Is this tacky?

Good Lord! We often bought used toys for our children if they were in good condition and sometimes we spray painted them too. Nothing wrong with that at all. As a child I received a used toy pram that I was so proud of. I used to take my 'baby' each week to the pharmacy for them to weigh my baby. The staff used to tell me that she had put on weight and I was so happy.

No, its not tacky you buy what you like, after all , its up to you not anyone else! I buy from resale shops all the time and no one would ever guess and even if they could what do they care it's my choice. Besides look at it this way a child can't tell the difference between a $5 toy and a $100 one, they'll both be broken by tomorrow morning. So, whoever wants to invest more than they need to go right ahead but as long as your comfortable with purchasing these items and your son is content, that is all you need to worry your head over.

i dont care what other people think. i would buy used stuff (and have) and given it to my kids for Christmas. i dont understand what the big deal is.

I had this friend who used to give me used cd's as gifts. yeah, at first I had the reaction that it was tacky, but heck, she got me some really cool ones, they were in great condition, and they were what she could afford. One year she got me the musical Les Miserables in German. I thought that was pretty cool. As for the children, I haven't bought them used gifts, but if my income was a little more restricted I would. I have bought them things off of e-bay that I couldn't find anywhere else, and some of those items were used.

I would! Unfortunately, my sons have been brought up, and gotten used to getting brand new toys for Christmas. It's not that I try to always give them new things, it's just that they have grandmas and grandpas who can afford to spoil them. And I think part of what makes a gift special when they receive it are the boxes that it came with. But definitely, if I could re-do everything, and change the way they view presents, I would get more and more used toys. Aside from it not being too expensive, I think it helps reduce the solid waste out there. Go ahead, it's not tacky!

A really big NO. I don't think it is tacky. It may be because I've never been rich, and I have never thought less of second hand goods. As long as the toys are doing what they are supposed to do, what is wrong? I love Charity shops and always shop at Charity shops before I had kids. My in-laws used to look down on Charity shops and well second hand goods. Someone introduced them to charity shops and well, the finance situation sort of forced them to...mind you, they still would not buy their clothes, but they buy toys for my kids from Charity shops now. This way, they could get lots of different things without spending a lot. I don't mind receiving them either. So it is a win win situation. My children received lots of used toys from different people. And let's face it, some of them are way out of our league, were we to buy new.

I bought my son a keyboard with a stand at a yard sale for $10. I gave it to him for Christmas. I would not have gotten him one otherwise. I see nothing wrong with it, especially if it works and looks good.

It seems to be a huge waste of money and resources to purchase everything new. Especially for children who will lose interest in the toys or grow out of the clothes in six months anyway. IMO, it's socially responsible to get the most use from products by treating them with care, then passing them on to another who can use them.

hi dorannmwin It would be a lot more tacky if you went broke getting gifts at christmas and had to borrow from your sister. lol lol. no its not tacky it is common sense in this recession era to save money on used toys in perfect condition. we Americans have got too status crazy trying to ape the Wealthy Joneses when we do not have their type of money.If its something the children have really wanted I do not think they will care if it was used or not.Preused would not bother me at all if the gift worked and I could use it I would be one happy camper.

I sometimes buy used things, yes.... our swing set was used and it's perfect, we have a used playhouse, a used outdoor kids' kitchen set, and today I am going to pick up a used large Jeep power wheels... all of these things I have either gotten free or for a fraction of the cost it would have been new. I buy used clothing too... off ebay, and occasionally from a consignment shop in town. Some of the stuff is brand new with tags, but it's a few dollars vs $20 or more new. It's worth it! I bought my daughter this cute little dollhouse from a yard sale recently, it was four dollars. It didn't have furniture but it has a working doorbell and the doors and windows open and close. I figured why not, she saw it and fell in love with it while I was digging thru shorts, and she didn't have one - and you can't beat four bucks!

A couple years ago for Christmas I gave my hubby's old PS2 to my 13 year old... now that is tacky! But I needed to give him a decent gift and couldn't afford anything, and he wasn't usually able to play the PS2 when it was hubby's, but after it was given to him he could take it in his room and play whenever he wanted. He didn't mind that it was used, or that it had already been in our house.. he was just excited to have it. My kids get a lot of used stuff as gifts. I've even given them used clothes as birthday and Christmas gifts before. We each do what we can afford, and let me tell you, unless your kids are spoiled rotten, then they don't care if the gift is used or not. As long as it works they'll be excited to have it, regardless if it's brand new or used. Not to mention.. kids can break things quickly and easily.. isn't it better knowing you didn't pay full price when they break it after only a short time? When I'm trying not to sound too broke, I'll use that excuse for buying 2nd hand... because kids break, rip, stain, outgrow, or otherwise destroy things way too quickly so it's pointless to buy brand new.

I give my kids preused toys, books, clothing, whatever all the time - I don't mind giving used stuff to them as gifts - they just see it for what it is (not whether it's new or not). I don't have a problem doing that for my own children. But I would not give a used item to another child as a "gift" - for an occasion, that is. Now if I found something that I knew a kid would love even though it was used, I would buy it and give it to them just to give it to them. My daughter's friends' moms have given us toys their kids don't care for anymore - and we've done the same . . . so as long as it's cool with the parents - it's all good. But I wouldn't wrap a used gift and present it to them as a gift for a special occasion. I wouldn't mind receiving used gifts - to a point. I've told my family that we're fine with used items - to save them money - but they'd rather buy new. Now my dad may find some old kids stuff from his work and happily give it to my kids - that's totally fine with us. But in all honesty, if I gave a birthday party for my kid, and found that a friend guest gave a gift that's obviously been used, I might think that's tacky (unless it's some rare novelty gift or something, unique like you said!).

I don't think I would give used clothes as gifts, but I buy a lot of toys used from amazon, expecially vidio games. Amazon is reputable, and they have a warehouse where they sell items that are new but the packaging is ripped or messed up some way...I don't have a problem with that.

I think it's a great idea in this materialistic world...why does everything have to be new anyway: it is new to the recipient. I don't think that children themselves mind if something is new or used, it is new to them and it is thiers and given in love by someone they care about, they will get just as much pleasure out of it wether it is new or used. There is too much emphasis nowadays on having the best of everything and it being branded and new, we have lost the real meaning of gifts and how they are given to us. Many of my gifts as a child were second hand and my dad lovingly restored them for me and it certainly didn't do me any harm - infact it meant more to me that my parents had managed to afford it at all then spent the time making it mine and if they hadn't done that then I may not have recieved the gift at all.

Of course it's not tacky! Will your children mind? Or will they even realize it? It's smart to buy used toys as long as they're safe. People who think kids should always get new toys are the ones who would complain to high heaven if a landfill went in near where they live. I guess they think used things just disappear into thin air when they're not wanted. A tip: If you want to give used things to adults, shop carefully at yard sales and even thrift stores for collectibles and antiques. You can sometimes find great deals like that.

I'm on the fence on this one. Yes it's tacky because I believe for b-days & holidays they get new toys. However, with the times being what they are and if it's something you couldn't normally afford for your kids and it's in almost new condition w/o a box go for it!

omg, you are a very smart mother. they will love them. ive seen times way back when mine were growing up, they only got a couple of cheap toys for xmas because we didnt have much money. they were perfectly happy with them. one time i even bought a cheap doll for my 8yr old daughter (shes 45 now) and made a bunch of clothes for her (the doll) with scraps clothe i had and she still talks about how much she loved that doll. and shes now my fussiest one about keeping up appearances. your sister in law must be one of those women like my son gets, if it isnt expensive, it isnt good... thats the kind that always complains to their man that they dont have enough money...uuugghh. sounds like shes influencing your brother that way.

Tell them that they are not showing proper respect for the planet. Isn't it much better to recycle then to purchase new and more stuff. We often brought used toys for ou kids, in the first place we got much better ones then we could have afforded new and our kids never had any problem accepting them. Of course no other child made fun of their new toys. I hope no one suggests that to your kids.

I have two opinions on this. For your own children, I think it is perfectly acceptable to buy something that would normally cost you a lot of money for a cheaper price, even though it is gently used. The kids don't know the difference and they would not care. They only care that they got what they wanted. For other members of the family, I would never do this, nor would I buy something at a yard sale for anyone and give it as a gift. I truly would rather not exchange gifts than to give or receive a second hand gift. I think there are enough place to buy a new, inexpensive but still thoughtful gift like at Target and places like that.