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Original poster

Do people really spend £300 on their kids console

398 replies

Arren12 · 21/11/2021 20:49

Hi

My dd who is 8 has been asking for a console for ages and ages now. We have never owned anything like that. She's autistic and has never played with toys so we are limited to what we can get her for Xmas. I thought I'd look at getting a console of some sort but I'm gobsmacked at the price.

Most of her friends at school have had them for ages so obviously people must spend this but its seems so excessive.

We are by no means rich but we are not struggling for money. We are quite comfortable. Its just I feel its such a lot and think about what else that money could go on.

As I say my dd does not play in the traditional sense and spends all her time doing arts and crafts. We have every art and craft thing you can imagine so can't get her any more of that really. This seemed ideal but its way more than I'd normally like to spend on each child.

What do others do? Is it that people do spend £300 on Xmas gifts or is it purely seen as a one off big purchase.

The games are also so expensive.

Do most children have a console.

I feel a bit like I'm a bad mum because dd seems one of the only children in her class not to game. This was evident in a recent homework assignment.

Aibu to be shocked that parents are spending this and wondering how most afford it or feel comfortable with it.

OP posts:
Sally872 · 21/11/2021 21:04

Main present and doesn't mean this will be the regular Christmas budget. My kids use them especially in winter so they are worth the money to us. Dh has latest xbox, dd12 has previous xbox and ds will get switch this year.

Look at cex for second hand console or games if you aren't sure dc will make use of it.

logsonlogsoff · 21/11/2021 21:04

We got a ‘family’ Switch when the oldest was around 8. They are expensive but value wise given how much they’re used they’re probably the best value gift they’ve had.
As for games - the kids save for them, get them 2nd hand or are given them for Xmas or b’day presents.

Sirzy · 21/11/2021 21:06

Can you look for second hand? Ds wanted an x box for his birthday and I managed to pick one up for £120

Vinniepolis · 21/11/2021 21:07

Could you get a second-hand one? We bought a Wii - already quite an old model at the time - for £50 including a few games, and my kids had loads of fun with that for a good few years.

icedcoffees · 21/11/2021 21:07

I'd say £300 is on the cheap side for a console - the newest models will cost over double that.

However they can be "family" consoles and used for other things as well as games. They're also used for playing DVD's, streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, streaming from your laptop to the TV and surfing the internet too.

They can be a great investment for the whole family - it doesn't need to be an expensive gift for just one person Smile

Comedycook · 21/11/2021 21:08

I got my ds a second hand Xbox. I agree I'm often shocked how much people spend on tech...it's totally not my thing!

SusannaQueen · 21/11/2021 21:09

DD(16) shares a PS4 with DH, he's a gamer, she has a Switch that she bought herself and we have a couple of Wiis. We've never bought her a console, she's never bothered about wanting one for herself, but she has a bloody expensive MacBook and has had various iPhones over the years. £250 is pretty much what we will spend on an Xmas present, but she is an only, if we had more children we couldn't afford that much. 8 does seem young, but we've never had to make that decision.

SusannaQueen · 21/11/2021 21:11

Someone has mentioned the other uses for consoles. We stream Netflix and Amazon and play blu rays through the PS4, as we have a non smart TV.

Shoxfordian · 21/11/2021 21:11

I would see if she can have a go on a friends console before you buy one to see if she gets on with it. Have a look at a switch light or something less expensive if you can as well

Angel2702 · 21/11/2021 21:12

I don’t know anyone that doesn’t have one. But they last for years. We got ours as a joint gift for both DS a good few years back and it’s the most used gift we’ve ever bought.

As they get older the gifts are expensive phones, tablets, laptops.

Original poster
Arren12 · 21/11/2021 21:12

Well it seems like something we will get then. She has asked for a switch yes. I like the idea of the normal one so she can play it on the downstairs TV. Can they be played on the TV two player? I think it would be good to play it with her and it will help with limiting screen time too.

OP posts:
greyinganddecaying · 21/11/2021 21:13

We game as a family, although I try to make sure the kids do a mixture of things so they're not glued to the consoles.

Find out what the majority of DC's friends have before you buy anything - or try to encourage pc-based games first to see if it's going to be worthwhile.

Stompythedinosaur · 21/11/2021 21:14

£300 is about what we spent.

Shoxfordian · 21/11/2021 21:15

Yes some games are two player op

Also the switch does have quite a lot of sales so it’s not necessarily that expensive to get games, see if you can get demo versions whenever you can so your daughter can try it first

User00000000 · 21/11/2021 21:16

It's a big initial cost but they last for years and give lots of entertainment.

We have an Xbox which is technically my husband's and a Nintendo switch which is shared between us, but anyone can use them.

Not everyone will be buying a console specifically for their child especially at 8. I wouldn't mind doing it when they are older though. My oldest has ASD too and she finds playing games quite calming

ExplodingCarrots · 21/11/2021 21:17

We bought the switch a couple of years ago as a family Xmas gift . So it belongs to us all and not just DD . It can be lots of fun playing games together like mario kart and just dance etc It's in the living room so she don't play it in her room on her own.

user0176 · 21/11/2021 21:18

We bought ours second hand consoles, and they share them so it's a sort of shared expense. My eldest wants his own X box Series S (he only has a shared Xbox one currently) I've said he can get it in year 7 next year. They also have a switch but they're not very interested in that tbh as we don't have many games for it, we have Xbox game pass so they can play lots of games that way.

megletthesecond · 21/11/2021 21:18

DS has a switch he had to save up for. It was too expensive for a present.

Original poster
Arren12 · 21/11/2021 21:18

@Bananabrush I know what you mean and I do agree with not following the crowd too but with dd being autistic she dies need all the help she can get to fit in. She already stands out from the crowd and is behind socially. Its a difficult choice. Do your children ask for them? Do you think it has bothered them. I'm keen to teach my dc the value of money early on. I grew up with very little and still feel anxious spending money even if I can afford it.

OP posts:
BadgeronaMoped · 21/11/2021 21:22

I would recommend taking a look at Steam if you have a desktop computer, you can play find all sorts of cool games on there and filter for age etc. Or as PPs have suggested, just using a tablet, there are some wonderful games out there, dependent on what your DD likes of course! Probably wouldn't recommend an Xbox or PS unless she's got specific games in mind which are only available on those platforms. The Nintendo Switch is great and you can buy indie games through their marketplace for prices ranging from £10 to £20ish.

SusannaQueen · 21/11/2021 21:22

Ditto asking friends what they have, so she can multiplayer online with them.

Clymene · 21/11/2021 21:24

@Slippy78

Nope, they spend more than that. A PS5 is around £500-£700 depending on the model.
The digital edition costs £360 and the blu ray costs £450.

They're sold out everywhere though so you're going to be paying over the odds to scalpers

celestebellman · 21/11/2021 21:25

We have a Nintendo switch, have had for a couple of years and the amount of use it gets by my boys, age 10 and 7 (daily, within limits) means it is probably the most cost efficient thing they have owned. We will probably get another for Christmas as at the point where the 10 year old monopolises it as so much socialising with his friends occurs on the games. I would say it has actually been a great thing for him socially. I actually agree with the poster who said it is useful to have some cultural awareness of the games as they become so prevalent especially in the older primary school years. I don't think this is a new or controversial observation - same as perhaps growing up in 80s/ 90s and watching the same TV programmes as your peers.

So I'd say it is worth the investment.

MsSquiz · 21/11/2021 21:25

My nephew is almost 9 and he's had a switch for a few years now and also has an iPad, as well as games for his dad's PS5 & PS4.
He has ASD and his iPad with his headphones on is his "safe place" to escape from his 5 year old siblings or stresses.

He has very few friends, but those he is friends with also have iPads and they iMessage each other at weekends and school holidays which helps him massively, socially as he really struggles with changes to his usual routine

Clymene · 21/11/2021 21:27

A switch is great. We've had one since they first came out and have had hours and hours of play out if it.

One of my kids is autistic and playing online has been really good for his social development