The boys have been nagging me for weeks to name the day when the Christmas tree will go up.

I've so far managed to avoid committing myself. It would be on Christmas Eve if I had my way, but I don't think I will be able to hold out that long.

Our two younger boys have already let it be known what they would wish to find in their stockings. They've given up the pretence of writing to Santa and now just write out a shopping list for the Christmas fairy (I think that must be me).

The youngest did add a plea for world peace and an end to poverty to his Christmas wish list, although he is as likely to get that as he is the long list of Playstation games he has also requested.

It gets ever more difficult to think of worthwhile things to buy the boys. They really do have everything they need and I am loathe to waste our hard-earned money on anything that will not be properly appreciated. When I suggested to our middle son that we might go for a slightly 'reduced' Christmas this year as finances were a bit 'tight', he was absolutely aghast.

He'd never heard of such a thing. We have only ourselves to blame as we have clearly indulged our children far too much in previous years.

I also have a dilemma over what to buy for nephews and nieces and the children of a couple of close friends who are now, like our own boys, past the toy stage.

When I asked their parents for some ideas, the consensus seemed to be that the best thing to give teenagers is cash, but it doesn't feel right simply popping a tenner into an envelope. I feel a present should be just that – something that I have put some thought into, made an effort with and wrapped up in pretty paper and a bit of Christmas tinsel.

Wandering around the shops looking for inspiration doesn't help either as there is so much on display and the older I get, the more I seem to dither when presented with too much choice.

Thank goodness Christmas only comes once a year.