Do you buy Christmas presents for your friends' kids (renting, to buy)

[tahiti]

It can spiral out of control very quickly (the list grows exponentially as time goes on) and you're getting (hell, you've gotten) to that point. You've been given good suggestions, I like telling the friends that you will give some toys to Toys to Tots or another organization who provides to those less fortunate. Believe me, those kids have tons of crap they will never play with.

[bradykp]

Originally Posted by Ivan Putski

We don't have kids (yet) but they've bought us something for our house or given us gift cards etc. in the past. It was fine when one of my friends had their first kid (and that was it) but now it's becoming untenable. I'm going to tell them to not get us anything this year and leave it at that.

it's really entirely up to you. it's nice of you to do it, but if i got a gift from everyone of my close friends for my kids, i'd need a storage unit for the toys. i don't even like the quantity of gifts we get from family!

i think it's nice when people do this for the birth of the child, and maybe if you're really close, as in, you're even close to the kids, you buy something for their birthday or give them some money towards college...stuff like that. but other holidays...i'd say def excessive. but it's gift giving...you do what you want.

[RobRiguez]

For me it really depends on how close I am to them. When I had the money, I would buy for 2 of my friends kids (7 of them) because I view them as my nieces and nephews. They all call me Uncle Rob so they are simply part of my family. We share all holidays with them and Vice Versa.

After the last few years of less and less income, I simply don't have it any more. They still get something small, usually what would be considered a stocking stuffer. The older ones get a $10 gift card of some sort but thats about it. If I still had the money, I would still be buying them nice presents.

The rest of the people I know (big difference between an acquaintance / colleague and a "Friend") might get a holiday card, if I send any, if I remember. Mostly I just send blast text messages the day of wishing them and their familys a happy/merry whatever.

[HalfFull]

We do buy for the kids of a couple of our very closest friends. Nothing big, but it's a fun tradition.

[kjd72]

It's got to end, or else you will be doing this forever. Many might say what are you getting out of it, I know that really doesn't matter but spending money you may or may not have could be an issue.
Its like a person that dont get married, your paying for every wedding you attend you buy a gift, but nobody is getting you anything. Why because your not getting married or having kids? People who do these things get rewarded but the ones that don't get nothing but are expected to give over and over, thats fine if you can or want to but what what about those who can't or don't want to?

[GiantRutgersfan]

I disagree and think you should buy them something small for Christmas, especially if you don't have kids.

You don't have to buy for everybody, but young kids of close friends are a yes to me

[ansky]

Definitely not. It will spiral out of control to no end. If the friend gives your kid a gift first, just politely thank them and don't reciprocate. Hopefully they take the hint and won't buy another gift next year.

[kjd72]

I think a 1st birthday is good enough, if your like me who has a rather large group of friends that ALL have kids it gets expensive, most of my friends have three kids each. So far I've counted about 22 kids all young too!! So if I were to give a present for all of them even small presents I would have no money to do anything, pay bills, gas, eat. haha..

I'm sure people here have nieces, and nephews probably more then a few, so after buying gifts for them whats left? Do what ever you think you need to do but remember this, who would give presents to your kids if it was the other way around? I'm sure if you had 3 or 5 kids friends wouldn't be so generous, and probably joke (but not really) saying... so is this the last one? lol. I bet it would happen.

[ocnjgirl]

I only do this for my best friend's kids in Florida, but we've been friends for 35 years.

[hrjersey]

If you're that close I can see how this happened but if you want to stop it...Here's a suggestion on how to break the cycle. I recommend making a donation in the name of each child (it doesn't have to be a lot, they don't even need to know how much)...donate a toy or give to a community organization in each child's name. Give each child a card and identify that a gift was given in their name. That shows you've thought of each of them and can get them thinking about others for the holidays. They may not "get it' now and of course not getting a toy can be a let down but if the parents do the right thing and talk it up they should feel good about it.