Speaking of Christmas......

coasterqueen wrote: Dh is having me start to buy Christmas gifts early, which I hate to do, but am or else the money will be gone when I am ready to go. We were out shopping the other day for someone else when Kylie saw the Little Mermaid vanity table. She mentioned she wanted to put that on her list of things for Santa.

So later when I went into town to pick up some milk I decided to swing by TRU and see if they had the thing on display because the other store didn't. I did get to look at it and that thing IMO is a piece of junk. Sorry if someone is getting this for their child, don't mean to offend, just my opinion.

Anyways, have you or will you buy things for your children from you or Santa that they really want but you think is either A. a piece of junk or B. way too much money?

lisar replied: Well the big gifts that I get for my kids, santa does not get credit for in my house. For instance the 4-wheeler I got Lexi. That is from Mommy and Daddy Santa is going to buy her a new helmet. Sorry if that seems selfish to some. But its the way I feel.

coasterqueen replied: That's not selfish. My question was if your child asked you OR Santa for a gift that you think is cheaply made would you still buy it?

booey2 replied: I wouldn't and Santa wouldn't just because I don't want heartbreak on Christmas day when the thing breaks. I would look for other things similar or along the same lines and get them if they are better made.

Terri

Kaitlin'smom replied: guess it depend on what it was and how much it would cost. If was pretty cheep and she asked for it ALOT I would probably buy it, but if it was expensive NOPE not going to waiste my money.

CantWait replied: I'm with Di. Only if it was cheap, like $15 and under, maybe $20.

MommyToAshley replied: I kind of ran into this last year. Ashley wanted the Dora Kitchen. While the Dora kitchen wasn't junk and was actually made pretty nice, there was another kitchen that I found that had more features and I thought she would get more play out of it. I thought it was just a better value for roughly the same amount of money. Plus, I was afraid she would outgrow Dora.

I did feel bad on Christmas morning when Ashley thought Santa made a mistake and brought her the wrong kitchen. I was second guessing my decision. But, in the end, it was the right decision because Ashley still plays with her kitchen on a regular basis. Her best friend got the Dora kitchen, and Ashley and her friends grew tired of it pretty quickly. But, they all still play with her kitchen when they come to our house.

I don't want anyone to think that I am putting down the Dora kitchen, because some kids may have played with it a lot longer than Ashley and her friends. I am just saying that in the end, I think I made the right decision for Ashley.

So, in answer to your question... I wouldn't buy something that I think is inappropriate or would break too easily. However, I have bought a gift that I thought was over-valued though --- the Dora Talking House. I still think it is too expensive for what you get, but it was the only thing she asked for her birhtday so I bought it for her. Again, it is not junk, but it is over-priced just because it is Dora.

C&K*s Mommie replied: Yes and no. It depends on what the price of it is. If it is something that is meant to be around for a while (like the vanity table) than . I would keep looking. If it were something small & temporary (small toys are tossed first during the toy overhauls during the year) than .

coasterqueen replied: Thanks for your thoughts. I guess the vanity isn't really a piece of junk per se. It's all hollow plastic for $60, which IMO is too expensive for that table. I'd much rather buy her a vanity that's more solid made around the same price. She just might not get this, though. I don't really see her spending too much time with it, just like about everything else she has or wants.

moped replied: I am not entirely sure what I would do.......................$60 is quite a bit for a hollow plastic vanity - are there better ones that are a bit more? That she still might be happy with?

On another note, I have been xmas shopping for a month now - nearly done!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: No, I probably wouldn't buy it.

I got Maddie's Little Tikes vanity table for $25 at Big Lots. I thought it was a good price for what it was.

mckayleesmom replied: See.....in this instance I would compromise.....I would buy a regular nice vanity and maybe find the little mermaide doorknob handles or something that she can decorate it with the character......I hate junk toys too.

Nina J replied: I wouldn't buy something that was expensive, but low quality. Although, if it were cheap and I knew Emily really, really wanted it, I would buy it.