nicole20 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I was just wondering this is my first christmas buying for two children my ds is 6 and my dd is 12months, how do you make sure that the presents are equal. I was thinking of just spending the same amount of money on both, but what if one gets more presents than the other this way? Or do you just make sure they have the same number of presents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ourhappyfamily4 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 we try to do both... to spend about the same amount( doesn't always come out that way, but pretty close) But we do try and get them about the same number of gifts. So that one doesn't have a giant pile in front of them, and the other only a few gifts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrispizza4 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I have 3 kids and all will receive the same number of gifts. I don't keep track of the amount I spend on each but none of them are really big gifts. I just get them things they like or want and make sure each has the same amount of gifts under the tree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntsmomie Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 We actually paid more attention this year to the amount spent, then realized that both of our kids are at that age where they'll pay attention more to the # of gifts they have. So we evened it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berry1014 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 We make sure they have an even number of gifts. Do not spend equal amounts on them but it is close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcster Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I totally misread this thread's title. I was expecting it to be Equal Presents (as in "Masterpiece Theater presents The Taming of the Shrew"). http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2754208533_474257bcc5.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momof3luvs1 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I have to say that this is something that I am really struggling with this year. I would say it all depends on your dd6. Your 12 month old will not realize either way. When my oldest had to have her 1st christmas with my other dd who was about 4 months at the time she was 4 and a half and she counted every single gift. Now we have 3 in total. My oldest is now 7 almost eight, other dd is 3 and ds is 18 months. Every year though my oldest counts the gifts. ( my other 2 dont care) So I have always had equal amount of gifts. However this year my dd7 wants very expensive things ( hannah montana concert tickets, karaoke machine, ipod , digital camera etc) so this adds up in $ way more then my other 2's gifts..so I explained to her that this year she might get a few less gifts then her siblings but hers are worth alot more. She says she is ok with it..but I must admit I am a bit worried... So to answer your question,,You know your dd's personality..if she wouldnt care about amounts dont sweat it. If she will then try to make it equal...hope that helped! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicole20 Posted November 10, 2009 Author Share Posted November 10, 2009 I have to say that this is something that I am really struggling with this year. I would say it all depends on your dd6. Your 12 month old will not realize either way. When my oldest had to have her 1st christmas with my other dd who was about 4 months at the time she was 4 and a half and she counted every single gift. Now we have 3 in total. My oldest is now 7 almost eight, other dd is 3 and ds is 18 months. Every year though my oldest counts the gifts. ( my other 2 dont care) So I have always had equal amount of gifts. However this year my dd7 wants very expensive things ( hannah montana concert tickets, karaoke machine, ipod , digital camera etc) so this adds up in $ way more then my other 2's gifts..so I explained to her that this year she might get a few less gifts then her siblings but hers are worth alot more. She says she is ok with it..but I must admit I am a bit worried... So to answer your question,,You know your dd's personality..if she wouldnt care about amounts dont sweat it. If she will then try to make it equal...hope that helped!Thanks maybe i will try to explain things to my ds and see if he understands that his things are bigger and more expensive than his sisters to even things out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacyk9 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 When I was younger, I personally didn't care, but I remember my brother trying to figure out the costs of all of our gifts and felt slighted if he thought mine were more expensive. This was when he was about 5 yrs. old!!!!! It all depends on your child and how they perceive things. As far as me, we've only got one child so it doesn't matter, but for my nieces and nephews, I try to make theirs cost the same no matter how many gifts it takes to add up to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgiapeach717 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 i second that it depends on the kids. My son is 5 and last night I explained that his great grandma and grandpa gave me 50.00 to spend on each him and his sister. I broke it down kindergarten style and showed him 6 fingers. I said now if I get you ONE gift worth 6.00 and your sister THREE gifts worth (and I closed my hands and proceeded to count again) 2.00, 2.00, and 2.00....(at this point I was holding the original 6 fingers up)...would you be ok with that? Because I can either get you ONE BIG present or THREE SMALL ones... he chose the one big how'd I guess? LOL! so really i think its all in how your kids handle understanding finances. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conj Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 this topic comes up every year. depends on the kids... whether # or dollar would mean more to them. Heck... we take turn opening presents, and they often get upset I do not have as many to open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raven20_79 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I always try to get an equal amount of presents just because I want things to be equal. My boys are 2 and 5 years old. I know the younger one won't care how many presents he gets, but the older one will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeky94 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 When my oldest had to have her 1st christmas with my other dd who was about 4 months at the time she was 4 and a half and she counted every single gift.For any who may be having this issue (or worried that you may), here's what we've done with my nieces if we have more gifts for one than the other (depending on time and budget): a) add small, individually-wrapped, cheap gifts (a jump rope, or cheap accessories to something they already own, etc.), for the one getting fewer things OR re-evaluate how to wrap the gifts we've already bought (or plan to buy)-- could 2 or more small gifts be wrapped in one box (like a doll and separate accessories for her)... or could a "set" be split up and wrapped separately without being too obvious (like a camera and a carrying case for it)? OR c) put all of each child's gifts into one or two boxes and wrap them; you can also wrap the individual gifts inside each box to make it more exciting for them. This is a fun way to keep an older child in suspense, when they're just "sure" you're getting them a certain thing but can't find anything under the tree that's the right size/shape to be that item! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissy72 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I go $$$$ amount. I spend the same on all 3. I do remember though my dd's 1st Christmas, she was 7M old, and we were broke so I just got her a couple of outfits because she wouldn't know anyway and bought my 2 older kids(step) the regular amount of money I had spent the previous year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerica388 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I make sure my ds(10) and my dd(8) have the same amount of gifts now, and I usually manage to spend the same amount on them (within about $10). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
braylan1 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I just buy equal amounts of gifts that are somewhat close in price range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaInNC Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I have a friend with a child who will count every gift under the tree and determine how many gifts everyone has. The year her brother was born, she was quite upset that the stocking he had was way bigger than hers. So, depends on the kid. I always tried to make them equal even that they are older (18 & 15). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raven20_79 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I have a friend with a child who will count every gift under the tree and determine how many gifts everyone has. The year her brother was born, she was quite upset that the stocking he had was way bigger than hers.Sounds like my niece. Last year, I spent the same amount of money on her as I did for her other 3 sisters. She counted the number of gifts, and freaked out that one sister had more than her. Things like that bother me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmintelsgt Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 Well if the 10 yr old gets a laptop this year she will not have as many gifts to open as her sister (5)! She'll just have to get over it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjncmj Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I still go the same # but as they get older it will be based more on $ amount. My oldest is starting to ask for electronics and as the get to be more expensive electronics, etc., the # of gifts will go down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogue1230 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I totally misread this thread's title. I was expecting it to be Equal Presents (as in "Masterpiece Theater presents The Taming of the Shrew"). http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2754208533_474257bcc5.jpgme too me too:smart: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aleighc1 Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I have 6 kids, and they all get the same amount of gifts, and usually spend about the same amount. We take turns opening the gifts under the tree one at a time (stockings are a free for all), but we have a "system" for gifts. Each child gets PJ's on Christmas Eve, then on Christmas day they get 1 gift from Santa, and under the tree they get something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read. So far the gifts my kids ask for are pretty equal in price, which makes it easy for me. Once they start asking for things that are much more expensive (ie: laptop), I'll still do the same amount of gifts, but their other gifts will be less expensive. The funny thing about my kids is that if they were to get less gifts than everyone else, they wouldn't care, it's all the other kids that would be upset that one of their siblings got less than them! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudreyNicole Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I make sure to spend the same amount on each of them, and try to have equal amounts of presents at the same time. Usually I keep within $10 of eachother. Fortunately for me, my boys are so close in age (they are 17.5 months apart) and into the same things, so most of the toys that they are getting, they will both play with together. There are a few things that I bought 2 of, because I anticipate lots of fighting if not. I keep track of the # of presents and the amount I have spent by adding to my list everytime I buy. Sometimes it may mean wrapping 2 things in the same box, to keep the number of boxes even. At their ages, they'd be more likely to notice that one got more boxes than the other, rather than whose presents are worth more. I've been luckily that everything has been even so far without having to worry about it. It just worked out that way :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2maddynsky27 Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I buy equal number of gifts for each child (each child has 5..for example) and try to stay as close as possible in price range. I had to start doing this because the oldest 2 would fuss if someone had more presents to open. And we take turns opening so that helps too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim3498 Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 DS is a only child, but I worried about this last year with my nephews. One is 10 and the other is 16 months. I bought the 10 year old a Wii video game which cost $49.99. Of course, it took a few baby gifts to equal that amount for the baby. I put all of the baby's gifts in 1 Christmas bag and wrapped the older ones gift. I was amazed, but he didn't pay any attention at all to how many different things his baby brother got. He was just so happy with his new game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikesgirl Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 We spend a certain amount per child DSS13 and DD9 have both had it explained the more expensive the stuff is that you want the less you will get but the other might get more gifts but we spent the same amount of money.. DSS13 wants those expensive lego set or the new release video games while DD9 is still happy with movies, those BF special HSM or HM dolls for $5 stuff like that.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conj Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I asked DD(11) she would rather have the same number - not the same dollar.... her example was - say I get one present, and it costs $100... and it breaks, I have nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vsa3janes Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 For dd and dsil I try to buy like gifts. One dvd for her one for him, one electronic item for him one for her, etc. They may not cost the same but have the same amount & types of gifts. Since she rarely buys for herself I do spend extra on her. Besides they know I am a great deal finder and never really know what I would spend for even the most expensive item. This year dgd is 10 and dgs is 1. I will make sure they have the same number of gifts but the value won't be the same. I was able to find his toys for this yr last yr on clearance. Since she is older I wasn't able to do that. Their ages are so far apart I don't think they will ever notice. We have a method to opening gifts too. Everyone opens their stockings together, then they take turns opening gifts. Dgd & dgs first then they can play while dd & sil open their gifts. This helps me be able to take good pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmck Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 We the older ones were little we did equal presents, because we went around the room and everybody watched the one opening his or her gift, they would have been upset if they finished to many presents ahead. If they got an expensive present I would use really inexpensive items to fill in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen8112 Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 I try to give my 2 kids equal number of gifts and try to keep the cost about the same. Even though they have the same amount of presents DD4 always looks like she has more than DS9 because DD's presents are so much bigger even though DS's cost more! You can't please all of the people (aka kids!) all of the time! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts