Gransnet forums

Christmas

What my 13 year old GS has requested for Christmas

(184 Posts)
Gin Sat 03-Dec-22 12:19:41

I asked my son for ideas for a Christmas present for teenage GS. I have just heard he wants a bottle of Prada Ocean, a cologne or aftershave in my language. The smallest size cost about £45! Am I being a meanie refusing to buy it? He is turning into a label conscious lad only wanting expensive named brands. I feel it is a trait not to be encouraged or are most youngsters like this? He is my youngest GS by many years, am I out of touch?

MissAdventure Sun 04-Dec-22 18:51:03

Then, when your mum had made you have a "version" of something, and you complained that the other kids laughed, she would try to convince you it was because they were jealous!

FannyCornforth Sun 04-Dec-22 18:54:57

Hithere

Fanny,

What would that response be if it was a gd?

If you think it is sexist, it may totally be

Give over, go else where for a barny. You won’t get one from me smile

MissAdventure Sun 04-Dec-22 18:57:47

Ooh a barney!
Havent heard that expression for years! smile

Hithere Sun 04-Dec-22 18:59:25

Interesting slang - going to google

DillytheGardener Sun 04-Dec-22 19:00:52

Sorry to say you’re out of touch. My sons now late twenties & early thirties both wanted Calvin Klein pants and designer perfumes, both grandparents gave cash after they were 12, as the greatest enjoyment was the rare treat to buy their hearts desire them self . Best thing to do is give them some cash towards what they’d like and they can buy it themselves and will be very grateful too!

FannyCornforth Sun 04-Dec-22 19:07:56

MissAdventure

Ooh a barney!
Havent heard that expression for years! smile

I’m sure that together we could come up with a smorgasbord of regional dialect; you being from the South East, and me the Midlands

MissAdventure Sun 04-Dec-22 19:09:53

Maybe a new thread idea?
Will it stay lighthearted, do you think?

Yeah, it'll be fine.

Ali23 Sun 04-Dec-22 19:51:33

You could either give him some money in a card saying ‘money towards … cologne’ or you could buy him a token for the full amount at a shop where they sell it. Then he might understand the cost, or happily pay up, or even get it cheaper in the sales!

Doodledog Sun 04-Dec-22 21:09:42

MissAdventure

Then, when your mum had made you have a "version" of something, and you complained that the other kids laughed, she would try to convince you it was because they were jealous!

grin

Callistemon21 Sun 04-Dec-22 21:11:57

GrannyGravy13

You asked for gift ideas, your son has told you.

Now you have to decide if you want to give your GS a Christmas Gift he will like and use or give him something which you think is appropriate which could remain under his bed for the foreseeable future.

😂😂😂

DGD would like some very expensive trainers for Christmas.

I'm going to ask if the shop will sell me just one trainer.

MissAdventure Sun 04-Dec-22 21:15:33

I don't mind so much for something like expensive footwear, because my boy takes excessive care of them nowadays.

He also asked for crease something or other.

It stops your shoes from getting a crease where your foot bends.

NotSpaghetti Mon 05-Dec-22 01:20:55

MissAdventure

What would you consider an unreasonable request for a girl, though?

Barbie dolls! grin

Luckygirl3 Mon 05-Dec-22 14:31:46

Just bought my DGS of 14 a ghastly burgundy fairisle cardigan much like my grandpa used to wear! It is grim - but apparently it is what he wants!

Hetty58 Mon 05-Dec-22 14:37:01

Gin, - the cheeky so and so. I'd just have to have a laugh and get him this (tiny sample):

visionaryfragrances.com/products/copy-of-prada-luna-rossa-ocean?variant=42110821695726¤cy=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic

Gin Mon 05-Dec-22 16:51:40

Hetty58. I would not dare! It is strange is it not the different attitudes towards money in families. My DIL ( GS mum) is very generous and spends money like water as she was a much indulged child and her children are denied little. I cam from a family where money had to be carefully managed a therefore I brought my kids up in much the same way. Old habits die hard as they say.

MissAdventure Mon 05-Dec-22 16:54:25

It is hard to step out of that mindset, for me.

My daughter was much more likely to buy frivolous things, I always thought.

I'm so glad she did now, and they weren't even that frivolous, now I really think about it.

NotTooOld Mon 05-Dec-22 16:58:42

Ridiculous! Thirteen, you say? Well I must be way out of touch but I have a GS of the same age and I cannot imagine him asking for such a present. Grit your teeth and give him some money instead, then if he wastes it on such stuff it's up to him - and his parents.

ParlorGames Mon 05-Dec-22 17:04:35

Why not give him the cash in line with your budget or a gift card from B***s so he can save the rest up and buy it for himself after Christmas?

Volunteer77 Tue 06-Dec-22 11:26:54

My 2 year old saw Santa on Saturday and said she wanted a laptop!!!

biglouis Tue 06-Dec-22 11:35:38

Ive always believed that once you gift someone money or an item you cannot tell them what to do with it. People have different ideas of "worth".

If the amount is within your budget I would give him the money and allow him to spend it if he wishes. If he wastes it on things he later regrets than it will be a lesson learned.

I usually give my nephew money for christmas and birthdays. I dont always approve of how he spends it but thats his choice. A gift is a gift and not a bribe.

Juicylucy Tue 06-Dec-22 11:38:47

My limit for my teenage granddaughters is £65 each and yes they request expensive perfumes etc. why don’t you give dil the money and let her get it for you if you can’t find it locally which you possibly won’t.

babyjayne Tue 06-Dec-22 11:45:44

I think he is too young for such a present. Where will he wear it? School, he's to young to be going to pubs or night clubs.
That's the sort of thing men wear to smell nice for women, not something so expensive to be wasted splashing it all over for school girls. If he was 16/17 OK but 13, no.
How much will he want spending on him as he gets older?
He'll just go on thinking your his personal bank and you can afford anything he wants. And if you go for the smallest size he'll probably be upset with that.
Does he realise how much this cologne costs?
Try and say to him this is the sort of present that he should buy himself. He should save his money up to buy personal stuff. Then maybe he"ll come to realise what things are worth buying.
Sorry, I've had my little rant.
I have one GD that gets everything and the other GD has an after college job and buys her own things that she wants. Hardly ever asks for anything unless she wants something expensive and then she just saves money she gets for birthdays and Christmas and buys it herself.
The first GD will get a terrible shock when she has to buy her own stuff. Not that I expect that will happen any time soon
They are both 17.
How many Grandchildren have you got?
I have 8 and I don't ask what they want I just give them money. Anything between £5 to £20 depending how much money I have to spend on Christmas. I think the parents should buy the dearer presents (depending on their circumstances) then you can always help them out.

mistymitts Tue 06-Dec-22 11:49:29

Get what he wants, if you can afford to, or ask for a few more ideas so that you can have some choice of what you decide to give him.

Hetty58 Tue 06-Dec-22 11:55:34

Gin, I was brought up to budget carefully, although we were quite comfortable - and yes, old habits die hard. My kids won't allow the grandchildren to ask for much, so I sometimes feel mean and 'top up' with extra bits and bobs.

Juicylucy, my limit for birthdays is £60 - for Christmas (when they get so much anyway) it's £20 for little'uns and £30 for big'uns - and some chocolate too. There's eight of them (so far) so it's quite enough.

Hetty58 Tue 06-Dec-22 11:57:05

Mind you, when I asked the five year old what she wanted - back came the reply 'Another puppy!'.