Xmas gifts

I would go for the experience, a day to the zoo, cinema, Christmas on ice, climbing wall, tobogganing, painting pottery, if you can't do it around Christmas, write a voucher and put in an envelope with maybe a small book and some chocolate coins so they have something to unwrap. They will remember that more than an expensive toy that may not get used.
Whilst doing the experience take a few photos and make up a small scrapbook each.xx

Wow, great idea Twin Lolly.

Hubby and I stopped celebrating birthdays, Christmas, etc a long time ago. We didn't miss it at all.

The only thing we do do is make our wedding anniversary special.

Throughout the year we surprise each other with gifts.

We have found that giving gifts as and when, from the heart, is much more pleasant rather than feel obligated and pressurised. Fortunately friends and family understand.

My parents did the same, too. We didn't feel we were missing out on anything.

Ellan my brother recently gave my toddlers one of those rubbery joke poos and they have derived extreme delight from numerous pranks with it

Sally if your grandkids are at all interested in crafts, arts, etc can I point you to the Baker Ross website? Huge range, very reasonably priced, lot stuff in the Clearance at all times. Thirty quid will pick you up a lot there.

Also the website of the Works is great for discount books and discount arts/crafts stuff

Of all the stuff I've bought in the past, the only present that was appreciated was a " joke " set, with dog poo, flies, a whoopee cushion, a cut finger and all kinds of horrors in it. It went down a treat with much hilarity and it was under £10 !

Everything else was left to one side.

As a small child my Mum once asked me what present I liked best from the many she and others had bought for me. I said I liked a small needle case and thimble shaped like a hat. A very inexpensive last minute stocking filler! No, children do not care about the cost.

Hi Sally b392
I’m in the same boat as you. I put money every birthday and Xmas in a kids saving account. My dgs/d are 4 and 2 not old enough to be aware as they have so many gifts from the other grandparents. When the children are old enough to be aware I will explain that I’m saving for them so that when they are 18 plus they will have enough money to buy a car (they live in the country) or to put towards a deposit on a flat when they are in a position to do so.

What’s a Fart Trombone?
Sounds fun !

We have a similar situation with my sister and her daughters children and their other GP. Similar except my sister is the one spending hundreds and the GC. I can tell it makes the other GP uncomfortable and it really is a shame. I loved the ideas mentioned above about the biscuits and cakes and letters year around.

You give what you can afford and I think £30 each is more than enough. Don't let it play on your mind about what the other grandparents are spending.
Your love is the best gift of all.

Sally, you should realise that your gifts are from the heart and no doubt that your grandchildren appreciate them just as just as those really expensive gifts. I regularly make my GD home made gifts and she really loves them because she knows I've made it just for her.

I am fairly generous with my family. I can't take it with me, so why not ? And, why give it to the taxman? I don't have a lot, but what I have, I give away, while I'm alive, keeping some for myself Ofcourse.

Mine both prefer home made gifts, a cardi knitted by nanny, a sewing kit they can do together that sort of thing.
At the moment the works are offering 2 for £10 on a good range of knitting kits, sewing kits, nail art, stone decorating etc maybe head there and pick up a book too.
Kids want time and attention not stuff.
Good luck. Xx

Several hundred! Ridiculous! Your £30 quid budget same as mine, perfectly adequate!

I think if you have any craft/sewing skills make your own gifts. One of my sons favourite gifts ever was a wooden duck his grandfather made. All his childhood toys that were plastic, have long gone along with the memory of who bought him what, but that duck he takes with him through every flat move and I imagine will be taken with him when he moves abroad too.
Kids aren’t stupid and become more aware of the adult politics as they get older.

The letters sound lovely, keep being yourself. I’m sure they love your gifts!

All I am interested in doing is giving my grandchildren presents they long for, whether home made (mainly dolls clothes) or bought.

I couldn't care less whether what I give them is trendy or fashionable, just some thing that will delight them when they open it.

They may not realise it now but when they are older they will know those home made gifts were made with love . It has also become quite trendy with those who have money , to buy hand made gifts .

I was just going to mention Poundland. I was in there the other day and they have a fantastic array of stuff for children.

Poundland have a big range of arts and crafts items plus toy cars etc. I used to give the grandsons £2 each and then let them choose whatever they wanted. For years we had a 4” hulk type character who doubled as a doctor, farmer, soldier, policeman or whatever the current game involved. Stretching their imagination doesn’t cost much but is invaluable in the long term.

We set a limit of £25 for each child. We don't worry what other grandparents give. That's their business. This year I am going to give a family hamper to those with adult children. The little ones, 4 to 11, will receive a gift or two.
My adult children a box of goodies to share with spouse.
Please do not worry. It will spoil your months leading up to Christmas.
Why not gift sponser a Donkey at a local sanctuary...a membership to RSPB or similar. I don't know how old they are. Maybe a subscription to a comic. A lovely pile of colourful books (The Works have a great selection). New PJ's or nighties...I too have and do find great gifts in charity shops. You could make up a Christmas Eve Box. Controversial but it could be a tradition between you and the children.

Sara65, no, nor do I

I agree with your last sentence M0nica, there certainly is no substitute for time and love.

But we are in a position to buy them presents they wouldn’t otherwise have, I never buy anything without consulting with my daughters, it’s slightly tricky, because one daughter is reasonably well off, and one isn’t, but they all have to be treated fairly.

I don’t feel awkward or guilty about buying them things they want, but I certainly don’t think it makes me the better granny

Can I just say a word to defend grandparents who are better off. We are in that position in our grandparental combo and we, like many other grandparents in our position do not spend hundred's of pounds on toys and clothes for our grandchildren nor do we work to the philosophy that Thought costs in time and energy. It’s easy to just spend if you have money.

We are really good friends with the 'other grandma', our families have melded together, when we visit DS & family - they live 200 miles away - we sleep-over at her house. We buy nothing without advice from our DS and DiL and always make sure that the main present comes from them. We do not spend vast sums of money on them. Our usual budget is about £50 for everything we buy each one, including stocking presents.

There are plenty of other ways we can discretely help the family without being seen to 'flash the cash'. We see them all frequently and money is never, ever a substitute for time and attention.

Don’t ever feel guilty and hopefully their mum and dad will know this. As long its been bought and given with love that makes the gift priceless

I’m godmother to the son of very, very wealthy parents. (He’s an adult now). Dreaded buying him gifts as he really did have everything, though they didn’t expect anything from me I felt I had to get something.
For Christmas one year when he was about 7, I bought him a book and a balloon kit that you made into animal shapes.

In the middle of our Christmas dinner, his mum rang to thank me for such a great gift. They had not got round to eating their meal as everyone was so involved with balloon blowing and twisting into shapes amidst much hilarity. She said all his other expensive presents had been ignored.

It isn’t always how much you spend that matters.