,he loves chainsaws well they range from $10-$20 I found a BNEW home depot for $6 but we asked if they would take $4 SCORE!!!!!I go to the stores and see all the newest toys and he walks on by,now if we go to RURAL KING TRACTOR SUPPLY he likes to look and that is the only place we buy from.We will buy if it is marked down or for after Christmas I will.I ask for giftcards buy never recieve them for him.Why not add to his savings account,he always get the junky stupid little nick nacks from grandparents(whenever they come around that is)for Easter 2 months later though he recieved a dollar store box cube puzzle,it went into the yard sale pile.I have told them on many occasions send him $$$$ or gift card but NO,still waiting.
Birthday parties-we have never went somewhere else to have them always at home with a few friends,cook out, bon fire just simple.My brother goes and rents places and spends $10 for each person )min.is 6)to have a party for each girl.He has 3 so that is in a different location every time.IMAGINE the $$$$$,NO WAY......That is called DEBT
We need to raise our kids to be financial smart especially in this day of age.

 

[SarahFair]

You mean...
You mean Im not the only one?!?!


I dont really buy my kids stuff but other people do. I think the only thing I have bought my kids (aside from xmas, even then it wasnt much) is a couple hot wheels cars. That was even almost a year ago!
Somehow the toys keep sneaking in!

I have locked them all up in a room because they wont clean them up. Its over whelming not only for me but for them as well. How can they learn to appreciate things if they break one and just move onto the next? NO! I want them to mourn over that broken toy!
I was watching 'Little House on the Prairie' and she was so heart broken when her dolls face broke... Yeah, cause she only had ONE doll



I just dont know what to do with them all

I feel guilty if I sell them at a yard sale or give them away to foundations. Some of the toys were high dollar stuff from my father and some are older than dirt that my SO use to play with. When I try to give them back to my SOs mother she wont take them but the scolds me if they get broken or lost

The toys are taking over

 

[greeneggsandham]

You all need to talk some sense into one of my sisters. My 9 and 10 year old nephews are horrid. You cannot take them to a store with out them throwing a fit because they want something. I told the youngest I was going to call the cops once because he started throwing toys on the ground. I called my sister who was at a wedding and told her to come get him. He's 9 and should not be acting that way.
If he was mine I would have had his bottom so red he wouldn't have been able to sit down for a week. But their mom and dad let them do anything. I told my sister that the boys are no longer welcome at my house until they learn manners. Yea she was ticked to bad.

Oh and they have a bedroom filled with totes full of unopened toys. Its crazy.

 

[sparkles2307]

I dont buy them a lot. My kids have a trunk full of toys that they never play with, and dressers full of clothes. The most I buy is a basketball or new coloring book. They like getting a new pair of rubber boots for the farm or a tool to help dad with. I tell the grandparents and they go along with not buying toys, unless they are outside toys that will be used a lot, and usually get only one or two gifts for the kids and the party is mostly about getting together and enjoying a bbq with family.

 

[MagsC]

You arent the only one. When I had 5 little kids they didnt get much because of finances but we have tons of great family memories.
We actually did things together and my family is more apt to do that than buy things.
However, I have to admit to my youngest daughter being a little more spoiled.

 

[QuinnP]

I used to buy extremely noisy or obnoxious stuff for my girl just to punish the ould dragons for taking her away from me. If they didn't already have grey hair---------------- but she has a grampa that spoils her beyond words. She has 45 Barbie dolls, tons of her own Dvds, Now what I give her comes from my heart & not stores. (Necklaces I make myself, a book written just for her, a mosaic I made, pictures of beautiful nature scenes I've taken. ect-----)

 

[Jess N Jeff]

Quote:
See that is what I was talking about. The smallest thing like your grandma making you breakfast and watching your cartoon is what you remember. That's what I want my kids to remember, little moments that are special not gifts.

That is so sweet. I don't have any stories like that. I grew up with an abusive parent. The other one tried to make up for it by buying me everything. I would take a memory like that over all the stuff I was given as a kid any day.

My mom was kinda hateful too. That is why my grandma was sooooooo amazing to me. My grandpa too. Nothing like cuddling up on my grandpa's lap and listening to him sing in his deep daritone voice. Simple memories of happiness.

Its that feeling when you know you are loved that makes you feel so good.