Angel Tree gift cards/asks - dollar amount thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much are you spending on your kid(s) this holiday season? It’s surely more than $199.

If you don’t trust that the kids are actually needy, then don’t participate. But I imagine you trust the organization and they actually vet the requests quite well, no?

If your concern is that a poor kid should never ask for nice things then you’re missing the spirit of Christmas.

I actually spend much less than that per kid on my own kids. And we have a HHI in the 1 percent. I think its ridiculous how commercialized and materialistic christmas has become.

How much do you spend year round?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Am I too late to participate in an angel tree? Are there any still going on?

Probably. Deadlines tend to be the first half of the month. However, if an organization has unfulfilled requests they are likely to welcome late additions.

[Anonymous]

I did one for a tween boy who wanted a new basketball, a hoodie representing his favorite basketball team, a book, and socks. I support this young man's dream of wanting to exercise, stay warm, and be literate.

[Anonymous]

The problem I have with the braggers who claim to be in the 1% but can’t justify a $200 gift for a child is they don’t have any reason except their children only get cheap useless gifts so why should a child born into poverty have the right to ask Santa for an expensive toy?

It has zero effect on your budget. It has zero effect on your net worth. It takes very little effort to get one online.

But no, you can’t imagine doing something as kind as that. Children learn from what they see their parents do. What will your children think? Would they be mad because the present is nicer than what you got them? Or that you are a very nice decent person for helping out a little girl who might be living in a group home but Christmas Day will be better thanks to you and your family.

Or will you buy a couple of trinkets and disgust your children as soon as they are old enough to understand what you did?

[Anonymous]

I don’t spend that much on my kid do I’d skip it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve been doing angel tree for over 10 years and I’ve never seen an ask that extravagant.

I have seen many of them, every year. The last week, the tree is full of requests for iPads, iPhones and PS5s. Ridiculous.

And don’t start with the bleeding heart “they’re just kiiiids, they’re asking Saaaanta,” etc. They have parents who need to approve them being in the program and who do know better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I scanned a QR code at an angel tree and was shocked at the types of asks on there: a $199 ice cream toy truck, a ride on motorized vehicle, etc. There was a bed/desk also asked for but transporting them makes them very difficult, and of course the cost was also a factor.

I've typically donated toys or gift cards but never an angel tree donation. Is this typical for an angel tree?

Here we go. Every year.

Repeat: Poor people are allowed to have desires for expensive things.

If you cannot afford, then don't give. But, don't feel sanctimonious that someone who is poor has the gall to have dreams.
Gross.

🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem I have with the braggers who claim to be in the 1% but can’t justify a $200 gift for a child is they don’t have any reason except their children only get cheap useless gifts so why should a child born into poverty have the right to ask Santa for an expensive toy?

It has zero effect on your budget. It has zero effect on your net worth. It takes very little effort to get one online.

But no, you can’t imagine doing something as kind as that. Children learn from what they see their parents do. What will your children think? Would they be mad because the present is nicer than what you got them? Or that you are a very nice decent person for helping out a little girl who might be living in a group home but Christmas Day will be better thanks to you and your family.

Or will you buy a couple of trinkets and disgust your children as soon as they are old enough to understand what you did?

Wow. Things may be unappealing to someone but this doesn’t make them a non decent person. So, as an example, I wouldn’t buy an extravagant Angel Tree request though I can afford it, but do donate to things like:

Cancer research
Services for those undergoing treatments
Education related donations
Shelters
Etc

And then I spend a massive amount of time volunteering. In your eyes, I’m not decent because I won’t buy an expensive gift. Yeah, I can definitely, somehow, someway manage with your views.

[Anonymous]

I’m as white as they come and this entire thread is full of UMC white lady racism and dog whistles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem I have with the braggers who claim to be in the 1% but can’t justify a $200 gift for a child is they don’t have any reason except their children only get cheap useless gifts so why should a child born into poverty have the right to ask Santa for an expensive toy?

It has zero effect on your budget. It has zero effect on your net worth. It takes very little effort to get one online.

But no, you can’t imagine doing something as kind as that. Children learn from what they see their parents do. What will your children think? Would they be mad because the present is nicer than what you got them? Or that you are a very nice decent person for helping out a little girl who might be living in a group home but Christmas Day will be better thanks to you and your family.

Or will you buy a couple of trinkets and disgust your children as soon as they are old enough to understand what you did?

Wow. Things may be unappealing to someone but this doesn’t make them a non decent person. So, as an example, I wouldn’t buy an extravagant Angel Tree request though I can afford it, but do donate to things like:

Cancer research
Services for those undergoing treatments
Education related donations
Shelters
Etc

And then I spend a massive amount of time volunteering. In your eyes, I’m not decent because I won’t buy an expensive gift. Yeah, I can definitely, somehow, someway manage with your views.

You’re not all that great a person if you took the request and won’t honor it. There’s a lot wrong with that. Don’t take Christmas requests from children anymore but finish what you started. Fulfill the one you got. Don’t cheap out on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m as white as they come and this entire thread is full of UMC white lady racism and dog whistles.

Can you give the examples

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, that comes from target and can be had for $104 on sale right now. not 199. It is expensive on amazon because someone is reselling it there. Our generation is target brand. https://www.target.com/p/our-generation-sweet-stop-ice-cream-truck-with-electronics-for-18-34-dolls-light-blue/-/A-47986277?sid=1005S&ref=tgt_adv_xsp&AFID=google_pmax_df&fndsrc=tmnv&DFA=71700000123550745&CPNG=Conversions%7Ca06Do000000Vxq3IAC%7CBranford+Ltd.%7CBattat_AO_Search_H2_2025%7CPKG-030377%7CSP-106476+%7C+ADG-1725927&adgroup=&LID=700000003266147pgs&network=x&device=c&location=9008124&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23242621630&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5dfYUuPesxhceP7VWcszym_nez&gclid=Cj0KCQiArt_JBhCTARIsADQZaylS0CyVmzCOD562JGciX3BNKoH241-uoQ2CA-7S1dz5ebQob5-7_kwaAm41EALw_wcB

me again. I don't think asking for this is OOT. Similar to a barbie house. No one says you have to get it all, but one big Santa gift and other items is totally reasonable and remembering this is a wish list? Do your kids never have any big ticket items?

My kids didn’t get big ticket items from us. We had a Barbie Dream House that was a hand me down from my nieces who are 10 years older. We are what most people would describe as affluent but to be and stay affluent you don’t spend $200 on one toy!

What a miserable lot. If you’re affluent, you have millions in investments making money for you (far more than $200/day) - and you’re sweating over $200? Are you sure you’re affluent?

I’d never spend that on a toy. Crazy.

You’re spending it on your kid to give them something they want and make them happy.

My kid would know better to even ask. They understood the value of money from an early age. Parents should be teaching kids that. No toy is worth $200.

The LOL dolls were very popular about five years ago. They still are but not sure how much. My first grader loved them. We probably spent between $1,000 - $1,500 on the dolls, the clothes, the extras, and LOL dollhouse was $250 back then when they first came on the market.

My daughter spent hours with those dolls for three years. Using her imagination and improving her dexterity ,manipulating those tiny accessories. They had value and were worth it.

You’re wrong. There are toys worth $200. We have generational wealth so we have the children’s college money plus already set. If we didn’t I would have been more careful with buying. You buy what you can afford and you can afford to buy that child’s toy.

No, I'm not wrong, we have different values and finances. If you are that wealthy, it may be worth it to you but not a chance I'm doing it. I do spend a lot on something else but its a hobby and they use it far more than 3 years.

Appropiate ask is clothing, shoes, bedding, books and reasonably priced toys. Its ok to ask for a stretch item too but not as the primary.

Wants, needs, then wishes.

Please tell us what hobby item you buy for your elementary school child that lasts for more than 3 years. Is it a horse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve been doing angel tree for over 10 years and I’ve never seen an ask that extravagant.

I have seen many of them, every year. The last week, the tree is full of requests for iPads, iPhones and PS5s. Ridiculous.

And don’t start with the bleeding heart “they’re just kiiiids, they’re asking Saaaanta,” etc. They have parents who need to approve them being in the program and who do know better.

But these are the things kids have these days. Of course poor kids want the same things their peers have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m as white as they come and this entire thread is full of UMC white lady racism and dog whistles.

Yes, there's a whole lot of "Those people should know their place" on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t spend that much on my kid do I’d skip it.

How old is your kid and what are they getting for Xmas this year?