Anonymous wrote:I never thought about resell - I just think or assume the older kids were asked what they wanted and they want what their friends are asking for … kids (until a certain age) don’t know what things cost and don’t know they’re being greedy

Otoh my gift recipient asked for a princess bed, she’s 2 1/2 and that probably sounds like the biggest gift to ask for but it was $75 on amazon … I added more stuff because bless this little girl who just wants a bed

Oh, I love that. So nice of you and so fun to give her just what she wanted and more.

We stopped angel tree years ago because of this its outrageous!

You're not helping like you think you are

I never thought about resell - I just think or assume the older kids were asked what they wanted and they want what their friends are asking for … kids (until a certain age) don’t know what things cost and don’t know they’re being greedy

Otoh my gift recipient asked for a princess bed, she’s 2 1/2 and that probably sounds like the biggest gift to ask for but it was $75 on amazon … I added more stuff because bless this little girl who just wants a bed

I signed up for Salvation Army and they did ask my budget I think. But it was also clear that mostly the older kids were left when I signed up, because then after the deadline they sent a list of “forgotten” tickets and it had way more younger and less expensive stuff.

I just think all teens want expensive stuff. Don’t sign up if you want to police the program, or if you need the children you help to adhere to some standard of worthiness you’ve come up with in your head, because it’s impossible.

Someday I’ll create a charity campaign where actor children come to your door in rags and thank you for your kindness with a tear in their eye, because I think that would make everyone happy.

Yep, this is what happens every year and its very sad. Its a huge turnoff to people and I'm sure the program suffers for it. Now a family asking for reasonable things might not even get chosen because fewer people are willing to even do it at all thanks to previous experiences.

We used to buy new coats and pajamas and dolls and remote control cars and board games, etc. I felt like I was actually helping someone. I'm not going to buy gifts I do not and would not buy my own children (or myself.)

Anonymous wrote:So on the one hand, it could be that all the cheap/easy ones were already taken, like the ones asking for baby toys and little kids clothes and all that was left was the $$$ stuff for tweens and up. OTOH I’m always skeptical that it’s adults asking for $$$ stuff and then planning to re-sell it for cash later.

The reselling is exactly what is happening.

It may also be that these kids want to be like their more fortunate peers, who they see with high-end things. I wish these organizations would screen that or ask you your total budget before assigning you someone. I always feel bad and she when I don’t get everything on the list, but sometimes it really does add up, and the things are more expensive than the gifts I would otherwise be buying for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:So on the one hand, it could be that all the cheap/easy ones were already taken, like the ones asking for baby toys and little kids clothes and all that was left was the $$$ stuff for tweens and up. OTOH I’m always skeptical that it’s adults asking for $$$ stuff and then planning to re-sell it for cash later.

+1 I would never buy something so expensive for this kind of charity gift thing. My church does an "angel tree" and we always pick a few from that but they are always very reasonable requests and if it's something like clothes they don't specify brands. The few high-price requests (e.g. a bicycle) are handled as group gifts by Sunday School classes.

So on the one hand, it could be that all the cheap/easy ones were already taken, like the ones asking for baby toys and little kids clothes and all that was left was the $$$ stuff for tweens and up. OTOH I’m always skeptical that it’s adults asking for $$$ stuff and then planning to re-sell it for cash later.

I just don’t give to charity the government already takes and wastes enough of my earnings

Go to a mall and look for an Angel Tree.

Anonymous wrote:As a family we typically adopt one of the family’s through one of the local organizations to buy gifts for. But this year It was incredible how many of the asks were totally ridiculous. I’m talking PS5s, $400 jackets, $300 lego sets etc…

What is going on? We don’t even buy these kind of expensive gifts for our own kids.

this happens EVERY year!

Very Entitled.

It's likely that everything is given to them from local and govt. services and they expect the same from you. We stopped doing those all together as a result of expectations.

As a family we typically adopt one of the family’s through one of the local organizations to buy gifts for. But this year It was incredible how many of the asks were totally ridiculous. I’m talking PS5s, $400 jackets, $300 lego sets etc…

What is going on? We don’t even buy these kind of expensive gifts for our own kids.