To buy a cheap kindle for MIL to save £60?

[LongLiveTheChief]

It's my MIL's birthday at the start of December and then obviously Christmas a few weeks later.

DH and I have discussed buying her a kindle as she's taken a bit of a recent interest in reading but struggles with the rusting of the book (she had very bad skin on her hands) and also having the light on seems to keep my FIL awake.

We looked at the paperwhite which is backlit, perfect, but it's over £100. That's £50 for birthday and same for Christmas as it would be a joint present but this is still more than we would spend on people. I suggested buying the cheaper kindle, without the backlight, and buying a clip on little battery powered LED light instead?

We have a baby due in January and also having our bathroom gutted at the same time so we're frantically trying to save for other things at the moment.

AIBU, as I am the one that would buy the present anyways, to just go ahead? DH said I'm missing the point of the present as on its own, you can't read the cheaper kindle in the dark!

Help me with some more justifiable reasons other than the cost! Xx

[19lottie82]

The paperwhite is a LOT better for sure, especially if you want to use it for reading in the dark. A clip onloght won't be anywhere near as good.

But if you can't afford it, you can't afford it.

Can you find a brand new one cheaper on eBay or something?

[Chasingsquirrels]

I can see what you are saying about cost, but personally I wouldn't get a non back lit kindle.
Are there any other siblings who can share the cost?

[Costacoffeeplease]

If you can't afford it, then you can't afford it

But the paperwhite is brilliant, sorry

[SouthWestmom]

Wait for Black Friday on 25th November and see what paperwhiyes come in at on Amazon?

[Saucery]

Amazon vouchers to the value of £60? Would she be able to make up the difference?
I''m with your DH TBH. Those little clip on lights are never as good as an integral backlight.

[19lottie82]

Here's a refurbed one for £74?

[nancy75]

Amazon will be doing Black Friday deals soon, kindles are usually included

[SilverDragonfly1]

How about the cheap Fire tablet? Backlit and she might like to try some word games or whatever.

[JsOtherHalf]

I really wouldn't get the cheaper one. The little battery clip on lights aren't anywhere near as good as a backlit one.

Black Friday is coming up, perhaps there'll be deals on the better ones?

[PberryT]

Wait for black Friday.

Also does dh have a sibling you could combine presents with? Seems a shame that she gets something she doesn't really want for the sake of £50.

Another option is amazon vouchers towards the price.

[NewIdeasToday]

Get the backlit one. Especially if her reading disturbs your FIL.

[TheCakes]

I bought my mum the Paperwhite on a Black Friday deal last year. I wonder if there's a deal to be had somewhere?
Failing that, the Kindle Fire has a lit screen. I read mine when DH is asleep and it's fine.

[greendiary]

The Fire tablet is great - you can also download an app that lets you borrow books from your local library (if it participates of course!)

[littleostrich]

I have one of the cheaper Kindles. It's a few years old now (the Paperwhite didn't exist when I bought it) but I've always used a case with an integrated light, and it's been absolutely fine. The Paperwhite does seem much better though.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

I upgraded to a Paperwhite last year when the case with integrated light on my original Kindle packed up and I couldn't replace it. The paperwhite is so much better, a clip on light really wouldn't be good, having to take it on and off all the time, reposition it, it restricts you from lying on your side reading etc.

[Fortitudine]

The Paperwhite is very good. But as others said, Black Friday deals are often very good. A colleague bought the entry level Kindle Fire and it looked really good for the price. My mother-in-law borrowed my Paperwhite when she was in hospital and liked it so much that she said she was going to get one of her own, but we got it her for her birthday. It was more than we'd usually pay for a present but she uses it a lot.

[IminaPickle]

Can you and your fil give it as a joint present?

[80sWaistcoat]

You can get refurbished paoerwhite from kindle. Also look on eBay....I'd get the over white. Dh has normal one and it really annoys me that he has to have the light on to read it. The clip on light isn't great with his eyes...

[80sWaistcoat]

Not over white...paperwhite.

[VivienneWestwoodsKnickers]

I don't like the back lit Kindle and love my unlit one. It's all down to personal preference, so YANBU.

[WankersHacksandThieves]

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00CTUKFNQ/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[KenAdams]

As above, Kindles always go into the Black Friday sale so you'll be sorted.

[Huldra]

I wouldn't go for one that's not back lit.

Have you looked at the equivalent in Kobo? You can buy books from wh smith as well as the Kobo website.

[LongLiveTheChief]

Thank you for the replies.

I've just read that Amazon's 'Black Friday Event' seems to start tomorrow? I know it's not a Friday but their website says from 14th, so I'll try tomorrow and see what I can do.

DH does have a sister but they're much more organised than us and Christmas was probably finished mid august!

It does seem the paperwhite would be the better option, I just don't think she would actually put her own money towards it. They're a super laid back family and I could just imagine still seeing the amazon voucher stuffed in a drawer 6 months later xx