Money Moral Dilemma: Should we sell our child's unwanted gifts?

quidsy

I sell anything of any value once ds has grown out or lost interest regardless of where is came from, either gift, bought or given. Now we are in a better position financially, the money goes into his savings account to contribute to future wants. But in the past I would use the money on household expenses, days out etc.


IMO, Once it's out of the givers hands they really don't have a say in what happens to it later on.

Fitzmichael

Why not? You're hardly going to hand them on as 'heirlooms'. Your relatives wanted to save you, and not 'waste', money. Sell them and use the money to buy the children something nice (or essential, if you're on a tight budget) and tell them it's from Auntie/Uncle/... If they're old enough (7+) to understand poverty/charity, suggest that they might like to give them to poor children (easier to understand, even if they're going to go to a charity shop).

Margot_Malinow

I think it would be mean to sell items which were freely given. Much better to take them to a charity shop or local children's hospital and pass the generosity on.

Birdie85

I would sell them and buy your child something they want with the money but also a gift for the child that the toys came from originally as a thank you.

LKAY

I see no dilemma here, either.


They were given to you so they are yours to do with what you like.
Sell them on and declutter is a win-win.


What you choose to do with the money raised is your decision. However, you MAY feel like donating a % to charity, and perhaps treat your friend who donated the toys in the first place to a coffee/lunch (etc dependent on value of money raised).


BUT you may also feel like spending the entire profits on you, your family, children, holiday/day trips fund, bills.... whatever! It doesn't matter - your toys to sell, your money to spend how you see fit.

Elisecas

Sell them. Put the money in a savings account for when they're at university or leaving school. Then the person who was generous enough to buy your kids a present has actually given twice. They surely wouldn't be offended about that!

audigex

I've always gone with the rule that if I buy it, it's mine to sell on. If I was given it, then I should give it away. When you're sold something at mate's rates, it's a little trickier, but the above seems to suffice for most cases.

If I was given it, then I should either give it away again or at least offer first refusal back to whoever gave it to me: They gave it to you when they could have sold it, IMO it's polite to offer them it back in case they wish to give it away again. Again purely my opinion, but I'd find it rude to sell something I was given... and if the person who gave you the toys sees the sale post, they're likely to be upset that you're profiting from their generosity.

For example I gave a £300 fish tank to my brother in law... but it's not a "Present" like a Christmas present, just a "Here, I have this and I'm not using it, would you like it?" gift. I've told him it's his for as long as he wants it, but if he replaces it or no longer wants it, I'd like first refusal before he gives it away again or sells it, so that I can either take it back or give it away again. Okay, so in this case we specifically discussed it, but I think the principle stands for similar "My child doesn't need this any more, would you like it?"

Legally: Do what you want, it's your property
Morally, or at least socially: Give it back or give it away

Rummer

Depending on what they are I would either sell them or donate them to charity. There is no point keeping unwanted items when they could be enjoyed by others. Then I would use the money to buy something my children would enjoy.

JayD

How about giving them to your local playgroup, or school - to use or sell in their next fund-raising event? That way other children can get them cheaply and the playgroup/school benefit too.

I agree with your concerns about selling them and making money from what were other's generous gestures. So make a few generous gestures yourself. If neither school nor playgroup want them then I am sure charity shops would.

tgroom57

My child was given some toys...

So what happens to the toys is up to your child, not you.
"She doesn't really play with them" suggests she does play with them, just not that often. Otherwise you would say "she doesn't play with them at all".
If they were given to your child - and not to you, for your child- then it is up to the child what happens to them. Ask.
lol, and once you've explained she can sell these and get something different, expect a painful lesson in parenting when she decides to sell what you got her for Christmas. :rotfl: