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Original poster

I'm going to have to buy a PS4 arent I?

28 replies

SurlyCue · 16/10/2015 21:08

Hmm

DS(10) decided in the summer that he was going to sell his PS3 and games and buy a PS4. Theyre around £300 and he'll get nowhere near that for his PS3. So i talked him into waiting til the new year because a) it gives him a chance to save money towards it as well as what he gets for the PS3 and b) I am guessing they might go down in a bit after christmas in sales (will they?)

So that was the plan. He had about £80 from his birthday and was happy to wait til january. DS2 (6) decided to go in on it with him (he only has a few games for the PS3 and no money Grin) but now as decembe approaches DS1 has been buying more PS3 games, he has no money left and is saying that he is just going to ask santa for a PS4 now. Ive suggested that while he can ask, there is no guarantee that that is what he will get.

My dilemma is i didnt want to get another game console. Santa (me) brought the PS3 3 years ago and as far as i am concerned it is still fine. I had planned to spend no more than about £150-£200 on them (in total, not each) for christmas and a PS4 blows the budget massively, games would have to be bought as well. I wouldnt be able to get anything else for them. And also, i am annoyed with DS that he thinks he can just click his fingers and magic will fix it because he doesnt fancy saving and waiting after all. (Trying to remind myself he is just10!) BUT, it is likely to be the last year he will believe in santa and i'm not sure if it is unfair to leave his last memory as a disappointing one. Is it right to let him learn his lesson about saving money and sticking to the plan through being let down by santa?

So what do I do?

OP posts:
Original poster
SurlyCue · 16/10/2015 21:12

It also rankles that if I get him a PS4 he will then also have his PS3 and games which he will sell and have the money for!

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 16/10/2015 21:15

If you do buy him a ps4, sell the PS3 yourself (Or trade it in to get money off a second hand PS4?) and tell your son Santa upgraded it. He shouldn't have both.

cowssheephens · 16/10/2015 21:16

If you can afford it, buy it! That's my motto. Their only children once.

YakTriangle · 16/10/2015 21:16

Yep do that ^ and wait til Black Friday week in Amazon and see if a good deal comes up on a PS4.

YakTriangle · 16/10/2015 21:17

I was agreeing with Anchor btw

TigerFeat · 16/10/2015 21:17

err, no.

I'm fairly certain that Santa only ever buys 1 console per child (in total). He'll have to stick with what he's got.

There must be other things he would like.

gamerchick · 16/10/2015 21:21

Under those circumstances no I wouldn't buy him one.

he'll get more for his if he trades it in rather than selling. He'll only get about 60-80 quid for it unless you sell it private and even then it's not worth much.

Original poster
SurlyCue · 16/10/2015 21:25

Ok so do you think santa would get away with removing the existing PS3 and games on xmas eve? Both DC know that Santa sends me a bill so they know I will be paying for whatever he brings. I might be able to convince him that the money from the PS3 should come to me. Maybe. I think it would be a row and put a dampner on xmas tbh.

There is nothing else he is interested in. He is playstation on the brain and has just decided that is what he is getting from santa.

I can afford it by cutting out other things before and after christmas. But tbh it is way more than i had budgeted. In fact it would take up my entire budget for christmas for everyone else, mum, dad, sister, friends.

OP posts:
Original poster
SurlyCue · 16/10/2015 21:26

Gamerchick how much would it be worth as a trade-in and how do I do that? Where do i take it?

OP posts:
Original poster
SurlyCue · 16/10/2015 21:27

Btw i had planned to buy him a PS4 game from santa (for when he buys his own console) before he announced that he was asking for a bloody PS4!

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 16/10/2015 21:28

Yep, that's totally fine. He can't keep the PS3 and get a PS4, like you've said.

The PS4 is good and it has a lot more functionality than the PS3. It's also expected to be supported for much longer, so it'll probably survive most of his childhood!

Look at GAME and the like, they will usually offer £100 off for trading in a PS3, and you can get a few quid for each of the PS3 games. Maybe not as much as you paid, but as they can't be played on the PS4 anyway, it does cut the cost a bit.

Original poster
SurlyCue · 16/10/2015 21:31

Ok so I should wait until after christmas and do the trade in?

OP posts:
Original poster
SurlyCue · 16/10/2015 21:32

And santa can bring him a game to get him started.

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ALemonyPea · 16/10/2015 21:32

Can they not play PS3 games on a ps4?

Ds1 is getting a ps4, he is 12, and I've told him if he gets it it will be his only present as its so expensive. He gets it, but then he doesn't believe in FC.

I'd buy it, maybe put a note in from FC saying how well FC thought he was saving to get one so thought he'd send him one, but to send the PS3 to the elves (or something like that) and then just sell it to recoup some of the expense.

TigerFeat · 16/10/2015 21:34

Could Santa give him a Voucher/money in a savings account towards a new PS4 to encourage him to save up the rest. And maybe a few PS4 games to go with it.

PesoPenguin · 16/10/2015 21:34

If you buy it definitely take away the PS3 on Christmas Eve and sell it yourself. It won't teach him anything to have both having not saved for it.

Original poster
SurlyCue · 16/10/2015 21:39

Could Santa give him a Voucher/money in a savings account towards a new PS4 to encourage him to save up the rest

Thats a good idea! Yes i think i'll go with that.

Thanks all, i dont think santa will bring it. He can have a game and some money towards it but he can sell the PS3 or trade in himself after xmas.

I'm reminded of the year I asked for a flying machine from santa. I drew a picture of it so he knew what to build. Blush oh how my parents must have laughed Grin i was gutted when it wasnt there on xmas morning.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 16/10/2015 22:07

IT depends on where you go. CEX will trade it but they will knock you down if there's a teeny tiny bit of rubber off the control pad (they knock the price of a new one off), game is the same. Granger games are slightly better. If you google CEX it'll tell you approx prices to give you an idea.

Sell the games seperate though. I have no idea about backwards compatibility for play stations so don't know if the discs will play on the upgrade.

Original poster
SurlyCue · 16/10/2015 23:32

Thanks gamerchick. Will have a nosey around.

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Senpai · 17/10/2015 04:00

Depends. PS3 games WILL NOT play on the PS4. So if your kids have any games they are attached to, they need to be upgraded as well. We have 3 generations of play stations because of this.

I agree with PP about a voucher to help upgrade to encourage them to keep saving. If you switch them out, it might make them feel frustrated they can't play some games or have to save to buy whole new ones... again.

Isitchristmasyet4 · 17/10/2015 07:40

I think it's kind of mean expecting a ten year old to save. And I'm pretty tight with money, and I'm also big on saving but he's only ten. Plus he asked for it in the summer... It's not like he sprang it on you in November. I would buy it, if you can afford it that is. Grin

NeverNic · 17/10/2015 07:59

Agree about the voucher. A large voucher will help him get close to the amount while still allowing him to learn about saving.

LadyLuck81 · 17/10/2015 08:09

If he already knows you pay frontage stuff from Santa can you not just tell him up front you can only afford to give Santa the money for a PS4, if that's what he's wants, if the family trade in the PS3? Just tell him in advance and ask him to pack it up on xmas eve in anticipation.

Then if Santa does bring the new console you can whisk it off while they are opening it / chucking plastic everywhere.

Llareggub · 17/10/2015 08:19

Wait - your 10 year old still believes in Santa?

Personally I'd buy the PS4, but I'd be taking away the PS3 and games.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 17/10/2015 08:23

I would buy it. This is surely your last year of 'Santa'... I couldn't not make that an amazing Christmas.