To let DC choose how to spend their voucher

[Oysterbabe]

Children are 5 and 7. Both have December birthdays so we are drowning in toys. They both got a toy shop voucher from an aunt that they are desperate to spend.

My view is that it is their voucher to spend on whatever shite their heart desires. I'll offer opinions and guidance but ultimately it's up to them. DH always wants to basically choose how they spend the voucher with some small input from the kids and definitely prevent them from buying crap.

I think it's much nicer when they can tell the aunt what they bought and why they chose it etc rather than having their options being heavily restricted.

i tended to guide my kids - as in 'go and choose a lego set' or let's go look at the star wars toys'

too much choice means they choose shit - but narrowing it down means that they can make better choices

If the aunt had given them a toy, would you have taken it away until the summer?

The aunt bought them the voucher to make them happy, so they could spend it. It would be unfair to her to unilaterally take it away so that they didn't get the pleasure she intended

I would most definitely not let them take £25 off to spend on their choice. You could be in that shop for eternity. Sit down with them. Suggest lego or a game. It sounds lovely to let them choose, but it isn't!

Of course it's lovely.

Kids rarely ever get the chance to have free rein over what to buy like that. It's a great way for them to safely spend money (as it's a voucher, they have a budget, a time limit and restrictions of where it can be spent) and if they waste it, it's a lesson learned.

It is their voucher, it was given to them so he should let them choose.

Where's the time limit? How do they budget? They are kids.

For an example, The Entertainer. There is too much choice. Or one big thing but it's too expensive, plus they want the little thing aswell! Do we then allow that extra? For me it's torture. For them it's pretty overwhelming.

Plan with them. It's my best advice!!

I would let them choose but perhaps wait until the summer toys come in and guide them towards those

This is why people with birthdays near christmas have such a shit time - please dont take it off them to spend at another time, you wouldnt do it if it was during the summer. And do let them enjoy it - its a 25pound voucher for crying out loud, not something thats going to affect them the rest of their lives ffs

Where's the time limit?
Vouchers generally only last a year.

How do they budget?
Because the voucher has a spending limit of £25. They can either get lots of little things or one big thing, or two medium things. Or keep the voucher and save other money to get a massive thing etc.

For an example, The Entertainer. There is too much choice. Or one big thing but it's too expensive, plus they want the little thing aswell! Do we then allow that extra? For me it's torture. For them it's pretty overwhelming.

No, you don't allow extra - that's the point of learning to budget. They have a £25 gift to spend at X shop. They can then safely choose how to spend it without wasting your money as it's their gift to use as they want. Budgeting and money is best taught early - it is hard at first but the more you do
it, the easier it becomes.

Plan with them. It's my best advice!!
Absolutely, but that doesn't mean you get the final say or that you take their vouchers off them as PP suggested doing.

It's their money, let them decide. If they waste it on plastic tat, that's up to them.

You definitely don't take the vouchers off them until the summer. Those vouchers won't be worth the paper/plastic they're printed on if the company goes bust in the meantime. Martin Lewis always says use them straight away.

I think it is ok to veto certain things that you don't want them to buy but otherwise they should get the choice.

Then they don't really have a choice, do they?

Time limit as in how much time you spend in a shop. It could be forever and a day trying to explain budgeting!

They are 5 and 7. Budget at home with a plan, not in a toy shop.

I would not take the vouchers off them.

I don't want plastic tat in my house. I will end up a few months later trying to give it away/trick someone elses child into having it because no one plays with it or wants it! Its heartbreaking seeing £10 spent on a tiny doll with little clothes etc in a plastic ball and then stepping on/hoovering up a couple of days later. This is my experience.

Would you really let your child have entirely free rein, even if entirely unsuitable, dangerous, against your parenting rules...