About this last minute change of Christmas list..

[Girlwithnotattoos]

My DS (10) is a massive Father Christmas believer and this is quite likely to be the last time he does . He sent off his Christmas list a few weeks back and other than one large ticket item the other stuff he asked for was very modest. Everything has been bought along with lots of other extras and lots of stocking fillers altogether I've spent around £600 which sounds a lot but we don't have any money issues and I save up all year so that I don't have to dip into our savings - that's just background.

Anyway roll forward to today and he is looking all worried and when I asked him why he said that he's made a mistake with his Santa list and he now really wants an xbox one. We had a chat about how I've sent all the money to Santa for his presents and another £300 would be too much and offered to use the £200 pocket money he's got saved. I've also been given £100 by dh's parents to buy him some things (they can't possibly go shopping) they can give him. Anyway do I:

1. Say it's just too late to add an expensive item to the list and tough he should have chosen more carefully.

Or..

1. Buy it using grandparents contribution and his pocket money, so he gets to realise that money just doesn't grow on trees.

I'm minded to take option 2 whilst DH thinks it should be option 1.

Opinions greatly appreciated.

Ooh,I like Kikis idea

I don't fully understand the issue with the grandparents' money. Does your DS think everything comes from Santa, including presents from grandparents (but you send him money?) Or do presents from grandparents come directly from them?

I don't understand what is wrong with giving him the money from grandparents on Christmas day, and going to buy the console on Boxing day if he wants.

Or would grandparents normally also send money to Santa?

I am not sure it is particularly magical to get something from FC which he has largely paid for himself. Much better I think for FC to give £100 of vouchers or GPs to give vouchers but I am assuming from your earlier posts that GP presents get attributed to FC). The vouchers could be accompanied by a nice note to say they are to be used towards an Xbox . That way he gets to appreciate his other presents with the excitement of going out to get the xbox a day or 2 later.

When is his birthday ?

I'd keep the laptop back for his birthday and let him send a late change of request letter to Father Christmas (cancelling the laptop and asking for an Xbox one instead). Father Christmas can leave a note telling him he will need a laptop for big school and suggesting that he asks for one for his birthday as he cancelled the FC request for one.

Problem solved and he still gets some cash from the GP's to spend on Xbox accessories/games or to put towards his birthday laptop or whatever.

FC never brings cash in our house despite cheeky requests for some ridiculous sums of £ in the past. He works out of the North Pole, not at a bank.

I would wait until his birthday. Money aside, its difficult to know what to buy, and with all that stuff at Christmas, there will be nothing left on his birthday list.
Or save the lap top until his birthday.

Thanks for all the comments it's appreciated. Everything's been sorted this evening ds has written a lovely long letter to Santa this evening apologising for changing his mind and he's offered his £200 towards the cost and his old xbox 360 and all his games. I've just sold all of this via FB for £200 and therefore he's actually paying for the full cost of this himself. I'm actually really proud of him he worked out a way that he could ask without expecting and the letter said 'if you could please manage it' and basically he's paying for it all himself. So how can I not do it?

Contrary to what one or two comments seem to imply he is not spoilt or likely to be engulfed in unwanted gifts that he won't use. Most the the stuff I've bought him will be educational microscope, geometry set, drawing stuff, books etc as well as some games and fun bits.

I also do understand the meaning of Christmas we go to church all year and my children spent last weekend buying festive food for the food bank - they are well that they're luckier than a lot of others. So I do resent the implication that we're some sort of materialistic shopping crazy family who spend far too much. My children don't get things throughout the year other than birthdays or what they save pocket money for, I love seeing a heap of carefully chosen gifts some surprises and some they've asked for - I love the sheer pleasure we all get from it.