Do your kids buy presents for you yet?

[Thirtyrock39]

I started buying Christmas presents for my parents and grandparents around start of secondary school age - nothing that expensive eg a tube of body shop bath pearls or a 7" single !! (Showing my age!!) - although I don't remember my younger siblings ever doing this ...-just wondering what age kids 'these days' do this - my oldest is 14 and doesn't and I feel she should by now ? She gets an allowance of £20 (we buy all her clothes etc so this money is just for treats)
What's the mumsnet consensus on this ?

DC started last year. We have a budget- they spend £10 on each other, £2.50 on 6 adults (GPs, DH and me). They tend to combine the money for the adults, so that they spend £5 on each person, combined. They don't mind at all - I think they realise that its a bit mean to not buy for close relatives who spoil them

DB and I did this but when we were older teens, as we never got pocket money. I think Dad gave us money at some point for presents.

I remember every year buying my dad a pack of disposable razors and my mum a topic. I'm sure they appreciated it
My dd is 11 (year 6) and we were in primark and she chose to buy me, her dad and little sister presents for Christmas with some of her birthday money.

I once bought my mum a roll of black bags because every Christmas she would bag up the wrapping paper and say 'aah that is better. So I thought she genuinely liked cleaning up on xmas day!. The next year I bought her a cheap anti wrinkle cream because I saw her looking in the mirror and telling my dad she feels old.

Obviously I am crap at giving gifts. My kids now each get £10, £5 to choose a gift for each if their sisters. They may not be great gifts but it teaches them about thinking about others. However my then 3 year old bought my 12 year old a tiny cheap baby doll. The thought was there as she was trying to think about what present is good.
This year they have all bought pretty amazing gifts for each other!

I agree with you that a 14 year old should have started by now.

Brother and I started paying for our parents gifts at age 6 (me) 8(brother)
We had to do chores around the house to earn money (never got pocket money) and from that we paid for parents gifts, friends gifts, extra curricular activities etc.

We have told them not to. I don't want them wasting their money on crap. Presents are really not necessary.

We are still at the mostly-making-stuff stage but this year they have had pocket money of €5 a week. The rule has been €1 to the bank, €1 put aside for “giving” and €3 for spending. So they’ve stacked up a nice little giving fund and I’m encouraging them to buy ingredients or materials out of that.

We also have a rule that you don’t buy for yourself in Nov/Dec so that helps because they have extra spending power.

I think some dc come to these things naturally and others don’t without a push. Dd is a bit too generous and a good saver and would buy ds Lego while he is a spendthrift on himself but would happily give her nothing at all. That’s why I have this rather controlled system in place.

It’s a nuisance not being able to take them real life shopping though.

I once bought my mum a roll of black bags because every Christmas she would bag up the wrapping paper and say 'aah that is better. So I thought she genuinely liked cleaning up on xmas day!. The next year I bought her a cheap anti wrinkle cream because I saw her looking in the mirror and telling my dad she feels old

That’s so touching and thoughtful and so crap 😂

Mine have done a combination of making and buying since they were about 5 &7. They LOVE Christmas shopping and are particularly fond of tk max and the M&S 3 for 2. They buy for grandparents as well. Generally inexpensive things (soap, hand cream, a plant) but one has bought the other a jellycat bunny this year with her first ever allowance. They get a huge buzz out of giving people presents and put a lot of through Into the making / buying / wrapping. Its v sweet.

My DD's have since they were about 8 - started making things and then on to buying with their own money - they got a pound or so pocket money a week.

Since then they have spent more (which I've not asked for - I always ask for cheap bath foam!) and want to do it. Dd2 who is 12 just spent £16 on dd1's birthday present. She gets c.£8 a month pocket money

@Idroppedthescrewinthetuna

I once bought my mum a roll of black bags because every Christmas she would bag up the wrapping paper and say 'aah that is better. So I thought she genuinely liked cleaning up on xmas day!. The next year I bought her a cheap anti wrinkle cream because I saw her looking in the mirror and telling my dad she feels old.

Obviously I am crap at giving gifts. My kids now each get £10, £5 to choose a gift for each if their sisters. They may not be great gifts but it teaches them about thinking about others. However my then 3 year old bought my 12 year old a tiny cheap baby doll. The thought was there as she was trying to think about what present is good.
This year they have all bought pretty amazing gifts for each other!

The first ever present I bought my mum was a jar of baby food I was maybe 8 and thought it was pasta sauce.

My DC (age 11 to 15) do, but not paid for out of their own money. (They get a lot less pocket money than your DD though).

Right I'm going to tell 14 yo she needs to buy grandparents a small gift this year as a start- they spoil her rotten and it would mean a lot to them. With the hope that she may use her initiative and possibly buy for a few others. I used to really enjoy xmas shopping as a teenager- I'd always go last minute Christmas Eve and spend the evening wrapping everything.
I think the funny gifts such as razors and bin bags are probably more touching actually as thoughtful and so clearly from the child themselves !

Mine get extra in their December allowance to do a little shopping with. Only tiny token gifts but it’s fun to see what they choose.

My youngest is 14 and he started a couple of years ago. He's given money to do it (I just up his pocket money a bit) and he's given help if he wants it to get stuff but I'd say about 12/13 is a good age to start. Doesn't have to be much of course but should be something

My 12 year olds get gifts for us and each other.
They pay 10% of the cost from their pocket money, we cover the rest.

@JesusInTheCabbageVan The first ever present I bought my mum was a jar of baby food I was maybe 8 and thought it was pasta sauce*

Aren't we just the perfect children 😂 At least mine were useful 😂
My mum os 67 and easily passes for 45 (only 10 years older than I am) so I take credit for her youthful looking skin 🤪

@Idroppedthescrewinthetuna I'd be quite pleased with a roll of bin bags these days

I've been doing it for my mum and grandad ever since I can remember, though, when I was really little, it was just making something or helping choose a present. When I was old enough to do chores for pocket money, then I'd either buy them one or contribute to the cost of something. My little brother did the same.
I'd get them a book or an ornament I thought they'd like. I think I got my mum a sewing kit one year. My brother and I were expected to buy each other a present as well.

@Idroppedthescrewinthetuna I am cracking up here ! Hilarious

I always but my mum a gift she rolls her eyes at. This year for her September bday I bought her an Owl face mask! (Amongst other things)

DS has always enjoyed buying us gifts. We used to give him money for them but now he gets £10 a week pocket money, he’s going to buy his own this year. I think it’s important for children to experience the joy of giving. We’d never expect anything expensive.

Mine probably started choosing gifts at 5 but my DS (13) has only just started paying for presents this year as he gets an Allowance rather than just a small amount of pocket money.

We take the dc to charity shops to buy for each other. Its great fun or tk max and buy for each sibling too.