$495 boots for an 18 year old?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Idk, I do get expensive gifts for my kids and it annoys me on some level how all prized teen stuff is so expensive now. There is something wrong with it, like they are mini sophisticated consumers at a young age. My dd bought herself some fancy Nike sneakers for $300. That is twice more than I have ever spent on shoes for myself.

Agree. Prized teen stuff has always been the upgraded versions of teen stuff, but those price tags have ballooned over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually love this. I think it’s a great lesson in quality over quantity. No one would bat an eye if parents/grandparents collectively spent $500 on a few sweater, a purse, a gift card, and some tchotchkes. But one nice $500 gift is better than a bunch of cheaper ones.

Also, one nice pair of boots will last longer and likely cost less over the long run that a bunch of cheap boots swapped out every 2-3 years. I wish I had learned this lesson when I was younger instead of “splurging” on cheap fast fashion and short term trendy stuff.

Great point!

[Anonymous]

I have a pair of Frye harness boots I got in 2008 and I still wear them so I say yes. But you know her best. If she’s trustworthy and takes care of her things, and doesn’t buy into every single trend, I think it would be nice as her big or combined gift. I would let her know that that’s pretty much all she’s getting though and let her decide from there.

[Anonymous]

If you can afford it, yes. If it’s her only gift, it’s reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Idk, I do get expensive gifts for my kids and it annoys me on some level how all prized teen stuff is so expensive now. There is something wrong with it, like they are mini sophisticated consumers at a young age. My dd bought herself some fancy Nike sneakers for $300. That is twice more than I have ever spent on shoes for myself.

OP here. This completely resonates with me! Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Yes, she will have them for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s ok. If you can afford them, she feels like they are going to suit her taste for at least a few years and you trust her to take care of them… seems ok.

Agree. If they're classic they'll last forever--these are boots that can be repaired if needed.

[Anonymous]

I’d say yes since it is a combo gift.

[Anonymous]

I’m very, very, very thrifty and I would.

I have a son who asks for NOTHING then asked for a $400 gaming system. I bought it. Literally only wants new shoes if his has the bottom fall off. Wears hand me downs.., nothing.

My other son is in travel sports, needs equipment, etc . Always needs something. No I’d ask him to save up the money for something this expensive. He wanted $250 clears and I gave him $100 and he had to use his own money for the rest.

[Anonymous]

Is she a trend chaser who won't wear them after they're out of style? If so, maybe not. Also has she tried on something very similar to know if the style works for her feet/legs?

I actually like the idea of purchasing high quality footwear that lasts rather than a bunch of cheap pairs. I just worked late to spend $500 and find they don't work. Maybe with the resale market that doesn't matter as much now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 18 year old wants a pair of $495 Frye Boots for Christmas.

She wants for very little (and asks for even less).
She had her 18th birthday over a month ago and we got her a sweater and a pair of boots ($150). The boots went back because they looked terrible (I completely agreed--they were bad). We haven't replaced them-she's been busy with school and hasn't asked for a replacement to this birthday gift that didn't work out.

We usually spend about $300 for Christmas and my parents give us $200 or so to buy a gift from them. She doesn't get gifts from other family members.
She also has her own money from working a full time summer job at a restaurant (she probably has 3.5K).


My first response is "uh, no!" (mostly on principle) But I don't know. I could buy them and have her chip in or just buy them as her one Christmas gift from parents and grandparents. They're the kind of boots that a few Influencers have found in thrift stores because Frye has been making the exact same style for 20 years (so they're classic and have staying power----and yes, it would be great to find them at a thrift store but she doesn't have the time for this and the stores with a random pair in them are generally in the midwest).

-Other posters have described these as boots that will last decades, so not a frivolous purchase.
-She's 18 so probably done growing and can use these in her adult life.
-You already tried buying her cheaper boots and they weren't good.
-It's been over a month since her birthday and she hasn't bugged you about a replacement present, so she's not materialistic.
-She doesn't ask for much, so this seems important to her.
-She works, and has saved a good chunk of it, so she's not am irresponsible spender.
-You "owe her" $150 from the birthday present you returned and usually spend $300 for Christmas, which is almost $495, so I would just buy these as her Christmas present from you and still get her something from her grandparents.

+1, all this!

+1

go buy them, before they sell out
one of my DDs also doesn't ask for much, and when she does, i buy it for her. she is not asking for junk every other day. we are not at $500 boots yet but when the time comes, she will get them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m very, very, very thrifty and I would.

I have a son who asks for NOTHING then asked for a $400 gaming system. I bought it. Literally only wants new shoes if his has the bottom fall off. Wears hand me downs.., nothing.

My other son is in travel sports, needs equipment, etc . Always needs something. No I’d ask him to save up the money for something this expensive. He wanted $250 clears and I gave him $100 and he had to use his own money for the rest.

I have opposites like that too! I cannot make the cheaper one spend money.

If pricey boots were the one gift they get, I'd get it for either one.

[Anonymous]

Since you returned the boots you got for her birthday, sounds like you could just add a bit of money to the $300 and get the Frye boots. And consider it from both you and grandparents. Why not!

[Anonymous]

My daughter has two pairs of my old Frye boots, including campus 14l, at college with her now. They are almost indestructible and last forever. Definitely get her the boots and advise her to hang on to them through the years when they’re less on trend, they’re a classic and sounds like she’ll adore them.

[Anonymous]

Do people here know if new Frye boots are as high quality as the old ones? So many brands have gone downhill in quality....