Ask:
My baby girl will be turning three on Wednesday. Last May, thanks to Kim's threads on Amazon's HUGE toy sales, I got, and put up, a tricycle (Radio Flyer, even!) that I paid $3.20 for!!!! To go with it, I have purchased a little basket to hook on the front handle bars, and I also got some streamers for the handles. That is our "big gift" to her..and the only other thing I have is a big box of sidewalk chalk (one of her favorite things to do). I feel GUILTY, though, and you have no idea how hard it has been to talk myself out of spending more money, simply for the sake of spending "enough". I KNOW this is not a frugal or wise way to think, but I wondered if others felt this same way sometimes?
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I have done that too, I think its normal! Be strong she will love it and be none the wiser.
My 5 yr olds Birthday is on the 25th have not gotten him a thing, so I know it will end up being costly since I didnt plan ahead.
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I feel that way too!
My other problem is that I just don't seem to have the will power to hold out on giving my son things we buy for him. Especially when I don't spend much.
That's something I need to work on!
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Yes- guilty of doing this! I usually pick up things cheap from after Christmas sales and so on- I always feel bad now since I pick up a lot for my youngest and wait til I hear what the oldest wants- and it usually cost about 3x's as much. I want to try to spend an even amount on the girls- but if I even it up money wise- I feel bad since it usually is not the same amount of presents. It is kind of a lose lose situation for me. But this year I am doing it a lot differently- they will receive 1 large present and 1 small present- they will also receive a new outfit for school (they both have summer birthdays!).
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Yes I did when they were younger, now that they are 17 and 21 their big gifts are in the hundreds it's a lot easier to say I bought enough. If you can afford it and the gifts are going to be appreciated and played with I would say be reasonably generous.
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Yes I feel like this alot especially when I buy for them at Christmas! They are at an age that they don't care how many gifts that they get, but for some reason it matters to me. Silly isn't it?
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Yes I do the same thing. This last x-mas I felt guilty because I had not spent much on my baby that only 4 months old. I know it is silly but I couldn't help it. I did curb my urge to spend but I still felt bad.
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yep I feel guilty!! I know just recently We spent more on dd who turned 7 than 5 yr old dd!! *tho main thing tho is we were on a special trip to the AG store in Chicago for 5 yr old dd's bday and we only got her a cd, movie and a hair beader thing!! 7 yr old dd got a pair of roller blades, nintendo ds and game for it!! (that alone was more!!) oh yea the roller blades was from younger dd to her!!
and an outfit the only reason that was added was I got a Cute skirt wich dd Needed since she needs to stop growing!! !! for 5$ for shirt and skirt!!
but I figure 5 yr old dd will be getting her share as she gets older!!
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I feel guilty not getting enough for dd who is going to be a year. She dosen't need anything and she didn't need anything, so it has taken real will power to only give her money (ds got her a present)
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I USED to do this until I had a wake-up call. When dh was underemployed for 2 yrs we lived off our stockpiles and the stockpile of gifts I had. I spent just under $4.00 for a gift that originally cost about $40. No way was I going to give more so the "money" number would work out. the last year things were REALLY tight and I think I spent a total of $5.00 on each of my kids for xmas. ever since we have scaled back. when u are wondering if u have enough money to buy milk the amount I spent on gifts was irrelevant.
It was a hard lesson to learn.
allgirls