Grandparent Grinches?
Not in my family.
A new survey says, due to the current state of the economy, grandparents won’t be buying as many gifts for their grandkids this year.
This is heartbreaking news for families the world over who rely on grandparents to play Santa.
Last year I asked: Who needs Santa when you’ve got generous grandparents?
I wasn’t kidding.
My daughter and my nephew are blessed beyond words that my parents spoil them rotten. I can’t speak for my brother’s family, but I know for a fact that my daughter’s Christmas would not be nearly as merry and bright if it were not for all the loot my parents shower her with.
Right now my daughter has no less than 14 gifts under the tree—-all courtesy of grandma and grandpa-pa.
Yes, it’s excessive, but I can’t stop them from doing what they do.
Though, apparently, my parents are not doing what other grandparents are doing this holiday season. According to a poll conducted by grandparents.com:
Forty-six percent of grandparents surveyed said that they will be spending less per toy this year–between $10 and $20 rather than the $25 plus they spent last year. In doing so, grandparents say they hope to give as many gifts as they did last year, but not spend as much doing so.
Is that thinking like a seasoned grandparent, or what?
Kids are kids. Most could care less what’s inside the presents (okay, maybe they don’t really love the argyle socks and purple panties), as long as they’ve got a ton to open on Christmas morning.
You could buy a six-pack of Play-Doh, take it apart, wrap each individually, and my 5-year-old would think that she was the luckiest kid on the planet because she had not ONE, but SIX gifts to open Christmas morning.
Because to a 5-year-old having more is always better… and the person with the most gifts under the tree is “the best.”
That said, the survey also found that 43% of grandparents are not playing the numbers game this year. The group admitted that they plan to buy fewer gifts than they had in the past. No matter how many tears are shed in the process.
Finally, the survey finding that stood out the most to me was this:
90% of grandparents surveyed say they plan to limit their shopping to discount stores like Wal-Mart and Target.
So, Santa shops at Wal-Mart and Target… may I suggest the Dollar Store too.
Are you spending less on Christmas gifts this year?
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