To think Secret Santa budgets are a con

[TheLasrStraw]

Y8 DD said class Secret Santa guideline was £7, so we bought a nice Harry Potter branded thing.

DD received a box of Heroes which retail for £3 in Tesco.

You sound like a spoilt brat, OP, lots of people struggling financially this year so maybe, just maybe, that was the other child's family could afford.

And personalised number plates for 12 year olds? Surely you mean the name number plates like this 2x KIDS PERSONALISED NEW UK NUMBER PLATE STICKERS | SELF ADHESIVE (140mm x 35mm) CHILDREN'S ELECTRIC RIDE ON CAR amazon.co.uk/dp/B09LTF4BVW/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_9TJWKNSKB620KBRTMB80?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1]]
Those are less than 4 quid!

If the secret Santa is voluntary and has £7 price line. I would expect people to spend around that amount maybe a £1 either side. if you can't afford the £7 price tag you don't join in. It's that simple, it's not ok to spend considerably less.

Let's hope your attitude doesn't rub off on your children, OP.

We are talking about kids here @itispersonal would you like your child to be left out or gift what they could afford from their pocket money or what you can give them.

You say in your opening post they are guidelines- this implies flexibility.

I was dumped by my boyfriend in yr8 because he thought my Christmas present was too stingy. I spent all of my remaining pocket money on it. His parents paid for the one he gave me. I never told him that it was all I could afford. He probably thought it was unfair, I thought he was a bit spoilt.

@TheLasrStraw

Yes, we knew the other girl likes HP.

Money may indeed be tight for some families and I sympathise hugely.

Guess we were just unlucky not to get one of the families with personalised number plates I see at drop off!

I really doubt they'd have bought anything amazing for £7 anyway.

Stop being so bloody ungrateful!

@itispersonal

If the secret Santa is voluntary and has £7 price line. I would expect people to spend around that amount maybe a £1 either side. if you can't afford the £7 price tag you don't join in. It's that simple, it's not ok to spend considerably less.

What a beautiful Christmas moment that would make! Watching the better off children open their gifts.

You should advocate the end to Secret Santa and replace by a charity donation instead.

Oh Lord you sort of had my sympathies until this comment. Sorry OP but YABVU.

Maybe they couldn't afford the 7 quid. Maybe the parent forgot and it was a last minute thing. Maybe they don't have as much time as you appear to have to worry about a class secret Santa.

It's far from the worst Secret Santa gift I've heard of - at least it's festive and edible. Your DD could've been the unlucky one who got nothing, or could have received a 'novelty' gift AKA something truly shite that's destined straight for the bin.

I don't think it is a good idea for primary school to do this as some can't afford it and you have to make it inclusive

With adults you can opt out

I think £7 is too much. DS budget was £5 and he got stuff way over £5, we spect £4. DD took in loads of little things which was probably over.