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Christmas

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Original poster

I know this has been done before but I am so shocked at how much some people spend on their dc's

54 replies

ggirlsbells · 23/12/2007 21:22

dd's friend is getting an apple laptop
as well as other stuff.

Am I alone in thinking this is ridiculous!

OP posts:
TenLordsaLapin · 23/12/2007 21:23

How old is the child? Is she of an age that a laptop will be useful for school etc? or is she 3...

It depends what people can afford, I think

80sMum · 23/12/2007 21:23

It does seem a bit over the top. It's easy to get carried away, if you can afford it. Trouble is that DCs come to expect it.

WulfricTheRedNosedReindeer · 23/12/2007 21:24

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Wisteria · 23/12/2007 21:24

It's all relative - just because children get a lot doesn't mean that they will necessarily be spoilt IMO and IME.

deckthehallswithFEETofTIGERs · 23/12/2007 21:25

very much depends on what you can afford

Laptops are very much off the scale here but dd is only three - hopefully by the time she is 15 or 16 and she will get good use out of one we will be able to afford one for her - if we can I won't think twice about getting one for her (or whatever the 2019 equivalent will be)

hatwoman · 23/12/2007 21:26

how old is she? will she use it for homework? would you be shocked by the idea of this girl having a lap top full stop? yes, it's tons more than we spend on christmas presents but, I can imagine a scenario at some stage in the future where we need another computer in the house and I might consider wrapping it up as a present. (or wrapping up the old one and giving the new one to me and dh ). I don;t think it's enough info, on its own, for me personally to feel all that shocked.

PrincessSnowLife · 23/12/2007 21:27

it depends...
they may be able to afford to splash out to that level
they may be rewarding her for an excellent year at school etc
they may not be able to resist the thought of her huge smile on xmas morning
I don't know. Any number of reasons. Personally, if I had plenty of money, I would still only get thoughtful token gifts to celebrate this time of year, but it's a personal thing.

frostythesnowmum · 23/12/2007 21:27

We always got a lot but only got presents christmas and birthdays so what we got did for the year iykwim. I've got lo a lot but I have loved shopping and lots has been reduced as I shop for christmas all thought the year.

He's only 2 but when he's older then he will get one big present eg bike, computer, tv etc and then lots of little ones. I don't think that is excessive if you can afford it.

hatwoman · 23/12/2007 21:28

I agree too, that big presents do not necessarily equate to extravagance or spoiling children - any more than small presents equate to being mean - it's all more complex than that

Original poster
ggirlsbells · 23/12/2007 21:31

she's 16

she gets whatever she wants

she already has a laptop,and a top of the range mac desktop

she treats her parents like shit,her mother and I are good friends ,she even feels it's way too much..but still gets it for her.

OP posts:
nutcracker · 23/12/2007 21:33

I know a 10 yr old that is getting a laptop, and it pisses me right off, not only because I know the parents can't afford it but mainly because she is a spolit little sod who won't appreciate it one bit.

hatwoman · 23/12/2007 21:34

it's the fact she already has one and the fact she treats her parents badly that's the problem. sounds pretty dreadful situation tbh - but about a lot more than a laptop for a christmas present iyswim

TenLordsaLapin · 23/12/2007 21:35

Well in that case - yes it is bonkers. But I don't think you can generalise, as said below there are lots of different circumstances.

Original poster
ggirlsbells · 23/12/2007 21:35

yes agree

she totally takes the piss with her parents

does NOTHING around the house to help

I could go on

Nice as pie to everyone else though

OP posts:
DontCallMeHun · 23/12/2007 21:37

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ChristmasPresence · 23/12/2007 21:37

Well I was spoilt rotten as a child - mainly by my extended family as I was the only child among a huge amount of adults. But I never expected things, which must have been down to good parenting on my mum and dad's part. I think if I'd demanded then I wouldn't have got.

DP and I only buy one another small gifts for Christmas, and I get far more pleasure out of giving than receiving, so it's not just down to getting lots of stuff that makes you selfish.

Original poster
ggirlsbells · 23/12/2007 21:40

dontcallmehun--I know, she has no respect for them because they are pandering to her and let her get away with murder all the time.
The extravagant presents are icing on the cake.

OP posts:
Nemostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 23/12/2007 21:41

DH in his job has been out to set up 20 laptops on wireless networks this week intended as christmas presents for under 14sThats just him there are 3 of them on his team doing similair amounts. He has also set up 3 playstation 3s and 5 xbox 360s.

DontCallMeHun · 23/12/2007 21:42

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Original poster
ggirlsbells · 23/12/2007 21:44

How dim are these people?

OP posts:
Nemostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 23/12/2007 21:49

I know even dh thinks they are mad but they buy them from comet and they offer wireless conection service then send someone like dh out.

hatrick · 23/12/2007 21:53

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MaureenMLovesmincepies · 23/12/2007 21:56

We're buying dd (12) a laptop for Christmas. She is not spoilt, she is not selfish, she does not treat us like dirt and we will not be going into debt to pay for it.

Oh and shock, horror, she's an only child too!

Nemostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 23/12/2007 21:57

makes sense hatrick plus means keeps down the abundance of kids tat toys

hercules1 · 23/12/2007 21:57

We bought ds a computer last year. He uses it for school work mainly. He was 11 then.