AIBU not to include art supplies in budget for birthday presents.

[Cocomelon2581]

We have always had a budget for birthdays DD aged 10 for the last 3 years has chosen new art supplies for her birthday, her birthday is so close to Xmas that it means by the next year she is running low on things. She loves art and isn’t physically able to do things like sport hobbies etc so art is her thing. The only issue is that the supplies can be expensive so fancy paper / fancy pens / sketching books and comes to a good few hundreds pounds.
this year she would like a drawing tablet( to try graphic drawings ) or a phone - which is not a bad idea due to circumstances. She keeps going back and forward between this and her art supplies - previous years she DP would be against buying her anything additional and that art supplies is a want not a need.
so it should come out of gift budget.
I feel bad that every year she opens pretty much the same stuff so that she can continue her art. DP is no longer around.
her birthday is approaching and I have gone through all her art supplies and they are in defo need of a stock up

is it unreasonable to make her have a skill / hobby supply top up every birthday and not be able to get get anything else ?
or should I now move that to a “ need “ budget.

if your kids have hobbies - do you purchase their stuff for birthdays and Xmas or throughout the year Separately ?
seems a daft but I suppose the argument had gone on for so long 🙈

My 9 year old loves art. Similar to others, we buy the regular stuff year round - canvases, basic paints, alcohol markers etc - and the special Posca pencils and cotton paper and high-end stuff that she covets for Christmas.

I'd say that something big like the tablet would be a gift.

For other supplies a mix of getting them as she needs them to replace things that have been used up and from her pocket money. Maybe work up to her having her own budget (extra pocket money??) and her being in complete "control" of what she is getting.

I would never dream of including it in gift budget but we can afford not to. That’s ultimately the line.

I think her art supplies are a need. So the only issue is your budget constraints.

Some fabulous advice here @Cocomelon2581 - I’d also suggest checking out Vinted, eBay and Facebook marketplace for art equipment folks are clearing out as they’ve stopped doing a hobby or can’t continue etc. I get some nice partly used watercolour paper pads/art supplies that way.

Can you ask family members to buy a gift card for somewhere like Hobbycraft? Then she can also have the fun of choosing her own as well.

I don't think it matters whether you call it a want or a need. Your daughter got the short straw being in a wheelchair so if you can bring joy to her life with art supplies/tablet then go for it in terms of what you can afford. Most children don't get swimming or ballet lessons as their Christmas or birthday presents either. Your ex sounds a right misery.

I think my DC would be annoyed to get essential things for their hobby as a gift.

If you can afford it then I think you should provide art supplies throughout the year. Thank fuck the DP has gone pain in ass.
The graphics tablet or similar more costly items of equipment could be birthday and Christmas gifts.
I do think that if you only give art supplies as gifts that means she's missing out on other things she might like. And as you say, it's her hobby and she's not doing other hobbies which might cost quite a bit per month in club fees or whatever.
I think I'd give her a budget per month for her to spend on art supplies and then she can choose what she would like and top up as necessary throughout the year.

we even have stalls at anime conventions etc and she sells loads

I agree with PP - pay for the stall fee out of the takings and then split the rest 50: 50, to cover her costs of materials, time etc

If she wants to continue with art on a professional basis, she can see this as a stepping stone in that direction.

Are there any after school art groups in your area ? We've got a couple near us and they are a wonderful way for kids who aren't into sports / dance / music etc to get those creative juices flowing, plus there's the camaraderie of being with similarly minded people. Also a good way to widen experience without having to spend money on kit / materials that she doesn't end up doing so much of.

But yes I agree with others - please provide your DD with the art supplies she needs.

You seem to be a bit rigid about the "which part of the budget" question.
If you are parenting solo now, you no longer need to be controlled by anyone else.
Whatever you choose will depend on your budget. Which depends on how many other dc you have, what your income is and what your other outgoings are.
I agree with most. Many of us will pay throughout the year for our dcs' hobbies / activities / lessons. It sounds like this art work is the equivalent of that - as you say the dance lessons or the football team subs or the shoes and clothes for dance or football equivalent.
However, if she is good enough that she can sell her products, then the cost of creating the artwork could come out of the sale price if your budget is tight.

I regard art supplies as consumables. If she was good at languages you wouldn't charge a tutor or stationery to her gift budget.

@Cocomelon2581
Not read the full thread, but have read all of your posts OP.

Have a serious think about an iPad (and apple pencil) for her - there's an art app you can get on there (Procreate) which is amazing and cheap (for what it is), and you can also add on brushes as you get used to doing it.

And it also doubles as a normal tablet/messaging ability, rather than a graphics tablet being just a tablet.

I have had no regrets having mine, and I know professional artsy people who use it and the Procreate app as well :)

I think you should do it exactly as you please or what works with your budget. And if your budget restraints change and you have to go back to art supplies as birthday gift, you can explain that too.

If you can afford to buy the art supplies buy them. If my dd had a hobby and I could afford to buy the stuff then I would buy it.

A bit of both, we buy sports equipment at the time it is needed generally but if there is a birthday or Christmas coming up the kit eg hockey stick/ shin pads are wrapped up as part of the gifts .

I can't imagine making my child have his hobby equipment as his birthday present every year. What a miserly thing to do. Art/music/sports etc are passions and should be encouraged for children to become well rounded people. Birthday presents are a separate matter.

ETA finances allowing of course.

If she gets DLA, apply to the Family Fund for a grant to buy the tablet.

It's a hobby the same as a sport as pp say. If your child needed new violin strings would you be so hesitant to buy them?