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do you buy your DC something they want even though you think it is a ridiculous waste of money?

71 replies

toastymarshmallow · 09/11/2016 12:06

DD1 (7) wants Jelly Fun.

You make up shop bought jelly (not included) and let it set, put it in this thing and twist it and it chops up the jelly. The gummies are just a cube of undiluted jelly microwaved in a mould.

It is £15 for something that does the job I could do with a potato masher. Hmm

Do I suck it up and buy it anyway?

OP posts:
NotCitrus · 09/11/2016 14:07

Mine ask for some crap, but now they are old enough to get some money for birthdays and Christmas I often leave it for them to decide if they want to spend money on crap item vs something possibly longer lasting. They're getting the main items they wanted for Christmas, so everything else can be a surprise.

Ds mused for a fortnight before spending most of his birthday money on a hideous dancing singing cuddly toy. Which, three months on, he still loves and plays a few times a day. So possibly better than yet more Lego which he assembles in ten minutes flat.

ShowMeTheElf · 09/11/2016 14:09

This. Cost £50 odd when it was 'this years' new thing' Waste.Of.Money.
DD was thrilled with it though. When it danced on the floor in her bedroom the whole house shook.

do you buy your DC something they want even though you think it is a ridiculous waste of money?
SparklingXmas · 09/11/2016 14:16

I didn't get mr frosty and still annoyed 30 years later!

Go for it!

Waggamamma · 09/11/2016 14:19

Ds asked for the jelly fun last I told him it was a waste of money and I was telling Santa not to buy it Grin but I did get it (on a three for two) and he was so excited to open it because he thought Santa wouldn't get it for him.

It was indeed a disappointing piece of crap, it doesn't work properly, making the jelly is a faff and it's impossible to clean. It's been used only twice but it was worth it for the magic of Christmas.

OvO · 09/11/2016 15:43

I do buy the tat if it's affordable. It pains me to do it but I'm also another thwarted Mr Frosty owner.

nurseinwonderland · 09/11/2016 15:51

Guess I'm going to have to get the chocolate coin maker now as it's the third year in a row ds2 has asked for it.

Yes, I too wished for Mr Frosty....
I was also denied play doh, which I only forgave my mother about when I was scraping it out of the carpet for the third time Wink

AlmaMartyr · 09/11/2016 16:07

I have this dilemma too this year as DS wants Nocto, the robot bat. Obviously it will join the legions of other electronic tat.

RoseZinfandel · 09/11/2016 16:20

I don't tend to buy tat. Especially if it is expensive. But I give the DC a budget of £15 each to buy presents for each other, and they usually do choose the longed-for waste-of-money gift. Which gives a very positive boost to sibling relations without me having to actually relax my principles! Grin

Musicinthe00ssucks · 09/11/2016 16:24

I'm also an 80's 'scarred by the denial of Mr Frostie' child. I do relent and buy my DDs some tat even though I know it will probably be an epic failure. I know how the disappointment feels Grin

MUjunkie · 09/11/2016 16:36

I'm 35 and always wanted a mr Frostie! My mum always said no it was stupid and I still think about it every Christmas! I'd get it personally, the thought of that mr frostie still gets to me!

sashh · 09/11/2016 16:38

YABU unless you have never bought yourself something for £15 that someone else might decide is tat or a waste of money

NotAMammy · 09/11/2016 18:31

Get it, but express your opinion that it's tat and you really don't think she should ask for it. Extra magical when santa buys you something that you know DEFINITELY didn't come from your parents.
My mum tried to talk me out of rollerskates for months before Christmas but that was all I wanted. They bought me a ton of happiness and a few years more of believing.

ProfessorBranestawm · 09/11/2016 19:14

Santa brings surprises in our house which gets round the issue somewhat. Stuff like the coin maker, the DCs are happy enough when I say we can make our own chocolates anyway. There's never been a disappointed face on xmas day, as the big santa present is usually a big Playmobil set or similar and that has a massive wow effect

Tiggles · 09/11/2016 19:51

Father Christmas brings the disappointing but longed for tat in our house (as long as it isn't too expensive) and the present from me and DH which tends to be their main present is one that I think they will actually use.

unicornsarenotjustforchristmas · 09/11/2016 20:05

No I wouldn't. Ds2 has asked for the last 2 years for the golden coin maker - he isn't getting it ever! Would much rather get him some chocolate and fancy mounds for 1/10th of the price

Nowombattheinn · 09/11/2016 20:10

We buy the tat too - they normally get it from Father Christmas and I too was a Mr Frosty (and a la carte kitchen- I still remember the advert!) deprived child. They believe in the magic for such a short time I tell myself it's worth it!
The adverts on tv are terrible exposure to the crap tat though, Pop and Tiny Pop advertise the worst- Nom Num and Tsum Tsums??

booellesmum · 09/11/2016 20:14

Yes,absolutely. If they have been good and asked Santa for it, yes.
Always limited mine to 3 presents on their Santa list with a small list of substitutes as a P.S for just incase.
Santa got to decide the rest.

SquirrelPaws · 09/11/2016 20:16

I had a Mr Frosty. It was shit, but I was so excited to open it and I'm really glad I had it. Mum couldn't afford to buy most of the tat my friends had, so this was really special. DD is only 3, so not too bad for demanding shite yet, but I'll be inclined I think to get the object of desire if she's consistent about wanting it for a while.

qwom · 09/11/2016 20:19

I bought DS 2 besom brooms at £8 each. One for him and one for him to share with his friend. He asked FC for them after watching Harry Potter Smile

stillwantrachelshair · 09/11/2016 20:28

For this exact same reason, I bought 7yo DD a chocolate lolly maker earlier this week. She has been going on & on about it & I have been pointing out it is that. However, the rest of her presents are quite "worthy" (board game, k'nex & playmobil) so I thought she could have something which will really make her shriek with glee. Also, the reviews aren't that bad. And it only costs £14.

Cakescakescakes · 09/11/2016 20:34

I can't believe how widespread the mr frosty trauma is!!!! I thought it was just me!!!

noisewithdirton · 09/11/2016 20:40

Blinking ridiculously expensive Pokemon cards... we have hundreds... apparently we still need more...

Lunar1 · 09/11/2016 20:43

My two get one thing every year from santa that I would never allow or waste money on. They thing it's hysterical that he breaks my rules!

IAmAPaleontologist · 09/11/2016 20:51

I have trained my kids to be cynical little sods and to understand how advertising works. They therefore now believe that most things like that they might see on adverts is probably crap and Father Christmas has never been asked for any of it. The only real piece of crap was one of those robo fish that lasted about five second before it broke but at least that was small and cheap!

hels71 · 09/11/2016 21:38

What was it about Mr Frosty that we all wanted one but our meanie parents did not get us one? I am another one!! Thankfully DD generally asks for sensible things or if it is tat then a quick look at a bad review or two usually changes her mind!