Buying Gifts for Spoiled Kids

[Kimmumum]

How about starting a new tradition with all of the neices/nephews/goddaughters? Instead of shopping for all of them every year they will know that "xxx" is going to happen.

My DS8's godmother always takes my 2 sons (sometimes separately and sometimes together ) to a Hockey game. They stop at Krispy Kreme on the way there and Mc Donalds on the way home. My oldest is 12 and they have been doing this for around 10 years. If they can't get together for a Hockey game then they do a Baseball game. It doesnt' have to be done "at Christmas".

My kids are spoiled and need for nothing but their favorite presents are things that they did with the family. My DS8's birthday is in January and last year we couldn't think of anything to get him for his birthday. We gave him a trip to an indoor waterpark. He loved it. Guess what he asked for again next year!!

My mom always takes my boys downtown (Chicago) before Christmas (to avoid the crowds). They take the train, check out the windows, eat in the Walnut Room at Fields (oops I mean Macy's), go see Santa (even my 12yo is willing), walk around Grant Park and hop back on the train. They take the 7:30 am train and take the 1:30 pm train home. Short and sweet but very enjoyable.

Good luck!

 

[NotUrsula]

Oh, please don't do the charity thing. That is passive-aggressive and tremendously holier-than-thou under the circumstances. I believe that those "X has been donated in your name" gifts should not be given under any normal gift-giving circumstance other than a bereavement, unless the person is already a philanthropist by nature, AND the charity is one the person is known to support. If you can't afford a gift or do not approve of gift-giving, then send a letter instead of a gift, but don't try to teach someone a lesson by shaming them in the name of charity. If you want to use the bulk of the money you otherwise might have spent on the nephews to make a charitable donation, that's great, but make it from you, not them. (BTW, I agree you've been spending way too much.)

Develop some gumption. Call your nephews and talk to them. "I could tell that you didn't really like the present that I gave you last year, and it made me feel bad. I don't have very much money to spend this year, and I thought maybe you might like a gift card for iTunes -- how would that be?" It is actually very possible that the kid might surprise you and say, "Oh, I'm sorry Aunt X, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I'm OK, you don't have to get me a present."

I agree that the outing idea is great -- another possible choice is some kind of studio tour, especially for kids who are media-oriented. Remember to pick something that THESE kids will like, which means getting their parents to help you figure out what it should be. However, if all the activities they would like are things you know you would personally hate, then buy tickets and let them go alone or with a friend.

 

[swilshire]

Okay, I know that's a little harsh, but I hate buying gifts for my nephews. Two of them really have everything they could ever want. They spend about $100 a weekend easily. They go out to eat three or four times a week. They each have four ipods, including the brand new ones that just came out a few months ago. Neither does particularly well in school, or has any real interests outside of girls, sports, video games and electronics. I really got my feelings hurt last year when I picked out candy, specifically, well-thought-out books (I'm a teacher) for each and a $50 gift card and they peeled it all open and tossed it to the side with a dry "thanks". I work several jobs and had to go through a lot to earn that $150 for their gifts.

Does anyone else on a budget have to buy for a well-to-do family member and do you have any advice for me? I do love them and I really would like to watch them have a little excitement. Now, Christmas is really nothing special to them, because they get anything they want all year long and other than decorations, there's really no difference to them. I'd just like to buy something that they really enjoy, but maybe something *different*/more educational/less materialistic than the expensive trendy gifts they get every weekend. Is "nonmaterialistic gift" an anachronism or what!

Any ideas are appreciated!!

I haven't read the other responses, but my vote is to stop giving them gifts. If they gift your children, just tell the adult in the family that you're cutting back this year and ask them not to. If you must do something, do a family gift. Some of the suggestions in other threads have been great.

Sheila

 

[PrincessParty]

How about a savings bond? Costs you 1/2 of face value and then they can use it when they are older and wiser?

 

[jennifer293]

My sister has a job, and her DH does not work at all and she is on gov. assistance yet her 2 boys have everything under the sun because of my parents. They are constantly buying them stuff. I normally get them a $20.00 gift and if they don't like it then OH WELL...I tried getting them a GC to Walmart one year so they could go buy games for their systems and my sister took it and spent it on groceries. While it is more important to feed the family than to have games she does get food stamps for food and should have left their stuff alone.

Normally for their b-days I call them and ask them what they want and for the past 4 years they both ask if I will take them to a movie and to dinner so they can spend time with me... Of course that just makes my day!!!! I normally end up spending more on this than I normally would a gift because they are BIG BOYS and they can EAT, but I would not have it any other way!!!