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Original poster

Expensive Xmas Gifts

36 replies

WinterChristmasBlues · 11/11/2023 11:43

Hello,

First time posting here, but I’ve been a lurker for months.

I’d like some advice on to how to deal with my 7 year old who has requested some very expensive gifts this year.

Ninebot Go-Kart
Lego Avengers Tower
Telescope
Books

We can afford to buy them for him, but as his mother I can openly admit that he does have some very “brattish ways” and is already very spoilt.

However, he is very well behaved at school, never embarrasses us in public but does tend to misbehave and not listen at home, which I usually put down to him being tired.

Would it be unreasonable of me to not buy everything he has asked for?

OP posts:
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LittleMousewithcloggson · 11/11/2023 21:06

PuttingDownRoots · 11/11/2023 19:46

Are you meaning this Avengers Tower?

Its meant for adult collectors not kids! Especially not 7yos... Its not a toy

https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/avengers-tower-76269

Didn’t realise the op meant something like this!

Who in their right mind would even consider buying this for a 7 year old!!!

namechangelalala · 11/11/2023 19:41

DoktorPeppa · 11/11/2023 18:37

You want to know how to deal with a child who has asked for a £1800 present?

You laugh at them

This! 😂

LittleMousewithcloggson · 11/11/2023 19:13

Had a similar go kart when DD was 13
never in a million years would I have let her have one before that age
They are not “toys” and have the ability to seriously injure or even kill
Books - always buy whatever books they ask for so would say yes
Telescope - Definitely a great present. Ours is still used
Lego - would probably get this too

ChristmasCrumpet · 11/11/2023 19:10

XelaM · 11/11/2023 14:50

Ok, I'm a person who spends insane amounts of money on my kid and try to get her everything from her Christmas list, BUT the go kart is so dangerous it's an absolutely horrific present for a child that age - even if you're a millionaire.

Likewise.

DS had a £'000s trip one Christmas (front row seats at Wembley for walking with dinosaurs) the Harry Potter at Christmas thing, and then four days at Disneyland. Aged 8 I think.

Not a frigging chance he'd be getting the go straight to A&E kart

ConsuelaHammock · 11/11/2023 19:08

This my my daughter in her cousin’s go kart. They are extremely fast and I wouldn’t have let her have one at 12 ( her age in the pic) never mind 7.
Get one of the pedal go karts instead of the telescope or Lego set. There are ones you can hook another seat onto which are fab. My nephew also had /has one of these. We are the poor relations 🤪

Expensive Xmas Gifts
Ponoka7 · 11/11/2023 19:07

My GC had electric scooters, I've just seen that the go cart goes 23 mph, at 7 I wouldn't be getting it tbh. He gets told that when he's older, you'll see. You need to enforce boundaries, but it depends on what you class as misbehaving.

ConsuelaHammock · 11/11/2023 19:04

And he’s 7. He’s not tired when he’s misbehaving at home. If you think he’s tired send him to bed for a nap. You do not want to raise an entitled child. They’re horrible.

ConsuelaHammock · 11/11/2023 19:02

Yes to all the books because books ….
No to the go kart. My nephew has one of the ones from a proper go karting track. They are fabulous for older teens who know how to drive them and have the flat area to do so.
Then either the telescope OR the Lego. Let him choose which one .
Tell him you send Santa money for gifts and there is a budget.

Maray1967 · 11/11/2023 18:59

DoktorPeppa · 11/11/2023 18:37

You want to know how to deal with a child who has asked for a £1800 present?

You laugh at them

This. I’m trying to get my jaw off the floor at the thought of a child getting an £1800 gift. Unbelievable.

JC89 · 11/11/2023 18:56

We often use books as rewards throughout the year (fill up your sticker chart and you choose a book from the pile), if he's asked for particular ones they are a good incentive!

DoktorPeppa · 11/11/2023 18:37

You want to know how to deal with a child who has asked for a £1800 present?

You laugh at them

GettingStuffed · 11/11/2023 18:31

Mine would just get the books. I've never go e for big expensive presents. When they wanted a computer it was shared presents for all 3

kitsuneghost · 11/11/2023 18:28

That go kart is recommended for 14+

Newmumatlast · 11/11/2023 18:10

100% wouldn't be getting everything and at that cost even if I had infinite money. We do very well for ourselves and our kids get a decent amount but I purposefully do not buy everything they want all the time as they need to learn the value of money and don't want them to grow up expecting everything on a plate.

XelaM · 11/11/2023 14:50

Ok, I'm a person who spends insane amounts of money on my kid and try to get her everything from her Christmas list, BUT the go kart is so dangerous it's an absolutely horrific present for a child that age - even if you're a millionaire.

Hotchocolatemousse · 11/11/2023 14:40

Lego for Christmas
Telescope for his birthday
Books for both occasions

The go kart is an unsuitable gift, far better to put the money in an account rather than it being hardly used and gathering dust. Take him out go karting, he doesn't need an actual go kart.

Floralnomad · 11/11/2023 13:45

Scrap the go kart and get the rest unless you spend masses of time at the in-laws . If you have it at home he will be wanting to use it in public and that is really not suitable at all .

AutumnCrow · 11/11/2023 13:37

I agree with scrapping the go-kart after the previous posters' comments. They are literally lethal from what @SgtJuneAckland says.

regularmumnotacoolmum · 11/11/2023 12:14

WinterChristmasBlues · 11/11/2023 12:11

Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate you all taking the time out.

@AutumnCrow - In regards to the telescope, we would be buying him a “good” one.

@Floralnomad - We do not have the land for the go-kart we have a garden which isn’t big enough. The only place he would be able to use it is at my parents in laws house, they have some land.

I would scrap the go kart and buy the rest. I think he's a bit young for the go kart and wouldn't get much use out of it especially if you don't have your own land.

Original poster
WinterChristmasBlues · 11/11/2023 12:11

Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate you all taking the time out.

@AutumnCrow - In regards to the telescope, we would be buying him a “good” one.

@Floralnomad - We do not have the land for the go-kart we have a garden which isn’t big enough. The only place he would be able to use it is at my parents in laws house, they have some land.

OP posts:
uncomfortablydumb53 · 11/11/2023 12:08

£1800 on a go cart for a 7 year old is a huge amount whether you can afford it or not and seriously it'll cause high expectations for the future if he's bratty now
I also think he's too young at 7 for that particular Go kart

SgtJuneAckland · 11/11/2023 12:07

My husband works in youth offending, one of his cases died this month on one of those gokarts, so I wouldn't on that basis.
The rest, Lego, telescope, books I don't see the issue if you can afford it

Sundaefraise · 11/11/2023 12:07

I mean the amount of money is insane, I doubt at 7 he has any concept of cost. The brattish thing I doubt actually relates to getting stuff, you could have a privileged child who was very grateful so it’s probably more to do with how you teach him to appreciate stuff, be generous to other people etc. However if he is great everywhere else I wouldn’t worry too much, you are his safe place where the bad behaviour can come out and unless it’s particularly concerning it may just be a phase he moves on from.

Cadenza12 · 11/11/2023 12:06

Just pick one main gift. They won't love you any less and may even appreciate what they have a little more.