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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy a second hand bike for a present?

66 replies

namechangerbat · 21/12/2011 15:41

Dd is 5

New bike from halfords is about 80-100£

Independent bike shop in town sells "good make" bikes, raleighs etc, but they are 170£ +

They have a nice Raleigh Krush pink and silver bike - its second hand though for £50

I thought it was fine to do this, but my darling MOTHER has just read me the riot act about the children DESERVING a new bike and new things.

I have spent between 80 & 100 £ on her other presents - so I think I've spent quite a lot!!!

She does need a bigger bike, her old one is now far too small and can be passed down to DD2

OP posts:
SquishyCinnamonSwirls · 21/12/2011 16:24

YANBU your Mum is off her rocker.

My daughter has never had a new bike. They're always second (or more!) hand. Kids grow so fast, they dump them down and don't really take care of them so what's the point in getting them something brand new? I also haven't got the money to spend.

Pancakeflipper · 21/12/2011 16:25

Second hand bikes are the best cos' you don't wince at all when the frame gets a huge scrap on the first outing when they fall off.

My DS1 has had 2 bikes. Both second hand and both in great condition. I wouldn't spend £100+ on a bike if I could get for £15-40.

Clean it up and your daughter won't matter abit.

lljkk · 21/12/2011 16:26

yanbu, DS3 is getting a 2nd hand bike for Xmas.

scrappydoodah · 21/12/2011 16:35

YANBU. One of my happiest childhood memories was going down the scrap yard with my dad and getting a bike for my birthday. I was 5 too. Loved it.

redpanda13 · 21/12/2011 17:06

My DD will be getting a 2nd hand bike for her birthday. The one I want for her is expensive and I can get a 2nd hand one through a local bike shop. My bike is also 2nd hand and was fully refurbished by patients being rehabilitated from a local psychiatric hospital.

knockneedandknackered1 · 21/12/2011 17:22

go for the second hand bike if its ok they cost a fortune and if your mother thinks its ok for a new bike let her buy one lol.

smokinaces · 21/12/2011 17:47

God n, YANBU.

DS1 got a 2nd hand bike for his 4th birthday last summer - £10 off ebay. No way as a single parent I can afford more than £30 on birthday/christmas presents. He has never noticed it wasnt new, he loves it, and it was worth every penny.

Both DSs have 2nd hand Nintendo DSs for Christmas this weekend. I cant afford £50+ each for a console even 2nd hand (let along £100+ new), so I got them one each from a lovely friend for a very minimal price. All they will see (they are 5.5 and 3.10) is a new computer console for them, they wont care about it being second hand.

cheerup · 21/12/2011 17:49

I'm with manicinsomniac and only look in the shops to get comparison prices and ideas. Many thanks to all those people who pay full shop price though otherwise I wouldn't get my second-hand bargains!

WilsonFrickett · 21/12/2011 17:54

Make sure it's clean, wrap it round with tinsel and she won't even notice, I promise you.

inchoccyheaven · 21/12/2011 17:57

Definitely not BU and it is amazing to find a thread that we all agree on Xmas Grin

I have always bought my dc 2nd hand presents as well as new and they realise you can get much more for your money that way and have never minded. ( they are 9 and 11)

orangeLFDThead · 21/12/2011 18:01

Did the same for ds1 last year. He has never even noticed its second hand just thrilled to have a bike. Actually colleague gave us it for free, so we spent the money we were going to spend on a bike on more presents so he would of had less if we got brand new.

tigerlillyd02 · 21/12/2011 18:01

YANBU - As if the child is going to know at that age!

bottleofbeer · 21/12/2011 18:07

No yanbu, but I got my daughter (six so around the same age) a new one from Tesco for £53 if that helps?

cece · 21/12/2011 18:08

My DC have only ever had second hand bikes.

joanofarchitrave · 21/12/2011 18:09

Oh FGS (re your mum). They 'deserve' a crappy Halfords bike, as opposed to a proper brand sold from a proper shop with expertise? We only buy second hand bikes, except the time when my PILs insisted on buying new, and the latter lasted less than a year and was ridiculously heavy, we were delighted to see the back of it. The 2nd hand bike ds has now is much better and will last him at least two if not more. Of course YANBU.

Akiram · 21/12/2011 18:12

One of my favourite memories is eyeing up my older sisters bike. I was desperate for her to grow out of it so it could passed to me.
Christmas morning there was an identical bike, but different colour, to hers in the lounge. My older brother had paint all on his arms (same paint colour as the bike) and told me that he had been up all night painting it with the elves. I loved that bike. I knew it was second hand but honestly I didn't care.

SnakePlisskensMum · 21/12/2011 18:13

YANBU - at 5 she won't give a fig where it comes from. Not a jot. Ive got mine second hand Nintendo DS's as they're 6 and 5 - I won't care if they end up down the toilet or get scratched and when they've gone off them about 5 days after christmas it won't matter!

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 21/12/2011 18:18

Your mother is barking, ignore her.

DD wants money for Christmas but DS is still a FC believer and I'm not keen on doing cash whilst he still sort of believes . DD has totally outgrown her bike and will need one in the summer. So we've found a second hand bike for Christmas Day and she can have the balance of the price of bike and DS's main present in her bank account. Everyone happy that way.

DS's bike also second hand as DH was made redundant just before his birthday last year.

Indith · 21/12/2011 18:28

Last year we gave ds a bike off Freegle. The year before we gave him a fabulous train set also off Freegle.

sitandnatter · 21/12/2011 18:30

Your Mum is BVVU.

The child won't know the difference and love it just the same. As a child I only ever got hand me down bikes, didn't make the days I went to the park with my Dad and brothers and sister any less brilliant. You are teaching your child not to be materialistic, and value the fun out of gifts, that's invaluable now if I could just manage to do the same with mine I'll be a happy camper Grin

Original poster
namechangerbat · 21/12/2011 18:33

Dd2 is getting loads of DD1's old books and games.

Dd1 (who is getting the bike) just said it was nice to share her things with her baby sister Grin and it's just like recycling

OP posts:
tulipgrower · 21/12/2011 18:34

YANBU, DS1 is getting a 2nd hand bike for Christmas. The neighbours gave it to their daughter last year for Christmas, and by the end of summer she'd outgrown it. My PILs were delighted I got such a great quality bike, and for only 20,- Euros, they were just a little Hmm about the colour -> bright, girly, pink with a bit of sparkly silver. Grin

3rdnparty · 21/12/2011 18:39

A good bike from a bike shop is great - better than a halfords bike... DS has had a mixture his next one is new but thats cos I couldn't get a second hand one via friends/family and am nervous about ebay for bikes.....

sitandnatter · 21/12/2011 18:40

OK not for Christmas but I've just bought a new bed, Bensons complete with not used Ikea mattress £60 happy days!! (for both too!)

ChocolatEtVin · 21/12/2011 18:40

YANBU, a second hand Raleigh will easily be better than a brand new bike that costs 30 quid more! And at five she won't even notice. The most important thing is that it is safe :)