To use dd's birthday gift cards on myself?

[Lira]

DD (5) recently had a birthday and a giant party. She got a loads of presents from family (grandparents always spoil her rotten), and ended up with either presents/money/giftcards from her school friends that came to her party.

She doesn't need a single thing. She's got clothes for the next year, and a stack of vouchers from Christmas to get her new clothes and shoes when she eventually does need them. She doesn't need any new toys/books etc either.

My house is swimming in toys that haven't even been opened since her party 3 weeks ago.

My Hoover died today. So i was thinking of using 3 of the Argos vouchers she got (£30 worth) to help buy a new one. They expire by December anyway, and i can't see her needing anything from Argos before then.

I couldn't bring myself to touch her birthday money, however, as that can always be saved.

My friend reckons i should just 'borrow' the cards and pay dd the £30 back when i can.

But i honestly don't think she'll miss them and shouldn't feel obliged to 'owe' dd back in too much of a hurry.

Thoughts?

It's not so much about what the child gets (not aiming this at any one poster specifically) it's the way their money is appropriated without their consent that is shitty.

Doesn't matter how much you buy 'em, seems they don't get a say in how to spend their own money.

And if they don't like it, then stuff 'em no more gifts or treats for you.

Sounds very bullying IMO and who the hell expects a 9 year old to 'help out' with household finances? Really.

It's always interesting to see who starts swearing without good reason, can usually pick them a mile away just from their posts

The giant party must have cost a lot (more than £30.) I know my children (although they are young) would much rather have a party/activity than a present.

What because my very lucky DS who wants for nothing due to his parents putting their needs second got an expensive mountain bike for Christmas but didn't get to spend a £10 voucher in Argos on tat he didn't need. Pmsl

Well I guess I could stop the piano lessons he adores in order to have more for household expenses.

Dress it up how you like polka but you're a thief, you gave your son no choice on how to spend it, you stole from him a voucher that was given to him.

AT least he would have a choice in how to spend his money!

AT what age, will you stop taking his money/vouchers, if ever!

You clearly can't afford all of what you buy in the first place if you have to take money given to him by others.

Polka, I think you sound very sensible. I've used some of my kids money for dinner money or the window cleaner etc when I was short of cash. I don't rush and put it back pound for pound. But the little one will get a new bike soon and rather him think he got it out of thin air, we will tell him we used his Christmas money for it just like the kindle we got him last week and some of the other things he gets. Just like we'll probably buy them cars when they are old enough, help them through uni or whatever and hopefully be able to help them with a deposit for a house one day.

Steal? Don't make me laugh.

Oh FFs

The family needs a Hoover
The child doesn't need a £30 toy from Argos.
Common sense says buy a Hoover
Then build a bridge a move on.

And polka put it towards something like a bike he needed and can use for years than probably him blowing it on some nasty plastic tat or yugio cards.

Nope didn't steal as I spent waaaaay over the amount of the voucher on him.

He was warned before Christmas if he had said expensive bike he really wanted that was pretty much all he'd be having.He was only too happy.

Normally it's quite the reverse eg he wanted an ITunes voucher which I bought him and gave him after he'd put 15 x £1 (his pocket money)in a jar.

It's called life,he knows said piano lessons are a struggle and would be more than happy to help out if he had to rather than give it up. I know several parents that pay for music/swimming lessons with bday Christmas money.Money doesn't grow on trees for parents these days and if children want expensive lessons or equipment they are going to have to go without elsewhere.

My son won £50 on the scratch card in his Christmas cracker (I put them in there for everyone) he is three I just said do you want to swap it for my £2 one he said yes no problem :) Thinking about it I never gave him that two quid either OP do not sweat this but think of something to say you spent the vouchers on for generous giver!

Nope he needed it too.if I'd I've had the time I'd have said we need a new iron,we don't have the money so we'll be spending these vouchers on a new one so you don't look like vou've been dragged through a hedge backwards.

We didn't

Ah well life is tough.

He'll get over it.

As it is he got the bike of his dreams and ironed clothes not sure he could ever be called deprived.

No it's not - you are being ridiculous.

Nope didn't steal as I spent waaaaay over the amount of the voucher on him

You are clearly missing the point.

You should not take the vouchers if you don't intend reimbursing your daughter for them. No matter how anyone tries to justify that, it is stealing. They were given to HER, not to your family as a whole, nor to you personally. It's just crazy to think otherwise. I can almost guarantee that the people/person who gifted the vouchers didn't envisage you using them to buy a household appliance. I certainly wouldn't if it was me.

However, as you do need a new vacuum cleaner I think it's acceptable to borrow the value of the vouchers if you have the full intention of paying her for them ASAP.

Nope don't think so Damn.

Call it a loan!

*Nope don't think so Damn.

Call it a loan!*

This made me chuckle

Well we're obviously crap at drying clothes hey ho!

I don't iron anything either. Life is waaay to short and my kids are never crumpled either.

Perhaps you can pilfer some more cash and get yourself a decent dryer

Not good for the environment.