The USPS Santa Letters Gift Exchange, why do people complain when kids ask for expensive items like XBox, iPhones, etc?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because people think poor kids should be happy with whatever they get.

I think all kids should be happy with whatever they get. The holiday gift grab is depressing. None of these gadgets are good for kids and most, if not all, just require that you spend more and more money to actually use them. And then they’re obsolete in no time.

I think in a lot of families it's more that kids learn to 1) cope when reality fails wishes and 2) are sometimes astonished (in a good way) about something they would have not imagined but lands right where their desires come from.
I lived across the street from a family that got charity gifts. Their 12-yo daughter was so disappointed when her gift turned out to be a shower scrubbie and some lotion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me, it seems as if it’s nothing more than a sign of the times. No one seems to get a new bicycle or one baby doll or new jacket for Christmas anymore. Everything is technology gadgets these days and everything is expensive! This would be the one chance that kid could have at getting an expensive Christmas gift. If an anonymous donor is buying, who wouldn’t encourage their kid to put that one thing that’s out of their price range on the list?

Why do you get upset when you see the letters for the expensive items?

What’s your opinion?

People want these kids to ask for socks. And just be grateful to get them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because people think poor kids should be happy with whatever they get.

I think all kids should be happy with whatever they get. The holiday gift grab is depressing. None of these gadgets are good for kids and most, if not all, just require that you spend more and more money to actually use them. And then they’re obsolete in no time.

I think in a lot of families it's more that kids learn to 1) cope when reality fails wishes and 2) are sometimes astonished (in a good way) about something they would have not imagined but lands right where their desires come from.
I lived across the street from a family that got charity gifts. Their 12-yo daughter was so disappointed when her gift turned out to be a shower scrubbie and some lotion.

That is life
Learn to say thank you when you receive a gift, or give it back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me, it seems as if it’s nothing more than a sign of the times. No one seems to get a new bicycle or one baby doll or new jacket for Christmas anymore. Everything is technology gadgets these days and everything is expensive! This would be the one chance that kid could have at getting an expensive Christmas gift. If an anonymous donor is buying, who wouldn’t encourage their kid to put that one thing that’s out of their price range on the list?

Why do you get upset when you see the letters for the expensive items?

What’s your opinion?

People want these kids to ask for socks. And just be grateful to get them.

There's a big delta between "socks" and "xbox". People want the kids (or their parents or teachers or whomever is advising them to fill out these forms) to use some common sense in filling out the forms. I agree that if the kid is old enough to fill out the form, they're old enough to know that an xbox isn't a reasonable request -- whether they think the present is coming from santa or charity.

[Anonymous]

I'll say it:

I think ANY kid - whether rich or poor - who asks for an xbox for xmas is a greedy brat.

[Anonymous]

But what’s a reasonable price point in 2024? Wagons are $119/$135, Barbie Campers are $90, bicycles are no lower than $80/90.. I mean.. it’s not cheap to get anything!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me, it seems as if it’s nothing more than a sign of the times. No one seems to get a new bicycle or one baby doll or new jacket for Christmas anymore. Everything is technology gadgets these days and everything is expensive! This would be the one chance that kid could have at getting an expensive Christmas gift. If an anonymous donor is buying, who wouldn’t encourage their kid to put that one thing that’s out of their price range on the list?

Why do you get upset when you see the letters for the expensive items?

What’s your opinion?

People want these kids to ask for socks. And just be grateful to get them.

There's a big delta between "socks" and "xbox". People want the kids (or their parents or teachers or whomever is advising them to fill out these forms) to use some common sense in filling out the forms. I agree that if the kid is old enough to fill out the form, they're old enough to know that an xbox isn't a reasonable request -- whether they think the present is coming from santa or charity.

I think adults receiving these form should be infinitely more discerning about the fact that these are kids just wishing for things and not to take it so seriously and be offended by "poor kids daring to wish for an x-box"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll say it:

I think ANY kid - whether rich or poor - who asks for an xbox for xmas is a greedy brat.

So you are a 100% sure that your kids would NEVER dare wish for one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But what’s a reasonable price point in 2024? Wagons are $119/$135, Barbie Campers are $90, bicycles are no lower than $80/90.. I mean.. it’s not cheap to get anything!

Those are all big ticket items. My kids still ask for plenty of small things. New pajamas, books, Legos, skincare, Starbucks gift cards, socks, art supplies. Come on. Do you even have kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll say it:

I think ANY kid - whether rich or poor - who asks for an xbox for xmas is a greedy brat.

So you are a 100% sure that your kids would NEVER dare wish for one?

DP but my daughter wishes for an iPhone every Christmas and birthday. And I laugh at her and tell her to dream on. She is 11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me, it seems as if it’s nothing more than a sign of the times. No one seems to get a new bicycle or one baby doll or new jacket for Christmas anymore. Everything is technology gadgets these days and everything is expensive! This would be the one chance that kid could have at getting an expensive Christmas gift. If an anonymous donor is buying, who wouldn’t encourage their kid to put that one thing that’s out of their price range on the list?

Why do you get upset when you see the letters for the expensive items?

What’s your opinion?

People want these kids to ask for socks. And just be grateful to get them.

I think you have fantasies about what other kids are actually getting for Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll say it:

I think ANY kid - whether rich or poor - who asks for an xbox for xmas is a greedy brat.

So you are a 100% sure that your kids would NEVER dare wish for one?

DP but my daughter wishes for an iPhone every Christmas and birthday. And I laugh at her and tell her to dream on. She is 11.

So what's wrong with just laughing at the "poor kids" and moving on? That's the whole point. They are kids just like yours and just because they are poor doesn't mean they don't have a right to wish for big-ticket items. No one is obligated to get it for them, of course. But the idea they should only wish for socks and books is laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll say it:

I think ANY kid - whether rich or poor - who asks for an xbox for xmas is a greedy brat.

So you are a 100% sure that your kids would NEVER dare wish for one?

DP but my daughter wishes for an iPhone every Christmas and birthday. And I laugh at her and tell her to dream on. She is 11.

So what's wrong with just laughing at the "poor kids" and moving on? That's the whole point. They are kids just like yours and just because they are poor doesn't mean they don't have a right to wish for big-ticket items. No one is obligated to get it for them, of course. But the idea they should only wish for socks and books is laughable.

Show me where people got angry and offended and didn’t just move on to the next letter or tag? Because that’s what people do. You’re imagining any other reaction.

[Anonymous]

Its best not to buy anything the adults can pawn for cash.
-Grew up poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because people think poor kids should be happy with whatever they get.

I think all kids should be happy with whatever they get. The holiday gift grab is depressing. None of these gadgets are good for kids and most, if not all, just require that you spend more and more money to actually use them. And then they’re obsolete in no time.

FWIW the same has been said for televisions and microwaves and nearly every home today has one.

Ok, well I didn’t have my own TV or microwave as a kid (nor do my kids now), so not sure how that’s relevant.

Who says TV or microwaves require spending more and become obsolete? You can get network TV for free and just heat up whatever food. It's not like needing a call phone plan to use an iPhone or buying games for the Xbox.