At being told what I can spend DC's birthday money on?

[faddle]

DC is 4 this week. I have been given a card, with some money in rather than a present, and been told to "spend it on something useful like clothes for winter"
This ticked me off rather, and I'm planning to take DC to toysRus in a moment and blow the lot on whichever pointless and naff piece of junk takes their fancy, as in fact its THEIR BIRTHDAY, and they should be allowed to spend it on what the hell they like.
So tell me, AIBU?

YANBU. Was it from someone a little older, who maybe has a more frugal outlook?

Of course YANBU.

It's just something to write in the card
doesn't mean you have to do it
chill out

Yes, but they always send money, never buy a present, but then get annoyed when I allow DC to buy a toy with it. I mean, if someone gives your parent some money to buy some clothes with, then how is that a birthday present? is it not in fact a contribution towards the cost of keeping small children?

I always thought birthdays were for buying stuff you really want but cant justify buying the rest of the year?

I would take that as a suggestion rather than an instruction.

Sorry, I should add that I'm very grateful for the fact that they have given the money, but I do also get rather irked that my firstborn DC always gets a present bought, whereas my younger DC whom I am talking about here always gets the money in the card job.

You are overthinking it
just spend it on what you like and send a thank you card

Right, thats pretty unanimous, off to toys r us then LOL!

Yeh! Come back and tell us what you buy

Maybe they think your younger dc always gets hand me downs and would appreciate some new clothes that they get to choose for themself. Ie their preference on colour, design etc.

But yeah, tell your younger dc what the card says and ask if they want to get clothes or something else and make it clear they can choose either.

I always think a gift should be something nice that you would never dream of buying for yourself but would really really like to have - TOYS-R-US

depends on your circumstances. for some people, the only money they ever have towards buying clothes is from presents. in fact, i used to kind of rely on birthday & christmas to keep me clothed right through to my thirties.

if we were given money, it was meant to be put in savings, with a small amount for a treat.

Perhaps they think twins (I assume the DCs are twins) are a financial burden and rather than waste money on toys they may already have from older DC, or that you don't have the space for, you could use the money for things you can't afford
Whenever I buy one friend of mine's children presents she says please don't as they don't have the space/or they have the toy/or it's not their thing, and could they have money....

why not spend it on lovely clothes that you wouldn't usually buy i.e. OTT tutu or dressing up clothes.

I have just bought a dress from Boden (2nd one this year) in the hope that I'll get some cash for my birthday on Tuesday instead of the usual mound of toiletries etc. Children are only young once, let them buy what they like. Birthday money shouldn't have strings attached!

No, not twins, eldest is 2 years older than DC in question. She eventually (after touring the ENTIRE shop at least 3 times) decided on: My little pony newborn nursery, barbie swimming pool, a small pack of baby essentials for dollies and a disney princess horn for her bike. The look on her face when she realised she was getting ALL of the above items was priceless. its the first time I have done this, as we have been uber skint for a number of years, and are finally solvent, so it was lovely to be able to let her blow the whole lot rather than penny pinching.

presumably they meant "I would have liked to have bought her clothes but would have no idea what to get"

Glad your DD enjoyed her trip

Buy what you like and tell them you got clothes.

Nod, agree... And ignore I love getting money for birthdays to splurge on crap I dont need.

winter clothes arent even in the shops yet!! i dont think...