Moms with Teens
My kids don't want any big items, it's just that what the want is getting pricey. I have 4 kids and I am already stressing about where to get all the money for the gifts.
Replies
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We set a limit of about $175 or so per kid, with one big item up to $100, and then I use the other $75 to buy a bunch of smaller stuff on their list. If their one big item costs more than $100, they have to use their own money to supplement.
One kid wants to change her phone to an iphone, since tmobile now covers that. She is going to get the last generation iphone on ebay, since that stays in her $100 budget from us.
The other kid can never think of anything she wants. She's happy with little, isn't interested in showing off. I keep telling her to 'squeek!' a little more, it'd be ok!
If we couldn't afford this budget amount, we'd set a smaller budget.My philosophy is if you can't pay for something in cash, then you shouldn't be buying it. It's all unnecessary fluff. I'm not going to put an unnecessary fluff on credit and pay interest on it. If that's the case, Christmas could be handmade gifts and wrapped homemade cards listing nice favors we'll do for each other, if need be, and it would be fine.
We can afford more - but it's all fluff! I don't want my kid thinking a new shiny electronic dodad or special name brand whatever is of import. It's materialistic unnecessary status driven fluff! Amusing, fun, but not meaningful. They have a privileged life as it s, I don't want an over the top christmases and birthdays to screw up their values.
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If they don't need the gifts why not donate then, adopt a family in need, ect? I agree, if your children already live a priv life and you believe it's all "unecessary status driven stuff" I would put your money and time to much better use.
Quoting annie2244:
We set a limit of about $175 or so per kid, with one big item up to $100, and then I use the other $75 to buy a bunch of smaller stuff on their list. If their one big item costs more than $100, they have to use their own money to supplement.
One kid wants to change her phone to an iphone, since tmobile now covers that. She is going to get the last generation iphone on ebay, since that stays in her $100 budget from us.
The other kid can never think of anything she wants. She's happy with little, isn't interested in showing off. I keep telling her to 'squeek!' a little more, it'd be ok!
If we couldn't afford this budget amount, we'd set a smaller budget.My philosophy is if you can't pay for something in cash, then you shouldn't be buying it. It's all unnecessary fluff. I'm not going to put an unnecessary fluff on credit and pay interest on it. If that's the case, Christmas could be handmade gifts and wrapped homemade cards listing nice favors we'll do for each other, if need be, and it would be fine.
We can afford more - but it's all fluff! I don't want my kid thinking a new shiny electronic dodad or special name brand whatever is of import. It's materialistic unnecessary status driven fluff! Amusing, fun, but not meaningful. They have a privileged life as it s, I don't want an over the top christmases and birthdays to screw up their values.