General Chat

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!

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

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.

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

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

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

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?

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.

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