Spending too much on kids?

[Fianceechickie]

Am so shocked. A 12 yr old student told me today that for Christmas, he's getting a Nintendo Switch, an Xbox one x and an LG TV. 'Plus loads of other stuff obviously'. It's not uncommon to hear that sort of thing from the students I teach but that really shocked me today (it's a regular comp school). Even if I could afford to buy my kids so much I wouldn't. These aren't the children of the mega rich so far as I can tell, just normal families. Makes me feel so cross! It's often the kids who have the worst attitude to school work too (as was the case with today's student). AIBU to think that's ridiculous?

They seem normal to me! I doubt they're working class is all I will say but there's no judgement here

please tell us why you feel they are not working class?

I know kids who get this stuff and its all second hand. No complaints either. Don't be so judgy.

Who gives a fuck? How do you know they're not second hand?

Why do people start these threads? Who cares what joe bloggs spends on their kids?

It agrees to not to take on board what a 12 year old said, maybe he was deliberately winding you up. An x box isn't mindless crap through its amazing. We got one for the children last year and it's been perfect. Used on rainy days for a few hours, it's been almost life saver, over used a little at first, forgotten over summer and just coming into play again now. Some of the games are stunning.. There is one with red thread its beautiful

The reason the planet doesn't stand a chance is because our seas are filling up with plastic tat we no longer want. China is the biggest culprit for not recycling and for churning out noxious gases. 1 child doesn't need 2 games machines and their own telly. Im not sure what class I am but we have one telly and 1 Xbox in our house that we all share.

Surely you know to take what a 12 yo brags about with a pinch of salt

I was horrified recently about how much someone I know was planning to spend on Xmas presents for her 3 kids. DS has had about £150 and that’s it.

But then I thought about all the things he has had over the past year that those 3 kids haven’t (trips to theme parks, holidays abroad etc) and how much they cost and in the end I reckon DS has had far more spent on him than they have. Probably more than all 3 put together.

But for me it’s not about the money as such, but the waste. I’m not a lentil weaving environmentalist by any stretch of the imagination but buying thousands of pounds worth of toys, most of which will be forgotten by mid January just blows my mind.

How about just mind your own business? Why are people so judgemental of others? I don't care what other people buy their kids. I'm glad your're not my son's teacher tbh.
Live and let live.

I think it's a fair observation. I could tell you it's not your own business but I've seen how this sort of indulgence is usually overcompensation for other things, and usually every birthday and Xmas is like this for them. The waste created is ridiculous.

There's no 'right amount' of presents to give at Christmas, but two big consoles is too much for one person. Where will he find the time to play both, study, sleep and have a life? Or do the parents expect him to time manage it all. There is enough pressures a 12 year old will have to deal with, one console is enough if this is true. Even if it's not true here, I've seen this enough irl. An opinion is fair game to discuss OP, YANBU.

And that's it Basin you can afford to spend money on your child throughout the year I and many others can't afford that but I spend way more at Xmas than £150 spread over several months how you choose to spend on your child and how I choose to spend to spend on my child is no one else's business its also my child's birthday on boxing day so yes it seems like he gets a lot at once .

It is what it is. I'd rather see money spent on that than alcohol or cigarettes. No, I wouldn't buy all 3 'main' presents for my child but perhaps his parents are separated or maybe he gets a big gift off a grandparent?
At least those are things that last a while; I find it more shocking when people spend excessive amounts on manicures/eyebrows/getting hair blow dried for a night out. But, it's not my money and doesn't affect me so to each their own

I would see no reason to doubt the 12 year old. There was a thread on here earlier where a parent was supposedly asking for presented suggestions for her three children, with up to £400 available to spend on each.

What makes me laugh is the children getting big ticket items and carrying iPhones around then not having a pen or pencil to do their work!

x2 absolutely. And it must be so difficult when your child has an Xmas birthday too.

I do stand my by point that sometimes it’s too much stuff at once (not you personally, just a general observation), rather than too much money though.

It frightens me tbh. My own Xmas shopping frightens me and I'm spending a fraction of This! I just worry about the debt people might be in in the New Year. If they're well off or have saved then fair enough but I guess that's what adds to the pressure on those who can't afford it to spend.

But I agree Xmas presents should not depend on school work at all.

It's absolutely none of your business what his parents spend on him at Christmas.

And this is why our planet doesn't stand a chance.

Nah, much more impactful was having that child in the first place. An extra console here and there doesn't make much difference.

I'm from a working class family. As kids we didn't have dancing / gymnastics / swimming / bikes weren't an essential etc but at Christmas we always got a main present so bike / TV / playstation and lots of other presents and it was great and I really treasure Christmas and the feeling it brought knowing we would be getting something we never would have gotten otherwise.