AIBU?
To but my nephew The Gruffalo book ?
Shinyshoes1 · 10/05/2013 15:54
I have 3 nephews and one niece . Every year for Christmas and birthdays I give the children £15.00 each . The same with my sisters they give my children and the other nephews £15.00 we've done this as long as I can remember
It seems like the same £15.00 is just being passed around , my children will get it , I will give my nephews it etc
So , I bought the Gruffalo . My daughter already has it and it's a good book
I know my nephew hasn't got it , so instead of shoving £15.00 in a card like I always do I thought I'd give him the book and start putting an effort into what I'm buying .
It's not £15.00 though it's probably worth about £7.00 .
It's not me that cares about the monetary value its the thought that counts but I've got a feeling my sister might raise an eyebrow .
My DP thinks I should give him the gruffalos child too or bulk it up with something but i think for a change a bit of thought has gone into it and I don't want to bulk it up for the sale of it
AIBU ??
mum2jakie · 10/05/2013 16:21
I would get the Gruffalo's Child too. You can get them for about £4 each from Amazon. If you have a tradition of spending £15 per child, it will look strange to suddenly drop the value of the gift although I do agree that a well thought out present is much better than money for young children.
OddSockMonster · 10/05/2013 16:22
I'd be more than happy with my sons being given just one book (especially The Gruffalo, it's great).
If you want it to be more about the effort of it (which is what presents should be about IMO), how about do a voice recording of you reading it, with lots of different voices and sound effects?
FeckOffCup · 10/05/2013 16:23
Yes I would get the gruffalo's child too and maybe a t shirt or something to make up the value to the £15 that the other children have always got, I think it's important that they are treated equally as well as thoughtfully (I think it's a nice idea to get him something that will hopefully be enjoyed for a long time instead of cash).
SpockSmashesScissors · 10/05/2013 16:41
The Gruffalo is only worth about £3, so if you're happy for your sister to buy presents for your children for £3, then it's fine.
www.thebookpeople.co.uk is good for books, perhaps get a few more to go with the one you already have.
CloudsAndTrees · 11/05/2013 00:16
Get the gruffalos child or something out of the ridiculously huge range of Gruffalo stuff that now exists.
I think it looks a bit tight if you know up you usually all do £15 and now you are doing significantly less. It's fine if you chat about it first and tell your sisters what you are thinking, but saying 'thought has gone into it' just seems like a flimsy excuse to me. Especially when it comes to something as widely given as a gift as the Gruffalo.
monkeymamma · 11/05/2013 07:57
Astonished that I'm the only YANBU so far! Yes you can get books very cheaply/below rrp, but a present with some thought put into it is much nicer and I loathe the idea of anyone mentally pricing up a gift and finding that it falls short. I do think you will need to do the same for your other nephew/niece though, so one child isn't being singled out.
SwishSwoshSwoosh · 11/05/2013 07:58
YABU.
A) don't just change a long established tradition, you will annoy.
B) it is not the same £15, it gets spent and a new £15 is issued each birthday.
C) Why would you pay £7 for a book you can get for 99p in any charity shop? And the child probably already has?
D) If you are going to utterly ruin a working birthday system, at least spend the same amount so it doesn't look like total tightness.
seeker · 11/05/2013 08:06
If it's a tradition, the children will look forward to the money and what they are going to spend it on. Don't change it.
I always give my nieces and nephews a book and a tenner for Christmas. I take pleasure in choosing the book, they like getting the money. Win/win.
Bakingtins · 11/05/2013 08:22
I think giving kids of gruffalo age ( so presumably preschool) money is odd. Money or vouchers is what you give impossible to please teens, no? If there is an agreed spend I think you should probably make up the value with something else. I'd think it was off if anyone other than distant ancient aunts who sellotape a pound in the card gave my 3 yr old money instead of putting some thought into a gift for him.
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