xmas

flea72

there is always something a child wants, that doesnt cost more than £10-£20 - suggesting a CD or DVD, isnt going to be that hard. ok, they might not get something they really, really, want, but there is usually something that kids want, but havent bothered to buy themselves, because they werent 'that' desperate for it, to waste their own money

a years supply of something like Lynx wouldnt go amiss for a teenage boy, or even a half decent bottle of aftershave

If youve bought him a gaming chair, why not get her to buy him a 'survial kit' to go with it - ie some crisps, popcorn, drinks, etc. so he can sit in his chair, and not have to move to the kitchen for supplies

or, how about a subscription to something like a gaming mag, or Nuts (might need to add tissues to the 'survival kit' above :rotfl:)

i think youre making this hard for everyone else, by covering all bases yourself - boxsets, plus a dozen dvds already from yourself, plus the extras?! - how on earth can a family member, come up with any idea, if you have already bought everything he could possible need


Flea

Lunar_Eclipse

flea72 wrote: »

i think youre making this hard for everyone else, by covering all bases yourself - boxsets, plus a dozen dvds already from yourself, plus the extras?! - how on earth can a family member, come up with any idea, if you have already bought everything he could possible need
Flea

Agree with this completely, plus your idea of the survival kit is brilliant.

Not sure why you have bought him so many DVDs, but a simple idea is that she gives him 1 or 2 of these films which you have already bought.

All children these days have everything they need/want, but there is always a little something that could still hit the spot. I thought about suggesting an 'experience' such as a session at the local driving range or indoor climbing centre, or 1/2 tickets to an ice hockey/basketball game. Something that he might not normally consider, but would be a good experience for him in broadening his outlook on life, which most teenagers would benefit from!

Failing that, a magazine subscription (using Tesco Deals)?

gill_81uk

tbh I was thinking the same as flea.....another year couldn't you keep a list of some of the dvds that he wants to give to family members and buy him a gift card yourself?

My aunties have always asked for what we want for christmas so my mum would get us to make a list and she would give them first pick off it and get us what was left (obviously depending how much was on it!!)

This way we get what we want and they get to choose a present and wrap, which a lot of people do still enjoy for christmas.

the_cat

I agree with you. Money or vouchers are best for teenagers but if she insists how about a subscription for a dvd rental company

red_devil

where people cant think of anything or the child already has everything how about suggesting the relative by a present for a child who dosent get much or children in hospital. Around xmas you can buy a gift and leave it in a store and its collected. You can always buy for kids in care too. Local social services departments can always arrange this.

red_devil

If youve bought him a gaming chair, why not get her to buy him a 'survial kit' to go with it - ie some crisps, popcorn, drinks, etc. so he can sit in his chair, and not have to move to the kitchen for supplies

how lazy and how fattening.

MrsAnnie

Threebabes wrote: »

Hi

My SIL asked me what to get my kids for xmas and we are really struggling to think of anything, ds is nearly 14 and his things are expensive, more than what i would expect her to spend.

So I suggested vouchers, metrocentre, hmv, claires accessories (for the girls).

She has said no she wont buy them vouchers, she wants to buy them a gift. If she had asked me to buy hers vouchers I wouldnt have minded, or if my sister suggested money or vouchers for hers. Would you have a problem with vouchers? am i missing something here .

thanks :?

Sorry to say this, but surely a 13 year old boy would surely like or need things other than things that are expensive .

It is a shame when children don't enjoy the simple things in life and only seem to be satisfied with money, vouchers or expensive consumer products :sad:. IMO

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

ok, what about a voucher BUT wrapped up as a normal pressie and inside one of those money puzzles from firebox - you can see the voucher as the puzzle box is perspex but it is really mind bending to get it out. That way you'll all have a good laugh actually getting the present out - it makes it much less impersonal.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

firebox.com is the place to look for cool gifts for teenage boys - thats where the idea for the money puzzle came from. I think i might be doing this for my brothers and sister in law - they get laden with unwanted costmetic or aftershave sets year after year (as do i) so i thought this would be a bit more fun, and then a useful voucher for their fave shops after the initial funny frustration of getting the prize out.

esmerelda98

MrsAnnie wrote: »

Sorry to say this, but surely a 13 year old boy would surely like or need things other than things that are expensive .

It is a shame when children don't enjoy the simple things in life and only seem to be satisfied with money, vouchers or expensive consumer products :sad:. IMO

You misunderstand. Threebabes could have expressed herself better, but on reading the (fairly short) thread, it is clear she meant that the only things she could think of for presents cost more than she would expect her sister-in-law to spend. She gives the price of a typical game as £35. That is not an enormous amount of money in the grand scheme of things, but I can understand that she doesn't expect her sister in law to spend that on her son. It is really impossible from the little information she has given to conclude that her children don't enjoy simple things.

I do think Britain has become unbelievably materialistic, but I think you need to be careful about judging people and finding them guilty of materialism (or anything else) on slim evidence.