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ModDot
PUMPKIN ALL THE THINGS
Member since 8/11 2196 total posts
Name:
Trissy
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Present limits?
I was talking to my mom about Christmas next year, and she was saying how our LO will be so spoiled. I told her, I want to place a limit on what comes into the house. I can't imagine having so much stuff in the house, it just feels like a waste.
I told her everyone can buy one toy and if they want they can buy clothes or give money towards college.
The reason being is A) I hate clutter B) I can't imagine a child needing 50 bajillion toys every year and for every occasion C) I never played with that much growing up and I love letting the LO use his imagination and D) even if every family member we see over the course of the holidays bought one gift our LO would have SO MUCH STUFF.
So any of you have rules like this? If so, how does it work for you?
Obviously I wouldn't turn anything away, that would be totally rude, but I'd like them to not go crazy also.
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Posted 12/26/12 4:51 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19461 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Present limits?
One of the ways I have encouraged limiting gifts is having both sets of grandparents go in on one BIG gift. This way they get to spend less, and I don't have to have twice as much here, and my kids still get nice things, and I don'y have competition over who gave a better gift.
Message edited 12/26/2012 5:14:07 PM.
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| Posted 12/26/12 4:53 PM |
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Chai77
Brighter days ahead
Member since 4/07 7364 total posts
Name:
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Re: Present limits?
Honestly, no. I hate clutter too and my family totally goes overboard with gifts for my kids for Christmas. But I would never tell them to limit it or that they should give money towards college. I think they'd be offended to be honest with you. I stash some gifts out of sight in the basement so I can rotate toys in and out. Minimizes the clutter and keeps the kids more entertained.
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| Posted 12/26/12 8:08 PM |
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butterfly20
Party of 5 - 2015
Member since 4/06 7390 total posts
Name:
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Present limits?
I make up a list on amazon.com(to avoid duplicates) I do end up throwing clothes on there, and grandparents get clothing sizes so they can pick out clothes....
also this year I added car seats, IL's bough us $400 of britax seats so remember baby gear to add
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| Posted 12/26/12 8:15 PM |
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Re: Present limits?
Posted by Chai77
Honestly, no. I hate clutter too and my family totally goes overboard with gifts for my kids for Christmas. But I would never tell them to limit it or that they should give money towards college. I think they'd be offended to be honest with you. I stash some gifts out of sight in the basement so I can rotate toys in and out. Minimizes the clutter and keeps the kids more entertained.
This.
If people ask what toys to get the kids i ask for ones a few months to a yr older than they are so that they already have toys for the future and i can open them up as they get bored w old ones.
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| Posted 12/26/12 8:22 PM |
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ModDot
PUMPKIN ALL THE THINGS
Member since 8/11 2196 total posts
Name:
Trissy
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Re: Present limits?
Posted by Chai77
Honestly, no. I hate clutter too and my family totally goes overboard with gifts for my kids for Christmas. But I would never tell them to limit it or that they should give money towards college. I think they'd be offended to be honest with you. I stash some gifts out of sight in the basement so I can rotate toys in and out. Minimizes the clutter and keeps the kids more entertained.
Actually since its my family, they know I'm OCD and when I mentioned it yesterday she just laughed bc that's something I would think of.
I would never cop a tude or be mean about it.
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| Posted 12/26/12 8:27 PM |
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maymama
my little loves
Member since 8/08 18453 total posts
Name:
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Re: Present limits?
we just tend to put a lot of it away and spread it out throughout the year. works really well actually!
from aunts and uncles, we set a spending limit for all the kids - $40 pretty much limits it to 1-2 things for infants/toddlers.
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| Posted 12/26/12 8:53 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Present limits?
I joked (more than once) that everything each person bought had to fit in a shoebox! They knew I was kidding but I also used it as a way to say how nervous I was about where we'd put everything.
It was DD's first Christmas and she's the first grandchild on both sides so I knew there was no fighting it. Everyone was excited to shop for her and I'm glad to have so many people around who love her. At the same time our space is very limited. Overall, everyone was good and kept things reasonable. I packed away a bunch of old things today to make room and unpacked everything since it took up less space that way. Now my concern is what the heck she'll get in four months for her first birthday! She's set on toys for the next year or two! I'll try to steer people towards for more clothes and practical things like pjs but I don't want to spoil people's fun either. There are worse problems to have.
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| Posted 12/26/12 8:58 PM |
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ModDot
PUMPKIN ALL THE THINGS
Member since 8/11 2196 total posts
Name:
Trissy
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Re: Present limits?
Posted by MrsT809
I joked (more than once) that everything each person bought had to fit in a shoebox! They knew I was kidding but I also used it as a way to say how nervous I was about where we'd put everything.
It was DD's first Christmas and she's the first grandchild on both sides so I knew there was no fighting it. Everyone was excited to shop for her and I'm glad to have so many people around who love her. At the same time our space is very limited. Overall, everyone was good and kept things reasonable. I packed away a bunch of old things today to make room and unpacked everything since it took up less space that way. Now my concern is what the heck she'll get in four months for her first birthday! She's set on toys for the next year or two! I'll try to steer people towards for more clothes and practical things like pjs but I don't want to spoil people's fun either. There are worse problems to have.
Totally!
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| Posted 12/26/12 9:06 PM |
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drwifettc
LIF Adult
Member since 6/10 2348 total posts
Name:
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Re: Present limits?
Posted by maymama
we just tend to put a lot of it away and spread it out throughout the year. works really well actually!
from aunts and uncles, we set a spending limit for all the kids - $40 pretty much limits it to 1-2 things for infants/toddlers.
We do the same, I have about 5 gifts in the basement I'll take out as time goes on. My family and in-laws ask for gift suggestions so I usually just type up a list for both birthday and christmas and give that to them when they ask. They are also really really great about wanting to get her stuff that she needs, so she got her bedding and a big girl bed for Christmas with some other smaller gifts in there. I think if people ask for suggestions it's totally fine to give them! I
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| Posted 12/26/12 9:14 PM |
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allIwant
Love my crazy life!
Member since 1/10 9170 total posts
Name:
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Re: Present limits?
I have twins who have a birthday 2 weeks after xmass. I try to emphasize that they don't need anything, don't go crazy or just spend what you would on one kid but I never tell them what to do I think people would be offended. My parents try to get a big gift (ie pottery barn table and chair set, tricycles etc) and I also make an amazon list and put everything on there (toys jackets sneakers safe t swim gift cert).
Like the pp said I put a lot away and take things out slowly.
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| Posted 12/26/12 11:31 PM |
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Re: Present limits?
We told everyone to get kids clothes, $ or GC. I know some think it's rude and maybe it is, but I don't care, first 3 yrs after I had DD every holiday and birthday was crazy ! toys everywhere, so I put an end to that.
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| Posted 12/27/12 12:43 AM |
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Waste06
Waste not, want not
Member since 6/06 7219 total posts
Name:
Lois Mom Mommy Mama Ma
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Re: Present limits?
We do TRU wish lists for the kids, and I put stuff that's $50 and under on there. Most gifts are in the $25-$35 range, so no one is spending like crazy.
We have a lot of aunts buying gifts and they have no idea what toys my DS has or what would be good for him right now, so the wishlists help them a lot.
On my DH's side, we set a price limit of $35. The gifts don't get out of hand then either.
Some presents from family and even from Santa have already been put up in the attic to be opened at a later time.
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| Posted 12/27/12 11:18 AM |
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ko123
My loves!
Member since 10/07 3002 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: Present limits?
Posted by maymama
we just tend to put a lot of it away and spread it out throughout the year. works really well actually!
from aunts and uncles, we set a spending limit for all the kids - $40 pretty much limits it to 1-2 things for infants/toddlers.
This exactly. As we went through all the great gifts they got from family yesterday we put some in the closet to bring out in a few months. We also have a $30 spending limit with the nieces and nephews. However...you'd be surprised what HUGE toys can be bought with $30...lol. We have a small apartment.
Oh and when family asks what they can get, I just always say books and PJs! Kids can always use both of those.
Message edited 12/27/2012 11:29:24 AM.
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| Posted 12/27/12 11:27 AM |
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nicopico13
that year flew!
Member since 11/09 3008 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: Present limits?
You can try, i did, but it seems as if no one listens!
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| Posted 12/27/12 2:14 PM |
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kerrycec03
Mom of 2 beautiful boys!!
Member since 6/06 13519 total posts
Name:
Kerry
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Re: Present limits?
Posted by nicopico13
You can try, i did, but it seems as if no one listens!
ditto!! Its a battle not worth fighting. JMO..
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| Posted 12/27/12 2:49 PM |
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MarisaK
HELLO Manolo !!
Member since 5/06 14562 total posts
Name:
Marisa
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Re: Present limits?
I have 2 boys, 2 years apart. - the big one doesn't have time to even wear through stuff before the little guy inherits it ......I hear alot of 'poor Colin doesn't have his 'own' - fill in the blank" but honestly, why would I buy new just for the sake of buying new when Colin wants the SAME things Sean already has that are in perfect condition? Here and there we have bought Colin his 'own' because they both want to play with it (ie: the little tikes cozy coupe, Colin got the truck for his 1st BDay so now they have 2 to play together)
I don't put a limit on things, but I do ask people not to go crazy and I kind of give them an idea of what to get - I also ask my extended family to get things like books. cars/trucks/balls etc - That way it's something I KNOW they'll play with and enjoy and it's not something 'stupid' that goes in the corner and takes up space.
My kids play w/ certain stuff, and others they're 'eh' about -
I also don't want to ruin the fun for my kids, or the friends/family who are happy to give them a gift. -
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| Posted 12/27/12 3:45 PM |
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ap123
LIF Infant
Member since 10/10 268 total posts
Name:
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Re: Present limits?
I put a limit, 1 toy per person and i give a list of what is needed. I don't think its rude, I feel very strongly that there needs to be limits so they learn to appreciate what they get. I explain to family that they are helping me instill this in my kids by honoring my request.
Others metioned rationing the toys throughout the year, i like that idea too.
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| Posted 12/27/12 3:48 PM |
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ModDot
PUMPKIN ALL THE THINGS
Member since 8/11 2196 total posts
Name:
Trissy
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Re: Present limits?
Posted by ap123
I put a limit, 1 toy per person and i give a list of what is needed. I don't think its rude, I feel very strongly that there needs to be limits so they learn to appreciate what they get. I explain to family that they are helping me instill this in my kids by honoring my request.
Others metioned rationing the toys throughout the year, i like that idea too.
Yup, never would have thought of that! I hope they understand that it's not because I don't appreciate them wanting to spoil my kid, I just don't want my kid to expect to get everything all the time either.
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| Posted 12/27/12 3:58 PM |
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BeachGal
LIF Adult
Member since 2/10 2827 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Present limits?
My family in NY is really small and none of us spend a lot on each others kids. My mom flat out told me that she is giving my boys $$ because they have way too much stuff and that is 100% fine with me!! I can be honest with her so if she didnt bring it up I would have said $$ was the preferred gift for Xmas.
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| Posted 12/27/12 4:31 PM |
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