Expensive gifts what to do?

[harlacem0507]

I have 3 children, oldest (girl aged 12) would like an iPad, middle child (boy, 9) is desperate for a ps5 and my 15 month old luckily won't be asking 🤣
Seriously though, these gifts are SO expensive, we said would they like to share the ps5 as a present but DD has no interest in that so it's not fair for her not to get a main as that if she doesn't want the ps5...both gifts together will cost around £750 which is just crazy money. However, I feel so guilty, these kids are bloody well behaved, not spoilt and definitely not entitled as my DD already said she understands if she can't get it and my middle child said DW father Christmas can get it for me so you don't have to spend money 😭 i guess the point of this post is to get some people saying it's not that expensive and to just do it 🤣 so I don't feel like I've spent a fortune or even if people can suggest cheaper alternatives? I'm just not sure what to do to be honest.

It won’t be a popular opinion on MN but personally I just used to put Christmas on a credit card and paid it off throughout the year

I’ll not be popular either as I will use PayPal credit and pay it off in 3 or 4 months with no interest.

I just added an iPad for my eldest into my phone contract - £30 a month - you don't need to pay upfront these days

I would have put it on my credit card too.

You could look at reconditioned secondhand with a guarantee. I buy all my work technology like that and you can’t tell from how it looks

Thanks for all your honest opinions! I think i might have to go down that route

I'd definitely look at refurbished or second hand options, I never buy new tech.

If you can afford it then I would get it. I tend to buy second hand electronics too as DS breaks everything one way or another.

Never buy new! So many places where you can buy good standard refurbished or used items ( back market for a start) with guarantees

90% of most tech's carbon footprint is generated at the point of production so used is better for the planet as well as your wallet!

If you can afford it without getting into debt then buy it .

Maybe there will be some good Black Friday deals, might be worth waiting.

Amazon refurbished. You get full warranty and they are fully inspected and like new. They'll never know 🙃

Well I’m going to be the unpopular one here, but I never have and never will spend that kind of money on a gift for Christmas or birthday. My adult children this year will have a budget of £200 each which I believe is plenty when you take into account that £600 for children £600 for their partners ( yes my I laws get the same as my children ) and another £400 for the grandchildren ( they have 100 each as I spend over the year on them too )

at that age, I would have suggest money towards what they want, they can have money of grandparents and earn the rest. I believe it teaches respect in their belongings.

Whatever you decide, definitely don't expect your 12 yr old daughter to share a ps5 with your 9yr old son as her main present when she's not interested at all in the ps5.
It would be better for neither to have an expensive electronic gadget than ask them to share one that only your son has asked for.

I agree I think I would use credit card 0%. Set up dd amount to cover it and they pay it off over time and put it away where I can't add anymore to it.

Explain very clearly they are very expensive gifts so will be nothing else.

Definitely look at second hand.

When are their birthdays? Could it be joint between the two so just a small present on their birthday?

How much do they get off grandparents etc? Could it be joint present?

If birthdays are far apart, can you buy it for then as it spreads the cost?

Ask family and friends who might be buying a present to contribute towards the gadgets?

Or they could be bought as both birthday AND Christmas presents.

BTW - laptop would be more useful than an Ipad and would cost the same.

Very much depends on what the.12 year old wants to use the iPad. For. My mum always bought the more "practical" present over what I wished and it was often not what I had wanted or could do what I would like. The I pad laptop these days are not the different.

For op. Can you afford to do this on credit? There is no way you 9 year old doesn't have some level of doubt about father Christmas so I find his comment a bit on the "I really want this" side. I would speak to them about presents and cost. And ensure they know when they wish such big presents there is very little else and they are one offs. Next Christmas they will not get such huge presents.

For any parent reading with young children please ensure father Christmas just brings stocking gifts so you don't end up with these requests later on.

I would try my best to get them if I could afford to tbh. I would absolutely look at reconditioned, you save loads for exactly the same thing. And yes if there are GPs that would normally get them something then you could ask them if they’d chip in instead.

I agree with the majority. I’d get them on 0% card or the PayPal deal if that’s what they really would like and they’re not “I want I want I want” brats as you say.

I wouldn’t get them loads of other gifts. Just confectionery, stationery - small stuff like that. The older one especially is capable of understanding.

I would buy refurb but I wouldn’t buy cheaper versions or imitations.

I would buy very little for the toddler who’ll be happy with a few new things to play with. You could honestly spend £20 there and it’ll be fine.

Maybe you and DP spend less on each other too. And make small cutbacks on treat food/alcohol (assuming you drink). There are ways and means.

I'd try to find them second hand but even that would be more then our usual Christmas spend, so I'd also warn them that if they get the big gifts, any other gifts will be small / token gifts (toiletries, chocolate & PJ's)

I would try second hand also

DD ten years on still has her ( similar )second hand present working well

But also time to talk budgets - is there anyway they can sacrifice an upcoming birthday present or forgo pocket money or a ask family to contribute to their main ( also something I did in the past with DD)

didn't they know Santa only does stockings ?

It don't really believe in overly expensive gifts for kids but I do think there are certain gifts and ages that it's worth it. (eg We're getting 2yo and 4yo a trampoline this year.)
A game console for a 8-10yo would be a big purchase I'd expect to make. He'd have to understand it will detract from other presents at Xmas and maybe nearby bday.
Unfortunately, if the 9yo is getting a console, you should balance it out with the 12yo to be fair. I would maybe look at a different tablet/refurbished because it's less likely to last like a game console will.

Well only you can know if its even and option and if it is its up to you to decide.

I haven't been in your shoes for 3 reasons:

1. my kids don't make lists (it sets up disappointment)
2. my kids know parents send 'Santa' money for gifts (so no 'Ill just ask Santa')
3. I have a strict set budget and I stick to it, not in budget then simply not an option for us

If I knew my kid really wanted something way over budget I would be shopping around second hand and referbished places to try and find one all year but if I can't then thats just that as we just don't have £750+ to spend.

My advice would be to work out your budget first then just look around and see if you can make it work. Bargain hunting takes a lot of time but thats the trade off you either spend time or money.

Reconditioned with guarantee or Klarna or similar?