Baby Christmas Money - what is it for?

SugarSpun

My family normally write something like, Buy [Baby] a toy she'll enjoy, or For a nice day out, in the cards they send money in. I might spend the actual physical tenner they've sent if I need cash and have none, but I always replace it asap and spend it as appropriate - and then I send a thank you letter and photos of what we used their money on. I've just used her Christmas money (and topped it up with my money) to buy an annual family pass to our local museum. They have a massive educational playground in the basement as well as all kinds of cool stuff to look at and she loves going there.

We take care of all the baby's essential needs and drop all our available, unallocated money into her savings account. If someone asked me to put money into her savings then I'll do it, but I'd prefer gift money to be spent on fun.

lola34

When mine were little if they were given money it went into their savings account now they have more understanding they use it to buy new game or something, however it depends on how much they get Christmas they got about £30 each but with birthdays they tend to get £100+ so they put half in their savings to go towards holiday spends and have half to spend at the time.

Gemmy_2

If i was giving money for a baby i'd rather it goes on something the baby needs now than in the future. I.e. nappy's - their pretty expensive?... or a pushchair etc

pebbles88

SugarSpun wrote: »

I've just used her Christmas money (and topped it up with my money) to buy an annual family pass to our local museum. They have a massive educational playground in the basement as well as all kinds of cool stuff to look at and she loves going there.

That’s a really good idea, the years pass. it's something the whole family can enjoy, you get to spend time together, kids get to have fun, and even if you have a strapped for cash few months, you already have the pass so can still do something without it costing extra money (ok perhaps sandwiches, flasks or picnic if going for whole day IYSWIM), very , I might think of something like that for my nieces/nephews this year

Gemmy wrote: »

If I was giving money for a baby I’d rather it goes on something the baby needs now than in the future. I.e. nappy's - their pretty expensive?... or a pushchair etc

I agree with this. I know some will disagree, but a kid needs so much during its life, be it toys, essentials (nappies, clothes, pram, etc). With the way things are nowadays, day to day living expenses are going up, so many jobs are under threat etc, that one day a parent could get up as normal, go to work as normal, get there, and be told that sorry the company has had to close, you can still have your job but we're cutting your hours in half etc. that nobody knows what is around the corner.

you could be the most organised person in the world, have a savings pot that is specifically for baby’s stuff, i.e., crib, cot, pram, formula/bf bits & bobs, nappies etc, but if the parent(s) lose their job(s), and that savings fund then has to be used to pay the mortgage/rent/bills until a new job can be sorted so that baby can have a roof over its head, be warm, eat etc. then the gift money received for baby may well have to be used to buy the essentials for them, IYSWIM.

This subject will always have so many different points of view. and with the exception of parents specifically asking for money knowing that it's going to be used for something 'they' want, with no intention of it being used in any way for the child, then I don’t really think there is a right or wrong way. (Despite what they say baby doesn’t need to watch his DVD's/TV on a 52 inch flat screen telly built into the wall... ok a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea!


Any money received, whether saved, or spent on something the baby needs now is still going towards the baby. in respect of the highchairs discussion, yes I know you can get cheaper ones, but if baby was given some money, and that money was pooled with what money the parents were going to use anyway - but got put towards a more expensive, better quality chair - that would last them a lot longer - and as they grow up can grow up with them, then I don’t see what the difference is. Yes I know you shouldn’t have a baby unless you can cope with paying for them, but there is a world of difference between using gift money for daily living costs to boosting what you already have to get the child something better.

I know me as an adult; sometimes will use birthday/Christmas money I have received for day to day stuff. But then at some point in the year I may treat myself to a new pair of jeans etc. It all the same pot at the end of the day, and in respect of kids, by the time they reach 18 – they have probably had any gift money back 100fold!!

lilac_lady

When I give money to a baby or small child I don't care if the parents put it in a savings account, buy nappies, a toy, highchair, or clothes. If the parents use it for anything other than the child I'd be disappointed.

shegirl

chickywiggle wrote: »

any money given to DS (2 yerars old) goes on him but maybe not directly. I.E. I have just bought him a new toy that cost me £9.25 now he doesn't have christmas money for it but I know will enjoy it and get endless use out of it..... therefore if his nanny was to give him £10 next month as a present I would have no qualms about putting it in the household kitty to replace the money used on said toy.

I went shopping with him yesterday and bought him some thomas engines to add to his collection. This cost me almost £10 - it came out my money - however before christmas he had been given £10 as a present which I used to buy food instead of putting it on the credit card.

When DS had his first christmas he was only 2 months old.......... yes he got a lot of money....... this at the time went towards baby milk/ nappies/ food etc I have spent this money on toys etc hundreds over since then. So i don't feel in the slightest bit bad about it.

re: the comment about selling toys....... yes I have been known to sell his presents if it is something too young for him or that I think he will never play with or a duplicate!! again he will always get this money re-spent on him at some point.

Why? I find that sad and shocking tbh...buying something for your child then saying if anyone gives him money you would put it in the household kitty as a repayment for something you chose to buy him.Should be kept seperate.It would be his money and his gift

tara747

shegirl wrote: »

Why? I find that sad and shocking tbh...buying something for your child then saying if anyone gives him money you would put it in the household kitty as a repayment for something you chose to buy him.Should be kept seperate.It would be his money and his gift

I agree. chickywiggle - if you can't afford toys then don't buy them, cut back elsewhere, try Freecycle/eBay, there are other options - but to take money off your child for something you decided to buy for him is shocking. What if he hadn't been given money as a gift? You would be £10 down in your (strange) logic. Would you return the toy to recoup your money??

kegg_2

I find it interesting that there is so much difference in how families view a childs money. In our family all children are given savings accounts at birth and it is just accepted by everyone that if cash is given it is for that savings account.
Now they are teenagers of couse they want to spend any money they a given at christmas or birthdays but they also know saving is important and so will split their money and some will go into the savings and some for the sales.
The money saved over the years is not to be spent on a massive booze up at 18 or frittered away on nothing but will remain tied up in savings and bonds until the time comes when they want to buy a home of their own. It should be a healthy deposit to set them up on the housing ladder.

aloise

Years ago we didn't have this problem. Hardly anybody could afford to open a bank account for their children. Any money I received went straight on the children.Never ever spent it on food or things for the home. They wouldn't have been nearly as well dressed as they were if it hadn't been for an auntie giving me money for them. I hate giving money for it to go into their bank account.

mummyroysof3

tara747 wrote: »

I agree. chickywiggle - if you can't afford toys then don't buy them, cut back elsewhere, try Freecycle/eBay, there are other options - but to take money off your child for something you decided to buy for him is shocking. What if he hadn't been given money as a gift? You would be £10 down in your (strange) logic. Would you return the toy to recoup your money??

i read it as that she would use the money then it would be like the relative bought the toy not her