Just got DS2s (13) Christmas list......

[myotherusernameisbetter]

£450 worth of computer games (10 games at between £40 and £50 each!) plus a PSN gift card, and a steam gift card.....to buy more computer games.

That's it - nothing else on the list.

Quite optimistic then

Aye, a wee bit!

tbf the usual budget is around the £500 mark but I am not spending that on computer games. I usually expect that to cover one big item and some other pieces including a computer game or two.

DS1 is building a gaming PC and will get £300-£350 towards that and he's like a new chair and some bits and bobs - books etc.

DS2 says ther is nothing big that he wants, if I give him the cash to keep them equal.....he'll spend it on computer games.

I've told him he can get 2 or 3 from the list.

My dd is into gaming, not sure if I would buy her all games and PC related items for Christmas, she's getting a hudl ( to play minecraft on without her sister playing around with it ) and 2 3ds games, she will then get lots of other small things to encourage her not to over do the gaming , if I got her 5 games at once she would spend the rest of the year glued to them.

It's a tough one really as he always gets excellent reports, does his homework and chores and keeps his room reasonably tidy, he does the requisite 3 activities a week that we insist on, but his main social activity is gaming. He can complete a 50 quid game in a few weeks! I don't want to waste money on things he doesn't want, but equally I don't want to spend that sort of money on things that are half the value a week later.

My nearly 15yo likes cash to save (he delights in getting his bank statement ) but this year there's 2 games he's hankering after ( Birthday in December too)

He likes Microsoft Points to squander too - flipping waste of money IMO, but his choice.

He doesn't do designer clothes or smellies, so I suppose a Game for him is better value (in that it'll get used) than a Fat Face or Hollister voucher.

DS1 likes to save - DS2 is a bit of a splash cash - he likes to save in theory but can't resist anything.

DS1 still has money from last Christmas and his Birthday in the summer so if putting £500 towards his own new PC.

Like your DS, neither is really interested in labels although DS2 does like a wee big of a Swag.

We have a £2 jar that I cash up and we divide before the end of December - usually £200+ between the 4 of us (last year IIRC £240)

The condition of the £2 jar is it has to be spent. Anything goes (if it's legal ).
My DS would dearly love to put his share in his bank (little Scrooge that he is), it pains him to spend money if if it isn't his (though it's easier to spend if it's my money )

Mental image of Gollum my precious springs to mind.

I have a DS (21) and we have had plenty of Christmas lists that looked like this , I just go with it ,if that's what they want what does it really matter . That said I've never price matched for my DC ,I figure they get what they want and over the years it probably evens out .

ha ha 70

Flora - I know it shouldn't matter as I would be spending the money anyway, but I'd rather it was spent on something with a bit more longevity.

I think you are right in theory about the value thing, but as they are both boys, only a year apart and old enough to know the exact value of everything now, I find it easier and fairer to keep as close to the same value as possible. It wouldn't cause a fight, but there is always a bit of underlying insecurity about which one I love the most that could rear it's head that I'd rather not engage in!

I'd do a homemade printed voucher type thing for a 'game
club' for him - one year subscription where he gets a new game each month. (Have done with books for nephew)

Ds (12) has quite a few games on his list too but also a lava lamp, a Pebble charger thingy, a robotic arm thingy, and one book! Bought him a cute furry Minecraft Creeper already which wasn't on the list but he will love it.

That's a really nice idea waiting I'm not sure I could cope with Christmas morning and one game plus a voucher though :(

I come from a poor background and can now afford to spoil the boys at Christmas and i really enjoy it. They are used to having a big pile at Christmas and i know that they are getting older but they are such good boys.

He's come and added new headphones to the list so that's progress!

Dis will be 12 at Xmas, and all he wants is xbox/ps related, our budget is similar to yours op,
Up to now we have

Ps 4 with 1controller,psmsubscription and 1game (bundle)
Ps credit voucher
Batman for Xbox
Microsoft points
Light up controller for Xbox
Headset for ps4

Not sure what else to get him

He has asked for Xbox posters, xbox key ring, xbox phone case oh and some headphones.

I also have him a chocolate pizza and a bar of to toblerone.

I'm looking at a new watch, stationary, books, key ring,mug,calendar,sweets.

Last year I wasted loads of money buying DS things like Rubik's cube, funky usb lamps,nanobloks lego sets, minecraft related things and it has all went untouched :(

They always get new pyjamas, some books, the new Guinness Book of Records/Ripleys, some sweeties, socks, shower gel etc etc

But like zazza, a lot of stuff I've bought before thinking they would love, they barely touched so I am not going there anymore. There are a few things that he has asked for before that I have parked in my head. e.g. a new scout knife. If I think hard enough there may also be some things they need rather than want that I could wrap up to bulk up the pile.

Just thought - has he got a bean bag chair thingy for gaming in?

That's a nice idea, thank you. He has a gaming chair which is sitting folded up in the spare room as he didn't use it - the current position seems to be lying on the bed playing so I am not sure he would use a bean bag either.

How about pre owned games ?

I have no objection to pre-owned, however the games he has listed are all either new releases, or in two cases they wont be released until next year so he has asked for them to be pre ordered - he is nothing but bold my boy!

You could get them a teenager magazine subscription

thanks, yes he does have one that has recently expired so I guess we could renew that :)

A couple of years back I got DS an Halo Controller for his X-Box.
I think DH is going to get him another X-Box 1 controller this year.

He has a Halo wallet

What about a wall poster and hanger would he like that?

I also have a 13 year old DS2.

His Christmas list is very similar!

I was going to say give him vouchers too - for the Bank of Mum so that he can buy the games as they come out (but has to come to you for the money).... but I see I was beaten to it! I still think it's a good idea. Even if you buy all the games he wants, it's not going to be a 'pile' is it, that's just what happens as they get older. Plus you can wrap up all the stuff you get them anyway, so it'll bulk up.

That way, he can change his mind about either how to spend the money or which games to buy.