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Sons birthday present.....have I done the right thing please?

Hi all.
I'm needing some reassurance as I am now feeling horrendously guilty and rather selfish.
My reasoning behind all this is that kids grow out of clothes and toys really fast. My son has had lots of handmedown clothes (we have bought him some new stuff but most of his 12month+ clothes are now HMD's) and a couple of byndles given away on freecycle. It's all really nice, good quality stuff and i wouldn't dream of putting him in rubbish.
OH & I also buy our clothes from charity shops if we can, but occasionally buy new if we spot a bargain.


It's DS's birthday next week. He LOVES the Direct Line ad, so imagine my delight when I found a Fisher Price Speak & Teach phone in full working order and practically new the charity shop for £2, when they're £17 in Argos.
He has lots of toys so I thought I would give it a clean (it's immaculate, I just like to de-bug with an anti-bacterial spray!) and wrap it up for his birthday.
I found a couple of nice bits of clothing for myself in the sale as well.

So, now I'm say here feeling really awful at the prospect of giving my son a second hand toy from the charity shop for his 1st birthday, especially as I bought some new clothing for myself.

Have I done the right thing?
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Comments

  • I don't think you should feel guilty for giving your son a present he is going to love and not getting yourself into debt or spending a ridiculous amount of money on something that will be tossed to the side in a few months! Good find and enjoy the day!
    :rudolf: Christmas Addict! :rudolf:
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Definitely. Dont feel guilty, feel the buz of getting a bargain and imagine his
    little face when he tears the wrapping off and last vestige of guilt will disappear. If, as you say, its immaculate then it doesnt matter.

    He doesnt know the meaing of 2nd hand.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • If its a toy he will love and make him happy then I really wouldnt worry! You could spend £100 on a toy car for him to sit in like some parents but if all he really wants is the phone, then you would be wasting your money.
    Dont feel guilty, feel proud that your not giving him a load of plastic in packaging for his birthday.
  • mary-op
    mary-op Posts: 3,605 Forumite
    ladyrider - don't worry. I'm sure your son will be just as thrilled as if it were brand new.
    I shop from charity and second hand shops all the time have no worries of christmas/birthday pressies being someone elses unwanted gifts. Last year I bought something new for baby grandson but he also had a few second hand bits and pieces.........he was happy and his mum and dad didn't mind where they came from.

    He'll love it............:j
    I would be unstoppable if only I could get started !

    (previously known as mary43)
  • ladyrider- dont feel guilty one little bit. as long as your son is happy that is the main thing. such a young child will never know the difference
    'Children are not things to be moulded, but are people to be unfolded'
  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Got the message now = ladyrider;)
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • McKneff wrote: »
    Got the message now = ladyrider;)

    Yeah, thanks guys. He's always clean, warm, fed and happy. That's the most important thing, I guess I really got a case of the guilts. That's what modern day 'parent pressure' does to you and I let it get to me. I'm the first one who scoffs at designer kids stuff and having 'the best'. Kids will only know what you teach them & if you bring them up that way, in 9yrs time he'll be nagging me for a pair of £80 trainers that he'll be in for all of 6months! It's all about the value of things......and not just the monetary value.
    I was thinking about it and thought that the £2 for his present will also help Oxfam, so everyone benefits. :T

    I also bagged an NFL Buccaneers shirt (his Dad is mad about american football!) which was a couple of pounds, but that'll have to be put away for now as it's for a 5-6yr old. Mind you, the rate he's growing.....!
  • glad we could help.
    'Children are not things to be moulded, but are people to be unfolded'
  • Awwwww, i so know how you feel, with my first child i bought everything new and thought that meant he would love it all and i was so dissapointed that i spent so much money on his prezzies for his first birthday and he really wasn't interested but i learnt my lesson with the second and most of his toys are HMD's and from the car boot or charity shops and honestly he loves them and he is so rough with them that when they break i really don't mind, as chances are i only paid 50p instead of a tenner:rotfl:

    Seriously, your child could just have a hug and a kiss on their birthday and that would be all they ever need although motherly guilt rears it's head far too often.

    Enjoy your little ones birthday and get pleasure from watching his face light up with the nice toys and please don't worry yourself over how much you spent, i am sure your son will be happy no matter what:D
    :j:j:j
  • £2 is a great bargain so like the others and yourself I wouldnt feel guilty. If you did for whatever reason want to spend more just add something to his child savings account? At one he will never know or care about the cost of anything.
    :j
    May 2013 new beginnings:j
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