Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1) Support Group

My son is 14 months and we did not buy him anything because he got tons of presents from relatives. For this year, we have spent $29 on a bunch of instruments. I might buy him some books, but really I don't want to get him a bunch of stuff. Maybe we are lucky because I have tons of friends/family who have older kids and have given us a ton of stuff already.

My daughter will be 7 months this Christmas. Honestly though, I think I'll be spending more on nieces and nephews than my daughter! We'll probably buy her a couple of small gifts/toys, but nothing too grand since she'll probably get bored or outgrow it soon. Plus, I'm sure she'll get stuff from her grandparents and aunts too! I guess if I had to put an amount on it, I'd say I don't want to spend more than $100 on Luci. (Recession and the fact that we will be moving to a different house will be the major influencers)

Well I understand you wanting to make it special for your daughter but she doesn't understand the difference betweem one present and 100. the fact that you spend so much one her she will never realize and you are making for all about cost and toys.
We are fortune right now not to be much effected by the economy but we still watch our spending and save as much as we can. My daughter is 2.5 and so much knows about christmas, my hubby grandmother goes CRAZY at christmas for all the kids and grandchildren, her first christmas we just bought her one toy to open c.mas morning, she got so much stuff from her great grandmother christmas eve it was crazy. I had to put things in the closet for her to save for later the sad thing is her b-day is in feb so she again was over loaded with present and I still had things from christmas.
I understand that making christmas special with your children and as they get older they will understand the toys more but its speical to me to have traditions a special breakfast you make once a year or songs or games the night before, family is our key and we spend alot of time with family the days before and after.
she gets do much from great mother, my parents his parents, uncles and aunts we really don't go crazy just something that she really wantes or ask for that is usually what we get, this year she wants a baby doll and eats and talks, 14.99 woo hoo, and I am getting her a CD player for her room and little kid one she loves music. so maybe 50.00 for all her presents.
my son is 6 months, will get a ball or a little toy.
I don't think the need at this young age to go crazy on toys, they really play with them a couple weeks and are done with it.
They don't understand the cost! I rather it go to something better.

I guess that if you can afford it then lots of spending will help the economy. If you're borrowing to finance your Christmas then you're a contributor to the credit crunch itself?

Sorry - should have put a smiley or something after that last post - otherwise it sounds a bit harsh :)

We just moved across country and bought a house so this would be a tight christmas for us regardless of the recession. However, we'll focus on our OWN family first (our baby and each other) and get just one or two things and then if there is leftover do the grandparents but that's about it. It's a slim year for us cause we are not willing to do credit cards....just cash....so with the move and new house our cash is a bit snug. Is anyone doing homemade or creative gifts that are cost savings?

I was thinking of making baskets for our family before we decided that we were only going to buy for the kids. That's about as creative as I get. We also do NOT buy Christmas gifts with credit cards---I have this thing that I feel like credit cards are like a loan so we would be giving gifts that we have not paid for. We bought my daughter a brand new car for her 16th birthday and paid cash because I wanted her to be the owner not the bank. I just don't believe in credit for a lot of things. Even our mortgage---we are builing a new house and we are only taking out a very small mortgage to help off set our taxes. I NEVER want to live beyond our means!!! OK sorry I will get off of my soapbox--LOL