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

Anonymous wrote:I'm so glad my kids are getting a low-brow Christmas then. Upper class kids are "over" getting presents because they get them year-round? Sad.

Not so, my dc would love a room full of gifts! We choose to have them see the holidays as a time to do more for others and appreciate your loved ones. It’s a value choice that anyone can make regardless of wealth. My sister piles the room full of presents and it is clearly a small esteem issue she has, something she has passed onto her dc.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, financial security means you can purchase those wants whenever. We typically give one present and truly see the holidays asa time to enjoy being with our family and friends. A lot of charitable giving is central to our celebrations.

We can, but we don't. Most "wants" in our house are met with "put it on the birthday/Christmas list." Then gifts, much appreciated for having been anticipated and actually wanted and not crossed off the list during the time of first desire to receipt, are exchanged during our holiday, when we truly enjoy being with family and friends and engaging in acts of service and charitable giving together.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares?

Op and the yappy moms at her kid's school.

BTW OP, it's also low brow to speculate on other people's s income based on these things. I guess you and your friends missed that lesson in etiquette?

Anonymous wrote:Who cares?

Op and the yappy moms at her kid's school.

Rich piles are smaller, but more expensive. Middle class piles are bigger, but cost less.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, financial security means you can purchase those wants whenever. We typically give one present and truly see the holidays asa time to enjoy being with our family and friends. A lot of charitable giving is central to our celebrations.

Gross that you imply people who do buy lots of presents aren’t focused on enjoying time with family and friends.

Not true in my experience, unless you are comparing extreme wealth.

My family had the money to shower us at Christmas without it being a concern. They were very strict the rest of the year with buying just to buy. We got gifts on birthdays and Christmas, only. We were getting robots, computers, trips, annual ski stuff and pretty much whatever was on or lists. Gifts were local, from travels throughout the year or my mom’s annual shopping weekend in the UK, after Thanksgiving.

Dh grew up poor and his Christmas reflected their situation. They got a few items, primarily functional, and a few toys. They couldn’t afford more for the kids. The biggest Christmas they ever had was a year they got bikes. Christmas meant more simple items from the local store.

We are between their incomes now as adults. I adhere to no gifts outside of birthday or Christmas. Gifts should be special and anticipated. Waiting makes the gifts more special. I would say our gifting matches our income. Plenty of gifts, including those last minute things they decide the suddenly want more than anything. They are also getting a trip during winter break.

I'm so glad my kids are getting a low-brow Christmas then. Upper class kids are "over" getting presents because they get them year-round? Sad.

Yes, financial security means you can purchase those wants whenever. We typically give one present and truly see the holidays asa time to enjoy being with our family and friends. A lot of charitable giving is central to our celebrations.

Who cares?

I also find this to be true.

True in my family. As we got older and were a little more financially secure, Christmas became less important because we could buy wants during the year instead of waiting and saving and pooling resources and making them special. My brother’s wife’s family is financially more like mine when I was very little, and shower my nephews in presents, while my side gets nephews one thing each.

But no one in my family talks about this even though it’s obvious because that’s rude. Those moms at your school were snobby and classless (my favorite combination!) for bringing it up. Steer clear.

False.

We were with many of the school parents this week due to all the school functions, but to summarize a couple of the moms said you can tell who didn’t grow up with money by how much they spend on Christmas. The lower income, the bigger the Christmas? True or false?