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

[ggirlsbells]

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

Am I alone in thinking this is ridiculous!

Dontcallmehun - my Dad had to call out someone to set up his new (flatscreen) TV the other day. He couldn't make head nor tail of the instructions. He used to mend people's TVs as a sideline in the 70s but setting up this one was beyond him!!

Back on topic, my dd has got a lot of clothes, pyjamas, underwear etc from me this year plus more fun things like the High School Musical dance mat and dress. If it's stuff she'll use and use and use though it's money well-spent. I can afford it so why not?

hatrick it is quite a good toy..I won one about 3months ago and still everyday dd1 and dd2 play with it, sometimes ds has a play but mainly the girls..will just say watch out for the helicopter as it can gather speed and fly off!!!

What a coincidence! I have just sent Soupdragon a message relating to a convo we had on a thread just like this one!

The convo went something like this; there is a boy at the school where I work who hates Christmas or any talk of Christmas. The reason? His mother finds it difficult to show him any love. She doesn't buy them presents or treat them to a nice meal. Instead she orders the children to do all the housework for her, very often she'll keep them off school to do just that. This year one of our colleagues brought in some handmade jewellry to sell. The boy saw them and chose a lovely necklace for his mother. He kept a bit from his dinner money each day to buy it for her. Yet whether she'll appreciate it or not I don't know.

So what does it matter how much people spend on their children? What is important is that those children are loved and cherished, whether they get an apple for Christmas or a Wii. There are some children who only look for love at Christmas and receive nothing.

So stop bitching about so-and-so who has spent £500 on her spoilt ds. Who gives a toss? What we should be outraged about are those kids who are abused, neglected and unwanted.

Dont be shocked. Everyone does things differently.

Cliff - that story breaks my heart every time

My dd (9) was bought a laptop last year. I think she is quite nice really. She is a bit stroppy and selfish but she is kind hearted, and she does not treat us like dirt and she is mostly sweet to her younger brother.

The laptop was her 9th birthday present and gets her off our desktop, so was a bonus all round.

Shoot me now.

sadly enough I suspect that as well as her having no respect for them because they pander to her, that they pander to her because she has no respect

Hmm it depends on the situation. Don't really see the point of buying things just for the sake of it.

However I have a top of the range mac desktop & a laptop & was considering a new laptop (mine is crap tho) so it depends on the reasons really.

Would buy DD a laptop if she needed one but at the mo she can just use mine if necessary.

I agree that it's complicated. Under different circumstances from what the OP describes, a laptop is a sensible present. I was given some large things as a child, and I know I'm very lucky. These included a violin, a piano and a computer. In all cases these were combined birthday and Christmas presents, with contributions from grandparents. They weren't given just for the sake of it - that's the key thing IMO.

Erm Cliff I think it was actually me not Soupdragon that offered to send the wee boy a present. Or maybe Soupy did as well

Yes, many variables.

I only have one dc, so I spend a fortune on him at Christmas, and he's only three!

He's not old enough to ask for what he wants .. not really, so I get him what I think will please him/entertain him/make him happy.

I know full well that if I got him nothing for Christmas, he's still be a well-balanced, happy little boy.

I think that spoiled children are a bit of a myth. Whether you agree with a big present spend or not, I have rarely, if ever, met an adult who was affected either way by the presents they received as a child.

Life has a way of kicking youngsters in the balls soon enough. Providing you don't go into debt, I see no problem with a big spend for Christmas.

Desi - where have you been?? Was going to mail you anyway ut have a lovely Christmas m'dear - we're down your way at New Year xx

(sorry)

My DS is getting a lap top this year. He is 14 and just starting his gcse's. He got all 1's and 2's in his school report and he needs to be able to study quietly when he needs to rather than neotiating with DS2 who is asd and therefore pretty intransigent!
He is also a very nice kid.

The best bit is the lap top he is getting is the one we got free from carphone warehouse when we swopped our current aol package for aol braodband and phone - which is actually cheaper than the amount we are paying at the moment.
So I am extravagent and wasteful and a cheapskate at the same time ! {grin]
ho ho ho !

...

god I wish someone would buy me a laptop

I don't care how spoilt it would make me

I just dont see the need to comment on what other people spend, be it £20 or £2000. We all choose what we spend our own money on be it christmas, alcohol, cigarettes, holidays etc.

As long as you are happy with what you have personally bought then it nobodies else's business.

DH and I work hard all year and at Christmas we love to go overboard and treat our DS. That doesnt make him spoilt, there are 2 items he has asked for and one of those is a pack of playing cards lol.

As a child, my parents never gave us expensive presents, whilst my cousins had ludicrous presents eg new BMW sportscar with personalised plates(!)/laptop/musical instruments/new bikes/designer clothes etc. This inspired some degree of envy in me (hardly attractive) whilst my cousins have always been very sweet and unspoilt!

Now my cousins get houses and spanish villas for christmas! They are all also hugely successful and attractive and make ludicrous amounts of money in their own right, enough to order new Aston Martins etc. I suspect that if only I had had better christmas presents, I could have been more attractive, successful and rich as an adult and a nicer person to boot .

Soapbox! Well it's not my fault you and soupy have such similar names!

My message to you is on this thread - poor soupy must wonder what the hell I'm papping on about!

we have a 50 quid limit per child (except dd2 who is 3 and can't play with toys and doesn't know its Xmas)
When they are younger this means Barbies and pirtaes and lego and what have you. Now they are teens this is one computer game each and a box of chocolates.
We're on benefits anyhow but don't believe in joining in the mad consumerfest every year. Even if I was rich I probably would buy what was needed throughout the year and still not make Xmas a big deal.
The kids (my boys that is, dd1 is a whole nother green eyed monster thread) seem fine with this. If they truly need something we will save and get it regardless of the month. ds1 really wanted a piano/keyboard as he's a good player so we saved all year and got it in October. He's upstairs now playing the William Tell thingy. ds2 isn't jealous cos he knows if he truly wanted something we'd do the same.

response to OP and all similar threads. i genuinely don't know why it irks so much what other parents buy their own children - up to them. raelly what has it got to do with anyone else. the neighbours could buy their children a yacht for all i care
what matters is i am happy with my choices

ease up - what is the big deal
money isn't coming out your pocket

If my neighbour buy their kids a yacht, they'd better invite me to go out on it .

farkin

parp
parpity parp

I said I was shocked

still am

end of

am allowed to be shocked

We're buying a laptop after xmas so that dds can both use the computer without arguing - and it's not even a Christmas present - though of course it will still be MINE!!

I think people should be able to buy what they want for their DCs - it is up to them.