So, apparently it’s a low brow thing to spend a lot of money at Christmas?!

[Anonymous]

Rich people are tighter with their money. That’s (Partially) how they got to be rich.

[Anonymous]

This thread is stupid. Who cares what someone else does?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess our Christmas ski trip to Switzerland is lowbrow then.

Depends on why you're doing it. Skiing jetlagged isn't great and Swiss mountains, while fine, can't compare to the Rockies in terms of variety and run conditions, especially early in the season. European slopes also tend to be a zoo, especially the famous ones, especially during holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone read Hillbilly Elegy? He talks about the debt his family would go into around Christmas time to buy truly extravagant gifts that made them miss rent for multiple months. Of course this doesn’t apply across the board but it was an interesting observation the way he tied it into more generally cultural expectations.

Interesting, I never did get around to reading this, but downloaded it. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I tend to do a modest amount of most-wanted gifts for my kids at Christmas, but as for my husband and his parents - their “love language” is gifts. So they show their love for the kids with lots and lots of stuff. I’ve learned to get over it, and it’s certainly not indicative of our income level.

My DH’s family is like this too. My mother in laws love language is gifts. Spends too much money, lots of gifts for the grandkids. I have learned to accept it too. DS gets lots of gifts from that side which lets us be more low key with a few gifts from us. Plus he is the only little kid on my family’s side so get a gift from everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people have so many issues. Christmas is about your family and your children, not signaling wealth or superior morals or minimalism to anyone else. I grew up getting about a dozen presents and my kids do, too. It’s fun to have one day where you are almost overwhelmed by the number of gifts. The chaos and magic of Christmas morning is very special to us. I couldn’t care less what you think that says about me or about my bank accounts.

+1

[Anonymous]

Some people enjoy giving gifts. They say poor people give more money to charity than rich people do, too. I guess those things go hand in hand.

[Anonymous]

I know some people who clearly have more money than we do (based on house size, new cars etc . . .) and who if I go to their house their kids have all the stuff my kids get and more. But if we talk about what my kids get for Christmas or birthday, they make it seem like my kids get way more. So, I assume that since my kids are more middle class, things that we might think of as special and gift worthy they just get during the year? I am not sure.

Like I know parents who swear they never spend more than $100 on Christmas, but their kids have nicer bikes than mine, and they have the same Nintendo Switch mine do, and their kids play an instrument that’s not rented and bring their own skates if we ask them to go ice skating with us. All of those things have been Christmas gifts for my kids, and cost more than $100, except maybe the skates.

Not that I care, but I do wonder.

[Anonymous]

Money talks. Wealth whispers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You people have so many issues. Christmas is about your family and your children, not signaling wealth or superior morals or minimalism to anyone else. I grew up getting about a dozen presents and my kids do, too. It’s fun to have one day where you are almost overwhelmed by the number of gifts. The chaos and magic of Christmas morning is very special to us. I couldn’t care less what you think that says about me or about my bank accounts.

+1

As long as your house doesn’t look like an episode of hoarders when I come over, fine by me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know some people who clearly have more money than we do (based on house size, new cars etc . . .) and who if I go to their house their kids have all the stuff my kids get and more. But if we talk about what my kids get for Christmas or birthday, they make it seem like my kids get way more. So, I assume that since my kids are more middle class, things that we might think of as special and gift worthy they just get during the year? I am not sure.

Like I know parents who swear they never spend more than $100 on Christmas, but their kids have nicer bikes than mine, and they have the same Nintendo Switch mine do, and their kids play an instrument that’s not rented and bring their own skates if we ask them to go ice skating with us. All of those things have been Christmas gifts for my kids, and cost more than $100, except maybe the skates.

Not that I care, but I do wonder.

Yes, I notice this as well. I know kids that have much more than my kids have but they act like we spend too much at Christmas. I think they just don’t realize how much they’re truly spending at Christmas and birthdays or maybe relatives are buying them but we don’t have family so we do buy our kids a lot of gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone read Hillbilly Elegy? He talks about the debt his family would go into around Christmas time to buy truly extravagant gifts that made them miss rent for multiple months. Of course this doesn’t apply across the board but it was an interesting observation the way he tied it into more generally cultural expectations.

Interesting, I never did get around to reading this, but downloaded it. Thanks!

Thank you - just ordered it as as xmas present.

S

[Anonymous]

Not everyone celebrates Christmas or makes a big deal. We buy all year round. If you get a dozen things at one time, most often only 1-2 things are used. Makes no sense to me. If mine need something, they will get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know some people who clearly have more money than we do (based on house size, new cars etc . . .) and who if I go to their house their kids have all the stuff my kids get and more. But if we talk about what my kids get for Christmas or birthday, they make it seem like my kids get way more. So, I assume that since my kids are more middle class, things that we might think of as special and gift worthy they just get during the year? I am not sure.

Like I know parents who swear they never spend more than $100 on Christmas, but their kids have nicer bikes than mine, and they have the same Nintendo Switch mine do, and their kids play an instrument that’s not rented and bring their own skates if we ask them to go ice skating with us. All of those things have been Christmas gifts for my kids, and cost more than $100, except maybe the skates.

Not that I care, but I do wonder.

Anything the children need throughout the year we buy it as needed. If they need a new violin , pajamas , shoes , iPad, laptop, clothing or ski equipment we don’t give that as a gift. The kids would not be excited for a snow board or musical instrument.

For Christmas we simply give them what they truly want. We don’t go overboard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some people who clearly have more money than we do (based on house size, new cars etc . . .) and who if I go to their house their kids have all the stuff my kids get and more. But if we talk about what my kids get for Christmas or birthday, they make it seem like my kids get way more. So, I assume that since my kids are more middle class, things that we might think of as special and gift worthy they just get during the year? I am not sure.

Like I know parents who swear they never spend more than $100 on Christmas, but their kids have nicer bikes than mine, and they have the same Nintendo Switch mine do, and their kids play an instrument that’s not rented and bring their own skates if we ask them to go ice skating with us. All of those things have been Christmas gifts for my kids, and cost more than $100, except maybe the skates.

Not that I care, but I do wonder.

Anything the children need throughout the year we buy it as needed. If they need a new violin , pajamas , shoes , iPad, laptop, clothing or ski equipment we don’t give that as a gift. The kids would not be excited for a snow board or musical instrument.

For Christmas we simply give them what they truly want. We don’t go overboard.

I don’t consider clothing/pajamas gifts usually but when my older kids want $200 sneakers those are absolutely gifts to them and so are electronics or a snowboard but not the musical instrument if it’s needed for their classes or school. I think with more wealthy people they don’t need to spend that much because they already have it all. I would never want my kids to not be excited if they were getting a new iPad or snowboard. I could buy those things year round but then what would my kids consider gifts if they’re used to getting iPads year round?