Please stop asking for “experiences” over gifts for your kids!

[Anonymous]

I’m fine for people to give gift cards (or toys or experiences or nothing). But my kid doesn’t spend gift cards. He has amazon gift cards from his birthday over a year ago (he’s 10). He doesn’t ask for much and doesn’t like to spend “his” money on anything, so he just saves them.

As a kid, my grandparents gave us money every year. While there were toys I would have enjoyed, I hated spending money. So I deposited the check into my savings account every single year.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:My kids LOVE gift cards. To icecream shops, movies, Panera etc. They love being able to 'pay' for themselves. My son ordered shake at McDonalds with his lunch because he could (we rarelyl eat there and i never allow a shake). He was SOOO Excited.
My DD got extra sprinkles and whip cream on her sundae with her gift card. THe kids love things like that and look forward to using them. Much more than another toy

Agreed! I ask people for gift cards for my kids if they want to know what to get them. They sort of side eye me, lol. I think they believe it’s for me. My kids really go bonkers over them.

Tacky

What part is tacky? If someone asks what to get my child and I give an answer, is that tacky?

Cash or gift card is not a gift. You are greedy.

Cash is tacky? Okay, lol. Whatever. I love getting cash.

Not PP but I think you are reaching. If someone asks what they can get, a gift card is a great gift.

Just tell them the gift you will buy with it. Not hard.

Yes exactly. Gift cards are tacky, cash with a different name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get it. You’d rather just send another unwanted plastic toy than take your grandson or nephew to a museum.

DP here. I’d rather dispense with gift giving all together! None of us need anything anyway, especially your kids!

This. Ugh. This part of American culture is ridiculous. And I was born and raised in the Midwest. I'm not cheap. I just don't see the point.

[Anonymous]

It's easier to let the grandparents give what they want to the kids, and we buy very little in the way of Christmas or birthday presents for the kids.

When I was growing up, my grandparents had no money, and were only living on social security, so we were lucky if we received a couple of less expensive gifts from them. I think this is one of the large changes with today's grandparents, the boomer grandparents a have more expectations,and in some cases more money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's easier to let the grandparents give what they want to the kids, and we buy very little in the way of Christmas or birthday presents for the kids.

When I was growing up, my grandparents had no money, and were only living on social security, so we were lucky if we received a couple of less expensive gifts from them. I think this is one of the large changes with today's grandparents, the boomer grandparents a have more expectations,and in some cases more money.

This is what we do. My parents always get too much stuff we don’t want. Luckily my MIL always asks and we tell her 1 nice gift for each kid. We barely get the kids anything for Christmas - 1 small gift each, small gift from Santa and stocking stuffers.

[Anonymous]

I got a $50 bond, $10 in my savings account and 3 toys growing up (1 each from mother, grandparents and uncle; father and his parents didn’t send, and we didn’t care). My grandmother went all out the year she got the Pamela doll for one and teddy ruxpin for the other.

Now, I do a contribution to 529, an experience (just child and me), and 1 toy (to kid taste). I also keep any gift cards for the child who collects and plays with them.

[Anonymous]

I think experiences are the way to go. It’s not terribly expensive - a nice toy costs $80-$90 anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think experiences are the way to go. It’s not terribly expensive - a nice toy costs $80-$90 anyway.

Most experiences are more than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a $50 bond, $10 in my savings account and 3 toys growing up (1 each from mother, grandparents and uncle; father and his parents didn’t send, and we didn’t care). My grandmother went all out the year she got the Pamela doll for one and teddy ruxpin for the other.

Now, I do a contribution to 529, an experience (just child and me), and 1 toy (to kid taste). I also keep any gift cards for the child who collects and plays with them.

This is the way to go, with common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children would love a $5 or even a $10 GC to 7-11. They could buy so many slushees. That would be an awesome present. But no, more junk from Amazon is coming that they will never look at. It doesn’t have to be an expensive experience. We never go to 7-11 and they think it’s the best place ever with that slushee machine.

So why don’t you get that for them instead of whatever you were going to get. Problem solved.

Can’t believe all the entitled asses on this thread. Wonder how they’ll feel if their well-meaning gifts to their grandkids are trashed by the parents in a few years.

Hi Mom and MIL! You have found DCUM! I’ve delicately explained this to you many times. The kids are older and go out with their friends. The 7-11 GC or even a VISA GC would be perfect and easy for you to get. They would appreciate and use it. They are too old for the craft kits, legos, STEM kits etc. We donate them. They still appreciate the gifts you give but they are older now. Please try to get to know them. DS even has a girl friend. Stay away from buying them clothes. I can’t even keep up with the latest styles and they pick out their own. We are far away from superheroes and princesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:?? In the past I've asked for gift cards to Jumping Joeys or Scramble or places like that. The nice thing about a gift card is you can make it for any amount you want. So it can be just $10. And we will definitely use that, the kids love it, and will be excited to open it. Much better than the $50 piece of plastic that will be ignored after 2 days.

Plus 1000

[Anonymous]

Truth be told, I don’t want any gifts for my kid. Everyday is Christmas for kids today. So I say ‘experiences’ when folks freak out about no gifts. Send a card or call. Or don’t. We’ll be ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think experiences are the way to go. It’s not terribly expensive - a nice toy costs $80-$90 anyway.

+1

No one buys those chiinese trinkets for my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think experiences are the way to go. It’s not terribly expensive - a nice toy costs $80-$90 anyway.

Maybe grandparents are willing to spend that much on your kids but with so many nieces and nephews I’m looking at $25-$30 per kid max. Less if I can find a good deal on a cool toy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think experiences are the way to go. It’s not terribly expensive - a nice toy costs $80-$90 anyway.

Maybe grandparents are willing to spend that much on your kids but with so many nieces and nephews I’m looking at $25-$30 per kid max. Less if I can find a good deal on a cool toy.

$25 gift card to play place. Mom can tell them Aunt Larla is treating us to this outing!

$25 gift card to craft store. Craft supplies are consumable and the kids can pick out something to make.

$25 gift card to rec center. Can be put toward a fun class.

$25 gift card for putt putt, laser tag, the list goes on ... hopefully you know what your nieces and nephews are into.

We were just able to get 2 tickets to Monster Jam (for DH and DS) on sale for about $40, which is a little over your budget, but maybe do-able in a year you splurge more.

Or you can spend that on a toy that plenty of parents are saying will be played with twice and donated or stagnate in a closet.