Big row about expensive belt

[PegorySpeck]

DS 17 loves expensive clothes and designer labels. He currently wants a Louis Vuitton belt which costs £400. His Dad and I think it’s ridiculous to spend this amount of money on a belt. He asked us if he could have it for Christmas we said no. He knows our budget for him and his brother is £500 each so he has asked why as it’s within budget. We have responded because it’s a ridiculous waste of money.

He has a part time job and earns about £150 per week. He has just taken on an extra shift because he wants extra money for the belt. His Dad is going mad at him saying how stupid it is, but I guess it’s his money and therefore his choice.

He has now said we are completely unreasonable and have no right to tell him what he can do with his money. It’s all blown up into a massive argument and no-one is talking. He is now saying we are favouring his brother as we have already got his Christmas present which cost £500 which he saw arrive in the post a few days ago.

I don’t know how I can fix this? What should I do?

Lovely young men.. one that throws tantrums over not getting complete wastes of money...

My daughter is 8, she doesn't tantrum over not getting meaningless expensive shite.

A £400 really good quality belt is a much better use of £400 than some tech that will be obsolete in a few years and definitely better use than lots of "stuff" he doesn't really want

If that logic were true then why does anybody buy electronics? They are all going to be out of date in a few years however if £400 is the going price for that tablet, phone or console then that is what you have to pay.

£400 is NOT fair market value for a belt irrespective of how long it may last. I have several belts going back easily ten years and I doubt I will have paid more than £15 for an of them.

@WormYourHonour

Lovely young men.. one that throws tantrums over not getting complete wastes of money...

My daughter is 8, she doesn't tantrum over not getting meaningless expensive shite.

Who had a tantrum?

@mobear

My boys are not spoilt at all. They are lucky we have plenty of money but they are lovely young men and I am proud of them

If you truly think this then why not let him have the belt he wants?

I have

I'd buy the belt OP. DD has asked for wildly expensive matching Le Mieux stuff fir her horse which will be easily £200+, total waste of money but all the girls at the yard are crazy about it. We usually spend more than that, it's the only thing she wants so what's the point in buying something else she doesn't want ?
Your DS will be so pleased with the belt and surely that's the whole point of a gift ? Abd on an aside DH has a lovely Paul Smith belt he paid a lot fir in his 20s, he wore it til it fell apart about 15 years later abd practically went into mourning. He's never found such a nice belt. He still grieves for that belt

@Joystir59

£500 each for Christmas is ridiculously spoilt. You've created a spoilt man child.

Gosh, did you know you sound jealous and spiteful?

£500 isn’t excessive if you have the money. Everything is relative.

@PegorySpeck

I think most parents spend what they can afford on their children at Christmas

What do you mean buy this?

People have vastly differing opinions of 'afford'.

Some consider they can afford something costing £50 even if they only have £50 to their name. Other people would say then cannot afford £50 because it takes their savings under £10,000 a level which they do not want to break.

This is very common for teens/early 20s people nowadays, the LV or Gucci belts, balanciaga trainers etc. Its expensive but will last forever and will go with everything

I think he should be allowed to choose his own gift, why is a computer console more acceptable than a designer leather good that could last 20 years?!

Plus his wages are his own. His dad needs to move with the times, its just different nowadays and branded goods are really expensive. If he is a good kid, works hard etc then theres no need to be causing a fight over a belt

It may hold it's value....possibly. I know a young lady bought herself quite a few expensive designer handbags (Chanel and Hermes I think) with her first few years of wages and some of them have actually increased in value, she's been on maternity leave recently and I know she and sold some of the rare, more valuable ones for a profit.

@PenguinLove1

This is very common for teens/early 20s people nowadays, the LV or Gucci belts, balanciaga trainers etc. Its expensive but will last forever and will go with everything

I think he should be allowed to choose his own gift, why is a computer console more acceptable than a designer leather good that could last 20 years?!

Plus his wages are his own. His dad needs to move with the times, its just different nowadays and branded goods are really expensive. If he is a good kid, works hard etc then theres no need to be causing a fight over a belt

You’re right, it’s all sorted now

Who had a tantrum?

He has now said we are completely unreasonable and have no right to tell him what he can do with his money.
He did.. like a child.. I bet he stomped his foot too..

Which led too..
It’s all blown up into a massive argument and no-one is talking
You all need to pull your heads out your backsides..

@WormYourHonour

Lovely young men.. one that throws tantrums over not getting complete wastes of money...

My daughter is 8, she doesn't tantrum over not getting meaningless expensive shite.

Op said ‘ He has now said we are completely unreasonable and have no right to tell him what he can do with his money.’

He sounds articulate and he made a perfectly valid point. Where did she suggest he threw a tantrum? Are you projecting? Do people in your family have anger issues?

@Skinnytailedsquirrel

Parents spend £500 on each kid for "christmas". Insane and horrid.

If you earn the money why not ?

This reminds me of when I was 17 and I bought 1 pair, yes just 1 pair, of knickers for £8.
They were Calvin Klien.

My dad found the receipt and I would have had a better reaction if I'd just shit in his hands.

All I heard for weeks was his mumbling about paying £8 for knickers. .

I loved those knickers.

[quote ChaoBella]@PegorySpeck

I think most parents spend what they can afford on their children at Christmas

What do you mean buy this?

People have vastly differing opinions of 'afford'.

Some consider they can afford something costing £50 even if they only have £50 to their name. Other people would say then cannot afford £50 because it takes their savings under £10,000 a level which they do not want to break.[/quote]
I think it’s a pretty straightforward statement. Parents spend what they can afford, whether that’s £50 or £500

Why not wait until right before Xmas and see if it gets reduced on the sales.

Surely that's what Christmas is about having that special gift that you wouldn't pay out for usually. Most consoles are that price I don't see the issue in it if it's something he really wants. And the fact he has picked up a extra shift a week to purchase it, I'd be quite proud he is willing to work hard for what he wants.

@minou123

This reminds me of when I was 17 and I bought 1 pair, yes just 1 pair, of knickers for £8. They were Calvin Klien.

My dad found the receipt and I would have had a better reaction if I'd just shit in his hands.

All I heard for weeks was his mumbling about paying £8 for knickers. .

I loved those knickers.

Ha ha I remember going to the Calvin Klein shop and loving the underwear - I couldn’t afford it at the time. Good choice CK do some lovely knickers

@WormYourHonour

Who had a tantrum?

He has now said we are completely unreasonable and have no right to tell him what he can do with his money.
He did.. like a child.. I bet he stomped his foot too..

Which led too..
It’s all blown up into a massive argument and no-one is talking
You all need to pull your heads out your backsides..

Goodness, do you stomp your foot? You really are projecting.

There was a different of opinion - son thinks he was reasonable (which he was) and dad thought it was a waste of money (which was his opinion).

No tantrums.

Are you projecting? Do people in your family have anger issues?

Are.you projecting? Are.you raising little boys to be entitled men?

@WormYourHonour

Are you projecting? Do people in your family have anger issues?

Are.you projecting? Are.you raising little boys to be entitled men?

I’m not the one who invented tantrums!

I think it’s a pretty straightforward statement. Parents spend what they can afford, whether that’s £50 or £500

So you are saying people will willingly spend £500 even if that pushes their bank account to zero until the next pay day?

So people really do that?

@minou123 that is hilarious. My dad would be exactly the same. Despite rolling in it he's as tight fisted as a con man

Yuck, you sound like my parents 🤮

Just buy him the belt for Christmas. It's within budget. Ffs.

@WormYourHonour

Are you projecting? Do people in your family have anger issues?

Are.you projecting? Are.you raising little boys to be entitled men?

But it sounds like your issue is with Op being generous to her son. If it were a daughter would you be so put out? Do you have a brother? Were you treated unfairly compared to him?