Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Too Expensive for a Christmas present?

164 replies

DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 17:32

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?

OP posts:
MarthasGinYard · 13/08/2018 19:55

'The makers she has asked for are high end and she will not settle for cheaper ones.'

I'd have a little chat with her about this bit personally.

At 8 this is shocking

MaryDollNesbitt · 13/08/2018 20:02

Things like this make me wonder if I live under a fucking rock. Three hundred quid ... for pens. ShockConfused

My DD is 11, OP. I wouldn’t trust the little beast to look after a bloody Sharpie properly, so it’s Poundland all the way! Grin

Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 20:06

I would just like to state when I said she would not settle, I didn't mean she wouldn't be happy, I just meant this is al she has asked for this year and she specifically said she wanted nothing else. Obviously I understand 300 pounds is a lot for an 8 year old and now I've heard all of your opinions I realise how stupid it would be to get her them. I have told her she needs to save up. She is in no way bratty, and sorry if I made it seem that way with my words. She will be getting cheaper markers for Christmas.

OP posts:
catkind · 13/08/2018 20:10

In that case, I'd talk to the aunt, see if she can recommend something similar but more child appropriate. Hopefully with aunt's approval your DD can be converted. The ones a PP linked looked convincing to me...

AJPTaylor · 13/08/2018 20:12

Ah explanation makes huge sense. I would enlist Auntie to help explain that she didnt use those pens at 8 and she is lucky to be able to use them. Maybe get one in her fav colour for her stocking x

Piggyhoolier · 13/08/2018 20:13

Ah do you know what OP seeing your update I completely get where you’re coming from and where the misunderstanding re: brattiness arose from. I would say that it’s still only August, maybe come sept/Oct she’ll think up something else she really would like instead?

Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 20:15

That is a good idea thank you. I will ask her to choose 2 or 3 she really loves and put them in her stocking!

OP posts:
Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 20:16

Thank you. I will look at those budget markers now!

OP posts:
Yvest · 13/08/2018 20:16

You could get her a set of 10 for £40 still a lot of money but if she proves she can look after them then you could add to them

Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 20:20

I though of this idea but I figured if I bought her a large cheap art set she could imitate her aunts blending and copy her drawings without having ti spend as much money, she is down for this idea as on her Wishlist she said she wanted 'the markers auntie Olivia has' but I told her maybe Santa could get her the child version of her aunts until she is old enough to have grown up ones!

OP posts:
junebirthdaygirl · 13/08/2018 20:26

I am going to go again the majority here. I see kids getting xboxes with 4 games/ laptops/ fancy phones/ quad bikes etc. My ds had a friend in a not rich family and he always got 1000 euro worth of presents.
I never would havel spent any thing like that but if she will play with the pens every day l would buy the set of 72 hopefully getting them a bit cheaper. My dd loved all art stuff for Christmas every year and the hours of enjoyment she got was worth any money. I would love them myself.
Try and get them at the reduced price and yes 72 colours. Otherwise whats the point.
If you find she is not taking proper care of them maybe leave her a few and put others away.
And you don't have to balance money. Afterall your 6 year old won't know how much they were.

Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 20:31

Afterall your 6 year old won't know how much they were.
I thought the same thing but I didn't want her to feel her sister had gotten the thing on her list and she hadn't (my six year old wanted a real life unicorn). Also, I wasn't even going to have a thought about getting them until I realised, she doesn't leave lids off etc. and has become quite a little artist with half from auntie. However, I think ill settle with cheaper markers and a toy unicorn for my six year old!

OP posts:
nicebitofquiche · 13/08/2018 20:40

She will not settle? She would if she was mine. You're the parent. You say what she gets. Get a grip OP.

Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 20:46

She will not settle? She would if she was mine. You're the parent. You say what she gets. Get a grip OP.
I adressed this in my updates. I didn't mean she won't be happy, I worded it wrong. She is in no way bratty and what I meant was, these pens were the only think she had asked for, and I didn't want to let her down, although I spoke to her before bed and told her Santa only makes child versions of her aunts pens and she needed to show him she was responsible enough with the child pens before grown up pens!

OP posts:
Claw001 · 13/08/2018 20:49

It depends on how much you would usually spend. Better to buy her something she would really like and use, than several gifts that go unused.

Ratbagcatbag · 13/08/2018 20:49

I'm going against the grain here. If you can get them around the £160 mark and it's all she's asked for I would seriously consider it. (Assuming that's within your budget for presents). It's a bit unfair she can't have them because her little sister has asked for something that doesn't actually exist.
Or I would buy her a smaller pack of the proper markers, I remember asking for things and my parents bought the cheaper version of it. I'd have rather had smaller singular item than 3 off cheaper if that makes sense.

Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 20:53

I'd have rather had smaller singular item than 3 off cheaper if that makes sense.
Exactly what I though. Im going to buy her a couple of the markers to put in her stocking, so she has a few to she she is responsible enough but I'm also going to get her a larger cheaper set so she can replica her aunties blending etc.

OP posts:
Didiusfalco · 13/08/2018 21:05

You sound like you’ve got your head screwed on op, and that sounds like a good compromise.

I must say how nice that she has such a good bond with her aunt and is developing a hobby that can grow with her.

Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 21:08

I must say how nice that she has such a good bond with her aunt and is developing a hobby that can grow with her.
I agree, this is the reason I let her get into art because of the bond she has with her aunt, and when she gets older it'll keep her off of the streets!

OP posts:
Claw001 · 13/08/2018 21:14

My son is very much into art. He asked for a set of 0.5 felt pens, which are quite expensive (not £300! But expensive for felt pens though!)

People spend £50/60 on 1 x-box game! Art is a lovely hobby!

Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 21:20

If she continues to love art, I think ill get her a couple of the markers for birthdays and Christmas At the moment, she has a sticker chart, 10 stickers= ice cream etc. but I could change it to a marker, so she can expand her collection. That way its not too expensive for me and she understands you have to work for what you get!

OP posts:
duvetfan · 13/08/2018 21:22

No offence but she's 8...my husband is an artist and wouldn't spend that on marker pens unless he was going to make the money back from a sale... It's crazy to spend that amount of money at this age... Even at art school they would be considered higher end...

Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 21:23

Three hundred quid ... for pens.
If it were an xbox she asked for or a computer, id say no straight away, but art is a talent and hobby that can last for life, and in this day and age, its reassuring to know she likes art, and doesn't spend her time glued to the screen!

OP posts:
Original poster
DanceTeacherMom · 13/08/2018 21:25

No offence but she's 8...my husband is an artist and wouldn't spend that on marker pens unless he was going to make the money back from a sale... It's crazy to spend that amount of money at this age... Even at art school they would be considered higher end...
I realise this, and thats why I have mentioned in my updates that she will be getting some cheaper markers, and a few of the expensive ones, so she can show she is responsible, and when she is old enough she can expand her collection!

OP posts: