General Chat

dont want to add to your feeling of guilt cos I think you are right not to buy anything that is beyond the budget .
Our daughter is now 49!! and she still tells her hard luck story with a glint of a smile, of how she always wanted "Tiny Tears" and she never got her cos i was a meany!!! makes me feel a tad guilty still altho I know she only pulling my leg BUT she still remembers her disappointment.

My feeling was ,& still is, we cant have everything we want and fads fade and I bet 6 months down the line the object of their desire is just another toy in the toy box.

Shirley

I think you can get better interactive toys for cheaper that I'm sure they would love just as much. Kids have no concept of money because of the parents who don't know how to say no to their kids (ie spoiling them). Don't feel bad, you're doing right by your children, not just now but for the future.

Muffy,
Do your kids shout can I have that? to everything advertised like mine do?
Also they get the argos catalogue and go "I want that and that and that..."
I have a few relatives who now give them money for christmas and I've found telling them what they don't get they can buy if they have enough money, I just started it last year but it works a treat. It's a case of taking them to toys r us or similar and saying, right you have £60 or whatever lets see what we can get. They like to get bargains when it's THEIR money they're spending. My younger 2 are 9 and just turned 6 so slightly older than yours but perhaps a tactic to use on your 7 year old?

There's a new one for £155 on ebay, but still 2 days to go, so might go higher.

Do you know what Helen?. Even if they made it more affordable I'd still think it overpriced. !!

It really doesn't do anything much at all !!

It does make me angry because on every kids channel it's advertised two or three times an hour. I swore blind I wouldn't spoil my kids much as I'd love to. It does them no favours in the long run.

I didn't go without as a child. But I didn't get EVERYTHING I wanted either.

My niece has been spoilt rotten from birth and now she's a teenager it's awful. If it's not a label or isn't the most up to date she's not interested.

I can't guarantee my girls won't be like that.I know it's the way of teenagers. I just aim to narrow the odds.

I just love to see their faces on Christmas morning and I feel bad that they won't see Butterscotch. BUT I have got them some storming bargains from their list and have managed to get them MORE that way by shopping around.xx

Anyway if we all say NO! to Butterscotch this year they might make it affordable next year, well we can live in hope.

My 6yr old dtr was desperate for it last year but I told her she wasn't getting it as it was too expensive. I've told my kids that we buy the presents then send them to Santa as my son is very logical and when I used the too dear line he used to tell me that I wasn't paying for it anyway! lol
Stick to your guns. I try and keep a set amount to spend as if you up it one year you'll be feeling like you have to match it next year.

Sounds as tho you get the balance right Muffy, so well done you for sticking to your guns. Your kids won't think any the less of you, and will remember the fun and happiness not the cost of things. I am sure you will have a brill Christmas without having to clean up the manure lol
Lizx

Lol, we always want the WOW factor, Im like that with mine. I used to spend £150 on my son and daughter (each) but now the babys come along, its down to £120. I get decent stuff in sales or off ebay tho, so the money goes further, its true that quantity not quality counts at their age lol. I dont see the point in spending thousands, we havent got the room to store it all!

My son told his godparents he was having a wii for his birthday last month, they told me, so I sat him down and explained that at thet sort of money we couldn't afford it. He was very good about it and accepted it, I asked him to choose something else. He had a ds instead which I knew he wanted but hadn't asked for as he thought they cost to much, so everyone happy.

I am sure your children will have loads of presents and wont even think about butterscotch on the day.

Jan x

Thanks everyone. I feel loads better now.

I have managed to steer them away from Butterscotch I'm just gobsmacked that others will be getting it. It's so much money !

I'll be honest for a main xmas pres I only usually spend max £50 - £70 per child the rest are stocking fillers. Books, Pj's, play doh etc on top just to make it have the WOW factor on Christmas day. Quantity not quality at their age lol.

They have Grandparents and aunties and uncles and friends that do the rest of the expensive pres buying they def don't do without.

It just makes me wonder how the parents of the kids that are getting Butterscotch are going to cope. It does feel like emotional blackmail but I don't want spoilt kids. I want kids that understand when no means no.
xx
It's a hard lesson though for them and me xx

PS: I usually get them to write a letter to Santa, then before theyve written it, say they cant have everything on the list as Santa only has a limited amount of money, and he has to think of the children without mums and dads. Then they only write about 2 or 3 things on the list, so Im left guessing what else to get, lol. Chances are, not all 3 of her friends are getting the pony, maybe its wishful thinking on their part! 1 says she's getting it, the next kid says Me too!

If it provides manure for the garden I'd consider it, otherwise no ! Lol!

:0)))
Joan

SNAP!!! My daughter wanted Butterscotch. I told her straight, if she had that then she couldnt have any other toys. And it'd take up too much space, and she'd get bored of it. She soon changed her mind! Ive got brilliant new stuff from ebay (type in Bratz new/Barbie new etc etc etc.) Gowingstore and Amazon sell new PC and playstation games really cheaply (both online stores). And look out for sales in Argos etc. I got a Betty Spaghetty for my daughter for £7, and quite a few bargains.

I have 4 kids and they have asked for things in the passed..........

I feel that if you buy these high priced things now what will you buying when they are 10 ,15 18 21????

Don't feel guilty. My son didn't have all the latest things even tho my nephew just a month older always did, but I always made sure he had several things to open and play with even tho some were second hand, tho like new, and he says now he never felt hard done by, in fact he felt sorry for M. and still does as the boy is very shallow. At the mo M. is advertising an iphone and my son says, I bet he isn't really selling it if he has one, he is just trying to show off that he owns one. At 7 your little one will soon be able to understand the value of things and realise that money doesn't grow on trees. You will be teaching them both a valuable lesson that will stand them in good stead when they get older.
Lizx

Is butterscotch a pony?? You could get a real one cheaper than that, I'm sure!!

Muffy, it really is expensive for what it appears to do!!

I don't know what to say.. but I would personally be looking for something that would give more lasting pleasure.
Sounds like it might be the cardboard box Butterscotch comes in lol!

I love Ann's idea, and it is similar to the method we used when my two needed to make choices... a sort of pyramid!!


Love

Daff xxx

Have you looked round for another smaller/ less expensive interactive animals, you could then say that horses do not like living indoors.

I am attempting to teach a very lifelike parrot to say "Hello ??????", for my Grandson at Christmas.

The other night I said " Hello what you doing?" & nearly jumped out of my skin when it replied "Talkin to you".

You are not being tight Muffs!!!


You are being realistic, the amount of money some people spend is mad.Its so easy to feel pressurised and my kids say,

'so and so is getting 1,ooo spent on them'


No way is what I say with the cost of living its impossible,


Cazzles xxx

I don't know how you young ones manage in today's materialistic world.
It must be so hard.

Mine had as much as we could afford and often what we really could not afford, but I think £280(?) is far too much, when you have two children.

I have spent big monies, but on things which would last.
a toy is today's love... tomorrow will have another love.

Good luck to all of you young mothers this Christmas.

Deanna X