Stupid Money-Senseless Parents

PiKe

PiKe

PiKe

Caporegime
Joined
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Just heard from a friend but this isn't the only case of parents who can't really afford it that buy lavish presents for their children.

My friends nephew is 8 and has requested an iPhone for Christmas. Something, which over the length of the contract will end up costing about £800 to £1000 (insurance is mandatory with an 8 year old I think you'll agree?) depending on network and tariff.

Now I'm not bitter for not having parents like that as a child, but completely dumbfounded by the absolute disregard for the actual value of things. Would you give your child £800 to look after?

I *could* afford an iPhone on contract easily now, but I'm 27 and even I still think it's a waste of money, I'll happily plod on with my £150 2G I snagged from O2.

Surely the better and more sensible option would be to buy an iPod Touch?

Is it any wonder people are in debt when they're so reckless with money.
 
Not everyone who spends £800 in one hits funds it via credit.

There is no need in my opinion though for a 8 year old to have a phone.
 
If they've got the money, let them spend it... Of course, if they don't, then it's stupid, but so is much of Christmas spending.

Still insane to give an 8 year old an iPhone. Probably a spoilt brat.
 
I often find it shocking how many students at my school have gadgets and gizmos that i've deemed too expensive to be worth it. I'm not just talking the older years here either, there's year 7 kids with Iphone 4's.

In one case i remember a year 9 kid showing me his Nintendo DS, PSPGo, Iphone 3GS (before the 4 came out) and the preorder ticket for his iPad. Sure his parents must be minted, but i still don't see why a child of that age needs those gadgets, let alone should be allowed to bring them into school.
 
an iPhone for an eight year old is insane! I wouldn't do that if it was my kid - it's just begging to be lost/broken/stolen!

Rich
 
Streeteh said:
I often find it shocking how many students at my school have gadgets and gizmos that i've deemed too expensive to be worth it. I'm not just talking the older years here either, there's year 7 kids with Iphone 4's.

In one case i remember a year 9 kid showing me his Nintendo DS, PSPGo, Iphone 3GS (before the 4 came out) and the preorder ticket for his iPad. Sure his parents must be minted, but i still don't see why a child of that age needs those gadgets, let alone should be allowed to bring them into school.
Click to expand...

I has the best gadgets at the time..

But i purcahsed them myself with my own cash (paents are worse of then i was at the age)
 
There is no way in hell an 8 year old should have a phone!

If I have children, they wont be getting their own phone until at least secondary school, as theyre walking to and from it by themselves.

Even then, itd be a reluctant decision!
 
Seems a bit overkill to provide an 8 year old with an iphone. But then parents have been known to buy young children computers, games consoles fully kitted out, expensive mountain bikes…

If they have the funds, then its really up to them what they buy their children for Christmas. Its when they don’t have the funds, and succumb to peer pressure and use credit to buy Christmas presents, then spend the next couple of years struggling to pay it all off, it at all. Not exactly the best message to give, but each to their own.
 
These parents are setting themselves up for a hard life later on.
Child tantrums are a lot easier to handle than 16year olds!
 
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