My kids normally have one big item that they ask for and that is it. They know that we can't afford much. Now I do ask for a list of about 3 items but they know they will only get one item on that list and some smaller things. I normally spend about 200 as well. Now we don't spend as much on the skids b/c they are only here every other weekend and only use that stuff that amount of time so no need to spend a whole lot on them. They get that and have had no problems with it, however I also don't flaunt it in their faces either. When they are with their mom opening her gifts my kids open their gifts from me their mom so win win.

I don;t understand why these kids seem to think that they should get anything at all let alone a HUGE list of EXPENSIVE things. :sick:

I'm evil. }:) I'd purposely give less than she is demanding. I don't respond well to demands.

what ever happened to small stuff like nail polish, eye shadow, a purse? I dont understand this give me attitude. My parents usually gave me a big gift but I never put anything about $30 on my Christmas list and the big gift that I got was NEVER asked for or hinted at my mom and dad just did it. I dont understand, Christmas isnt about open gifts and run it is about spending time with family (or if religious its about that too). I feel bad for my Future step kids, if I ever get a list like that when they get older they better hope that they get anything and future DH hates to shop so I know he will be giving me the money to do it.

The older SD's want an iPad for Christmas. Each. I had to catch myself from laughing out loud in their faces. Luckily DH is very *ahem* frugal so that won't be happening any time soon. He is the worst budgeter though. He budgeted $75 each for them for Christmas knowing full well nothing on their list is less than $150. I wouldn't mind only spending $75 each on them, but I would much rather have a realistic budget to work with.

Crazo spends about $1,000.00 on each kid a year. Yes, that right a grand. Myfsd was the only 9yrs old I knew that had a $450.00 phone and no one to call.

We buy a family gift for the skids because Crazo goes overboard on everything.

We have done a trampoline, basketball goal, ping pong table, and scooters.

This year we are talking about a trip.

Why do so many of these BM's think they can buy their kids? The skids love the gift we get them because we do it with them. We have fun family time.

Drama, Drama, Drama!

I remember VD's request for a flat screen TV in "her room" for EASTER!! Yes EASTER!! Not Xmas, not b-day!! This was when she was not yet 10 (four years ago) and the year that she turned us in with the help of the Behemoth to CPS for having them empty waste paper baskets and pick up twigs!!!

DH is responsible for buying his kid gifts for any occasion. Last Christmas he said no gifts between the two of us, then turned around and spent about $500 on his kid. Really DH, you're going to be a cheapskate with me but spoil your kid? Nice.

When I disengaged, I stopped spending MY money on DH's kid. I do not buy her gifts for birthday's or Christmas. If we happen to be somewhere and she wants something, I send her straight to her father.

Not my kid, not my problem.

LOL.. All my skids (the 3 boys) asked for the same exact items: The brand new I Phone, IPad's (and definitely NOT the generic kind..yes, they wrote that down!!!), IPod Touch and DSI system with atleast 5 games each (and yes, they wrote that down too!!!!) We told them to come down to earth!!! lol

Now my DD7.. God I love her (and raising her right).. the most expensive item she asked for was $30 or less (thnk I got it for $25)...

We got the boys bikes and some nerf guns and stuff...a nice Christmas no doubt...but they wont be happy! Last yr I ran myself ragged and they all complained the next day that it wasnt enough!!! So, I told DH I was NOT gonna do that this year...and I didnt!

When I was a kid, I got maybe 4 or 5 things, tops.. now its sooooo ridiculous huh..

I buy nothing for SD and one gift or two for SS. Budget around $100. But this year, even less we are taking the kids we like on a cruise over Christmas. My BS is upset that we are not getting much. But, he always gets big gifts from Aunts and Uncles so he will be fine. SS could care less.

i think ags (skids) will get $50 - $75 each for christmas..... either gift card or cash, you know giving it the real personal touch w/love! }:-)

We have budgeted abot 300.00 a piece for my 3 kids. This is their only home and for all intents and purposes they only have one set of grandparents so all in all I feel like it is a comfortable amount for us. I have budgeted 0 for my ss. He does not visit, nor call-when my dh calls him on occassion they talk for about 5 minutes. My dh only sees him if mil is giving dh a ride somewhere and happens to have ss along. I figure mil can get him gifts.

He's not been nearly as entitled as some others on here so I am thankful for that. Although I am expecting a phone call initiaed by him about 2 weeks before xmas and some talk about him wanting to visit (translation-I want to come by and pick up gifts). I know the first year he moved in with bm, while my dh was in Iraq, he called me (he NEVER called like the whole year) but called a few weeks before his bday to let me know that it was almost his bday AND that he guessed he'd just pick up his bday check from MY aunt at his mil's hosue next time he visited. I was like, "um, why would you think she is going to send you a check? You should never assume you are getting a gift or expect one" and his response, "Well,she will send it there, right?"-I was like, "No, of course not she doesnt even KNOW mil-why on earth would she send YOU money there?". He pretty much hung up on me after that.

I'm disengaged.....so no present buying etc from me !! I do still play the present game though..... you know think about how much I MAY have spent on sd21 if she had been even 1 % normal or bearable or human OR treated my DH with an oz of respect in the last 7 years...... Then OFF I go and spend ALL that on me !!

The skids have had like 3 Christmases every year for like 16 years or so ( BM, with DH, and then DH's parents ) so they have done alright for presents, etc!!

I cannot believe some of the stuff being asked for...... And even more shocked to see that in most cases it WILL be given to the skids!! Expensive, big things like that would have to be given for like Christmas AND Birthday AND shared !!! Not that I ever would have bought that stuff for them or ever will now !!

Hell, DH and I don't buy ourselves gifts....we kind of spoil ourselves through the year, spread it out !! Rather than a one day overdose on the 25th Dec !!

Oh gawd the dreaded Christmas list! I stopped being involved with giving gifts to the skids a few years ago, but it still irritates me when DH gets the list. I'm not sure why SD26 still sends one, since all DH does now is send a check for I think $25 or $50. She's not the brightest bulb in the box I suppose.

We are budgeting $20 for DH, me, and each of our kids so that DH can spend more on the skids.

Wow... Um DH and I go xmas shopping together but I am the one who picks out everything. Even tho SS11 gets many xmas' and way more presents than my kids, I am always fair. Same amount on each kid. I am always fair/ even/ way outgoig to make sure SS feels treated equal to our DDs. We normally spend wayyy too much on all of the kids. I'm not even going to say the amount. Lol. We also provide family members with tons of gifts and eachother. We go way out on holidays. DH and I were raised pretty poor and never had the kind of Christmas that we hive our kids. I'm a really good shopper and I make sure they all get tons n tons of stuff to open. SS is a spoiled ungrateful brat. My DD3 is the most loving, kind, caring, giving little girl in the world. She understands and wants to help anyone who she knows is going without. This year is going to be wayyy different. This year the kids are taking half of everything they get and we are going to go donate it. They r not allowed to open the gifts before hand. We are also going to go do community service together for the holidays. Just bc my kids are spoiled doesn't mean I want them to be ungrateful. I want them to understand and appreciate where DH and I came from and that we have worked very hard to get where we are today. I love providing a life style for my kids but at the same time my kids will not think everythings going to be handed to them on a silver platter. I feel there is nothing wrong with spoiling your child and providing a good life style for them AS LONG as you are willing to put in the effort and teach them the value of a dollar, to be thankful, to never live outside of their means and that life is not about money. It is nice to have money and nice things but the true meaning of life is about love, kindness and finding your purpose in life and helping out others out of the kindness of your heart, and to never expect anything in return.

We got the "Christmas email" two nights ago!

It's funny, BM only gives us the high-dollar items that SD15 wants. This year it was an iPod Touch (what is that, $200+ for the GBs she wanted?) and a Kindle Fire ($200). DH replied with, "1) she doesn't want a Kindle Fire, she wants a plain Kindle,(ed note: $79) quit projecting your greed on her, and 2) why should we bother when you take everything away anyway?"

In previous years when we've fallen for it, we find that BM spends ~$50 on SD15, and ~$300 on her little brother. We're subsidizing BM, that's what we're doing.

We quit. No BM-dictated expensive gifts. Last year, we decided to get her an expensive summer camp that she LOVED. SD15 appreciates what we give her (peace and quiet and affection) much more than any toy anyway.

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