quote:

Originally posted by BARMY BRUMMIE:
sorry to say, I buy my daughter pretty much anything she wants, whenever she wants it

Bea's parents probably did the same - look how she turned out!

I always gave them as much as I could afford. But if they wanted a £200 phone they would go out and earn the money themselves to pay for it. They used to help family with odd jobs from a young age and get paid for it, then if they wanted something big I would go halfs with them.

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Originally posted by stonks:

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Originally posted by Aimee:

quote:

Originally posted by stonks:
You have to shop around I got my son an LG KP500 for €146 pay as you go but O2 were the only ones doing this deal if we wanted it elsewhere it had to be on contract....

she's been looking around, but i ain't doing contract for her

No I'd never go contract either..but I know my sons brilliant with money but he still did'nt find a better deal than me....

I've just brought my son a contract phone - it's £15 per month and I said I'd pay the first 6 months and after that he pays it - it's unlimited txts and he spent more than £15 a month anyway on pay as you go! It was such a good offer I got meself one

quote:

Originally posted by longcat:
I always gave them as much as I could afford. But if they wanted a £200 phone they would go out and earn the money themselves to pay for it. They used to help family with odd jobs from a young age and get paid for it, then if they wanted something big I would go halfs with them.

That's how things were done in my family.

So many young people these days know the price of everything and the vaue of nothing! If they were brought up in the same way as we were, it might make them more appreciative.

The more expensive phone you have the more of a target you are for mugging i wouldnt allow her to have it for her own sake......If something happens to a cheaper phone you dont mind the same and its easily replaced

Birthdays £100. Christmas £200.

quote:

Originally posted by Aimee:
your kids for thier birthdays? mine wants a £200 phone even though she has broke every phone me and her dad have brought her everyone is telling me not to buy it her, but i know i'll give in

Personally, I wouldn't and your 'she has broke every phone me and her dad have brought her' line should be your clue.

What are you seeking to teach her? That she can break stuff and have it immediately replaced?

TBH, I'm a bit shocked that you're wavering enough to ask us what we think

If you really want her to have a mobile, then get her a bog-standard job until she learns how to take better care of her possessions or can buy them for herself.

We have a budget for £50 for our kid's presents at birthdays and approximately double that for christmas although we may extend that if there's something really special that they want and we feel would be a good present that they're going to enjoy.

Personally I wouldn't get her the phone either, especially as she has broken the others. Get her something else for a similar value like clothes or something if you are happy to spend that but then get her a cheap phone and explain why. I suspect you'll get a teenage strop though - sorry...

£0

Don't have any kids.

Although buying for my sisters kids, I have always had a set budget.

My son's very undemanding. As long as he's got his computer and World of Warcraft, he never asks for anything else. I suppose that could all change...

quote:

Originally posted by Aimee:
reality check i've always spent at least £500 on her for xmas *but i do saving clubs*

I used to do saving clubs, till I lost all my money one year to Farepak

Birthdays usually £150

xmas I don't budget get one big pressie and lots of little ones, so probs about £400 each but saying that it won't be that this year, and the kids are very understanding of this

I spend a fair bit on my children, because OH and I are the only ones to spoil them - all their grandparents are dead and they have only one auntie and uncle who don't even bother to send them a card let alone a present.

If they didn't have the presents we give them, they'd have virtually nothing.

HOWEVER - I would not buy a £200 phone for either of them. One has gone on to contract - which I am happy to pay for as he is (hopefully) off to uni next month, - the other one still has the same phone I bought him when he started secondary school 5 - yes 5 years ago!! (And he has never topped it up yet - we topped it up when he got it with £10 and he is still using it up 5 years later!!)

actually the contract thing isn't a bad idea or a sim deal. my son has one for £20 a month on O2 he pays half of it by standing order from his bank we pay the other half, and he knows if he goes over his minutes at all then our part of the deal will stop.

I've never set any kind of limit and can't understand why anyone would?

Surely its about 'need' and not 'want?'

Well that's how it runs in my gaff, anyway

quote:

Originally posted by *KG*:
I've never set any kind of limit and can't understand why anyone would?

Surely its about 'need' and not 'want?'

Well that's how it runs in my gaff, anyway

pmsl at your sig KG, nice one

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Originally posted by love greek sunsets:

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Originally posted by *KG*:
I've never set any kind of limit and can't understand why anyone would?

Surely its about 'need' and not 'want?'

Well that's how it runs in my gaff, anyway

pmsl at your sig KG, nice one

I teefed em, LGS Ain't clever enough to do em meself

quote:

Originally posted by Aimee:
your kids for thier birthdays? mine wants a £200 phone even though she has broke every phone me and her dad have brought her everyone is telling me not to buy it her, but i know i'll give in

Can you not get it on a new contract? the handset will be much cheaper, you can also have the phone blocked once it reaches a certain credit limit ( so no surprise phone bills) the packages on t mobile are pretty good and the hanset is usaully free or max £50 for a top notch phone.

I think if shes asked and you've ummed and ahhed instead of a flat out no you'll have one unhappy daughter and one guilty feeling you.

My 2 are little so i haven't had to deal with this dilema yet thank god!!!

I set a budget and they ask for presents round about that value but it's me who overspends. I see things in shops I know they'll love so buy it for them. They don't ask for a lot and if they do want something they use thier own pocket money.

I need to be stopped.

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Originally posted by Cagney:
I set a budget and they ask for presents round about that value but it's me who overspends. I see things in shops I know they'll love so buy it for them. They don't ask for a lot and if they do want something they use thier own pocket money.

I need to be stopped.

I know the feeling

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Originally posted by carotino:
£200 quid phone?

Does it have an engine?

That's way too much, imo. Parents go mad with how much they spend on their kids nowadays. Children need to understand the value of money and that it doesn't grow on trees.

Up until the age of 12 it would be £50 plus £25 for a party or an outing..if they chose to opt out of a party etc then they were allowed the pennies to keep..so £75.
£100 for subsequent birthdays
£300 for 16th
£500 for 18th
Christmas is a big pressie and lots of little ones.

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Originally posted by slimfern:
Up until the age of 12 it would be £50 plus £25 for a party or an outing..if they chose to opt out of a party etc then they were allowed the pennies to keep..so £75.
£100 for subsequent birthdays
£300 for 16th
£500 for 18th
Christmas is a big pressie and lots of little ones.

Cor blimey - you must be very very rich

christ sakes..i bet you still wipe her arse for her as well.

£150 birthday, same at Christmas.

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Originally posted by Skylark24:
Only as a reward for good behaviour, cleaning up, passing exams etc, not just as a whim especially if they keep getting broken. I am a bit strict with my kids, they have to understand the value of money. God i sound like an old pain in the bum !

Nope, you sound perfectly normal and you sound like a good parent.

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Originally posted by Skylark24:

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Originally posted by old hippy guy:
NOTHING, AND whats more I have NEVER bought MY kids a present of ANY kind EVER, and I will NEVER as well,

dont beleive you !! bet your a big softie ....

I bet Mrs Hippy Lady buys all the pressies in that household!

I'd never dream of spending £200 on my daughter's birthday present, unless it was her 18th or 21st But she does get a new phone every 18 months or so; I ring Orange every time our contracts are due to end and threaten to leave, and they always seem to be willing to give us both really good phones for nothing just to keep our accounts. When we changed phones a couple of months ago, they even let me reduce my monthly tariff to £12

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Originally posted by Aimee:
reality check i've always spent at least £500 on her for xmas *but i do saving clubs*

Wow! That's excessive!

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Originally posted by pussycatj:

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Originally posted by Aimee:
reality check i've always spent at least £500 on her for xmas *but i do saving clubs*

blimey Aimesss, £500 is what I pay for 4 kids for xmas the more you give the more they expect.

Too true.

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Originally posted by jennywren:

quote:

Originally posted by pussycatj:

quote:

Originally posted by Aimee:
reality check i've always spent at least £500 on her for xmas *but i do saving clubs*

blimey Aimesss, £500 is what I pay for 4 kids for xmas the more you give the more they expect.

Too true.

Looking at some of the replies on here, I feel really mean, but if you havn't got it, you can't do you it

I'm speechless at how much some people spend on Christmas presents!

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Originally posted by pussycatj:

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Originally posted by jennywren:

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Originally posted by pussycatj:

quote:

Originally posted by Aimee:
reality check i've always spent at least £500 on her for xmas *but i do saving clubs*

blimey Aimesss, £500 is what I pay for 4 kids for xmas the more you give the more they expect.

Too true.

Looking at some of the replies on here, I feel really mean, but if you havn't got it, you can't do you it

Good grief - I really don't think you should feel mean. Whether or not you can afford it, £400 or £500 for anyone, let alone a child, for Christmas seems a ridiculous amount to spend.

Has anyone watched that programme on BBC3 - "Young, Dumb and Living off Mum"?

Giving a child everything that it wants (not needs) is a recipe for disaster!

quote:

Originally posted by Jeggo:

quote:

Originally posted by slimfern:
Up until the age of 12 it would be £50 plus £25 for a party or an outing..if they chose to opt out of a party etc then they were allowed the pennies to keep..so £75.
£100 for subsequent birthdays
£300 for 16th
£500 for 18th
Christmas is a big pressie and lots of little ones.

Cor blimey - you must be very very rich

No..but then I don't smoke or drink and don't have the expense of running a car. Generally they save their money and spend it wisely so am not worried that they don't value it..if they want driving lessons or the deposit for a place of their own or indeed the latest in phone technology..then they pay for it.

quote:

Originally posted by longcat:
I always gave them as much as I could afford. But if they wanted a £200 phone they would go out and earn the money themselves to pay for it. They used to help family with odd jobs from a young age and get paid for it, then if they wanted something big I would go halfs with them.

That's more or less what we used to do with our kids.

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Originally posted by pussycatj:

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Originally posted by jennywren:

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Originally posted by pussycatj:

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Originally posted by Aimee:
reality check i've always spent at least £500 on her for xmas *but i do saving clubs*

blimey Aimesss, £500 is what I pay for 4 kids for xmas the more you give the more they expect.

Too true.

Looking at some of the replies on here, I feel really mean, but if you havn't got it, you can't do you it

Very true PJ..
but for those who can afford to indulge their children a little more then as long as it is constructively given then I don't see it as a problem.

Madness.

I can't think of anything my kids would want that would cost £500.

Apart from a car, but he is NOT geting that!!

Ah I wish you were my Mami

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Originally posted by slimfern:

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Originally posted by pussycatj:

quote:

Originally posted by jennywren:

quote:

Originally posted by pussycatj:

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Originally posted by Aimee:
reality check i've always spent at least £500 on her for xmas *but i do saving clubs*

blimey Aimesss, £500 is what I pay for 4 kids for xmas the more you give the more they expect.

Too true.

Looking at some of the replies on here, I feel really mean, but if you havn't got it, you can't do you it

Very true PJ..
but for those who can afford to indulge their children a little more then as long as it is constructively given then I don't see it as a problem.

Not a problem Slim, I just feel stingy