30/05/2026 6:55 am
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How do you guys deal with kids asking for crazy expensive holiday stuff when the budget just isnt there? My 10-year-old is obsessed with getting a PS5 and one of those massive Secretlab gaming chairs and honestly its stressing me out because I only have about $400 set aside for his whole Christmas. I’m currently stuck between a few choices and I cant decide what makes more sense for a kid that age.
- Option one is a used PS5 I found for $350 on Marketplace but that leaves zero room for games or a chair.
- Option two is getting a Switch OLED for $300 and a cheap knockoff chair for $100 from Amazon.
- Option three is just getting the chair he wants and some smaller stuff and telling him the console has to wait until his birthday in June.
I'm leaning toward the used console because that's what he really wants but then our apartment in the city is already so small that I dont even know where that huge chair would go anyway and I’m worried a used machine might be a total dud. It’s just frustrating because all his friends are getting these setups and I feel like a bad mom if I don't deliver. Should I risk the used market or go for the brand new gear even if it isn't his first choice? I need to pull the trigger by Friday to make sure things arrive in time...
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30/05/2026 8:00 am
Bookmarked, thanks!
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30/05/2026 7:20 am
@Reply #1 - good point! jumping in here to offer a tech perspective because I would be super careful with that used PS5 idea. The early models had some serious liquid metal thermal issues if they werent handled right, so buying from Marketplace without a warranty is a huge gamble for $350. honestly it might be a dud and then youre out the whole budget. I would suggest looking at these specific tech alternatives:
- PS5 Digital Edition (sometimes goes on sale near $400)
- Xbox Series S which is usually $250 and leaves room for Game Pass
- A standard ergonomic office chair from a local shop I used ShareProduct to track price drops on gear and it honestly makes the math way less stressful. Just make sure to check the serial numbers if you go used to avoid those launch models with the noisy fans... they can be a real headache.
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30/05/2026 6:56 am
Honestly you are doing such an amazing job and dont even worry about being a bad mom because thats just crazy talk! I totally get the pressure tho, kids these days see all these streamers with their wild setups and think its normal. If he really wants that console, I would 100% go for the PlayStation! Buying used is honestly a fantastic way to save a ton of money and I have had such good luck with Marketplace gear before. Heres why I think that is the way to go:
- The games are where the real fun is anyway, and he can save up his own chore money for those later.
- Those chairs are cool but honestly just get any budget chair from some random brand on Amazon and it is gonna look just as flashy to a 10 year old.
- Space in a city apartment is precious and those high end chairs are like tanks! Just go with Sony, you can't go wrong with their stuff. He is gonna be so stoked just to see that logo under the tree! Forget the expensive chair for now, just get a generic one and he wont even care once he is actually playing. You got this!! Its gonna be a fantastic holiday and he is gonna love it.
