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AIBU?

To not buy dd1 the "ONLY thing in the world" she wants for xmas/birthday?

213 replies

D0oinMeCleanin · 06/11/2013 10:15

She will even "sell me her Kindle Fire, 3DS, ipod nano, ipig and her soul" if I buy her one. She tried to sell me her Xbox, until I pointed out that it was not hers to sell and already belonged to me Grin She won't sell me her bike, she loves it too much.

She wants an ipad air. I do not want to buy her one. Not because we cannot afford one, it would be a big chunk of our christmas budget and she'd have to not do any big birthday celebrations, but we could afford one just.

The reason I do not want to buy her one is that a) I begrudge paying Apple's prices which I believe are massively inflated simply because it is an Apple product and people blindly believe they are best (although admittedly upon looking further into it ipad air is very impressive, but then so is the new Google Nexus) and b) Going on what she is wanting to use it for, there are more suitable, cheaper tablets out there for her, that do the job just as well but without Apple's price tag.

She is wanting it primarily for taking photos and videos, watching movies on the go and playing minecraft. The Galaxy Tab 2 is just as suitable for her. It's processor is slower, but as she is not as massive gamer, she'll hardly notice this and it's camera is not as good, but she is not a photographer, she wants it simply to take photos of her dogs to edit in photo editor/whatever it is she uses, a 3MP camera will do the job adequately. When it comes to watching movies, the ipad air has a much better display, however once you get past 1080p, the difference is hardly noticeable, imo, the Tab 2 has a bigger screen (something which she would notice) and plays a higher number of file types, meaning less pestering me to convert files for her and the Tab 2 has expandable memory, which she will need.

She also wants Skype/Facetime etc. to keep in touch with her Aunt. Both devices have HD web cams.

And the biggest bonus is that the Tab 2 is significantly cheaper. I do not believe the Air is £200+ better than the Tab 2. Plus 2 weeks after she gets it, she'll be moaning she's run out of space on it and asking me where her memory card is so she can swap it for a bigger one, just like she did with her ipod and kindle fire.

I've spoken to her about this and she is adamant that it is ONLY the ipad air she wants, although she is unable to tell me why beyond "It's the best because it's ipad and all my friends have one and Mr. X (her new teacher) has one because it's the best and if he says it's the best, it must be the best, btw we also need to buy a Mac because they are better than Windows PCs"

If she can't have the ipad Air, she'd rather have the cash to save towards the ipad, than the Tab 2.

She's a bit of a sheep and easily sold to.

OP posts:
MadeOfStarDust · 06/11/2013 10:19

just say no.... our house would be full of crap the kids want if we gave in, and they would spend all day on gadgets too... but we say no...

Hubby stopped them wanting ANY apple stuff when he showed them the reports on suicide netting at the apple factories in China!

KungFuBustle · 06/11/2013 10:19

I wouldn't. DS wants a tablet for similar purposes, DMIL got him one for £40. Can't recall the brand but I can ask er and pm you.

I'm on a £70 asda tab now. It's great, sturdy and does the job. Doesn't kindle fire do the all singing all dancing anyway?

I don't blame you for begrudging Apple the money they ask.

Chattymummyhere · 06/11/2013 10:21

I think I'm on DD's side.. But then I would say let her save up/sell things etc to earn money to buy one so give her cash for christmas.

I'm an apple user and you can easily tell the difference when using different products, and although 1mp or 2 might not seem a lot it can make a massive difference, screen size never bothers me I can plug it all into the tv anyway if I want it bigger or use the wireless connecter to show photos/movies etc around the house.

She could skype but if the camera is not good the picture wont be good, facetime is a apple thing.

Mac books are also better I'm saving for one myself, they run better the programs are nicer etc

Currently using a crap bag Microsoft laptop that's 4months old and keeps crashing randomly...

EvaBeaversProtege · 06/11/2013 10:21

What age is she?

My dd is 12 in December & also looking one.

I don't even know how much they are.

Ragwort · 06/11/2013 10:22

How old is your DD? My DS is 12 and would no doubt love an ipad - (constantly borrowing his 80 year old grandma's Grin) but he just wouldn't dream of expecting such an expensive gift.

I get round this sort of thing (which was PS3 so not nearly in such an expensive league!) by saying 'we will contribute £X and if you really want it you will have to put the remainder towards it'. He understood that and did buy a PS3 last year - we paid half and he used savings (Christmas & Birthday money) to pay the balance.

I strongly believe that children need to understand the value of money; can you work out your hourly income rate and put it to your DD that to receive a £400+ gift you would have to work X number of hours - that always puts things into perspective for me.

Or just say No Grin.

Harryhairypig · 06/11/2013 10:22

give her the money to save up towards it. I am doing the same with mine who want a large item that costs more than we want to spend.

Harryhairypig · 06/11/2013 10:22

give her the money to save up towards it. I am doing the same with mine who want a large item that costs more than we want to spend.

chocoluvva · 06/11/2013 10:24

My sympathies - my DD was the same about getting an iPhone 4S (or something) last Christmas. She did get it as a combined present from us and her GPs.

Recently I upgraded my very basic phone (not even a smart phone) to a previously unheard make of smart phone for almost no cost. It has a 10MP camera! DD's phone is undoubtedly slightly better than mine but with her contract (admittedly gives her unlimited mobile data) cost hundreds of pounds more than mine!!

If I was you I'd hold off for as long as possible just in case she changes her mind and give her the cost of the Tab 2 - she might change her mind about the air pad when it comes to spending her own money on it.

D0oinMeCleanin · 06/11/2013 10:24

It's only the Kindle Fire she has, not the HD one, so it has no camera function or web cam. I did warn her this when she bought it (she sold older gadgets and used birthday money to buy herself it) but Amazon told her it was the best, so it must be the best Hmm

She does not, imo, need a device as powerful or expensive as the ipad air for what she is wanting to do with it.

OP posts:
Pennyacrossthehall · 06/11/2013 10:25

Given that she has a Kindle Fire, doesn't that already do most of what she says she wants an iPad for? (I don't own one, but thought they were just branded Android tablets?)

And, also, like you I think Apple are over-priced and over-hyped. Hmm

D0oinMeCleanin · 06/11/2013 10:28

Ah, if Facetime is only Apple, then that could be a big selling point for me because her Aunt is currently selling her iphone in order to buy a Galaxy Note, so won't have Facetime anymore. They use Skype atm on my phone or the netbook.

She'll be 10. She's wanting it as a joint xmas/birthday present.

OP posts:
SaucyJack · 06/11/2013 10:28

Oh God, YANBU.

What kind of world are your kids growing up in where a Galaxy tablet thingy of their own is some sort of booby prize to be refused?

I'd seriously be considering getting her a big fat box of nothing.

SaucyJack · 06/11/2013 10:28

10??!!

ilovesooty · 06/11/2013 10:29

There are other tablets that would do the job. I'm amazed at the level of expenditure she expects and I think her sheep like thinking needs to be challenged.

Aeroaddict · 06/11/2013 10:30

I'd give her the cash towards it. Then you are both getting close to what you want. You have only spent what you think it is worth, and she will get her ipad air eventually unless a new must have gadget comes out before she has saved enough

ilovesooty · 06/11/2013 10:30

10? Words fail me.

Ragwort · 06/11/2013 10:31

10? Shock You would be totally mad to buy her such an expensive present.

My S didn't even get a mobile phone until his first Christmas after starting secondary school.

chocoluvva · 06/11/2013 10:32

It's blimmin annoying difficult when 'all' their friends have ridiculously very expensive stuff. Angry

Pennyacrossthehall · 06/11/2013 10:34

I see your answer re Kindle Fire.

Also: sometimes you can't have everything you want. That's also a useful lesson.

KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 06/11/2013 10:34

I'm in the 'just say no' and be clear about it camp as well. DS has been asking for an iPad for 2 christmas's now and he's not getting one and has been told so. He's getting a Kindle Fire HD. It does what he wants to do with a iPad mini, so can live with it.

EvaBeaversProtege · 06/11/2013 10:37

At 10, no.

She isn't mature enough to loom after it, well maybe she is, but my dd wouldn't have been.

At 10 dd got her first Nokia phone :)

Dh has said it isn't an air dd is looking for but a tablet thing the keyboard attaches to, any ideas what that may be?

Dds birthday is December 24 so we often (if she wants a big item) get it for both.

MollyHooper · 06/11/2013 10:38

Apple care is also very expensive, you get much better insurance deals on other tablets.

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SidneyBristow · 06/11/2013 10:40

There is absolutely no way I would buy or contribute to something as expensive as an Air for a 10yo. Even less chance of it for a 10yo who acts like nothing else will do. What in the world is she going to be demanding by age 15, if you don't get this sorted?

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 06/11/2013 10:43

Fecking hell, whatever happened to there being kids stuff an adult stuff ??

Tell her no, because you're the adult and she's the child.

SavoyCabbage · 06/11/2013 10:44

Yanbu to not get her one no.

especially as she's already got a 3DS, iPod,nano and a kindle fire. I would try to steer her in another direction. My dd is getting water paints and an easel for Christmas. She is 10 too.

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