Well Christmas is going to be rough this year we are in a finacial rut right now and i have 4 children. The oldest ones i can deal with they will understand why theres not much under the tree this year but how do you tell a 6 yo girl that? She still belives in Santa and i dont want to crush that in her and i cant give her more because of that thats just not fair. So my question is how do i tell my daughter or explain this to her with out crushing that belief in Santa. I know i could just not say anything and just let her open whatever we can manage to get for them but shes made her list to Santa already andits really not that big but still over our budget per child. What do you think would be the best way to go about this? And please noone say well you can afford the internet and all that but no x-mas for your kids cause things are tight i can pay my bills and keep food in the house just cant afford a large bill for x-mas. Thanks in advance
2007-11-26 07:44:51 · 14 answers · asked by Tiffany M 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
big lots dollar stores dollar general....my fav kind of store shop there regularly...my biggest problem is she is not a girly girl she never plays with dolls or any of the typical girl stuff...they all will have lenty of gifts there grandma always goes overboard in fact sh already has a Wii for the boys..i guess i just feel guilty because we cant have the kind of x-mas they are used to this year and its hard to explain that to her when she so used to having one
2007-11-26 08:03:31 · update #1
Been there many years honey-- I know its hard, One year I told my kids that I still have to pay for all the ones Santa has to pick up, cause his elves work in a wood shop, not an electric store, those gifts are picked up and paid back. It helped, they understood. Then yes go shopping at dollar tree or Big Lots, they have many gifts for a reasonable price
You also did not say how old the others kids were, would they understand if they had one gift, but will go after Christmas
when your income taxes come in?
Okay read your add on---- Have grandma bring her gifts, to open on Christmas Day. That way she has much to open that morning, would Grandma understand and do this for you this year???
2007-11-26 08:03:18 · answer #1 · answered by just me 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Tell her Santa cannot give everything on the list because there are SOOO many other kids out there. Sit down with her and have her pick 2 things on her list she wants the most. Make sure you get those 2 things and the rest is whatever you can afford, pick off the list. Don't spend so much time worrying about what you can't have and try to appreciate the fact that you are alive and your kids are happy and healthy. You are teaching your kids to be materialistic and not teaching them the true meaning of Christmas, which is GIVING and time together as a family and JESUS' birthday, not what's under the tree. I could spend $4000 on christmas but what good does it do? Toys that will get played with for a while and then thrown in the corner?
2007-11-26 07:58:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
You can go to the Christmas Bureau to apply for a Christmas hamper perhaps in your area? Christmas is a special meaning for kids, I know. I have a almost 6 year old son. I wouldn't quash her dreams that there isn't a Santa. Look for deals or sales in your flyer to the nearest store near you. At least one present from Santa she would be happy I bet. Santa is always magic for kids. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars on gifts for people that you love. Maybe stress that material things don't give love. I know it will be hard, I am a single parent myself.
Do you really have to buy her 10 things or can you buy her one big thing say for example a bike under the tree. I am just saying this as an example only. See what there is on sale, It is the thought that counts not how much you spend on someone.
2007-11-26 08:00:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, there's no reason to shatter her belief in Santa. If I were you, I would talk about Santa to her. Talk about how he takes presents to EVERYONE, all over the world. Talk about the fact that people in different countries get different things. Go to the library and try and find a book which has pictures of Santa delivering to germany, france, africa, etc, and let her see all the different cultures and levels of wealth and poverty. obviously she wont understand the world's problems, but she might pick up on the fact that some children get homemade presents, or wooden toys, or cloth dollies, rather than shop-bought stuff. I dont know if I am explaining this too well, but I hope you kinda get what I'm saying...
Everyone is different and we all have christmas in our own special ways. As long as you are all together and you have family...it will be great.
2007-11-26 08:05:42 · answer #4 · answered by pinkygazoo 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My parents always led me to believe that Santa only brought you SOME of the things on your list. We didn't have much money when I was a little kid. I never thought twice about it. I just thought then that I send Santa my list and he picks out some of the things and that's what I got. Maybe tell her that Santa can't give everyone everything on their list because that would be more presents than he can carry? Always let her know that Christmas is truly about Jesus being born on earth and how that's the most important part, not getting everything you want!
2007-11-26 08:04:29 · answer #5 · answered by sfc02d 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What I do with my kids is have them write a list with about 3 things they really want, then I get them one and have Santa get them one. Then I go to the dollar store and buy stocking stuffers.
I have 5 kids and have a very tight budget also. If you need, just explain to her that money is tight and hopefully Santa will bring her at least one of the gifts.
Good luck.
2007-11-26 07:59:36 · answer #6 · answered by It's me 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Santa only gives my kids 1 or 2 gifts (whateveer is in the budget that year). This year he will only be bringing 1. So my advice would be to let her know that santa has a lot of children to be concerned w/ so he may not be able to get everything on her list.
good luck
2007-11-26 07:51:05 · answer #7 · answered by miranda - 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Even before we got rid of Santa, he only ever left one gift per person. How could he possibly manage to fulfill the list of every child every where? You dd is old enough to understand this kind of logic.
If your older children still play along, then get them small gifts from Santa too and it will all seem quite fair to your youngest.
2007-11-26 08:09:48 · answer #8 · answered by Terrible Threes 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tell her Santa was very busy this year because there were a lot of unprivileged kids to give to and he thought she would not mind giving up a few of her gifts because she's a very nice person, and doesn't it make her feel great that she helped others by giving up some of her own gifts.
2007-11-26 09:01:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Learn to shop cheap. Go to DollarTree, 99 cents store, and Big Lots. You can find awesome gifts there for really cheap. I got my daughter a coloring book and crayons for a total of $2 plus tax. She loves it and plays with it forever. With $10 at DollarTree I'm sure you could find gifts for all 4 of your kids. Be creative.
2007-11-26 07:49:05 · answer #10 · answered by Precious 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋