How many presents do you give your grandkids for their birthday, or do you just set a limit on how much to spend? We have birthdays tomorrow and i feel like its Christmas because I bought like 4 gifts each...(3 are celebrating).
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That is Christmas! I used to get so mad at my mom for getting my kids so much stuff for birthdays and Christmas. One special gift, is all they need.
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I used to be like you, but have pared down to only 1 or 2 gifts per child. They get so many things from other grandparents and relatives, that they end up with an over abundance of stuff. So I am giving less these days. Same with Christmas.
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Now you tell me.. LOL....
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We have twin grandsons, and I never know if its ok to get things they can share(Leapster games, movies, etc.) or 2 of everything, or all different items for each.
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One b-day gift.
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We have twin grandsons also. (Also twin granddaughters!) We've given gifts to share (sandbox) if it didn't make sense to have two. Otherwise I get two similar gifts - a game for each, a book for each, etc. Only rarely have we given identical gifts. The boys are 7 now, and starting to develop different interests, so I see different items for each in the future.
Originally Posted by Joyce R
We have twin grandsons, and I never know if its ok to get things they can share(Leapster games, movies, etc.) or 2 of everything, or all different items for each.
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When they're really small I found when the in laws gave so many gifts the kids didn't really appreciate the toys plus a few years later they even forgot who gave the gifts to them. I was finally able to talk some into sending savings bonds instead of gifts. Now that the kids are older they smiled when they saw what their grandparents gave to them. The toys have long since gone away and are forgotten but now when they are going to college, the savings bonds makes it a little easier for them and they're old enough to remember now.
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It is so easy to become overindulgent. My 2 sons each get three christmas gifts from me. They are elated. I started this when they were young so they don't expect a ton. For their birthdays, I try to limit it to one item chosen by me and one by my husband. Kinda cool that my husband gets to pick something and so do I. We bet as to whose gift will "go over" the best.
My parents get my older son one week of basketball camp in July (they contribute $50 toward the $90 fee and my son doesn't know how I add a few $$'s to it) for Christmas and one week of basketball camp in August for his birthday. He strongly requests this gift every year for the past 3 years. I love it because I think it is so much better to spend $$ on experiences instead of "things." My younger son is only 4 so he gets one or two gifts. |
I get my GK savings bonds for there birthday and Christmas. They get so many things and this will help when they go to college.
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Originally Posted by NancyG
I used to be like you, but have pared down to only 1 or 2 gifts per child. They get so many things from other grandparents and relatives, that they end up with an over abundance of stuff. So I am giving less these days. Same with Christmas.
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We have set a $ amount so you can get one thing for that or a bunch of little things which ever the child wants.
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I tend to go overboard for all occasions. Except now that they are getting older their presents tend to cost more. So I generally go by cost not numbers. But when they were small they loved to open lots of little presents versus one big one like now :)
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It is always so hard- DH has 4 grand-kids and their mother continues to make poor choices- as a result I always get 5 outfits, socks and underwear for each of the kids and 1 toy for birthdays, when school starts and Christmas and new winter coats every year. She does not interact with anyone else in the family so it is just us. DH thinks they need more toys; I always tell him that they need clothes, not toys that will be played with once or twice and then forgotten; besides with 4 kids she has more than enough toys for them all to play with!!! My GD is the same as her parents also make poor choices so I always send "practical" items for her.
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My B-day gift amount nowadays is $50. I have 9 DGkids, ages 11 (only DGS) to 29. Yes, that's 8 DGD's. After age 6 I stopped buying the girls clothes, instead DH and would take them out for lunch and shopping for a new outfit. Now that the girls are older and 6 live out of state they receive a $50 check for their B-days, nice and simple. DGS 11th B-day was last month and his gifts were a Rutger's t-shirt ($10-his Dad our DS#3 is a grad), we went shopping with him for a computer game ($30) so when we were leaving I gave him $10 as spending money.
My sons and their wives also get checks for their B-days but for Christmas each family member gets a personal main gift and maybe a few little items. A whole new ball game is in the works as far as gift giving goes, last year we got a new DGS (married one of our DGD's) and 2 new DGD's coming next year as one DGD is getting married in June and another in the Fall. |
Originally Posted by blueangel
I get my GK savings bonds for there birthday and Christmas. They get so many things and this will help when they go to college.
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I have a certain amount that I spend on each grandchild, so get what I can with that regardless of the number of presents.
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