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Christmas

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Original poster

To make dreams come true regardless of price?

109 replies

workstealssleep · 07/12/2024 18:41

I am not sure what to do.
Ds is in his last year of believing. He wants a particular toy for Christmas.
Dh says it is silly money to spend on a soft toy, and is right.
But I do love that moment when they get what they asked for...
I know there is not one right answer. Different things work for different families.
But if he doesn't get his one most wanted gift, how do I frame that on Christmas Day? I'm sure other people have been here before.

OP posts:
UpTheMagicChristmasTree · 07/12/2024 18:42

I would buy the gift, it's Christmas!

TwinklyRoseTurtle · 07/12/2024 18:43

Personally I would buy it if he really wants regardless of price, when he doesn’t believe then you can set expectations but in the meantime make it magical- you will get a lot of MN responses probably saying not to you but it’s your child and they only only get one childhood x

IDontDrinkTea · 07/12/2024 18:43

It depends what you call “silly money”. Is it £50 or £500?

LoyalTaupeTiger · 07/12/2024 18:44

How much is it? How much is your income?

DurhamDurham · 07/12/2024 18:45

I'd buy the soft toy unless it was ridiculously expensive. Wondering just how expensive can a soft toy be? I'm v nosy Grin

Workingclasslass · 07/12/2024 18:45

TwinklyRoseTurtle · 07/12/2024 18:43

Personally I would buy it if he really wants regardless of price, when he doesn’t believe then you can set expectations but in the meantime make it magical- you will get a lot of MN responses probably saying not to you but it’s your child and they only only get one childhood x

Which is all good and well, but there are so many people that are living beyond their means and now in so much debt they can’t afford it. Personally think it depends whether these people can afford it because no matter what present I’m telling you now if you are struggling and end up being very argumentative with your husband because it cost you in money that you cannot afford and throughout the whole year you struggle with finances I don’t think your children would want to see that so at the end of the day you have to balance can you afford it or

LittleRedRidingHoody · 07/12/2024 18:48

If you can afford it, I'd do it.

sesquipedalian · 07/12/2024 18:48

I assume your DS will get presents from other people? Could you just buy him the thing he wants, and no other gifts? I always tried to get my DC what they wanted, and made it very plain if the asked for gift was something “Father Christmas” couldn’t manage.

Tinaforshort · 07/12/2024 18:50

For me if I could afford it I’d buy it.

Over the years both of my DC have wanted stuff that I do not think is worth it but if I can I do buy it because I view it as what’s the point in buying them stuff that they don’t want but I deem worth it? That, to me, would be a waste.

PennyPugwash · 07/12/2024 18:53

Buy it!

fishfingersandchipsagain · 07/12/2024 18:57

I think it depends entirely on whether buying it would put you into financial difficulty.

I mean, it’s one think of it’s a case of

“it’s £20 over budget, and means we might have to miss out on our Friday night take away this week” (buy the present)

… and another if it’s

“£500 more than we can possibly afford and we will struggle to pay rent” (don’t buy the present)

BeaLola · 07/12/2024 19:00

If you can afford it buy it

The magic isn't here for long

Original poster
workstealssleep · 07/12/2024 19:05

We can afford it. But he is one of three, so I feel that setting limits is sensible, no matter what our finances. I don't want them all to expect an endless budget.
Of course it is not a soft toy for £500! I would never waste money like that. It is over £50, which is mad to me. We always think carefully about our purchases.

OP posts:
XelaM · 07/12/2024 19:06

Buy the toy! 🧸 Don't be mean.

It's Christmas 🎄

BendingSpoons · 07/12/2024 19:08

I would probably still discuss budget with my DC. There is still a limit on what Santa brings to keep it fair, so that 1 toy is equal to X & Y, and is that still his preference? In our house Santa only brings stockings, which makes these conversations easier.

Floralnomad · 07/12/2024 19:11

I would get it irrespective of the whole Santa thing , surely the point of presents at Christmas is to try and get what people would like .

WallaceinAnderland · 07/12/2024 19:11

£50 for a soft toy is a consumer rip off.

Cosycore · 07/12/2024 19:15

It’s a jellycat, isn’t it?

I guess it depends on what your other kids have asked for?

if you’re able, I would get it. I was part of the Mr Frosty and Dreamphone era, where I didn’t get either even though I asked Santa. Grin

Original poster
workstealssleep · 07/12/2024 19:30

Yes it is a Jellycat. I have actually bought him a different one for £30 which I know ĥe will like. He loves them all. But top of his list is this particular one. I might just tell him they are not available (the one he wants is out of stock, but there is a similar one for the same price, and I think he'd be just as impressed with that, just hasn't come across it before).

OP posts:
HolyMoly24 · 07/12/2024 20:01

If I was spending that sort of money I'd want it to be the exact one that he wanted

Lovemusic82 · 07/12/2024 20:05

Jelly cats are expensive but kind of worth it. My dd collect them and is getting one for Christmas, luckily she’s no longer a child and understands that some are harder to get hold of. She wanted the rainbow dragon but it’s out of stock everywhere and selling for crazy prices on eBay (I refuse to pay £75 for a £40 jellycat) so I have chosen a different one for her. Hopefully your ds will be pleased with what you have got him, he can always spend any Christmas money on getting another?

PastaAndProse · 07/12/2024 20:08

I would buy it, personally. DS asked for a Pokémon charizard soft toy from Santa this year. It's £60. He'd be devastated not to get his one wish and we can afford it. That's the only thing that matters IMO.

yeesh · 07/12/2024 20:09

Buy it 🎄

wafflesmgee · 07/12/2024 20:10

I think longer term a better life lesson is that you don't always get what you want and you have to live within your means.
Nd that Christmas is about more than material things.

WatchOutForBabyHaggis · 07/12/2024 20:11

If I only ever bought my dc gifts I personally thought were worth the money, they'd never have anything at all.

I don't think £100 on football boots is 'worth it'. Or £102 on aftershave. Or £50 for two Cash & Nico comics (especially 🤢 at that one, total bloody tat, some kids youtube thing).

But I've still bought them all because that's what they want, we can afford it and they are most certainly 'worth it' to them.