Too Expensive for a Christmas present?

[DanceTeacherMom]

My 8 year old daughter is really into art, and has asked for a large set of markers for Christmas. The makers she has asked for are high end and she will not settle for cheaper ones. They are 300 pounds and I know she will use them a lot but I have 4 main concerns.

1. I wouldn't know what to get for my 6 year old to make up for that as I don't want to get her gymnastics mat etc as id rather that be a joint present, but with her being 6 she doesn't have any main interests except cheaper toys and dance equiptment (most of which she has as I own a studio).

2. She is well aware of the price and I'm concerned she will become spoilt if I buy her something that expensive. And I couldn't bring myself to not getting her other presents aswell.

3. The set she wants has 72 markers and she won't settle for a smaller pack as there is 'not enough colours'.

Should I get them?

I wouldn't with those demands, it sounds a touch bratty. It is a request not a given and she should be delighted with any set of something so expensive. I'd give her the money equivalent to what you will spend on the sibling and tell her she can save for the large set as she didn't want a smaller one.

The makers she has asked for are high end and she will not settle for cheaper ones. She will not settle?! I know what I’d be telling my kids if they told me what they would and wouldn’t settle for at Xmas.

It’s ridiculous and you know it. These type of pens are intended for professional artists, they will have longevity and colour trueness that is completely wasted on an 8 year old child drawing ponies. FGS buy her a set of Sharpies or better still Crayolas.

BTW I’m a professional artist and I wouldn’t spend that sort of money on fucking pens!!

I would get them if you can afford to, but there would be no other presents (apart from stocking gifts)
You don't need to buy an equivalent present for your 6 year old.

Am I reading this right?

A set of Marker pens for an eight year old 300 pounds?

So the 6 yo has everything she could want in terms of equipment for her hobby because it's what you do. But the 8 yo doesn't? I wouldn't bow to pressure but that's a little unfair in some ways.

Could the 8 yo save pocket money? That's what we do if DD wants a shitty pony toy something expensive that we want her to understand the price of.

I would normally say get them if you can afford it and she’d love them, but in all honesty she does sound a bit ‘demanding’, which I wouldn’t want to encourage.

She’s going to turn into a right little tyrant by age 13 if you’re already giving into demands like that. Trust me, next thing you know you’ll be asked for a MacBook with a coordinating electric drawing pad (about £300 on its own!). I’d get her the fancy pens but a smaller pack and tell her she can have more at her birthday. Either that or what my mum used to do was help me save towards expensive things I wanted (e.g when I was 8 I wanted a Nintendo Ds which was about £150, I saved for the year doing bits of chores and used birthday money/ Christmas money given to me by family).

She doesn’t need a set of 72 professional markers at 8 years old. If she started playing the violin, would she refuse to settle for less than a Stradivarius?

Either buy fewer of the good pens or a large set of less expensive pens. There are plenty of brands.

Completely nuts

I think you have to take a stand; if you cave in now and buy very expensive art materials aimed at professionals, what’s next? She’ll expect a Lamborghini for passing her driving test....

72 is a lot! A smaller set for half the price would make more sense. They can always be added to. I don't get how 72 colours are needed when you're 8!

Do you give her pocket money? My 8yo wants a PS4- similar price. We give him £20 pocket money a month and have told him he needs to save up for PS4.

He asked for money towards it for his birthday, and including that he is now up to £170 in savings. He is learning a lot as he has had to curb his urge to spend his pocket money on tat.

You could say to her she needs to start saving her pocket money towards the pens, but give her a small contribution amongst other gifts for Christmas.

Is she known for leaving the tops off of pens?

She’s 6. She settles for what you give her. I’m flabbergasted you are even considering buying them for her

Sorry she’s 8. Same answer. I have an 8 year old and I would have one response for him, it begins with an N and ends with an O

No you should not get them it's crazy.

I'd have to add 296 to your 4 main concerns...

Of course you shouldn’t get them! It’s completely bonkers!

Three HUNDRED pounds on a set of markers for an 8 year old?! Wha?!

It's a no from me.

That's a lot on markers for an 8 year old. I'd understand if she lived art and was maybe a little older but it's too much for 8.

No! Just no in every way.

For £300 I'd expect a professional artist to give her lessons as well as a set of pens.

I don't understand why she won't settle for a smaller pack or cheaper brand. Are her parents Posh and Becks or something?

Totally ridiculous. She is 8. Kids can ask for unreasonable things as they don't always appreciate the value of money etc but fecking hell that's where we, as parents know what is reasonable and what isn't. She is a child, you could get her shed loads of arts and crafts stuff and a ton of other things for less than that. Think of all the other things you could buy with 300 quid

£300 for pens? I’m not one to over react at prices but my god OP they’d better be made of solid gold for that price!!!

I’m concerned she won’t “settle” and has responses to why a smaller set won’t do. It could be encouraging bratty behaviour (I should clarify there’s a huge difference between bratty behaviour and being a brat!!) and if that’s something you’re worried about I would go with the smaller set and gauge her reaction.

No chance! Agree with pps - either buy a smaller set, or give her a contribution towards, and ask family to do so too. Perhaps by her birthday she might have enough?