OK I just can't do moneysaving !!!!

jane130

I am tring really hard to have a moneysaving christmas , not a poor one just a really good one cheaper than usual.

I have been doing really well making hampers for people, making good use of vouchers, discount codes and all the rest.

My DH gets vouchers for s well known supermaket for his christmas bonus and they will enable us to get DS's new mobile for only £20 , managed to find a bike for DD for ony £65 instead of £100 ... so I have felt like I am doing really well.

then yesterday I happend to overhear a converation between ds and dd about nintendo Ds's , I know they would both love one it just they want other stuff more.

Now with all the money saving I have done and DH's recent pay rise ,we could afford to buy the each a ds and it wouldn't break the bank and it would just make this christmas the best they have ever had . but I kow withut one they would still be really happy with what they get and they really aren't expecting one. and it would enable me to get DD2(17) all the extra bits I want to get her

see its jut no good , no matter how hard i try I just can't moneysave !!!!:embarasse

hobbesy_2

Are they likely to get money from other people for christmas? Could you make up any difference so they've sort of brought them themselves? They'd learn a bit about money too.

You get to spend less, they get their ds, your dd gets what she wants... win win

jane130

No , they don't get much from other family members at christmas , pj's of one nan and a token gift off the other set of grandparents . my family really object to giving cash or vouchers for christmas .

I'm just annoyed and frustrated at myself for wanting to do this for them instead of making them wait until May and next december for birthdays ( ds's birthday is in december but we already have his bargain BMX in the loft ) and just aving the maoney i haven't spent.

I guess I'l either do it or DH will put his foot down and say no but that doesn't happen very often .

bluenose1

I would do it if you can without getting into debt. I love getting my kids something they weren't expecting for Christmas and seeing their faces when they open them.
If you do decide to get them you could be moneysaving in looking for the best deal. I think the likes of Game sell them re-conditioned etc, may be worth looking into.
I try to be moneysaving and although I do get bargains spend far too much on extras
Good luck

hobbesy_2

I'd echo not to feel too guilty if you can afford it. We don't get these times again

Maybe wait til pudding time at Christmas dinner, when the excitement of their other presents has died down and really surprise them! (or would the 17yo dd feel left out then?)

jannyannie

jane130 wrote: »

I am tring really hard to have a moneysaving christmas , not a poor one just a really good one cheaper than usual.

I have been doing really well making hampers for people, making good use of vouchers, discount codes and all the rest.

My DH gets vouchers for s well known supermaket for his christmas bonus and they will enable us to get DS's new mobile for only £20 , managed to find a bike for DD for ony £65 instead of £100 ... so I have felt like I am doing really well.

then yesterday I happend to overhear a converation between ds and dd about nintendo Ds's , I know they would both love one it just they want other stuff more.

Now with all the money saving I have done and DH's recent pay rise ,we could afford to buy the each a ds and it wouldn't break the bank and it would just make this christmas the best they have ever had . but I kow withut one they would still be really happy with what they get and they really aren't expecting one. and it would enable me to get DD2(17) all the extra bits I want to get her

see its jut no good , no matter how hard i try I just can't moneysave !!!!:embarasse

If you can do it without being skint then do so. I love to be able to get people things they really want. also it sounds like they don't get much from the rest of your family xxxxx:A

haylibo

Jane

You have really raised a dilema here and it has made me think hard. If I were you I would really want 1) to not buy them the extra gift and save the money so I could feel proud of myself 2) to buy them the DS and watch them be so delighted on xmas morning. Cake and eat it lol. This is the kind of spending dilema I have lots. What's the difference between spending and not. What gets 'bang for buck' and what sometimes feels like a good idea sometimes is and sometimes proves to be frivolous as we suspected. Ho hum.
How will you feel by January? Proud that you saved enough and could easily buy them a fantastic surprise pressie and they will still be using it in Jan I'm fairly sure so it's not like it will be a Christmas Day Only gift. Or will you wish you hadn't, still feel they could have lived without the spending and feel disapointed with yourself for not having saved? Yuk, a toughy.
Could you...wait until Jan and then if you still have the cash squirreled away see if there is a Jan sale you could spoil them with as a surprise? That way you would have time to reflect and you're not saying 'no' to the idea.
Good look with it, sorry if that's all a bit deep but when I read your post it really struck a chord.

Hayles
x

Shoey1610

I think you should buy them for the following reasons:

• You are not getting into debt to buy them
• Your children are not expecting one just because they asked or badgering you for one, they would clearly like one but you only know this from overhearing and from your description they seem to have a good understanding of money in that they have asked for the things they want most for christmas rather than expecting to get everything they want and ask you for.
• You obviously don't do this every year or you wouldn't even be asking the question.
• You can still be proud of yourself for saving, you saved money elsewhere and decided to use that money to buy your children an extra present.

affordmylife

Just do it.

They are only little once.

Enjoy spoiling them. Next year may be different.

zippybungle

hobbesy wrote: »

I'd echo not to feel too guilty if you can afford it. We don't get these times again

Maybe wait til pudding time at Christmas dinner, when the excitement of their other presents has died down and really surprise them! (or would the 17yo dd feel left out then?)

I think this is a good idea.
If you can afford it, then I would buy them one and try to keep it secret till after Xmas Dinner .

I have bought one for me DP, I bought his from 'Zavvi' (new name for Virgin Megastore apparently), they have a couple of different deals on at the moment. I bought the DS, an accessories kit (which includes a case and some spare stylus) and a Brain Training Game for a total of £105, which I thought was a good price. Apparently you can also get the DS from John Lewis for around £80 (on-line using a discount code), but then you would need to buy a game (around £20).

Zippy x

Nanaof2

If you can afford it do it. The pleasure you and your husband get from seeing your childrens reactions to this surprise gift will be worth everything. As someone else said they are only young once and this moment will never be here again.
I treated myself to a DS & Brain Training last month & I love it! Got my brain age down to 20 today