To think this was really cheeky of my friend!

[BreezyFish]

So my friend has just told me that she’s “only gonna spend a cutla quid” (her words, not mine ) on my DS this Christmas because she’s “saving for Center Parcs next year.”

Now, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but a cutla quid?? I actually thought she was joking at first. My DS is 7, not some random kid from school you pick up a selection box for. I always spend properly on her DD with last year it was a LEGO set, a book, and one of those slime-making kits that exploded glitter everywhere. Easily £25+.

So I said, “Oh right, just a couple of quid?” and she said, dead serious, “Yeah hun, can’t go mad this year, Center Parcs isn’t cheap.”

Sorry but since when did her holiday mean my son gets shortchanged?! It’s not my fault she wants to go be in a beige lodge with a swimming pool.

She’s now acting like I’m the unreasonable one for being “materialistic.” But surely it’s just basic decency to reciprocate roughly what someone else spends?

Would I be unreasonable to get her DD something from the pound shop this year and see how she likes it?

Just agree to not buy each others children presents

You do realise that she is in no way obligated to buy anything for your DS?

Short changed? I mean really, come on.

Is this a reverse or something? Why cant you spell “a couple of quid”. Yabu, learn to spell.

This post actually made me feel nauseous. Get a grip and spend the same on her child. It's ridiculously simple to fathom

Now, I don’t want to sound ungrateful

Proceeds to do just that. If this is even real.

You might be being too literal here. When I say a ‘couple of quid’, I usually don’t literally mean £2, it means a small amount of money.

Either way, I think it’s weird to spend £25 + on a friend’s child anyway. She’s got other priorities this year and I think you’re being cheeky to get so angry about it. She’s told you, so now you should do the same for her DC and maybe you can both stop this trend of spending that much on each other’s kids once and for all.

Well I would rather you bought a cheap selection box from the pound shop than exploding glitter for my child too tbh.

Same 😂

Just don't do presents for each other this year. None of us buy for our friends kids.

*I'm only half believing this because nobody would admit to buying anyone exploding glitter. That shits for the kids of people you hate.

Ah stop. 100% my holiday comes before buying presents for my friends kids.
As if.
Thats actually funny that you think your child is being "shortchanged" because shes saving for a holiday.
Wake up.

No

REVERSE!

If you bought my kid a gift that exploded glitter everywhere then I too would be trying to find a way to not do presents this year. This is a friend of yours, not your child's grandparent. She is not obliged to buy your kid anything at all. If she needs to cut costs to afford a family holiday then buying gifts for a friend's kid is definitely something to strip away.

Just agree to do a cheap exchange this year. Christmas gets so expensive. I have an agreement now with friends that we just do a pyjamas and selection box exchange. I said a few months ago, please do not spend a fortune on pyjamas for my kids, I’ve found sets in Asda for £3.50/4.50 depending on size and I’m buying all kids a pair of those and a selection box and that’s it. There’s too many kids to buy for, and it all adds up. I’d rather spend that money on my own kids, and similarly to your friend, on paying off our holiday for next year.

This. Rather than fall out OP. This isn't what Xmas is about surely?

Wtf is “cutla”? Do you mean “a couple of”?

And she can spend what she likes, including nothing at all.

Don’t sweat it. It’s only Christmas, not his 18th. People get far too involved in Christmas. It’s just a day. Get her kid something low value and forget it.

You are being materialistic. The end

I’ve never expected a friend to buy christmas presents for my children.

It’s not a given expectation that friends buy each other’s children Christmas presents.

It was the exploding glitter that did it. She now hates you.

On the slim chance this isn't a blatant wind up, stop being a weirdo and expecting your friend to prioritise your child over her own.

You also don't need to spend £25 on her child. She has given you fair warning that she wants to rein in the spending, so get something as a token for her child and move on.

She’s indirectly asking you to also spend only a few quid and get her child a token gift too, isn’t she? I’d just suggest no gift this year to take the pressure off you both.

Is this another thread about chavs?

This is why I have very few friends - and neither of us buy for each others kids it’s like an unspoken understanding! Who the fuck says cutla?

Your friend is not being cheeky. Just buy a small present like hair slides with some chocolate. Job done. Kids get far too many presents.