Is she BU or am I!? (Christmas related..)

[CocacolaMum]

We do not live in a big house. Its fine and I love it, but big it ain't! As such we do not have space for a gazillion toys. My dc are 12 (ds) and 7 (dd).

For dd we are planning on buying her this as her main present. We got the blue one for ds last year and it was MUCH better than we expected. She loves to watch music videos so I thought uploading them to this along with a film and a bit of tv would be a good way of supervising what she watches without physically hovering over her.. www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/Technology-and-Gadgets/MP3-and-Audio/MP3-and-Media-Players/8GB-43-Touch-Media-Player-Pink(0095603)?searchPosition=6

This morning I was out with SIL and we happened to visit a charity shop. I picked up a top for dd, a hardback complete works of Brother Grimm book and 7 hard back Enid Blyton story compendiums for the grand sum of £2.70!
We went for a coffee afterwards and were chatting about what we were planning to give our kids for Christmas. I said that as it was only just over 6 weeks away and dd LOVES books I think I will wrap up what I bought today to put towards DD's presents - I thought SIL was going to choke on her Latte. She said that secondhand books was a bit of a shit present (!)

Its not a money issue, OH has already said I can pick what I think to be suitable presents for the kids and we are fortunate enough that budget doesn't really have to play a major part of that decision (to a point) but I still don't see why I shouldn't give dd something that cost 10p (each of the enid blyton books were 10p) if I KNOW she will like it? Are secondhand books a shit present?? They aren't scribbled in and not ripped or falling apart but are probably about 20 years old so not brand new looking either. I am not asking for permission here, but SIL reaction has got me doubting my own judgment.

Nothing at all wrong with a second hand book.

I remember when I was an 11yo bookworm an old lady who my mum had befriended gave me a book for Christams which had clearly been in her possession a long time. It was a hardback book brought out to commemorate the Coronation of King George VI. An odd choice for an 11yo girl you might think but in fact this lady had judged it well and I was thrilled. I was always interested in history and this book had load of great old photos from late 19th/early 20th century.

I still have that book and I know I preferred it to the brand new book given me the same year by an aunti who totally misjudged my reading
age and gave me something about fluffy anilmals more suited to a 6yo

She is BU.

I also shop in charity shops and have found many bargains. If the items are in very good condition, what's the problem?

Have already got 2 books for my lo for christmas which I found at a boot sale. I know she will love them.

For Christmas one year my friend bought me a possibly triple hand book it was that old lol It was battered to hell and had plasters on the spine and I LOVED IT. It was an original edition of Shakespeare's complete works and she had spent months tracking it down, I almost cried because I was so touched by the effort and thought she put into it. YANBU. Your sil is daft. I hope your DD enjoys her books! :D

My dc often have second hand stuff, and have never thought anything of it, and my oldest is 13yo.

I would also buy for an adult something second hand if it seemed right for them.

I loved 2nd hand books as a child, and have very fond memories of Enid Blyton (can't believe they called her a racist), anyhow, I think it's a lovely gift and I wouldn't listen to your SIL.

No doubt she will end up with spoilt children that are a nightmare in their teens!

If it is something your daughter would like then it isn't a bad present.

As long as you're not just being cheap, like my in-laws, who buy any old shite as long as it's cheap, using the fact that others have too much class to call the out on it. Tjey are happy to provide expensive gift wish lists for their princesses though

Absolutely no U. It's a great way to recycle/reuse. I've certainly done it in the past and continue to do so.

If I were you, I'd have great fun in the next few weeks checking out charity shops for a suitable Christmas present for your SIL.

Thanks for your replies. No I don't think I am being cheap, I have a book from when I was a child which is a collection of greek myths retold by enid blyton and despite being a bit threadbare now it is one of my most prized possessions.. and dd loves it too.
These books appear to be the rest of either the same set or one strikingly similar. My plan was to make a pretty label to put inside each one with a message from me to her and then giftwrap them extra specially. The Grimm brothers one is a very thick hard backed book with lovely illustrations and I know she will love it as its full of lesser known fairy tales as well as popular ones

She goes through books so quickly and it is increasingly difficult to find suitable reading material to match both her actual age and her reading age (14+) but these will hopefully do the trick :)

Hard back Enid Blyton's? YABVVVVVVU not to immediately send them to me. I've been working on tracking down the full set of hardcovers since my mother decided to give my full collection away sulk. One day I'll have the full set back. They're an awesome present, so don't feel bad at all.

I did manage to get my hands on 17 original Rupert books this week. That was a real win!

I also loved the enormous famous five set i was givem second hand whem i was a young teen btw so don't think you are being cheap

Midnight - I am sure you already know but WHSmith have some old EB hard backed books in.

Thanks Toffeesponge, but they're not the editions I'm looking to replace mine with.

YANBU. I buy from charity shops all year round and my DCs don't give a monkeys where things come from. They'd never complain that a game or a book isn't new, they'd just be chuffed to have it! I picked up a secret seven for a quid today :o

I don't actually tend to give the DCs second hand for Xmas, it's basically the ONLY time I buy new so it's a treat for me (DCs wouldn't notice either way). Also as I tend to have very specific things I want to give them, I'd rather buy those (hopefully in an independent bookshop/toy shop etc) than keep looking out for particular things in charity shops or choosing something that's not quite the same IYSWIM. Whereas throughout the year I'll pick up things as I see them (like Enid Blytons - my copies all went mouldy in my parents' attic :()

I do seek out out-of-print things online though, like some fantasy books for DH.

And sometimes the perfect present is only available second hand anyway. DH found some amazing Gerry Anderson character dressing up outfits on eBay, they are ancient but DS adores them!

YANBU.

I have bought my dd presents that are second hand. And i have been known to buy second hand presents for other people too.

My dd has had only 2 bikes. Both were bought by my parents as birthday/christmas presents, both have been second, both have been in great condition and both have been enjoyed massively by my dd.

As long as it is something ur dd will like who cares what anyone else thinks.

I am (mumble mumble) years old, and santa (ok, mum), frequently puts second hand books in my stocking and I love it. She's been doing it since I could read. If I already have them, I trade with my sisters, or leave for her to donate back to the charity shop.

Not XMas without some extra spce-eating books of unknown provenance.

Nothing wrong with giving good condition, second hand presents at all. When my DCs were little, we told them that when they had outgrown their toys we sent them to FC who took them to other children, and that he would bring my DCs toys that other children had outgrown in return. Not everything was second hand, but a good proportion was - and none of them ever complained.

YANBU. It's a fantastic present.
Every year for Xmas and my birthday I give my mum a list of books I'd like. The first year I expected to only get one or two because books can be expensive but I received every single one. She spends her time finding them all in charity shops or eBay etc
She's managed to get them all every year and stick to her budget. It's the best present.

I managed to get my niece a gorgeous wooden play kitchen for £30 second hand. They sell for £165 new. I've spent another £30 on accessories (also second hand) and a coat of paint and she'll love it. She couldn't care less that its second hand and nor could anyone else.

Yanbu. I have to say it's nice to hear of a child who will appreciate books and enjoy them (god I sound old, I'm 24 would you believe)! There was a thread on here the other day about kids expecting iPads etc costing hundreds of £'s for Christmas. I'm fed up of seeing nieces/ nephews, kids in cafés glued to iPhones/ iPads! They all have square eyes.
One of my favourite presents when I was little were the Beatrix Potter books. Now I am expecting first DC I have already bought a couple for him, I can't wait to read them with him.

Ignore your SIL, you know your DD and know best what she will be excited to open on Christmas morning.

Oh and I love the idea of telling little ones that the names written in there are the elves

YANBU. As long as it's in reasonably good condition (not stained or smelly), I think it's lovely.

Every year on my birthday, my mum would take me book shopping. We both love this little used bookshop in town and I usually got books from there. Half of them are practically new, anyway!

YANBU. I can't bear book snobbery. It's the WORDS that matter, goddammit.

(and the pictures and that, obv)

My dad reads a book once & gives it away. That book is basically new. If someone got one of his books they wouldnt know whether it came from oxfam or waterstones.

And in my opinion books are there to be read, shared & loved not just read once & put on a bookshelf.