To buy DS a coat when he doesn't need one?

[Aviana]

Money is not exactly flowing, but DD needs new ski suit and DH has a 20% discount for the sports shop near his work. The idea is I'll take the DC there after school, he'll meet us put it on his credit card and drive home together. If we buy only the ski suit, probably our train fare will cancel out the discount.

DS is 142 cm tall. His rain coat is size 140, it's still wearable but is getting on the small side. I thought maybe we should look for one now, but he doesn't actually need it yet. He already has a proper winter coat but it's only showerproof. It would put a strain on the month. But the discount voucher is only valid until the weekend.

Or, I take the DC to the same shop near us (bus fare), but where the offer isn't valid, make them try on everything and tell DH what to buy. then it definitely goes on his card!

If you don't need the ski suit or coat until you go to the mountains in the new year then get looking on Ebay. It will be cheaper than buying it at the shop and taking a train/bus even with the discount they are offering. Plus it will all be delivered to your door.

Ebay is full of people selling ski suits their child used for a week on a school trip once and then it was shoved into a wardrobe and never used again.

Well, yes, we could go without going skiing. That'd be nice for the DC to wave BIL and co off... As it seems I have to justify myself to strangers, the ski passes will be our Christmas gift from the IL's. Accommodation will be "free" as will food because we are staying with IL's. We last spent Christmas with them 5 years ago.

Clothes do always get passed down, but it just so happens that this year the sizes don't match up. DS jumped 4 sizes between ski suits and DD needs the size that is in the middle.

It's weather dependent hmmwhatatodo. But highly likely that they will seeing as they always have done. One year they took the whole school out for a morning!

Surely if the in laws are in a ski place, they’ll be able to ask around a friend or neighbour who will have a spare suit?

Why are you ignoring the EBay suggestions? They’ve got second-hand ski suits for a fiver. I’ve just checked.

If you’re already short of money, buying expensive non-essentials on a credit card will only ever make it worse.