What to tell dc's about Father Christmas having a monetary limit.

[imaddictedtomn]

So my dd (8) has asked for a £350 ride on toy horse. I said it’s too expensive. So she said Father Christmas can bring it. I said no he’s also got a limit. She said why? When the elves make the presents. ?

I’m struggling with the answer.

Any suggestions?

What others have said - Santa and the elves make/arrange the presents but they still have to be paid for so he sends Mammy and Daddy an invoice

I'd be wary of saying things like "because it's too big" / "he can only make so much" / "it'll take too much of his time" basically anything that puts the limitation on Santa rather than you, because you can bet your bottom dollar one of her friends will get one or something equally as big and expensive - then how would you explain that

We've always told ours that we send the money to Father Christmas and if the children have behaved, he brings the presents for them. They know we're on a budget, so it makes sense to them that we can only send a certain amount to Father Christmas.

Father Christmas only ever did stockings in our house.
The children have never chosen their presents and still don’t. They may have made suggestions in letters and faxes to,the North Pole but were never sure what they were getting. Usually my husband took them around the shops and listened to what they got excited about or we asked older siblings to ask younger siblings.
At eight she’s young enough to be excited about whatever she gets so I’d just say you’ll have to wait and see.