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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To buy Christmas presents secondhand?

77 replies

EdgarFrog · 28/10/2022 07:03

DH and MIL think I'm very unreasonable!

DD is 14 months (will be 16 months at Christmas) and there are a couple of larger items I'd like to get her for Christmas- namely a play kitchen and toddler armchair. However these two gifts alone will be £100+ but I can pick them up on FB marketplace for less than half of that in great condition. It's not like DD will care or even know!!

What does everyone else think?

OP posts:

Autumninnewyork · 28/10/2022 07:33

I always buy secondhand if I can for my small DC. It’s definitely not a question of affordability. It’s just better for the environment and the chikdren
dint notice or care if it’s new

BertieBotts · 28/10/2022 07:34

Completely normal thing to do. Sounds like MIL and DH have a complex about second hand.

Applesandcarrots · 28/10/2022 07:40

14month old will have no idea. Makes sense, in this case absolutely.

Re environment, while it's great to buy second hand, someone does have to buy it new first. It's not such a sin to buy new...

Inasec24 · 28/10/2022 07:41

Most of my DC's gifts are 2nd hand, this has always been the case. Sylvanian Families and Playmobil for example, they are very good quality and stand the test of time so you can get great condition sets second hand. If I bought a SF house or Playmobil set new, that would pretty much be budget blown. 2nd hand they get a whole bundle plus a few other bits.

This year, as well as above, I have managed to find a lovely OG doll bundle for DD super cheap on Vinted and a Peppa Pig book and Bluey board game from a charity shop for DS that look brand new.

Heyahun · 28/10/2022 07:43

I refuse to buy most toys like toy kitchens and stuff new tbh (I could afford it but it’s so bloody wasteful) there is heaps of toys second hand barely touched! I also get a lot of Clark’s shoes on eBay as the cost new is 40 bloody pounds sometimes

elephantseal · 28/10/2022 07:44

No way! I did this all the time when my dc were young. Perfect for the environment.

And it means you can save money for when your dc are teens and will notice second-hand gifts!!

elephantseal · 28/10/2022 07:45

Things like Freegle are great too. I've just picked up a free basketball stand for ds!

TheFutureIs · 28/10/2022 07:47

One year a very expensive wooden play kitchen appeared in the skip we had from building works. We gave it a good clean up and it was little ones main present that year. She was 3 and was chuffed to bits with her present! She also gets lots of preloved playmobil and wooden toys as these are both expensive new so she gets loads more this way.

LouLou198 · 28/10/2022 07:49

Absolutely not unreasonable! She won't know the difference and so much better to reuse instead of buying new all the time. There are some bargains to be had on marketplace. Trust me, save your money for when she is a teenager!!

diamondpony80 · 28/10/2022 07:51

Any toys I’ve ever bought or sold second hand have been in almost perfect condition. Kids grow out of their toys so quickly at that age they often get little use. It’s perfectly reasonable to buy secondhand and save some money.

BaileySharp · 28/10/2022 07:51

It's fine the kids won't know the difference especially this young

ParentallyUnprepared · 28/10/2022 07:51

When I had my first I refused to get anything secondhand.

Now I know the truth.

Don't waste money buying new.

MrsSkylerWhite · 28/10/2022 07:52

I think you’d be daft if you didn’t buy secondhand.

nimski · 28/10/2022 08:02

Mine are 7 and 10 and still buy tons second hand, local sites, vinted, charity shops. You can get practically new or excellent condition. Same with clothes. You are absolutely not being unreasonable.

Butterfly44 · 28/10/2022 08:05

Absolutely!! While they are young and don't know, secondhand is the way to go. They are sooo expensive new - no point when they will play and grow out of wanting new challenges.

Roserunner · 28/10/2022 08:06

My DC is a teen now, I got her an amazing doll house second hand to use with Sylvanian families when she was little. More recently she's had a refurbished laptop and a dslr camera. Buying secondhand has allowed us to get higher spec items so much cheaper, and we've not had any issues with them.

LolaSmiles · 28/10/2022 08:08

We try to buy second hand where we can. It's cheaper and better for the planet. If it's in good condition then it's silly not to.

We buy a lot second hand for life in general.

iratepirate · 28/10/2022 08:11

I wish more people would.
We’ve had nearly everything for DC second-hand.

00100001 · 28/10/2022 08:12

OMG do you even have love your kids???? The only way to show love is to buy items BRAND NEW. Don't ever buy second hand if you love your precious angles. They'll know and they'll remember that you didn't spend the money!

Darbs76 · 28/10/2022 08:12

Absolutely buy them secondhand. Kids of that age don’t care, they just want to play with the item. Brand new or much loved and played with. Save your money for when they do care as Christmas gets much more expensive then!

Rosebud100 · 28/10/2022 08:14

Definitely buy second hand.

I buy most of 2 and 4 year olds presents second hand. There are many bargains out there! Saves you money, better for the environment and most purchases, especially anything plastic, are as good as new anyways!

inappropriateraspberry · 28/10/2022 08:14

Do it. Your child will have no clue whether they're brand new or preloved. As long as they are safe and clean, there's no reason not to. Better for the environment as well, reduce, reuse, recycle!
Ignore your DH and MIL, why spend ££££s if you don't have to?

LovelyDaaling · 28/10/2022 08:15

Buy secondhand. Out of the three adults, you are the only sane one.

Sellorkeep · 28/10/2022 08:16

Second hand is super. I think the ikea kids kitchen has done a turn in practically every house in our village.

SuspiciousHedgehog · 28/10/2022 08:16

As long as it's clean, a toddler is too young to know.
Don't tell the snobs in your family, just don't tell them, they likely wont know, either

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