NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 30, 2014 11:31:11 GMT -5
I'd rather cut off my arm than let my 3 yr old ANYWHERE near an American Girl store
I decided to click the banner at the top of my screen once. I fell off my chair when I saw the price tag. Just the doll, no clothes, no accessories, just a bare naked doll cost over $200!
I wouldn't be surprised if they have sales people ready to help you take out a second mortgage in that store.
Different colors of clothes require different colors of shoes. Some things match brown, some things match black, some things match pinks, etc.
She's two. Ever let a two year old pick out their outfit without any assistance from you whatsoever? I am thinking this is more YOUR issue than her issue.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 30, 2014 11:32:06 GMT -5
Or, a backyard BBQ. Doesn't have to be at the Ritz! We have the parties at our house, but they still cost over $1000 after food, cake, decorations, loot bags, plates, drinks, party hats, etc. Her first birthday was over 30 people, 2nd birthday was 26 I think. I order in catered food from local restaurants and a nice cake from a real bakery ( not grocery store- I hate grocery store cakes). The food is the biggest expense, but I don't have time to decorate and cook too, plus I don't want the kitchen a mess with company coming. What in the flying f&&k? Seriously? I'm sorry, but spending $1000 on a 2 yr old's birthday makes me think you are a complete troll. We didn't even "celebrate" my 2 yr old's birthday... we had cupcakes and went to the playground. You have some serious issues that you are going to project on your daughter. Think about what you are teaching her and what you are really trying to achieve here. The hole in your heart is not going to get fixed with locally catered food or shopping til you drop. You need to see someone about your issues and discuss what was missing in your life when you grew up.
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Dec 30, 2014 11:32:13 GMT -5
I also really enjoy eating at independent restaurants in the cities we visit, to eat food we can't get at home. I thrive on new experiences
++++++++++++
I thrive on having no mortgage or car payments, or credit card debt, and money in the bank. To each thier own I guess.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 30, 2014 11:33:13 GMT -5
3) she loves shoes. Loves them. Get excited about shoes of all kinds. She also loves jewelry and bows and purses and pretty clothes. She is a true girly-girl. Is some of it learned behavior? Probably. 4) Different colors of clothes require different colors of shoes. Some things match brown, some things match black, some things match pinks, etc.3) She learned that from you. Do you want to teach her that materialism is the most important thing in life? 4) No. Just no. We do lots of day trips. While we haven't been to mammoth, we do take advantage of all there is to see/do in our area. We have done chicago before for $1000 but it was just a 3 day trip. I want to really do chicago, spend at last 4 days and tour the museums, visit the zoos, and yes, shop til I drop at stores we can't visit here. Taking DD to the Lego playplace and the American girl store would be amazing. I also really enjoy eating at independent restaurants in the cities we visit, to eat food we can't get at home. I thrive on new experiences. Shopping til you drop is not a new experience. I'd rather cut off my arm than let my 3 yr old ANYWHERE near an American Girl store. You know you will spend hundreds of dollars on stuff there, right? STUFF is NOT an experience, and neither is shopping. My DD thinks that purple leggings with blue hearts, a pink skirt, and a green top go great with her Monster High black and pink sneakers.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 30, 2014 11:33:39 GMT -5
And the rest of us don't know who Anna & Elsa are. Oy vey!! hahaha. They are the Disney Princesses from the movie Frozen. I think every young girl in the country is currently obsessed. Wrong.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 30, 2014 11:33:48 GMT -5
Different colors of clothes require different colors of shoes. Some things match brown, some things match black, some things match pinks, etc.
She's two. Ever let a two year old pick out their outfit without any assistance from you whatsoever? I am thinking this is more YOUR issue than her issue.
Please see my post above.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 30, 2014 11:34:54 GMT -5
hahaha. They are the Disney Princesses from the movie Frozen. I think every young girl in the country is currently obsessed. Wrong. Mne is obsessed.
I feed the obsession by downloading the movie into the ipad and buyer her an Elsa doll. Not hiring character actors to show up at her birthday party.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 30, 2014 11:35:10 GMT -5
Do you look at your income taxes or just sign them without looking? I do our taxes through tax slayer. DH is more clueless about money than I am (ex.- the desire for $700 concert tickets) Really? You're going to rag on your husband about $700 concert tickets but $1000 for a toddler and tiara birthday is ok? A concert IS an actual experience... by the way.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 30, 2014 11:36:05 GMT -5
Mne is obsessed.
I feed the obsession by downloading the movie into the ipad and buyer her an Elsa doll. Not hiring character actors to show up at her birthday party.
Mine loves Olaf. Go figure. But she's never even seen the movie! Not every kid is "obsessed" though.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Dec 30, 2014 11:36:55 GMT -5
My dad's asked Gwen multiple times if she's color blind.
Right now she's wearing a Disney Princess nightgown with jeans and sparkly Frozen slippers. Meh, she's being babysit by grandma today so who cares.
I feed the obsession by downloading the movie into the ipad and buyer her an Elsa doll. Not hiring character actors to show up at her birthday party.
Gwen found out about it at school and then they watched the movie. She got an Elsa toddler doll from us ($14) and Frozen slippers from my mom. That's it.
I haven't bought the movie. If I hear "Do you want to build a snowman" one more time I am going stab my ear drums out.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 30, 2014 11:37:03 GMT -5
I've got less of an issue spending $700 on a concert than $1000 for a birthday party. I've spent $500 on Motley Crue and Kid Rock. But I wouldn't spend it if I wasn't funding my retirement and in debt.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 30, 2014 11:38:27 GMT -5
We also named our cat Olaf in honor of the movie. Part of the obsession.
The kids original wanted to name him "Furry." Um, no. Just no.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 30, 2014 11:41:52 GMT -5
Who said you were a crappy parent? I am sure you are a very loving mom. We are just trying to offer a bit of advice to help you achieve financial peace in your life. More than one poster has implied that I am not giving my daughter what she needs because I spend money the way I do. Are we in a bit of debt? Yes. Are we worried about where dinner is coming from? No. When you're 80 and need to live with her because you have nothing saved for retirement... that is not giving her what she needs. Giving each other independence will be the biggest gift to both of you.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Dec 30, 2014 11:42:07 GMT -5
3) She learned that from you. Do you want to teach her that materialism is the most important thing in life? 4) No. Just no. Shopping til you drop is not a new experience. I'd rather cut off my arm than let my 3 yr old ANYWHERE near an American Girl store. You know you will spend hundreds of dollars on stuff there, right? STUFF is NOT an experience, and neither is shopping. My DD thinks that purple leggings with blue hearts, a pink skirt, and a green top go great with her Monster High black and pink sneakers. Giggle, Swamp, you and I are raising sisters separated at birth! Except for their ages, different parents and you and me most definitely NOT sharing the L& room!
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justme
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Post by justme on Dec 30, 2014 11:43:35 GMT -5
I also really enjoy eating at independent restaurants in the cities we visit, to eat food we can't get at home. I thrive on new experiences
++++++++++++ I thrive on having no mortgage or car payments, or credit card debt, and money in the bank. To each thier own I guess. You can do both. Though my nut mortgage is cuz I rent lol. I do spend a lot of money on food on trips, but I include it in the vacation cost.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 30, 2014 11:43:55 GMT -5
If I were to work 168 hours in a 4 week period, which is just a smidgen more than most full timers, we would roughly have a combined total of $7,00/month after taxes, insurance, etc. I can get our expenses to $3700, leaving $3300. I can put $500 of that into a Roth for now, leaving $2,800 a month I can pay off $2000/month in debt, saving the remaining $800 for things like clothing, car repairs, gifts, etc.as they come up. The problem is no one believes you can cut your spending from $3300 to $800/month for non-essentials.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 30, 2014 11:47:22 GMT -5
I think she has properly been run through the grinder so I now pronounce Wonderland , One of US!
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justme
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Post by justme on Dec 30, 2014 11:49:40 GMT -5
I think when she gets a good look on what her expenses are and where her money goes that it'll help her a lot.
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Blonde Granny
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Post by Blonde Granny on Dec 30, 2014 11:50:34 GMT -5
I also really enjoy eating at independent restaurants in the cities we visit, to eat food we can't get at home. I thrive on new experiences
We're 70 and have been retired for 19 years. Currently we are spending 5 weeks in Florida in a VRBO condo on the beach. We do this because we can...... Without a mortgage to cover with dividends from investments, no car payments or CC bills, our monthly income from SS for both of us and VA disability covers all of our monthly expenses.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Dec 30, 2014 11:50:40 GMT -5
DD1 is GIRLY. And she looks like Punky Brewster most days. I do believe this is how she is wired. I missed the girly gene, the gotta play with dolls gene, etc. I took the kids on vacation SPECIFICALLY to the American Girl store so that she could see all the dolls in person and pick out the one she liked the best. She was 4.5 when we did that. And yes, we left with a few things. (Aside: There was also a Lego store nearby, and yes, DS got a few things, "just because.") We had no issues. We told the kids there would be limits before we went into the stores. If they chose to complain about the limits, we'd walk out with nothing. DD1 has more nail polish bottles than fingers. I took her for her first mani for her 7th birthday. Non of this "princess mani" stuff. She got a normal, regular mani. I'm thinking this summer we'll do pedi's once. Or a massage. It's OK to indulge, once in awhile. I had a grand time treating the kids. DH had a good time too, even in the AG store. But, if they get indulgences every day, it no longer becomes a treat. It becomes an expectation. And therein lies the problem.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Dec 30, 2014 11:54:17 GMT -5
It's easier to make small steps than huge ones and keep your momentum going. Cutting discretionary spending by 75% plus working 30% more and prepping your lunches every day is a big change! That's the problem with fad diets... they don't really work!
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Dec 30, 2014 11:54:54 GMT -5
Big first step, no shopping period except for groceries. That will be huge. Work more and pay off debt/put in retirement/whatever, but stop shopping.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Dec 30, 2014 11:57:34 GMT -5
It's easier to make small steps than huge ones and keep your momentum going. Cutting discretionary spending by 75% plus working 30% more and prepping your lunches every day is a big change! I also think small steps are easier to maintain, long term. I think too much change, big changes, all at once, can make a person feel deprived and fall back into old habits. Now, if the intention is more a band-aid approach, rather than real behavioral changes, going all out might just be the way to do it. I can say "I can get through this for 6 months, knowing I'll never have to do it again."
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moneymaven
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Post by moneymaven on Dec 30, 2014 22:06:29 GMT -5
I have one American Doll from my parents. I got it at 11 years old. It's still in perfect condition. I got one outfit for her and was allowed to buy several of the books. I was old enough to appreciate it and care for it. I'll pass it down to a daughter if we have one. I can't imagine buying one for a 2 year old.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Dec 30, 2014 22:10:58 GMT -5
DD was 5 but everyone in her family bought her the books. We bought her the doll. The doll and all the doll stuff is waiting for the first grand daughter.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2014 22:25:45 GMT -5
Daughter just gave hers to a girl in homeschool group who didn't have one. She was cleaning out closets. I asked if she had any sentimental attachment/ wanted to save it, but she said no.
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justme
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Post by justme on Dec 30, 2014 22:29:21 GMT -5
Mine is waiting in my room at my parents house for if I have a kid that wants one and if I decide to let her use it young.
It was one of my last bday gifts from my grandma so I would lose it if she got ruined (retired character + I kept her original packing + it was a big gift, she normally didn't spend that much on grandkids gifts but I think I had been taking her ear off about the books). I'm probably more apt to buy her a new one if she wants one while she's young enough not to take really good care of mine.
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Formerly SK
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Post by Formerly SK on Dec 31, 2014 0:36:12 GMT -5
Daughter just gave hers to a girl in homeschool group who didn't have one. She was cleaning out closets. I asked if she had any sentimental attachment/ wanted to save it, but she said no. My overly-privileged niece went through the doll phase at whatever age (5/6/7?). Anyway, since that's ALL she wanted of course that's what she got for her bday/xmas. I gave her a $45 outfit for a DOLL. Within a year, she was done with that phase and they were all packed into a box in the attic as she moved on to her Monster Doll phase. Rinse/repeat. Frankly, the whole "it's an investment you'll hand down to your children because it's made so well" is BS. It's a DOLL.
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msventoux
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Post by msventoux on Dec 31, 2014 0:44:54 GMT -5
Daughter just gave hers to a girl in homeschool group who didn't have one. She was cleaning out closets. I asked if she had any sentimental attachment/ wanted to save it, but she said no. My overly-privileged niece went through the doll phase at whatever age (5/6/7?). Anyway, since that's ALL she wanted of course that's what she got for her bday/xmas. I gave her a $45 outfit for a DOLL. Within a year, she was done with that phase and they were all packed into a box in the attic as she moved on to her Monster Doll phase. Rinse/repeat. Frankly, the whole "it's an investment you'll hand down to your children because it's made so well" is BS. It's a DOLL. And a lot of us hate dolls. My grandmother had shelves of them in her guest room and when I was little I was terrified to go to sleep with them all staring at me. I got in major trouble for moving them all into the closet. I was the end of the line so I got a ton of dolls from my grandmother after she passed away. My aunt insisted on sending them to me even though I told her to find someone else in the family to give them to. I absolutely did not want them. She shipped them to me and they went in the dumpster as soon as they got here. I don't think any of them crawled out and escaped, but you never know. I should have burned them!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2014 0:45:35 GMT -5
Even when we were into the doll it didn't really get AG clothes... Lots of 18 inch doll clothes out there for less.
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