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have a question about birthday.

purpledaisies's picture

I bought my son a car for his 16th and he does not have his license yet so I drove his car for a while. However while I was driving it it broke down so bad that it is toast. I feel I owe him another car.

I did get another car but it is twice as good as the original car.

So my question is this should he get this car to replace the other car for is 17th bday or should I still get him something for his 17th?

thanks

Comments

purpledaisies's picture

It is not weird as it was a 16th bday present that I planned on doing when they were little. He is working on it as he has his permit. But He never got to drive his car and then it broke down on me while I was driving it. As I said it is toast so yes I feel as though I should replace it.
Would you feel the same way if you were driving someone else's car and it broke down, wouldn't you want to fix it or replace the item that was broke?

Besides that was not my question so if you would lie to answer my question then please do other wise please don't tell me that I shouldn't buy my kid something.

somerg's picture

if he never got to drive the car and he wasn't "driving" at the time how do you owe it to him? now i could see if HE bought the car for when he turned 16 and got his license and YOU broke it, but YOU bought it you don't owe him :?

sugarcookie's picture

unless the car breaking down was your fault (like you wrecked it) i don't think you owe him a car. maybe contribute when he is ready to bu one himself if you feel the need to, but not a whole new one.

12yrstepmonster's picture

To answer your question, I wouldn't buy him anything more for his birthday. You said this car was nicer than the first- so you did an upgrade for him.

I would feel obligated to repair what I broke, which is the reason I do not drive SD's car - and very rarely will I drive DD's car.

purpledaisies's picture

Thank you for understanding my question. That is what I was asking. I drove his car b/c mine was brown down and was getting fixed.

It certainly is not my sons fault he is out of his car now is it?

purpledaisies's picture

Yes the car braking down was my fault. I was driving it and it over heated and I didn't know. So that is why I said I feel as though I should replace it.

So my question is that I replace the car which the car that I replace it with is twice as nice should I give him that car for his 17 th bday. Or should I replace the car and still get him a present?

Elizabeth's picture

OK, I'll bite. I think you should replace the car. You bought it for him, yes, but in using it you broke it. That's like buying a kid a computer, breaking it, and then telling them, "Oops, too bad." He likely doesn't have the means to buy a car and I'm assuming you already told him the one you bought was for him? If it's something you have always wanted to do (and already did), yes, you need to make him whole again.

caregiver1127.2's picture

You don't need to buy a birthday present if you want to then do it but do something small - you are getting him a car that is twice as nice so that in my book is worth at least birthdays 16 - 25 Smile

purpledaisies's picture

Thanks caregiver. It was never a question about not getting him the car b/c that is what I wanted to get each of my kids for their 16th bdays. I did get both of them one, each one was a starter car nothing fancy but works. I was just feeling that I replaced the car I broke (which can not be fixed) was for his 16th bday. But then I had the guilt of not getting him something for his 17th bday. Make sense?

caregiver1127.2's picture

Yes but only get something small I am not kidding about that car being for several birthdays - as kids get older they should not come to expect too much on their birthday - they are becoming adults and lots of presents are for kids.

alwaysme's picture

I think that yes you should replace it but i dont see any reason to go out of your depth financially by replacing it with an even more expensive one, one of the same value should be enough. Unless of course you are one of the lucky ones who has money coming out of their ears, but then what values will you teach your son if you just keep buying him more expensive gifts???
Then just get him a gift as per normal for his 17th i am sure he would appreciate it regardless

purpledaisies's picture

No I don't have money running out of my ears. IF you must know I bought this care for a total of $900 which is a little more then the other one I bought however it is nicer just happened that way.

I got a good deal. I saved the money and bought it. It was something I always wanted to do. I don;t spend a whole lot on my kids so I don't see why I can't splurge on one thing in their life time.

If I do get him something it would be something small. I was just debating on if I should or not.