What my 13 year old GS has requested for Christmas

Sissy? Is that code for 'suspected homosexual'? How ridiculous.

Sissy is such a derogatory name

Things are created to people to be used if they like them or need them - not assigned to genders as "acceptable for use"

Bijou

Are boys not so masculine nowadays? Years ago they would be called sissies for using perfume. A neighbours eleven year old grandson asked for a silver necklace!
My son (now 73) it was football boots or golf clubs.
I give my great grandsons money. One banks it.

He asked for cologne or aftershave not perfume.
I appreciated when my 12 year-old asked for cologne and deodorants it meant he was wanting to take care of his personal hygiene.
I would not see that as being a sissy.

Can you get the same scent in a different form? Like a body wash, or soap etc? If the £45 is out of your budget. Otherwise I would purchase what he asked for and that would most likely be the only gift. My 14 year old granddaughter asked for a present which is about £50 so that will be her only gift other than a few dollarstore items.

Bijou

Wow!

Are boys not so masculine nowadays? Years ago they would be called sissies for using perfume. A neighbours eleven year old grandson asked for a silver necklace!
My son (now 73) it was football boots or golf clubs.
I give my great grandsons money. One banks it.

If it is an amount that you would usually spend on him then buy him what he wants. If you would normally spend less then give him some money towards it. You could use it as an opportunity to explain that times are hard for everyone at the moment and finances are limited.

I wanted a budgie, not a ‘budge’.

It’s one of the greatest pleasures of grandparenthood to be able to give the DGCs something they want, or need. Why rob yourself of that pleasure? My gran used to give us savings certificates, which earned interest and could be cashed in for the full amount once they’d matured. When I desperately wanted a budge, I withdrew the money from my savings account. TBH, I never developed a savings habit. But I really enjoyed having a budgie!

I’m always generous towards my grandchildren and would give them the Earth if I could. Since I can’t do that (!) I buy them what their parents tell me they’d like. A Xmas it birthday present is a gift not a school uniform of something similar. In my book it’s something you maybe wouldn’t buy for yourself. If you can afford it treat the lovely child. I’d have dreamed of something like that when I was young. You are out of touch I’m afraid. Your approval is not needed, the parents are the ones that have that right. Be a lovely nana and do the right thing.

At that age my eldest two grandchildren started getting money from me. That way it was always...still is...their choice what they get or put it towards.

It can be a challenge managing their expectations. For his 6th birthday, DGS requested a “real” Apple Watch and a motorbike!

No I wouldn't buy it either, £45 aftershave for a 13 yrs old, I dont think so. The last time I visited my grandchildren in the summer, at a loss as to what to give my 16 yr GS, I gave him a tin of M&S biscuits. His face lit up “are these all for me?” Totally delighted- happy GS and happy Grannie - cracked it!!!

I'm always glad if someone tells me what they would like rather than have to guess. All my GC get money now so they can buy something they like - whether I approve or not is irrelevant. I didn't really like many of the presents I bought my children when they were teenagers but they liked them.

Maybe he has someone he wants to smell nice for ? 😍

Caleo - is this some form of irony or are you mad ??

Provided it’s in your budget and you can afford it I cannot see the issue. It’s up to him what he likes

If you can afford it, get him what he wants. It's not a waste of money if he loves it and uses it. Better than something that he'll never take out of the box.

When it comes to fragrances, it's worth looking online as the prices are often good. Obviously you need to buy from somewhere reputable, to avoid fakes, but you can look them up on places like Trustpilot.

However, I have to say that £45 isn't extraordinary for a cologne from a good brand. Just look at the price of perfume - it's staggering.

And any adolescent boy who wants to smell nice should be encouraged!

Inform the boy you will give only something you approve of .

You should not encourage this nonsense. If he is so gullible about scent in expensive bottles he may well be gullible in more dangerous practices. He needs a good talking-to by his parents.

Does he know what it smells like or seen it online. Has other have said it depends what you normally spend on your grandkids if mine asked then yes I would buy it but if it’s more than you normally spend tell your son to try again lol my granddaughter asked me for a electric scooter because her dad and her mum both won’t buy it divorce so separate gifts and I said no because I don’t spend that much on her as I’ve other grandkids to buy too. She laughed and said ok Nanna it was worth a try lol

My in-laws were always generous with gifts but often wasted money on things that weren't appreciated, but they weren't keen on giving money. On the other hand my mother always gave money to us to spend on ourselves and the children as she lived much further away and often didn't see us in person. Her approach was by far the easiest to deal with and there were less unwanted gifts cluttering up the house! My GS is too young to express a preference at present so I buy something for him to open and give the balance to his parents to spend as they see fit. Obviously that might change as he gets older but it works for now.
As others have said, teenagers are very brand conscious, but hopefully they will learn to be more cost conscious as they get older if we set the right examples. Nothing wrong with an extravagant treat if that is what he really wants.

Gin

Well that is me convinced! Tomorrow I shall see if I can find it in the local town. I am not venturing into the crowds in Milton Keynes even for my lovely GS

Probably cheaper to buy it online and have it delivered. Or do a local Click and Collect which is often less expensive than a courier. My daughter likes expensive perfum and I get it for 30-40% off on sites such as AllBeauty or LookFantastic.

Better to give him something he wants rather than something you think he should want! If it is too expensive for you that is a different thing and you should say you weren't planning on spending that much.

As regards cash, one very memorable Christmas for teen dds (now in their 40s) was when dh’s much younger brother joined us for Christmas. They rarely saw him and except for once*, he’d never given them any presents, whether b-day or Christmas.

To make up for it - as he said - he gave them both 2 x -£50 notes! Their faces were a picture! (Should add that he could afford it.)

*That very differently memorable ‘once’ was when dd1 was only 2 - he gave her a cartoon-strip book of political satire entitled ‘Cuba for Beginners’!

Of course I laughed. ‘John, she’s two!’
‘Well, it does say for beginners,’ he replied.😂

I set a budget for each of mine and get whatever they want up to that (or cash if they are saving for something) its usually around £50 each, which as I have 7 DGC and 3 children is reasonable, but I dont see it as my job to police anyones present choices; yes I would rather they asked for science sets or tickets to a show for example but eldest DGS (12) has asked for xbox vouchers and one DGD (11) has asked for money to spend on clothes so thats what they will get.