Is it mean...

[pa2k84]

to give my child second hands bits for Christmas? I have 3 puzzles, the kind with 2 pieces an animal one, one with moving parts and one with mirrors. A beautiful sleigh book with different animals being added each page, huge box mega blocks little blocks (identical to duplo just say mega blocks!) and little people zoo. Also have eye on a little touch leappad with 2 books. All together so far have spent £13 (£19 if go for the leappad). All bought from bootsales or through buying sights on facebook. My mum now thinks i am being mean not giving him the bits when i buy them as they all cost so little but i don't see the problem with it myself! The puzzles and bricks he is not yet interested in anyway and although he would LOVE the zoo as already has the castle don't have a lot of space at the moment and will have come Christmas time.

Also planning on getting him a scuttlebug which will be new and having a bookcase made so not like he missing out!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

No? not mean at all? I am always getting bits on ebay

 

[pa2k84]

Reading through some of the threads on here make me seem like such a cheapskate! Just reading about how someone was cutting back this year and ONLY spending around £300-£400 per child. ONLY!! Wish i had that kind of money!! To be honest 90% of what he owns (clothes, toys, equipment) were bought second hand yet he has some gorgeous bits even if i do say so myself!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I often buy second hand stuff as long as its in good condition! It does get expensive as they get older but that's why we save all year.

 

[pa2k84]

Yes i know it can get expensive that is kind of the reason am going cheap for a few years whilst he is too young to understand that his toys are not in boxes!

 

[jenny_wren]

nope, i get second hand things for xmas
for emily, she wont know difference anyways

​

 

[Tegans Mama]

Nope, not mean! TBH I resent the fact that we've spent soooo much money on toys that never get touched and just get passed onto my niece.

 

[Eve]

Not mean at all hun! We buy new stuff but quite a few people in Mark's family buy second hand for even the adults, depending on what they find at what bargain

 

[purpledahlia]

Nope not mean, i think its great, re-using things! Im planning on getting some bits for A that are 2nd hand, she will get her new main things, then all the extras will be re-used, as they either get wrecked, forgotten about, not used, Last year the bulk of her things were from asda and tesco sales, 2nd hand toyshop in town and that was it.

I wish i could spend £300 on her! But its jut not an option, I need to pay the bills first so im sure i will make up for it when i get a new job and shes older, she wont go without. she's very young just now..

 

[Lilicat]

We get second hand stuff for William, last year a lot of his gifts were second hand this year it is mostly new (although he does have a second hand Thomas the Tank toy and Fisher Price Ark) it has just been the way things have worked out and what I have been able to find. He doesn't mind either way, he just likes the toys!

 

[buttonnose82]

not mean at all, to be honest even if I had that kinda money too spend on him I dunno if I would, I would rather put any 'extra' into his bank account

hubby had a friend who would spend £500/600 on each of his 4 kids each christmas, then 1 year he was made bankrupt and well the moaning from his kids having less money spent on them!! ..... not really what christmas is about. So we spend what we know that regardless of our situation we *should* always be able too afford, and any extra can be put into their bank account

 

[sabby52]

Reading through some of the threads on here make me seem like such a cheapskate! Just reading about how someone was cutting back this year and ONLY spending around £300-£400 per child. ONLY!! Wish i had that kind of money!! To be honest 90% of what he owns (clothes, toys, equipment) were bought second hand yet he has some gorgeous bits even if i do say so myself!

That would have been me with the ONLY £300-£400 per child But we only spend what we can afford, if we couldnt afford it then they wouldnt have that


I dont think second hand is mean at all, I always get stuff of ebay all the time

 

[amazed]

Ive always been one of them that can only do brand new up intill last year something just switched in me and i love looking for a bargain think it was my upbringing i was really phobic about second hand goods but like i say now im completly different xx

 

[indy and lara]

Of course not. I have spent £100s and £100s on toys that Emma just doesn't like or really play with and then end up selling them for a fraction of their original cost. We buy all year round and while we do splash out at Xmas, we are looking carefully this year at what we actually spend. Have been buying bits as we go etc.

I always help at the local NCT sale (you get to have 1st dibs as there is a preview sale for helpers) and last year a few of the mums were saying to me that they buy stuff there to put it away for xmas for their kids. These are women whose husbands earn very good salaries and for whom money is not an issue. Think a lot of people are reassessing the amount of money they spend for lots of different reasons these days.

 

[purpledahlia]

yep i got a bounce and spin zebra in perfect condition at a NCT sale for £14, My mum gave it to A for her 1st bday and tied some ribbons round it, was great! amaing bargain!

 

[PinkEmily]

Some of Ollys presents are off ebay And the stuff i have bought new have been on offer or in a sale x

 

[pa2k84]

Reading through some of the threads on here make me seem like such a cheapskate! Just reading about how someone was cutting back this year and ONLY spending around £300-£400 per child. ONLY!! Wish i had that kind of money!! To be honest 90% of what he owns (clothes, toys, equipment) were bought second hand yet he has some gorgeous bits even if i do say so myself!

That would have been me with the ONLY £300-£400 per child But we only spend what we can afford, if we couldnt afford it then they wouldnt have that


I dont think second hand is mean at all, I always get stuff of ebay all the time

Hehehe wasn't having a go very jealous infact!!

 

[sabby52]

Reading through some of the threads on here make me seem like such a cheapskate! Just reading about how someone was cutting back this year and ONLY spending around £300-£400 per child. ONLY!! Wish i had that kind of money!! To be honest 90% of what he owns (clothes, toys, equipment) were bought second hand yet he has some gorgeous bits even if i do say so myself!

That would have been me with the ONLY £300-£400 per child But we only spend what we can afford, if we couldnt afford it then they wouldnt have that


I dont think second hand is mean at all, I always get stuff of ebay all the time

Hehehe wasn't having a go very jealous infact!!

No Hun, I didnt think you were having a go at all

 

[xashleyx]

not mean at all hun! kiddies wont even realise there not brand new!

 

[emzky90]

No I don't think your being mean, i'd call it sensible and wise. Young children especially 1year olds don't even know what Christmas is and would probably be happier with a cardboard box Save your money because it'll be differet when they do know what christmas is