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Christmas

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

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Original poster

Do you think an 8yo can understand this about cost of gifts

49 replies

byairmail · 06/09/2018 23:18

Dd will be 8 just before Christmas. She still believes in Santa but I think this is the last year as she has friends who have told her he is not true. She is desperate for an American girl doll which is around the £100 mark (for a doll, I know!). I have explained that parents still need to give Santa money for gifts so you can’t just get what you want. Usually we buy each of our three kids (she is the oldest) three gifts from Santa that they have asked for and then a stocking of small bits. It usually totals about £60-£100 each depending on what I have got on eBay or in sales.
Putting aside that £100 is crazy money for a dolly, do you think 8 is old enough to get that if she got the doll she wanted that would be it, other than the stocking. So just one sizeable gift to open (plus others from grandparents no doubt).
Last year we managed to fob her off with a design a friend doll instead. But she is desperate for the American girl doll one.

OP posts:

InglouriousBasterd · 07/09/2018 11:28

I had an identical situation with DD a couple of years ago, also having tried design a friend

She’s old enough to understand that if she really wants it, that’s it. As an aside, DD absolutely adores her AG doll but if you can persuade her, Bonnie and Pearl dolls are IMO better quality and absolutely beautiful, and a bit cheaper. DD loves hers as much - if not more - than the AG.

WeeM · 07/09/2018 11:46

Yes I think she’s old enough to understand but just so you know there are smaller American girl dolls called Wellie Wishers which I think was $65 just in case that’s be a compromise with Santa! They are still quite big and just as nice.

Wait4nothing · 07/09/2018 11:52

Another who would do that doll and 2 smaller gifts rather than just one. Maybe a cushion for her room (makes a bigger package but cheap) and a large sketch pad and a pack of gel pens. You could try and make her stocking a bit cheaper than the others to even out monies if you want/needed to too.

NotTakenUsername · 07/09/2018 12:04

Is she set on a specific AG doll? We have some Our Generation dolls and they are really lovely. Same size and proportions. But I’ve never seen an AG doll, so not sure about how they compare.

A bit of a thread hijack, but I was thinking of bulking out dd collection with some of the very cheap Designafriend dolls and accessories. Has anyone bought these and if so, how have you found they compare to Our Generation?

Original poster

byairmail · 07/09/2018 12:05

Some good ideas and interesting views thank you. It is a specific AG doll she wants (they bloody and them and give them personalities). But good idea re the smaller gifts.

Her bday is two weeks before Christmas but all my kids have winter birthdays and we have decided not to to joint bday and Xmas gifts for now as while kids think they are happy not to get gifts on one or the other I don’t think they are really.

OP posts:

NotTakenUsername · 07/09/2018 12:08

“they bloody and them and give them personalities“

I hear ya! Very bloody clever marketing!

Original poster

byairmail · 07/09/2018 12:10

We have design a friend accessories and dd v happy with them. I also bought a fab prom dress for that size doll for a couple of quid from eBay and it is brilliant (but took about theee months to come so start shopping now).

OP posts:

NotTakenUsername · 07/09/2018 12:13

byairmail How was the quality? (DAF and eBay)

I got stung with some fake Barbie clothes in the past. The price was too good to be true though.

Original poster

byairmail · 07/09/2018 12:15

The dress was great. Will find link. DAF also good. Still expensive for what it is I think but they have some things in clearance at moment (I think I might buy these now as extra gifts for dd as suggested above)

OP posts:

Mookatron · 07/09/2018 12:17

Will she still get a stocking? The three gifts thing is easy to understand, but all those little bits in the stocking... I dunno.

Original poster

byairmail · 07/09/2018 12:17

Actually it was amazon not eBay. It was this one

Do you think an 8yo can understand this about cost of gifts

OP posts:

ifiwasabutterfly · 08/09/2018 18:44

You can buy outfits for AG very cheaply on Ali express. They come from China so take a while and quality can be hit and miss so choose carefully but you could do her a set of clothes as a separate present that would cost very little.

I bought a wedding dress for dd's doll for something like £1. Quality was questionable but dd was absolutely delighted! We have had some really good quality stuff too, but it can take a good month to arrive. Also you need to intercept the post as the postage bags have 'dolls clothes' listed on the import sticker!

ifiwasabutterfly · 08/09/2018 18:49

We have had our AG doll about 4 years. It is still the top dog in her doll collection and well worth the eye watering price tag. The four hours we spent in the shop is probably best forgotten!

InglouriousBasterd · 09/09/2018 08:06

Oh! Be warned that only a few DAF outfits for AG dolls. Our Generation fit fine, but DAF are thinner!

Also recommend China for clothes - two ball gowns and two sets of pjs arrived this week for less than £4 delivered, she’ll love them in her stocking.

Morethanthisprovincallife · 09/09/2018 09:26

We have always come at Xmas with element of surprise rather than specific asking for stuff.

That's given room to give what we can afford and build up certain gifts.
We also did our own elf which wasn't about spying on the dc but there to see how humans are, and to help gage what sort of gifts they may like in future when fc can't get, make what's on the list. They have never questioned it! Always been thrilled with what they get...

SleepFreeZone · 09/09/2018 09:27

At eight she totally gets it. She’s pulling your leg OP!!

Morethanthisprovincallife · 09/09/2018 09:28

Also I have always bumped up gifts with loads of free or second hand stuff

CatchingACold · 09/09/2018 09:33

Are they cheaper in the USA?

C0untDucku1a · 09/09/2018 09:34

My dd loves reborns so her dolls are more expensive than £100. They are worth the money as she plays with them every day. I look at the overall worth, rather than the initial cost.

I have never done stockings, as i think they're often full of tat that isnt wanted or needed. So a waste of money.

Ive never done huge piles of toys either. I get them what they ask for. They know the amount they have to spend, roughly. I add a couple of things they havent asked for.

My ds, 6, yeaterday said that if they get a new ps4 (old broke last month) then theyll only have a little bit left between them! . So i told him daddy is buying the ps4, so it isn't coming out of santa’s money.

If you teach them, theyll understand.

Isadora2007 · 09/09/2018 10:49

@touchnotthiscat
Our local CEX shop had a Cosmo in it the other week. Try them online? He was about £100 still- think it was the limited edition black/sliver one though.

WhitefriarsDillyDuck · 09/09/2018 22:23

Which doll does she want? A bespoke one?

Original poster

byairmail · 10/09/2018 00:38

The doll of the year. Luciana

OP posts:

Rebecca36 · 10/09/2018 01:51

MozzieMagnet Fri 07-Sep-18 00:38:58
Controversial I know...but if her friends have already told her Santa isn't real, can't you take her by herself for a hot chocolate, come clean and then tell her finances means the one doll only.
...........
Agree with this though you could probably get a couple of other inexpensive presents for her. Can't believe someone of her age still believes in Santa - and you are encouraging her! It's a lie.

WhitefriarsDillyDuck · 10/09/2018 17:30

She is much more expensive than other ones?

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