To buy second-hand xmas presents for the kids

[Schnullerbacke]

So, DH and I having a debate about it.

The older I'm getting (we also move around every few years), the less materialistic I get and I hardly buy any stuff for myself these days. I just get annoyed with shit lying around, having to tidy it away, with it not being used and just the general wastage of it all.

Obviously love the kids dearly but they are still quite young (6 & 3), so whatever they play with gets tattered eventually or they lose interest after a while. My thinking it, if I can get it cheaply second hand, and if its in very good condition, then I dont have a problem with it. They dont know the difference so why not save the money and spend it on something else. Its not that we dont have the money but I think I'd rather spend it on things that really matter to me, like going out travelling as a family or doing stuff together.

DH looked at me like I'm mad. I guess he only wants whats best for them so I understand him doing a double-take but if they can't tell the difference anyway, whats the harm.

Flame or agree away.

I don't think your dilemma will be solved by buying second hand stuff, as stuff seems to be the problem, why not get them something small each and then something like a Merlin pass so that you can show them you have bought them lots of fun days out?

noisy I've done that and wasn't poor. Just didn't need anymore clutter!

Some of my best ever Christmas presents were second hand, when I was about 5-6 I was given a pram <a class="break-all" href="//likewww.ebay.co.uk/itm/Limited-editition-silver-cross-dolls-pram-1960s-/170949060923?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D3787878046232576003%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D3%26sd%3D380364418167%26" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> this I doubt it cost as much back then even taken in to account inflation and my mum made all the covers on the sewing machine - white pretty covers with daisy pattern. Then to match they made me a child size four poster bed for my dolls, with ply wood and broomstick handles - then painted up white and pretty curtains made and again covers.

I thought it was really the bees knees and was exstatic, I had that pram until I was 18 and had to give it away to another thrilled child - she played with my old pram and left her brand new one in t her bedroom.

I got my dd1 a second hand ipod one xmas and she was delighted, it was half the price of a new one.

Go for it

I don't really buy anything new anymore because I fail to see the point when it can be bought in good condition for half the price or less!! A lot of the time on ebay the stuff hasn't even been used as well, that is always a bonus. Out of DCs presents I think only one or two are new, the rest are from my best friend ebay- i'm literally an addict!!

Kids aren't arsed. What good is the plastic packaging or cardboard box to them anyway?? It only goes in the bin in the end, really wasteful.

I think it's great, do it while you can still get away with giving them unpackaged stuff! (or instill into them the idea that second-hand is perfectly fine and that it's good for the purse and the planet.) DS2 is getting a second-hand Ninky Nonk this Christmas, and if I can find the other thing I wanted to get for him on ebay, I'll nab that too. Have frequently given DS1 pre-loved wooden Thomas trains and he's never questioned the fact that they're unpackaged. Long may it last.

Ahhh, you all get me. Thanks.

I think the most treasured possession in this house are our photos and videos from days out. If we had a house fire, that's the only thing I would genuinely care about and would be gutted if lost - hence triple saved :)

I'm often reminded how short-lived things are. The recent floods or the super storm in the States - people have lost so many of their belongings, things they spend a lot of money on and perhaps can never be replaced but memories, fun-filled days will always stay with you.

I have given many second hand presents to my dc, including polly pocket, duplo little robots & loads of peppa pig items. It is wasteful to buy new just for the sake of it & by buying second hand you can afford more for your money.

We have loads of second hand stuff - most of the DDs' Lego is 2nd hand, a lot of their books are too, and most of their DS games are.

You should keep it up even when they're older, it will teach them useful lessons about managing money and still getting what you want out of life!

Great idea. The older I get the more thrifty I am. I dread to think how much money I have wasted in the past. If we can instil some anti-consumerism in our kids it will probably make the difference between a pleasant old age and one in poverty. Just buying a cheap coffee every day can add up to £40k over a lifetime!

I don't think I bought anything new for the first 3 years of dd1's life. Everything came from car boot sales or ebay and she was perfectly happy with it all, she got a lot more than I could have afforded new and she kept things nice enough that we could pass them on to her cousins when she'd finished with them.

Most of dd2's Christmas presents this year are from ebay although she does have a few new things as well. Dd1 seems to want new things now she's older.

Ds and dd are both getting lovely second hand toys for Xmas that I've collected throughout the year as I've found them in charity shops, sales etc. the money I would otherwise have spent on new stuff is going on a family train ride to 'see Santa' and a party with all their friends. Everyone wins!

YANBU. DS is12 and still doesn't mind getting 2nd hand if it is what he wants. Best buy i ever got was a 2nd hand xbox with 30 games for the price of a brand new xbox with 2 games. One of my friends commented how lucky i was as her dc wouldn't like it and be asking why there was no cellephane round the game! Didn't stop her wanting to borrow half the games though!

Mine have had the odd second hand present plus a lot of the toys I buy them throughout the year are from charity shops. I also tend to buy most of their books second hand. I buy them some clothing items from Ebay. I was also gifted lots of friends 'castoffs' when kids were babies. Dont see anything wrong with it.

Totally with you on this one - TBH nowadays all our clothes and everything we need is bought at boot sales, then we have 2 foreign holidays a year and loads of weekends away in our caravan with the money we save. We also have Merlin passes for loads of great days out with the kids.

Save your money and spend it on the things you need to buy new - mainly shoes and food in this household! Just had ds3's 1st birthday and he got a playtable off ebay, and a load of WOW toys which I had picked up at boot sales over the last few months and stashed away. Will be doing the same for Christmas although the older boys are getting a couple of new lego sets as they want specific ones.

Sounds sensible.

We actually do this. Not all of their presents are second hand, but this Christmas we will be buying all of them pre-owned Wii games. We will also be buying DS1 a reconditioned mobile phone for his 13th birthday. It's partly for financial reasons and partly to reduce our impact on the planet. They are now 12, 10, 8 and 8 and none of them seem to mind.

Yep, secondhand, hand-me-downs, freecylced anything goes. A gift is a gift no matter how you got it or what you paid for it unless stolen obvs. My DC seem to prefer it, no boxes and already has batteries in.

DC know their toys will be handed on as well and offer up toys to go back to Santa to give younger kids.

I just got DD a bike for £2.00 from a car boot sale!!!
Brilliant.

Yes, go for it. Especially when they're young, you can often re-package them to be just as appealing as brand new toys, anyway.

For example, by agreement with db & sil, dnephew is getting our old ELC wooden bricks - the cardboard drum they came in is long gone, but they're now in a nice cotton bag with ''s Bricks' appliqued on the side. Dniece is getting a 'proper' present, but dnephew is going to be 14 months...We've agreed with db & sil that they'll get our 3 dc a cheap book each unless they see anything they think would be ideal second hand.

We've also done the second hand games console plus a box of games from ebay as a joint present for dc.

We may slightly have over-egged it by inventing Father Xmas's crack team of Recycling Elves (I blame one Bloody Mary too many on Xmas morning that year), but as a result the dc are keen to clear out unwanted toys in early December so that the Recycling Elves have lots of stuff to choose from in the charity shops...

DS's gifts are 50/50 2nd hand and new. The 2nd hand ones tend to be 'extras' though this year he is also getting a ride on tractor 2nd hand. It's the 1st year he understands a bit about Santa and that's what he wanted (unfortunately I bought him a bike months ago)......a lesson learnt perhaps!

Today he got a mega bloks lorry £3
Mint condition book 50p
Wooden threading beads £1
Snowman Cd £1

On amazon this would have cost about £26- and it's money for charity. Everyone's a winner!

Of course YANBU! No problem with it at all. Am watching some auctions just now to pick up a bargain for DD2's birthday.

Dd will be getting some second had stuff along with new this year. I bought a big Playmobil set on eBay for her, big enough that I couldn't have afforded it new and it's all in excellent shape. She'll be thrilled to bits as it was requested. I checked though it all already and it's ready to wrap.

YANBU

DD hasn't got one full priced new present and plenty of second presents ready for Xmas.

They don't know / understand second hand.
It's Greener.
More pressies for the money.
More fun searching for bargains.

I only get stuff that is decent in terms of being good for developmental play, quality product, has a couple of years worth of play and I know she will play with.

I'd say 90% of her existing toys are secondhand, 7% discounted.

Does this alter her enjoyment or her playing? Does it fuck