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Big ticket items
I was watching TV last night and saw a commercial for the Playstation 3 gaming system. In the ad it was advertised for $399. My first thought was "Wow."
Then it hit me. People are actually planning to spend $399 for a game system. For their kids. For Christmas. No matter how I looked at it, that seems like an awfully big-ticket purchase for a holiday gift. Then, of course, I thought of all of you and thought, who better to ask than this eclectic group of people? What was the biggest-ticket item you bought for your kids, for Christmas or a birthday? I'm not counting those parents who buy cars for college graduation. And, what was the biggest-ticket item your parents ever bought for you? In my family I don't think my parents ever spent $100 on a single gift item, let alone the amount of the game systems now. I'm straining my brain to remember the most expensive gift I ever got. It was probably the purple suede fringed jacket I got one year for Christmas...and I thought it was way cool :o) 37 comments from 11 users
posted by
teresr
on Nov 15, 2007 at 10:53 AM
I with you weebles, I can't even think of any extravagant my parents bought me. There was a ping pong table one year, I received a bicycle, but nothing like the toys kids get these days. We used to go out and play, not stay in the house all the time. I'm in sticker shock too.
posted by
Smokey
on Nov 15, 2007 at 10:57 AM
The worst part isn't that the system is over four hundered dollers it is all the accessories. An expensive system is nothing without the expensive games that go with it, and of course you will need a memory card to save your progress, and of course you will need additional controllers etc etc etc and what when you have had it for a month and it is being phased out already in place of the brand new game system they will bring out the following week. It seems many things are being phased out before they even hit the shelves in place of the next biggest thing, I tend to splurge on gifts for the children in my family, which to me is usually $100 per child. I probably shouldn' but I don;t see them as much as I wish I could so to me it makes up for the little things I can't spend on them like trips to get ice creme etc
posted by
gillfish
on Nov 15, 2007 at 11:04 AM
I have spent over $700.00 one year on a snowboarding pass, snowboard,& the outerwear. It was worth every penny spent. I have always been extravagent with my youngest son but not my oldest (never gave me any grief ever!). My parents had six kids and I always loved whatever I got and it was never extravagent-just the usual, a doll, bike etc... posted by
madkow2747
on Nov 15, 2007 at 12:00 PM
When I was young, we never got any expensive gifts, just the usual things, along with some home-made stuff. Now my parents will buy us one present each, something that might be pricey, but it's always something very practical, like an external hard drive for storing files or a decent printer.I am appalled by the cost of what kids expect to get these days. I know my son won't be getting any gaming systems, but that's because I don't like them. I don't want him sitting in front of the TV all day. But sometimes you have to spend a little more to get a good quality bike or that sort of thing- or if my son's anything like my husband, he'll want snowboarding stuff. But with that stuff, he's out getting exercise and learning things that you can't learn from a video game. posted by
Joty
on Nov 15, 2007 at 12:39 PM
When did Christmas turn into "big ticket items"?That's a big part of why I'm fed up with the whole thing. It gets worse when there is an extended family and the competition starts. That's not what it's about. My kids loved having lots of presents under the tree, not one big expensive item. The joy of tearing into wrapping and seeing what each other got was so much fun, and I didn't spend a lot of money - especially with 5 kids. We now have 10 grandkids - they all get books. The only thing I didn't get as a kid that I wanted was a Barbie doll. My mother deemed it too mature so I got a Tammy doll, lol, still have her. And you know what, mom was right. I always made a big deal over birthdays because that was their own special day, but never extravagant. posted by
gillfish
on Nov 15, 2007 at 01:18 PM
I had a Tammy doll! My sisters had Barbies and when we would play with them I was always wishing I had a barbie cuz they were prettier and had great clothes. Tammy was always the outcast in our games. The country cousin, (I did finally get a barbie collection). We couldn't have a Ken doll though, so my Fred Flintstone & my sisters Barney Rubble were the dates.There was and never will be competition with family to see who can spend the most. The holidays are about family. We aren't religious so church isn't in the equation. It used to be. Organized religion turns me off. posted by
bigdog
on Nov 15, 2007 at 02:07 PM
I usually get a decent Holiday check from my union every year and we can usually spend around 300 dollars per kid.We have six kids and where tied of Christmas shopping so this year where not Buying presents we are taking the whole family on a trip to Disney land and spend a night OR two in a hotel. In twenty years they wont remember what gifts they received but they will remember the trip. The best part of Christmas is the dinner with family.
posted by
Joty
on Nov 15, 2007 at 03:43 PM
Poor little flat-chested Tammy...lmao!!!
posted by
oohchild
on Nov 15, 2007 at 04:05 PM
bigdog, you'll have so much fun at Disneyland at Xmas! You & olivia will have a blast with the kids. The "snowfall" after the fireworks show is really pretty, but some kids don't know the snow is actually soap bubbles. I watched several try to catch a "snowflake" on their tongues like they've seen in the movies, only to get a very funny look on their faces when it tasted like soap! Now I want to go to Disneyland, too. Last time we went they were building the new Nemo ride where the submarines used to be. I want to find Nemo! If you haven't checked it out yet, I recommend buying passes for both parks. The Tower of Terror at night is spectacular; you really get a fab view of both parks all lit up from the top of the ride! I'm a Disneyland freak. I'd go every year if I could talk my hubby into it. Yours is the best idea for a Xmas present I've seen yet! Joty & gillfish, I don't remember Tammy. I still have my Barbies, along with all of the outfits I gathered over the years. I'll break them out when I have little girls visiting & they get a real rush looking at all of those 60's clothes. That was back when they still made them with buttons & snaps, not velcro. posted by
bigdog
on Nov 15, 2007 at 04:56 PM
oohchild have you gone on the ride soaring over California. That was my favorite.
posted by
gillfish
on Nov 15, 2007 at 05:05 PM
joty you must not be as old as I am! Yes..poor flat chested Tammy! My sisters and I still laugh about her and how I got gyped. For Christmas I am going to a hotel and I will be staring at the ocean. It is what I want to do.Bigdog-get the ride pass. I never waited in line the last time I went.
posted by
Joty
on Nov 15, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Tammy wasn't as popular or well known as Barbie. She really was more age and body shape appropriate, lol, but Barbie won out. My sister-in-law is a Barbie nut, she buys and sells on e-bay. She's got some bucks in that collection! Gillfish, I am 56. Gosh, I can't remember the last time I was at Disneyland. It'd be a whole new park for me it's been so long. Do you guys know about the "secret restaurant" hidden there? posted by
GregL
on Nov 15, 2007 at 08:19 PM
In addition to paying for the PlayStation, don't forget about buying the games too! We just recorded a 105 piece orchestra for a new PlayStation game called Afrika (don't know when it'll be out). Most movies don't even have the budget for a 105 piece orchestra!My wife and I love Disneyland, it really is great! Joty, are you referring to Club 33? I believe it's above the Blue Bayou restaurant which we love to go to. posted by
madkow2747
on Nov 15, 2007 at 10:24 PM
I wasn't allowed to have a Barbie for a long time, and my parents very hesitantly let me buy my own when I was around 8 or 9. She was the only doll I ever had. I think it was Malibu Barbie, and I only liked her for about a year. (My Little Pony's were the best at the time. My very first memory is of getting a My Little Pony for Christmas!) But I do still like dressing up Barbies with my niece. I don't know why it's fun, but I have a blast every time. Oh, and I like doing her hair too :)
posted by
rm6
on Nov 16, 2007 at 01:22 AM
Would you be more likely to pay $399 for a PS3 or an iPhone? $100 isn't what it used to be, I don't see anything abnormal about parents shelling out $500 bucks for their kid's birthday or for Christmas, but then again I've grown up in an electronics filled world and they are both the most desired and most expensive gifts. |
