Birthday gift for nephew

[Anonymous]

Our nephew (my DH’s sister’s son) has an upcoming birthday and I asked my SIL for gift suggestions. She said nephew is enthralled in World Cup and requested a soccer jersey of a famous player. I had no idea how much these things cost- even the youth versions appear to average $100! We tend to spend more in the $30-40 range on niece and nephew. I was originally inclined to just go for it as a one-time splurge, but DH balked and was annoyed that his sister would forward an extravagent request like that. I'm giving SIL the benefit of the doubt that she didn't know the cost.

However, now I'm stuck- SIL hasn't offered alternative suggestions and I haven't the foggiest idea what 9 yr old boys like. DH is not being helpful and doesn't seem to appreciate that we need to send/order something in the next couple days in order not to be late. Honestly, he's terrible with birthdays and normally I don't mind taking the lead but I'm kind of lost here. Are we being unreasonable for not just getting the jersey? We can afford it right now as we don't have kids yet ourselves but DH doesn't want to set the precedent of expensive gifts. Or other suggestions for a boy who likes soccer? There are some "t-shirt" versions of the jersey but nephew will know it's not the real thing....

[Anonymous]

Your sil is rude. If the child is a teen, she has a clue about how expensive sports related clothing can be. I would send a gift card. You might be able to find cheaper stuff on line but you need time to have it shipped. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I don't even buy $100 gifts for my OWN child, let alone someone else's.

Get him a tub of LEGOS or if sports stuff. Does he have a soccer ball?

If he likes Soccer so much (or the world cup), you have a place to start.

Does he have a game console? I don't have one, so I have NO idea what those games go for, but perhaps you could buy a game?

[Anonymous]

Find out who/where the jersey is sold and order a gift card for the amount you normally spend on a gift and give that to your nephew. Your SIL can pay the difference or nephew can somehow earn $ to pay the difference for the jersey. He'll appreciate it more if he had to earn $ to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nephew (my DH’s sister’s son) has an upcoming birthday and I asked my SIL for gift suggestions. She said nephew is enthralled in World Cup and requested a soccer jersey of a famous player. I had no idea how much these things cost- even the youth versions appear to average $100! We tend to spend more in the $30-40 range on niece and nephew. I was originally inclined to just go for it as a one-time splurge, but DH balked and was annoyed that his sister would forward an extravagent request like that. I'm giving SIL the benefit of the doubt that she didn't know the cost.

However, now I'm stuck- SIL hasn't offered alternative suggestions and I haven't the foggiest idea what 9 yr old boys like. DH is not being helpful and doesn't seem to appreciate that we need to send/order something in the next couple days in order not to be late. Honestly, he's terrible with birthdays and normally I don't mind taking the lead but I'm kind of lost here. Are we being unreasonable for not just getting the jersey? We can afford it right now as we don't have kids yet ourselves but DH doesn't want to set the precedent of expensive gifts. Or other suggestions for a boy who likes soccer? There are some "t-shirt" versions of the jersey but nephew will know it's not the real thing....

So? If he's into the World Cup, I don't see why he wouldn't like a t-shirt.

[Anonymous]

I'd get him a t-shirt. I checked Amazon, and they have some nice-looking tees for the various national teams:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=s9_dnav_bw_ir01_s?node=374742011,3204005011&field-theme_browse-bin=374427011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-5&pf_rd_r=1R6M6N60F7FQ55FY545C&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1592970222&pf_rd_i=374427011#/ref=sr_nr_p_n_theme_browse-bin_1?rh=n%3A3375251%2Cn%3A%213375301%2Cn%3A3386071%2Cn%3A374742011%2Cn%3A3204005011%2Cp_n_theme_browse-bin%3A374427011%2Cp_n_theme_browse-bin%3A374569011&bbn=3204005011&ie=UTF8&qid=1403543186&rnid=374427011

[Anonymous]

OP, is there any other family members you could split the cost of the jersey with? I knew when the gifts I wanted were expensive, and so for one birthday the only present I got from my parents was a nice leather jacket. (I was a teenager.) I understood that it was more expensive that the normal teenage gift stuff, like a shirt or CD or boombox, so I was grateful.

[Anonymous]

I don't think $100 is too much. We spend that on each niece and nephew for birthdays and Xmas.