What my 13 year old GS has requested for Christmas

I wanted a budgie, not a ‘budge’.

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.

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.

Bijou

Wow!

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

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.

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"

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

Hithere

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 is one of our very oldest posters and yes, she is right that these were terms years ago.

How things change, Bijou!
Who'd have thought 85 years ago that teenage boys would want perfume for Christmas!

Yes, I am aware of that fact

It is still very much wrong to use derogatory terms and insinuate a person is man enough (how misogynist)

Can you get the same scent in a different form? Like a body wash, or soap etc?

ileea
Good idea, that would mean the different scents wouldn't clash.
Best check with the parents, perhaps someone else will buy the cologne.

My son (now 73) it was football boots
My DGD wants football boots! 😁⚽️

Sissy wasn’t exactly a compliment “back in the day”

Gin, totally agree with you. It is not about the money, but the advertising and 'pressure' for kids to buy expensive named brands which upsets me.

AmberSpyglass

Sissy wasn’t exactly a compliment “back in the day”

No, indeed it wasn't ASG
But most teenage boys wouldn't ask for cologne in those days either.

However, rudeness and bad manners online aren't that pleasant either, especially to one of our oldest posters.

Ps ASG I wasn't meaning you.

Lots of fragrances are made to be "unisex" now. I know one of my daughters wears a fragrance that's quite "masculine" but my husband and one of my adult sons in particular like very sweet ones - Fleur du Mâle and Plum Japonais for example (sadly both discontinued).

I think we shouldn't be judging people.
And both my boys asked for fragrances quite young. Maybe not 13 but certainly by 15.

I don't think the OP was saying that she didn't want to pay for the cologne - just that paying over the odds for a brand name was something she was unsure about as the boy is only 13.

Gin has said that now people have put it all into context she plans to get him the present he wants - I think this is going to be one of those threads that will run and run though

Well, Gin, by my standards you may have got off lightly... My grandson has asked for a diving course! - £800 worth.. Admittedly his 18th birthday is a couple of days before Christmas but still.... I am currently in negotiation with the div ing school to see if a taster session initially may be possible.....in the hope that other members of the family may chip in due course if all goes well....It must be said that he has many of the qualities that I observed in divers when I worked for the Royal Navy. As things stand he may be getting an "IOU a joint present Christmas/birthday" note which may be a diving course in April when the course starts or a camera if the negotiations do not bear fruit..., although I have always endeavoured to ensure he gets a separate present for each event.

I have a 13 year old grandson and he is very much into designer label tracksuits, trainers etc. the colognes he’s asked for: Dior, Armani, Boss!! We’re buying him a few smaller gifts, T-shirt’s, chocolates, dressing gown, socks also giving him money to buy what he wants. My daughter teaches in a secondary school and year 9 & 10 classrooms smell heavily of Lynx body spray. Give him what he wants if you can afford it or give him what you can afford in cash. I don’t think he’d turn his nose up at a Lynx gift set if money is tight.

My eldest dgd is 14. Last year I asked her what she wanted & she said black Converse hi tops. Told her that would be all she gets & she was happy. This year she asked for a crystal & I have bought her a gorgeous one & can't wait to see her face when she unwraps it. The dgc are nearly 2,6 & 7 so I just ask their parents for ideas. Would much rather buy them something they want.

Okay, so what do I do about my three year old Grandson who is absolutely insistent that all he wants a drone, and has asked Father Christmas for one?!

Cossy, if it's mad to disapprove of children being seduced by advertising then I am mad. All children should be taught that some commercial products are vastly overpriced.

Caleo

Cossy, if it's mad to disapprove of children being seduced by advertising then I am mad. All children should be taught that some commercial products are vastly overpriced.

Totally, thanks.

And about the effect very expensive gifts with huge advertising budgets, has on those whose parents cannot afford them.

This year of all years. Heating or eating - or 45 quid branded perfume!

Fleurpepper

This year of all years. Heating or eating - or 45 quid branded perfume!

Heating or eating
Yes, it's affecting so many and so many people are worried.

But not everyone as can be seen by the numbers of people eating out, people going to Qatar to see the football, people planning holidays, the proliferation of non-essential shops in the High Streets.

And - the cage and trolleys at our local supermarket were overflowing with donations for the local Food Bank.

People from a local church had put needed items in bags with a price on the bag so you could buy one or more - most were toiletries and small gifts.
I thought that was an excellent idea.