re: I know Christmas isn't about money...

But I spent some of my money finally on a new tv for our living room, we finally have a flatscreen in 2012. So I guess I feel guilty that I splurged (Well kinda it was like $400) But I guess LO enjoys it as much as I do.

Quoting ♥supermommy:" Yeah, it's just me and her living together, so if I get a tree and put 4 boxes under it I'm going to feel bad :/"

how about doing a cheaper gifts or layway. when my son was 4 I think I spent about 250 on everything. kmart had alot of cheaper toys

Quoting Leash25:" how about doing a cheaper gifts or layway. when my son was 4 I think I spent about 250 on everything. kmart had alot of cheaper toys"

Yeah I think I'm going to do one big gift then whatever I can get on black friday at walmart for the small gifts.

look or sales. i just got a free $50 little people playset for spending $75 at toysrus. Deals like that are awesome, plus i got a 10dollar gift card for spending 75 as well. Dollar tree actually has some cool things for kids and everythings a dollar. If you buy online checkout retailmenot.com before you buy anything..you can usually find coupon codes. Try goin=g to ac moore and buying her some craft stuff if she likes crafts...ac moore ALWAYS has 50% off coupons..so sign up on their website for deals like that

I know it's hard, I can't say I really understand because my DD will be only 11 months and won't remember, but I still feel like smurf. Her Christmas from us will be clothes, a puzzle and one of those things she can ride or push while she walks. I'm lucky she will be getting more from her Grandpa. I'm sure your daughter will enjoy what you got for her and your right, Christmas really isn't about gifts. Just enjoy the time together as a family, decorate the tree together, bake some cookies or something and focus on the family aspect of it and the true meaning of Christmas.

You don't "owe" your daughter anything. Gifts are exactly that - children shouldn't be brought up expecting ANYTHING, and appreciate what IS given. We don't go overboard for Christmas, ever - there really isn't a reason and it goes against the values we are trying to instill in them. They get a few small items and they are grateful for it and we put emphasis on the other parts of the holiday that are more important.

Do what you can for your daughter - but don't feel like you "owe" gifts to your children because you simply don't. She's 4 - my son is almost 4, and I can promise you that he really, really won't care whether he gets 5 toy cars or 2.

Quoting LolaMcKitten:" You don't "owe" your daughter anything. Gifts are exactly that - children shouldn't be brought up expecting ... [snip!] ... don't. She's 4 - my son is almost 4, and I can promise you that he really, really won't care whether he gets 5 toy cars or 2. "

I actually DO owe my daughter a lot.. I owe her a happy childhood, I owe her food, shelter, clothing, love and for her not to feel like she's "poor" or "underprivileged"

And and I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas, as a child I used to strongly dislike it because other children got so much more and so much nicer things than I did, and I felt embarrassed about it, and I don't want Chloe to have to go through that ever, even if it is just material things I don't want Chloe to have to feel bad about something, but I do know at 4 she's not going to experience this but she will eventually. I don't know how to change the way I think, and I'm sure other moms out there feel the same, I'm in school, not only to be able to stop living paycheck to paycheck, but I wanna be able to spoil my daughter, I was never really spoiled and it kinda sucks IMO.

Overdoing it out of guilt will end up backfiring on you later on in life. The best thing to do is just buy one nice gift, and a few small basic ones.

<blockquote><b>Quoting ♥supermommy:</b>" I actually DO owe my daughter a lot.. I owe her a happy childhood, I owe her food, shelter, clothing, ... [snip!] ... stop living paycheck to paycheck, but I wanna be able to spoil my daughter, I was never really spoiled and it kinda sucks IMO."</blockquote>




Aside from the fact that I meant you didnt "owe" her gifts, i wasnt refering to her other needs, obviously - the fact that you think spoiling your daughter =a happy childhood is quite sad.

Quoting LolaMcKitten:" <blockquote><b>Quoting ♥supermommy:</b>" I actually DO owe my daughter a lot.. ... [snip!] ... wasnt refering to her other needs, obviously - the fact that you think spoiling your daughter =a happy childhood is quite sad."

 
I had a pretty decent childhood and we were the poorest of poor. When she looks back on her life she's not going to think about how much was under the Christmas tree every year.

Quoting LolaMcKitten:" <blockquote><b>Quoting ♥supermommy:</b>" I actually DO owe my daughter a lot.. ... [snip!] ... wasnt refering to her other needs, obviously - the fact that you think spoiling your daughter =a happy childhood is quite sad."

Well I had a bad childhood, both financially and emotionally. But the only thing I can do is at least make hers better in both ways.

Quoting ♥supermommy:" Well I had a bad childhood, both financially and emotionally. But the only thing I can do is at least make hers better in both ways. "

And my parents weren't poor, just cheap, and selfish.

You could go to walmart and get her a couple small toys for little money. I've done christmas for $30 per child before like that. baby dolls are cheap, as are barbies. Target has cheap DVD's, dollar store has cheap candy for stockings. Even a $1 mug with some hot chocolate.. great gift. Coloring books, bubbles..

It's probably the guilt I feel from TTC at 16. I'm gonna go with that. But buying her gifts isn't going to make that better. Graduating nursing school will though.

Quoting ♥supermommy:" It's probably the guilt I feel from TTC at 16. I'm gonna go with that. But buying her gifts isn't going to make that better. Graduating nursing school will though."

how far are you into nursing school? (I'm an RN... love my job)