xmas

Threebabes

esmerelda98 wrote: »

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.

Thanks for that esmerelda89, well put.

My kids do like their gadgets but not so much my DS but the girls love going to the park to play on the swings, playing in the street in the muck and leaves. Apart from their birthday and xmas get very little during the year, and if anything they do want, has to be saved for. I always feel something theyve saved for themselves is appreciated all the more.

Threebabes

MrsAnnie wrote: »

I was not judging people and finding them guilty of materialism. Sorry if it came arcoss that way. I was making a general comment on how children in general only seem content with money and expensive gifts. The comment in her post I highlighted was where the OP clearly stated her sons things were expensive - her words not mine, and I was saying that a 13 year old surely would like or need less expensive things.

Also, IMO £35 pounds IS alot of money for some people. I, for one, could not afford to spend £35 per niece even at Christmas. There are lots of gifts available for under £20.

DS's things are expensive, the robin hood boxset was £25, ive pre-ordered 2 x ps3 games £35 and £45. i would rather buy him 1 expensive game then £35 worth of tat that isnt bothered with, which Ive done before and thats a complete waste.

With girls you can pick up hairbands, earrings, necklaces, make up, but for DS its harder to do. :-)

Threebabes

gill_81uk wrote: »

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?

I will definitely do that next year, great idea. Thanks

Katie-Kat-Kins

Why not suggest he makes a list. It must have at least three items under £20 and three between £20 and £50, or put your own price restrictions on it. Give him two weeks to think of things, and if it is specific he must put details. So Full title of any books/CDs colours brands and sizes for clothing. Suggest he does this every year. It works, in fact we do it with all awkward to buy for types in our family, saves the horrid useless presents but isn't compulsory so if you have a flash of inspiration you can buy something else.

Some things to think about for your son would be:
Toiletries, body spray and shower gel from addidas, Hackett or FCUK or similar for a teenager
Clothing, T-shirts with a logo can be had for under £30 and plain for less than £5 just give his size and a rough idea of what he likes.
Underwear/sleepwear, slippers, dressing gown, pjs, boxers, socks etc
Sports kit - depends a bit on the sports he is into.
Books - not just fiction, lots of boys like reference books on subjects they like, or even a guiness book of records
Music - what about the latest Now CD or similar compilation?
A watch, again you can get some pretty nice ones at reasonable prices
If he likes jewellery a chain or signet ring or earring
An alarm clock - especially a specific travelling one that folds and has settings for different time zones.
A mug to use at home, maybe filled with chocolates or something
A wallet
Something to do, would he enjoy airfix or building his own radio or some sort of kit for making something?
Tickets to an event, a gig, motorshow, sports match etc etc
outdoor clothing, hat, gloves, scarf a fleece etc
A calendar
A magazine subscription
A poster for his bedroom wall or other stuff for his room, like a lava lamp or new "cool" bed covers.
A DVD of a film he likes or TV show or a special thing like the top gear christmas DVD.
Accessories for his bike or skateboard
A swiss army knife or leatherman
An experience, something like a skiing lesson at the snowdome or local dry slope or a go on the tobboggan run or go-karting or something.
A diary
Folders/pencil case with whatever he things is cool on it
Depending upon what he is into something like a minature scale model of a car/motorbike/aeroplane or whatever.

There are loads of things that are more thoughtful than vouchers or money, it just takes a bit of thought and a bit of co-operation.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

I am so glad you said no to the Nuts mag, that made me gasp the first time i read it - i dont even like my OH who is 24 reading stuff like that.

I'm lucky he is just into gadgets so T3 is his thing...and bikes, he is a big big bike fanatic too, so if you really can't think of anything i'd still say tell her to get a voucher but not just any old one, get one from Evans Cycles and a catalogue to go with it. If he is a biker there'll be some sort of new pedals, brakes system, handle pad thingys or even a pair of new bike gloves he'll love - trust me when guys are mad into their bicycles they treat them like their most prized possession and love getting the new bits for them. And trust me unless he has shown you exactly what he wants you won't know where to start with this stuff, i can vouch for that.

I gave my OH £100 in Evans Cycles vouchers one year and he was over the moon, he didn't expect it at all. Why not try explaining this to your sister? I agree just the usual argos/boots or HMV vouchers are a little impersonal and boring but when you make the effort to pick their fave store which they wouldn't have expected you to it can make all the difference, or if not get her to get something like bike gloves (ask the guys behind the counter for the most wanted ones first they are nearly always crazy about their bikes and bmx's too) and then keep the receipt in there incase he'd like to change them for different ones if he had his eye on a diff set.

Threebabes

KatP wrote: »

Why not suggest he makes a list. It must have at least three items under £20 and three between £20 and £50, or put your own price restrictions on it. Give him two weeks to think of things, and if it is specific he must put details. So Full title of any books/CDs colours brands and sizes for clothing. Suggest he does this every year. It works, in fact we do it with all awkward to buy for types in our family, saves the horrid useless presents but isn't compulsory so if you have a flash of inspiration you can buy something else.

Some things to think about for your son would be:
Toiletries, body spray and shower gel from addidas, Hackett or FCUK or similar for a teenager
Clothing, T-shirts with a logo can be had for under £30 and plain for less than £5 just give his size and a rough idea of what he likes.
Underwear/sleepwear, slippers, dressing gown, pjs, boxers, socks etc
Sports kit - depends a bit on the sports he is into.
Books - not just fiction, lots of boys like reference books on subjects they like, or even a guiness book of records
Music - what about the latest Now CD or similar compilation?
A watch, again you can get some pretty nice ones at reasonable prices
If he likes jewellery a chain or signet ring or earring
An alarm clock - especially a specific travelling one that folds and has settings for different time zones.
A mug to use at home, maybe filled with chocolates or something
A wallet
Something to do, would he enjoy airfix or building his own radio or some sort of kit for making something?
Tickets to an event, a gig, motorshow, sports match etc etc
outdoor clothing, hat, gloves, scarf a fleece etc
A calendar
A magazine subscription
A poster for his bedroom wall or other stuff for his room, like a lava lamp or new "cool" bed covers.
A DVD of a film he likes or TV show or a special thing like the top gear christmas DVD.
Accessories for his bike or skateboard
A swiss army knife or leatherman
An experience, something like a skiing lesson at the snowdome or local dry slope or a go on the tobboggan run or go-karting or something.
A diary
Folders/pencil case with whatever he things is cool on it
Depending upon what he is into something like a minature scale model of a car/motorbike/aeroplane or whatever.

There are loads of things that are more thoughtful than vouchers or money, it just takes a bit of thought and a bit of co-operation.

WOW you are good, thanks .

Im going to copy this and keep a note.

Ive obviously got no imagination :rolleyes: (and neither as my son :rotfl:).

Threebabes

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle wrote: »

I am so glad you said no to the Nuts mag, that made me gasp the first time i read it - i dont even like my OH who is 24 reading stuff like that.

I'm lucky he is just into gadgets so T3 is his thing...and bikes, he is a big big bike fanatic too, so if you really can't think of anything i'd still say tell her to get a voucher but not just any old one, get one from Evans Cycles and a catalogue to go with it. If he is a biker there'll be some sort of new pedals, brakes system, handle pad thingys or even a pair of new bike gloves he'll love - trust me when guys are mad into their bicycles they treat them like their most prized possession and love getting the new bits for them. And trust me unless he has shown you exactly what he wants you won't know where to start with this stuff, i can vouch for that.

I gave my OH £100 in Evans Cycles vouchers one year and he was over the moon, he didn't expect it at all. Why not try explaining this to your sister? I agree just the usual argos/boots or HMV vouchers are a little impersonal and boring but when you make the effort to pick their fave store which they wouldn't have expected you to it can make all the difference, or if not get her to get something like bike gloves (ask the guys behind the counter for the most wanted ones first they are nearly always crazy about their bikes and bmx's too) and then keep the receipt in there incase he'd like to change them for different ones if he had his eye on a diff set.

Hi, its actually my Sister in law not my sister, i would tell my sister how I felt but I cant really tell SIL, my sister is giving them money at her suggestion. I wouldnt care I asked SIL what i could get her kids and she told me and Ive gone out and got it. If she has asked for money for bank accounts or vouchers again, I wouldve done it, maybe Im just easy going .

Good idea about the bike stuff.

:-)

jellyhead

What about a gaming magazine if that's what he's into? nintendo magazine has good subscription offers from time to time and there's a little freebie with each mag. This week we got a beanie hat

Also, there's a gaming book of world records, can't think what it's called though, and don't know if it's produced annually.

JBD

I don't understand why some people have a problem with giving money or vouchers if that is what the person has specifically asked for. The purpose of giving a gift is to make the recipient happy so why would anyone go and buy something that they haven't asked for and probably won't like?
My oldest son has asked for money for years now so that is what he gets, that or a gift card off other relations. He usually spends it on a holiday.

flea72

JBD wrote: »

I don't understand why some people have a problem with giving money or vouchers if that is what the person has specifically asked for. The purpose of giving a gift is to make the recipient happy so why would anyone go and buy something that they haven't asked for and probably won't like?
My oldest son has asked for money for years now so that is what he gets, that or a gift card off other relations. He usually spends it on a holiday.

personally i dont like gift vouchers, mainly for the fact sometimes the giver or receiver of the token is embarrassed by the 'value'

at lease if someone suggests an item, its up to me, whether i want to shop around, or find ways of paying less for the gift

i know i dont always have physical cash to spend on a voucher, but i could prob use ecoupons, quidco, etc. to get someone the 'gift' they asked for

kids might like the principle of vouchers, but they dont really hold your interest longer than 5mins, and on christmas day theres nothing worse than having lots of 'cash' but not the ability to go and spend it - you mates come round, flashing off their latest gadget, and theres you stood there with a fan of giftcards, boring or what!

F