Old Style preparations for Christmas 2012!!!!!

short_bird

As the Xmas cards are in at our local Cancer Research shop:D

WantToBeSE

Well the kids have finally decided what they want for Christmas this year.
My 8 year old wants a netbook and my 12 year old wants an iPod touch.
Heavens above, just need to find out how much i am looking at spending!

Justamum

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Well the kids have finally decided what they want for Christmas this year.
My 8 year old wants a netbook and my 12 year old wants an iPod touch.
Heavens above, just need to find out how much i am looking at spending!

I don't buy those kind of expensive gadgets for mine until they've reached a certain age, no matter how much they might want one. For instance a mobile phone they get when they are 11 and going into high school. Ipod is for the Christmas after they turn 13. When it comes to laptops then they just have to save up and buy their own from the Christmas and birthday money they get over the years. It's DS's turn to get an ipod this Christmas. DD2 is only 7 so she won't be getting one for quite a while yet!

ShonaM

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Well the kids have finally decided what they want for Christmas this year.
My 8 year old wants a netbook and my 12 year old wants an iPod touch.
Heavens above, just need to find out how much i am looking at spending!

Im dreading the day my 4 year old asks for expensive gadgets...but my OH can't wait for the day lol I know exactly who would be playing on it more.:rotfl:

I find it harder to buy for boys especially stocking fillers. With girls you can fill it with lots of hair clips, cosmetics and cute things but I always struggle. He has just had his birthday and we bought him some of the BATMAN Imaginext but it was v.expensive. The craze before that was transformers which wasn't cheap.

WantToBeSE

Its much easier (i.e. cheaper) when they are younger. I remember the days that i u sed to be able to to loadds and loads of toys for £100 for Christmas..now that'll buy i think if i'm lucky.
I normally only buy them the main presents, then the rest of my family buy them presents too, and their dad and his family buy them presents too.

whitesatin

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Well the kids have finally decided what they want for Christmas this year.
My 8 year old wants a netbook and my 12 year old wants an iPod touch.
Heavens above, just need to find out how much i am looking at spending!

It is natural to want to give our children everything they want, especially at Christmas but the question is, where does it go from there? A newer model next year? Another gadget we haven't even heard of yet?:)

I tend to think that the children should pay for big things from their own money, well, at least pay towards it. I know my grandchildren get birthday money from relatives each year and I think my daughter will give them the choice of what to spend it on when they are a bit older.

Thankfully they are young enough at the moment to be happy with anything they get given, even the cardboard boxes, LOL.

I understand that peer pressure kicks in once they are at school

WantToBeSE

I am quite happy paying £100 for a netbook and £140 for an iPod once a year. Luckily it wont break the bank, and as long as i dont get into debt for it, or struggle too much to pay for it, i am a happy bunny.

whitesatin

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I am quite happy paying £100 for a netbook and £140 for an iPod once a year. Luckily it wont break the bank, and as long as i dont get into debt for it, or struggle too much to pay for it, i am a happy bunny.

Horses for courses, like everything else. If it gives you pleasure and you can afford it, why not? I am sure the children will be delighted with their gifts.:)

Butterfly_Brain

I have a box full of sweets already by just buying a few bits extra a week. This week I got a large white toblerone (DH loves it) a box of maltesers, a box of toffifee and a box of after eights from poundland.
I am not buying any Cadbury chocolate this year, because the Roses we bought last year were horrible, I am so angry for what Kraft have done to Cadbury's and no longer buy any Cadbury product, we actually prefer Aldi chocolate

WantToBeSE

I have found a lovely netbook for £60 on eBay, but am so not technologically minded that i'm not sure if its any good for my 8 year old. all he wants f for is to go onto citv, cbbc and play games. Can you give me your opinions on if its good enough for that?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280892643687?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

I am seriously going to start on the stocking fillers now, so will be keeping an eye on the freebies and grabbit boards.