just found out can't afford what I promised - feeling low

[rey]

how will I make up for not getting a Wii for xmas?

Stupid me, thought they would be cheeper and more readily available this christmas. So thought I'd splash out but can't splash out that much! All their friends have one (I have actually seen them) so I thought well time I treated mine as they enjoy playing on them whenever they got the opportunity in the summer holidays. V Bad Mum.

Oh dear - why can't you? Not even possible through rellies contributing money/vouchers or using e.g. Tesco vouchers etc yourself?

They are running out of them already, so you may not have been able to get one anyway.

how much are they?

Get a catalogue and pay weekly.

£176 cheapest price I've seen - haven't checked stock.

could you not ask grandparents to chip in and all get it between you? that way you still get them what you want and not had to pay anywhere near as much for it.

don't get catalogues. They are the worst thing ever. Its how is started, admittedly to 'live' when DH was out of work. £30,000 and a bankruptcy later.....

I can't stretch to £176 and rellies can't contribute then the earlier you are upfront and tell them you can't afford it, the better. Certainly don't put yourself into debt for it.

no I'm not advocating that. If she places much on getting a Wii above all other possible gifts and if not getting one is upsetting her then that would be one way of getting it without having to make a huge outlay in one go that she cant afford. Just a solution.

That should say - IF you can't stretch..

And catalogues dont need to lead to debt. It's possible to just use them for ONE purchase then get rid of them and pay them off.

I think a quick ring around relations to see if everyone wants to chip in is called for - they may well be thinking "what am I going to get rey's DC for Christmas" and a few £10 contributions from aunties etc would soon add up...

..but check with your DC that they are OK with that first.

I don't think catalogues are always 'evil' and the road to doom - depends on how you manage them.

However, I'd personally not get into any sort of debt and certainly not for Christmas presents.

How old are your children? Is this something you can explain to them? Perhaps you can persuade them to save up money that relatives might give them for Xmas, birthday money and any spends so that they can 'earn' it themselves?

Or can you get a 2nd hand one on ebay?

How much can you afford?

true. as I said, a solution, not ideal.

The worrying part is that rey is worrying about providing this particular material thing above all others because of peer pressure etc.

Why not take in a bit of ironing? Place an advert in a newsagents for a 'Christmas clean' or something like that. One off jobs that bring in extra cash. Pay for the wii with cash and feel better about it come January when there's nothing to pay off.

PLease don't get a catalogue...

are they old enough to be asked/understand to have a delayed gift, say in 4-5mths, when you can afford it, so they can have the wii? (like an i.o.u. in a card?)

How old are your children?

FWIW I am sure your children will love whatever gifts they recieve for Christmas.

Don't put yourself into debt over it though - not worth that.

Oh, and as for an idea. I recently cleared out lots of toys/games and clothes that we no longer used - mainly DDs stuff, but also DH's Xbox, etc. I made over £300 in a fortnight via MN and ebay. We bought a Wii and some games.

by getting a Wii after Christmas

give them the money towards a Wii - and say they can either save it for when you have enough for a Wii, or spend it on something else and therefore no Wii

if they are going to come down in price they will come down after Christmas not before

,hijack.

helababy, can you remember how much you got for xbox? dh has one cluttering up the spare room, not used

tia