DH has just bought our youngest a ridiculously expensive present, how do I even this out?!

[C0dy]

DS7 wanted a really expensive present. Me and DH had a chat and agreed we would not get him it because of how much it cost but said we would look at it again next year/for his birthday (depending on what money he got for Christmas) and go from there.

I have bought all presents and spent roughly the same on my youngest 3. DH turned up today and gleefully announced he has bought it and won't DS be so happy. He will be but seriously!! I don't know what to do to even it out! It doesn't have to be exactly even, but it just seems really unfair right now. DHs argument is that we were going to get it for him next year, but the intention was he put a significant proportion towards it.

I can't really match it with gifts for the other 2 as would not know what to buy and we have a rule of no cash at Christmas.

Aghhh. Do I try and take it back or just explain to DS5 and DS6 what is happening and hope they are okay with it?

We don't spend the same amount on the children. We get things because it's what they need/would like and it seems sensible. Sometimes one has a more expensive thing, another time another will, it evens out over time.
And things change in value-when we got dd1 her first mobile phone, although it was at the cheaper end of the (non-smart/payg) market it was an expensive main present. This year ds, who will be exactly the same age will get a mobile. It will be cheaper than we would normally spend on a main present by quite a bit, even though it won't be bottom end of the payg market and will be a smart phone.

You can't make that totally even: Does he get it and something else to make up the money, making it unfair that dd1 had it as a main present on its own, or do we get him the same present and just accept that by luck of the birthdate we don't need to spend as much.
We do the latter-last year he wanted quite an expensive remote controlled aeroplane, dd1 didn't have much that she really wanted, so had a cheaper present. it evens out.

Well, like a PP poster said, 7 brides for 7 brothers is the fairest gift.

But don't put the laptop away for several months, because by the time he receives it, and begins using it, the warranty will have already been eaten into. Either return it, or give it to him at Christmas, I'd reckon.

why does he need a new laptop? why does he need a laptop?
Gosh dang diddly darn it I managed to get to 37 without ever owning a laptop...

and yes I am well aware that is not the point...

Good decision OP, and hope they all love their gifts!

*...if you return it, assuming you've already bought his gifts, you may find it cheaper in the Jan sales. Or there may be a better updated version he's hankering after when his birthday comes around.

I'm wildly guessing that it's a Mac. If so, they're well worth the money and unlikely to be reduced any time soon.

The confusion on this thread is so funny

Indeed, BakeOff.