Ideas for presents for DS1 11yrs

[TheLadyEvenstarsRomanCandle]

I feel he is too old for toys but what else is there?

Vinegar we cannot afford it that is why we are in arrears.

I have already explained that all I did was copy and paste the list of what I needed from an email I sent to ds1's father in the hope that he would actually help knowing the circumstances. I was asked how much the uniform was because I had said it was £180 then I worked it out to the penny when asked and it was £161.91p.

On that front I have continually apologised and cannot do any more than that.

On the front of my financial situation well thats another thing entirely. Our rent is ridiculously high but we have no choice but to continue to struggle as we cannot afford to put any savings away.

hello look I don't know anything about the trinity thread thing or wether she has been asking for money, but she has stated a few times why she's in this position and yes she could afford to pay that amount of rent at one point but now due to circumstance she can't, is anyone listening? TLERC is there just no way you can try and get a cheaper private property?
and think it's a bit harsh saying she doesn't deserve a council property tbh, Me and DH have had to make the choice wether we want to be able to still do things like eat out, take the kids out for the day, maybe have a holiday (if we stay in our council flat), or wether we really struggle and live hand to mouth if we rent privately or get a mortgage, we decided on the former does that mean I don't deserve council property?

No deposit schemes are very common nowadays, I'm sure there would be a way out of paying such a ridiculous rent.

Tea, the problem is with trying to catch up on the arrears and paying the current rent savings are almost nil. Once a month I get £60 from the csa for ds1, and this is used for emergencies...But lately there have been a lot of things crop up....typical really.

Ok, right im new to all this but this thread i must say has disturbed me. I have lurked the boards for a while and not posted, becasue of the reaction some people get to there threads.
I though the original poster was asking for ideas for xmas presies for her son thats what this thread was about, NOT her housing situation ,her rent, or anything else that has been mentioned.
I read the posts yesterday with regards to the uniform etc and i must say i think everyone jumped on this woman enough, she has apologised for what she said.
Now this has spiraled out of control and ppl are jumping on her and posting about her private business on a publc forum. I can see why she has had to reply to some posts as i would not be able to let it go without answering either, but the original thread was about christmas remember "THE SEASON OF GOODWILL TO ALL MEN".
In all honesty i think some people on these forums get a kick out of upsetting and annoying genuine people.
so does anyone have any ideas for xmas pressies for her son then or you all going to go on kicking her while shes down.If you have anything constructive to say im sure she will take it on board otherwise carnt people just leave well alone.

hear hear bigbob.
Now...suggestions... my 11yr old DD will be getting an iPod - but its DHs old one. With a new case and loaded up with some stuff its quite a lot of bangs for not too many bucks. Maybe you could get something like that from eBay?

I think if you are new, perhaps you haven't seen that threads sometimes develop in different directions from the OP, biggob. TLES is as involved in the direction this has taken as anybody else, and is quite good at sticking up for herself. I also think you might have to know a bit more about things that have happened in the past (often around Xmas) on MN to understand why people get touchy about tales of hardship- TLES will know this too, and I'm sure she understands.

TLES, I wish you all the best, but yes, I do think that after yesterday, asking for Xmas ideas is going to look insensitive, even though nobody expects you to be eating gruel etc and playing with half a lump of coal on the day. That's all- it's just about taking a minute to consider how what you post might be coming across in the circumstances.

Shineon, I have said numerous times I am sorry for what i said and did. DS1's uniform to me was deemed as important especially given the problems in his previous school and I panicked about getting it in such a short time.....as it stands i got it sorted...almost!

The back history is ds1's behaviour, I have never asked for help in getting anything else sorted and the brilliant advice I have recieved has been put into place, unfortunatly as someone said to me the other day on here, I cannot keep making excuses for his behaviour. Unfortunatly, I cannot let his xmas pass with no presents at all...that would be plain evil

A whole lump? x-posts

I'm quite new here too so don't know the background either, think I will just shut the fuck up and stay well clear now

sorry you feel like i was, directing that comment to you shiney, but like i said i am new to these boards and i dont really care about the back history of a mumsnetter, if someone dosnt matter who they are is asking a question for a reason i really dont think they deserve to be pounced on and have there thread turned into a public debate about there finances etc. had she asked for advice on her rent etc then i can see why people would comment but seens she didnt, then i dont see that its anyone elses business to pass judgment or make her explain herself.
yes everyone has the right to express how they feel and i would do exactly the same but it would be on the correct thread,
somehow this thread has turned from being about christmas to a woman having to explain herself for no reason. which to me seems rather unfair. but thats just my opinion .

well maybe a quarter of a lump and 3/4s for ds2 cos he is an angel!

Tea, you are welcome to stay......here have a cup of _/) tea

TLE - im sure your ds1 was also an "angel" when he was two ...... ?

BGDC, of course he was but also very different to ds2. TBH I am stuck with xmas present ideas because he is not into toys aside from the huge box of lego i got off of freecycle and has so many books he could open a library. I cannot afford to buy all the technology many children today want....so am really stuck. DS2 is easy to buy for....he can have a box and some paper to rip up hours of fun for him there.

agree biggob, thanks for the tea TLERC
fwiw I am buying DS (10 nearly 11) a pink ipod nano, some CD's and books for crimbo

Sorry, normally I try not to get involved in these "debates" but the TLE has apologised and if Trinity has accepted that then surely others should too.

Okay, it did come across as insensitive but I think just about everbody at some point has had a case of "foot & mouth".

I also pay ALOT of money for private rent and am skint because of it even though dh earns a decent wage. We were originally renting a house we could afford when we relocated but were given notice due to a change in the owners circumstances and the house we're in was the cheapest house on the market at the time.

We're stuck because house prices mean its difficult for us to raise a deposit because we cant save due the ridiculous rent price. Catch 22!

I have been told it will be about 10 years before we will be offered council accommodation unless we are evicted due to rent arrears before that which I dont want to happen as it would be distressing for the dc's.

These things happen and cant be fair to raise the OP's financial circumstances every time she posts.

Just realised how that sounded...that ds2 is an angel.

Its just in some ways I feel like not buying ds1 anything at all because of the way he behaves towards me. But in reality I could not do that because he is a little boy still and that would be evil.

DS1 may not be an angel all the time but he can be a wonderful little boy.

all these smiles and faces and stuff can someone tell me how to do them please i feel im mising out haha

PT,I have apologised many times and it has been accepted by trinity.

tells you down the page on your right hand side biggob

is he looking forward to starting in his new school on Monday ?
ds (10) nearly 11 loves lego , he has all the bionicles , would your ds be into those ? they are fairly cheap in smyths & there's loads to collect & hours of making them up for ds . might turn into a little hobby for him .
fwiw - i don't think its fair that your past threads keep getting dragged up either .