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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Baby's birthday money

26 replies

JasonPollack · 12/12/2019 16:51

DS received a few little bits of money for his first birthday. Just writing his thank you cards and have realised I have no idea what to do with it! Would it be wrong to put it towards a play kitchen for him? Or am I supposed to save it for him to fritter as an older child? Or save it for later on? It's only a tenner here and there obviously if it was loads I would save it.

OP posts:
Original poster
JasonPollack · 12/12/2019 16:52

Fucks sake. Erm, YABU= spend it, YANBU= save it

OP posts:
Clymene · 12/12/2019 16:52

I think the play kitchen sounds lovely and I would be delighted if you put my tenner towards that Smile

Waveysnail · 12/12/2019 16:54

We do spend half and save half.

Spied · 12/12/2019 16:56

Yabu.
I'd expect it to be spent on anything his parents see fit. Toys, clothes, anything he needs/would like.

WellErrr · 12/12/2019 16:56

We do spend half save half

elliejjtiny · 12/12/2019 16:56

Play kitchen sounds lovely, we did similar when our boys were little. Now they spend it all on lego.

BrutusMcDogface · 12/12/2019 16:58

I would spend it on the play kitchen.

Sirzy · 12/12/2019 16:58

I used the money Ds got for his first birthday to get him a lovely rocking horse type toy. He loved it and I would never have been able to get it otherwise.

Majorcollywobble · 12/12/2019 16:59

Nice you are sends no thank you letters . I’d be delighted to get a note saying what you’d decided to buy or if you were opening a savings account . We always give money for Birthday and Christmas otherwise GS inundated . But a small present - book etc. As well just for something to open goes down well .

TheHootiestChristmasOwl · 12/12/2019 17:02

I tend to put it in a savings account but I would still buy the play kitchen. If you know he would love it then buy it.

BendingSpoons · 12/12/2019 17:04

For bits here and there I would spend on something nice like a play kitchen. If it was a larger amount I would save it.

lovemenorca · 12/12/2019 17:05

First birthday money?
Went in the petty cash box in the kitchen for those times when I needed cash!

Drum2018 · 12/12/2019 17:07

Buy him something you think he will like and maybe put some towards shoes or clothes he needs. Otherwise it will end up being spent on the weekly shop Grin

bridgetreilly · 12/12/2019 17:20

I would open a savings account and put it in there. When the child is older, I would probably let them spend half and save half.

Whattodoabout · 12/12/2019 17:32

Spend it on whatever he needs. We spent DS’s on a new car seat.

321zerobaby · 12/12/2019 17:49

All those tenners here and will mount up over the years, even if you only save half as someone suggested.

Original poster
JasonPollack · 12/12/2019 20:01

Ah thanks all, I like the spend half save half idea. Now to open a bank account before it's all "IOU Love Daddy"!

OP posts:
Original poster
JasonPollack · 12/12/2019 20:03

My family are a bit Stately Homes so here's hoping they agree with you!

OP posts:
Yabadee · 12/12/2019 20:07

I only just found one of those ceramic bank things we got when DD was born, she’s now 4. It was filled with old £10 notes and old pound coins! Managed to put into my account through the post office and bought her new bedroom furniture.

We’d forgotten all about it!

megletthesecond · 12/12/2019 20:11

Get the play kitchen and save the rest.
Until my dc's were about 10 I squirrelled away quite a bit of their birthday money into their accounts.

gonewiththerain · 12/12/2019 20:15

I bought ds premium bonds with his birthday money.

MrOnionsBumperRoller · 12/12/2019 20:16

You are buying a treat for DC in the play kitchen (and one which they should get years of enjoyment out of) so YANBU. Furniture, carseat, stuff parents should be buying anyway I'd be Hmm at as that is esentially trousering the money to pay for your own stuff.

ChocolateChipMuffin2016 · 12/12/2019 20:17

We normally put any money gifted in the kids savings account and then buy something when they want/need it (we brought a climbing frame for our son out of his account). A play kitchen is a great thing to buy for them.

Flamingnora123 · 12/12/2019 21:57

We meant to put it in a savings account but 4 years later there's still no account and I've spent it mainly on petrol and food, which I feel is a worthy cause Grin

Fantababy · 12/12/2019 22:07

I put most of DDs money in her savings account, but if there was a big thing like a kitchen I'd definitely get it, and would be pleased if that was how my (gifted) money was used.

We now tend to put birthday money towards swimming lessons, and put that in thank you messages. Again, I'd be quite happy if someone put money I'd given to someone towards that. Wouldn't put it towards household expenses though. Child benefit goes into the family 'pot' but not money given to DD as a gift.