Christmas Budget
Am I the only one outraged at the amount you have to spend to get a small plastic toy? I mean, it’s not only a question of whether you can afford it – it’s a question of whether you want to throw your money away on it!
Today I have a challenge. To try and get a really special gift for a 6-year-old girl, on a budget of PLN 70 (around 30 AUD). No it’s not some silly game at cheapskate, it’s a new rule introduced into the annual charity Christmas shopping event I have been participating in for the last few years.
The budget was once a lot higher – around PLN 200. The kids would make their wish lists and the organiser of this fantastic event would email them out to us all. It was in the form of a table, with the kids’ names and ages, sizes if relevant, and a list of things they wished for. With a budget like that (roughly 90 AUD) it was fun to try and get everything on the list – and almost always possible. But the rules have changed. Possibly the orphanage staff were worried about “spoiling” these kids? I don’t know. I thought it was great that you could get a kid a toy, and some cosmetics, AND a warm winter hat, and not blow the budget.
This year it’s different. No wish lists anymore either, just some ideas thrown at age groups, and a tight budget.
So I walk into the sparkly rip-off toy shop at the shopping mall down the street from our place. I know that it’s a rip off, but it’s the closest one around, with a huge choice. The Littlest Pet Shop series starts at around PLN 30 – for two of the tiniest elements you can imagine. The next step up is way over the budget. Try again. A smiling marketing girl wearing kids’ fairy wings and waving a wand from H&M unconvincingly tries to promote some ugly Barbie-type dolls. They are super expensive (around PLN 120) and definitely nothing special. “They’re pretty,” she says and almost laughs at her own lack of conviction. I nod politely and move on.
Damn those “pretty” dolls are annoying. They’re displayed in the middle of an already narrow aisle containing a selection of possible gifts for my 6-year-old friend. Several other women are trying to wedge themselves in between them and look for something that isn’t such an obvious rip-off.
A Polly Pocket set isn’t too bad, and fits the budget, but I’m worried the tiny elements might quickly get lost or destroyed. In desperation I remember some advice from the Christmas email – “most girls probably like Barbie”. The Barbie collection is not too impressive. One princess looks ok but does not cost ok. Another really looks like some kind of porn star, or just dressed to pick up! Yet another is much cheaper but nothing special at all.
And then I find the perfect gift! (And I don’t mean to promote it!) A super colourful My Scene doll, with lots of accessories, that fits the budget so well there’s enough left over to buy a necklace and bracelet set at H&M and only go over just a little bit.
It’s been a successful shopping trip after all :-)
Today I have a challenge. To try and get a really special gift for a 6-year-old girl, on a budget of PLN 70 (around 30 AUD). No it’s not some silly game at cheapskate, it’s a new rule introduced into the annual charity Christmas shopping event I have been participating in for the last few years.
The budget was once a lot higher – around PLN 200. The kids would make their wish lists and the organiser of this fantastic event would email them out to us all. It was in the form of a table, with the kids’ names and ages, sizes if relevant, and a list of things they wished for. With a budget like that (roughly 90 AUD) it was fun to try and get everything on the list – and almost always possible. But the rules have changed. Possibly the orphanage staff were worried about “spoiling” these kids? I don’t know. I thought it was great that you could get a kid a toy, and some cosmetics, AND a warm winter hat, and not blow the budget.
This year it’s different. No wish lists anymore either, just some ideas thrown at age groups, and a tight budget.
So I walk into the sparkly rip-off toy shop at the shopping mall down the street from our place. I know that it’s a rip off, but it’s the closest one around, with a huge choice. The Littlest Pet Shop series starts at around PLN 30 – for two of the tiniest elements you can imagine. The next step up is way over the budget. Try again. A smiling marketing girl wearing kids’ fairy wings and waving a wand from H&M unconvincingly tries to promote some ugly Barbie-type dolls. They are super expensive (around PLN 120) and definitely nothing special. “They’re pretty,” she says and almost laughs at her own lack of conviction. I nod politely and move on.
Damn those “pretty” dolls are annoying. They’re displayed in the middle of an already narrow aisle containing a selection of possible gifts for my 6-year-old friend. Several other women are trying to wedge themselves in between them and look for something that isn’t such an obvious rip-off.
A Polly Pocket set isn’t too bad, and fits the budget, but I’m worried the tiny elements might quickly get lost or destroyed. In desperation I remember some advice from the Christmas email – “most girls probably like Barbie”. The Barbie collection is not too impressive. One princess looks ok but does not cost ok. Another really looks like some kind of porn star, or just dressed to pick up! Yet another is much cheaper but nothing special at all.
And then I find the perfect gift! (And I don’t mean to promote it!) A super colourful My Scene doll, with lots of accessories, that fits the budget so well there’s enough left over to buy a necklace and bracelet set at H&M and only go over just a little bit.
It’s been a successful shopping trip after all :-)
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