Can't Afford What Kids Are Asking Santa For

When I was a single parent to my DD, and she asked for something I could not afford I told her to make a list of the top 5 things she wanted and that "I was certain" Santa would bring her at least one of her most wanted. What I did was have her circle things in a toy catalog "from Santa".

Then, I explained that Santa only has SO many of each toy. It never failed that one of the items on her top 5 was something I could afford =-)

Hope that helps!

You get them what you can afford.
Santa brings gifts he picks out special for that child , not always what they ask for.

Either tell them the truth about Santa.

OR

Sit them down and talk to them. Tell them that they won't always get what they are asking for. Talk to them about being grateful for all the things they have and how some kids don't even get ANY Christmas presents. Explain to them the real meaning of Christmas.

"Santa gets to choose and he knew you would like this one more."

Santa brings one gift to our house. My kids know the majority of gifts are from our famly and thus it is not a free for all. Santa is just a helper, sort of like St. Nick. Also, Santa wouldn;t every buy anything that mom and dad wouldn;t approve of or consider wasteful.

I let my kids make a wishlist. I have no problems telling my kids when something is expensive.

Well -are they only asking for one expensive gift or lots of different gifts? We make wish lists at our house and my oldest wrote out his first list to Santa this year. We make it pretty clear that, due to overloading his sleigh, Santa can't bring every single thing on that list and also -what kind of surprise would that be if you knew you would get everything on it? So far we've had no disappointing Christmases, and while mine are still young, I remember clearly not getting everything (or close to everything) on my lists, but I was never disappointed! Can you afford one or two things they each want? What about getting something you know they would enjoy but isn't terribly expensive? Walmart has bikes for young kids 12" and 16" for $30-$60. There are lots of dolls out there that aren't bad as well as sets of cars and trucks. If you can't afford to buy any gifts, call your local Salvation Army to see if they can help you and also Toys for Tots. There's also a charity (I cannot remember the name) here that takes donations of high-quality, good used toys. These toys do NOT look used -really the only difference is that they aren't packaged any longer. Needy parents are given the toys or given the opportunity to shop for the toys at a drastically reduced rate (things cost $1-$5). Maybe you could see if anything like that exists near you.

How expensive is this item? What is it? It's highly likely you can find it used on ebay or somewhere. If not, you may be surprised at how quickly he forgets that item on Christmas morning when he sees a few other things. If he whines about not getting the expensive gift, remind him of how we should be grateful for the gifts we get, and that we don't always get everything we want -even from Santa.

Try your hardest to 'sway them' in a new direction!

Ugh, that's sucks!

Good Luck...you still have a few weeks, here's to hoping they change their minds!

~We make Santa a list...so Santa has some choices and with the understanding that you don't always get what you want...Santa decides!

"Santa travels all over the world, there are so many children ..sometimes it is not possible to get all the presents we want"
Just for fun.....My kid writes at the end of his letter: "any surprise will be greatly appreciated, don't worry Santa if you don't have everything that is on my wish list", I will be happy you were H.!
Take it easy...have fun!

Can you find one on Craigslist or Freecycle...ask around a moms group or church to see if anyone has one they're willing to part with cheaply? Maybe a thrift or consignment store? You'd be amazed what you can find if you put your mind to it and you're OK with something not "brand new" but slightly loved :)

Otherwise get them something small and say Santa's sleigh was full or some such. GL!!!

It's not too early for them to learn you can't have everything in life you ask for. If you've used the make a list approach, then it should be a list; a list includes at least 10 items.

You could explain that Santa has a big job of delivering to all the children and he can't always give everyone everything that is on their list.

Tell him that sometimes Santa makes a decision to give you something he thinks you may like better.

We tell ours that santa brings them special gifts that he picks out especially for them and that what they ask him for is just an idea of what they would like.

my kids would do this alot when my MIL was baby sitting for us and had the TV on all day. Now that they are at school all day and not infront of a TV watching commericals for everything under the sun they are sooooo much better about the gimmies. Might not help you much this year but I say turn off the tv.

I will simply tell my boys that Santa is not bringing said item. My son asked for an x-box 360. I said Santa would not bring that, so he changed it to some games for his wii. Santa has a lot of kids to get for, he can not afford to bring really expensive gifts.

Santa also bring jsut one girft at out house. My Son is a big bream at christmas. This is probley his last year with Santa and I want him to enjoy it. What we did When my DS asked for a girft that was sjut too muc, was I took him to the toy store and said, OK I know you want santa to bring you a (Fill in Blank), But is there anything else here that you might like as well.

Good Luck Sweety!!

I always tell my kids that moms and dads have to send santa money for what ever he brings. Sometimes when they ask for something I just tell them that is more money than we can afford to send santa this year so you will need to think of something less expensive. Some years I have gotten several people (grandparents, my sis, etc) to go in together to get one expensive gift they really wanted.

"Santa has an awful lot of kids to keep happy, so he can't give everyone everything that they ask for." That's what I say and then get them what I can off their list.

Not sure what the gifts are or the answers given. I had success explaining that Santa doesn't have licencing rights to certain products. Crazy I know but it worked. So see Santa doesn't have the rights to produce the product they are asking for and you can't afford it.

I am telling my kids who are almost 4 and one who just turned 5 that just because u ask Santa for something does not always means he brings it. I also tell them Santa does not only bring toys he brings all kinds of other things :) My DD just had her bday so it makes it even harder for us w xmas just around the corner and things are tough everywhere this year-u try to make the best of it and do what u can :) We also use the u get what u get and my kids do pretty well with it-u can ask for what u want but Santa wil do his best, but may not bring all u want. Good Luck! L. :)

Usually the things she puts on her Santa list are items that we already said no to! We finally told her that Santa doesnt bring you items that Mom and dad already said no about. Her lists are a lot simplier now! This year she wants a snuggie and maps (!?!)

We don't do Santa but our kids still ask for things we can't afford. We get them what we get them and encourage them to save their money...LOL I'm sure your kids will be thankful and excited for whatever Santa decides to leave for them on Christmas morning. Good luck and Merry Christmas!!

You could say that some children don't get any presents at all. So when Santa decides who gets what, he tries to be fair and give those kids the more expensive things, because he knows that you will be able to give them other presents.

maybe santa could leave a card saying it was too big to fit in the sleigh, or he was worried it would be ruined if it got wet with the snow, so he is giving him a gift card to put toward the gift?

How old are your children? I am not saying to ruin the nagic and tell them about Santa, but if they are young enough, is it possible to get the gift used? If they are too old to do this, explain about the cost and Santa can't possibly give what everyone wants, even if it is the only thing on the list. Santa needs to choose from things and to see what he can do for each child. I have my kids rate from #1- whatever, in order of importance and they know to put a variety of items and prices. I am sure you know your children and what other cheaper things they would love.

Then it is time to explain the truth about Santa. Then explain to them that you can not afford the things that they have on thier lists. That you would love for them to have all the things they asked for but with finances being what they are it is not possible right now. Kids understand alot more than we give them credit for, you would be surprised by what they are willing to do once they know the whole truth.

My husband and I never did the Santa Clause thing and my kids know up front how much money we have to spend on Christmas and they make a list to stay within thier budget; we have four kids ages 10-19. Chrisitmas is still a magical time for them and they realize that some years are better than others and they learn to adjust.

My 7 year olds want an ipod touch. I could pay for it if I wanted to so that's not the issue. I just won't get it for them. I suggested that they ask for money for Christmas. I told them that if they collected their allowance, asked for money for Christmas and their birthday then they could work to save money for it.
When we saw Santa my daughter told him she wanted the ipod touch. I had to prompt her three times before she very grudgingly said "or money".
This way you can give them $10 or $100 whatever you can at the time.

I do sympathize with your situation. As parents, we do get ourselves painted into a corner from time to time. This is one of those tangled webs so many parents get caught in. I realize that it is too late to start over and do it differently from the beginning, but I would suggest to those readers whose children are younger that they consider allowing their child to participate in the fun of pretending the whole Santa thing together. This really can take the stress off the parents and prevents the big let down when they eventually discover the truth. When I was a child, I will never forget how hurt I was to discover that my parents had lied to me about Santa. Older children laughed at me and told me what a fool I was to still believe. I must have been about 6 or 7 years old. I remember thinking that my parents were cruel to set me up this way.

Nonetheless, the situation is what it is now and it is best to make the best of it.

You might try a couple of strategies. First, you might make sure he understands that Santa, however kind and generous he may be, does not have unlimited resources. It is not like ordering items from a catalog where you place an order and that is what you get. You can then tell him that it helps Santa to get a list of choices. You might even say something like, "You know, if you only give Santa one idea and he doesn't have that to give you, then there is no telling what you might get instead. He could end up giving you something you already have or baby's toy. If it was me, I think I would help Santa out with a few more ideas. Otherwise, there is just no telling what might happen."

If he insists that this is the only item he desires, you could tell him that, even if Santa cannot bring him that gift, that you will help him set up a plan to save up for it. You can remind him that Santa wants children to be happy and likes to bring them gifts, but that we do not expect him to give us whatever we ask for. Most of what we have in life is what we earn for ourselves and we can set our own goals and achieve them. Sometimes we just have to be willing to invest our own patience and effort into our goals. Santa just gives gifts. He does not achieve our goals for us.

Keep in mind that we are not here to give children whatever they ask for. We are here to teach them how to choose to be happy as they develop their inner potential to build the life they are living. This is just another teachable moment. Please don't let it diminish your happiness and the joy of the holidays!