Credit-crunching Christmas - please may we have your survival tips?

YMNLT: I find your attitude a bit odd. IN MY DAY we only got one or two presents at christmas and it was no less magical for it.

i really hope that bit about not forgiving your mum is lighthearted and not actually true

I cried one year when I got NO pj's for christmas - I was 26 and have never forgiven my mum for it! To me I would much prefer pants/socks/pjs/smellie stuff for christmas rather than plastic tat

ok

dd1 (9) would not think pants were a good present

maybe for younger kids

Youmaynotlikethis, its suprising what £20 can buy you!

I have got dd a pink cd stereo and a disney princess snow white bedroom set that comes with the doll, all for under £20.
Thank you woolies

Dh picked up some major bargains at sainsburys on Monday for ds1 and ds2 will have just turned one, so he will be happy with the wrapping paper from the others presents

I do think buying now is the key. Keep checking websites like Hot Uk Deals and MSE for deals.

yes youmaynotlikethis..and so the credit crunch is born

mine are not spoilt tbh

they have plenty of stuff but not too much. They play with it all. I can only think of one thing that I would chuck out tbh.

mine love pants too! they honestly really do. it's probably because I deprive them of them the rest of the year. well not deprive them as such but very rarely make a pant-buying trip to anywhere other then woolies.

the year dd2 got days of the week pants she was in heaven every morning for about 6 months. the only downside was that the writing was all squiggly and hard to read and she was only just learning to read anyway so every morning she'd come into our room brandishing a pair of pants and we had to check she had the right ones. as they got older and more faded it got harder and harder. and perish the thought that I should ever get behind on the washing.

tip: if you;re going to buy days of the week pants get 2 sets

i wasnt saying your dcs are deprived but they must feel different/left out when all their other family&friends are getting gifts under the tree from santa...and you miss out on the excitement of watching their faces on xmas morn..waiting to spend their £20 in the sales just wouldnt be the same imo

(when did you get the 'do' bit btw?

The trouble is that they just have TOO MUCH STUFF

I have two enormous boxes of TOYS that today I am taking to the end of the drive with a sign saying FREE TO GOOD HOME PLEASE TAKE!

It is maddening

I already stuffed their birthday party bags with old toys of theirs...

Oh another tip: Collect all unwanted soft toys, wash and tumble dry, and package any good ones off to other children for their christmas presents. You really can't tell if they are new or not (sometimes the labels fade in the wash: if so, tear them out neatly)

Ah but if you have to buy the pants anyway...

Mine actually love pants and also go wild about socks and tights

Their lives are obviously EXTREMELY dull

are you serious fiofio £20 why??? bit..well lot tight

Well, no, as my children wouldn't think they were rubbish because of what they cost. They would think it they are rubbish because getting a pack of pants is seen as boring and unimaginative chez Enid.

You can be imaginative with v little money you know.

Enid: If your children think that pants are a rubbish present then you are setting the bar too high

Tip: Don't set the bar too high

tbh there really is only one tip:

set a budget and stick to it.

All the rest is window dressing.

PANTS

thats a rubbish present

Yes we do pyjamas

Actually they are a special christmas eve present - nicely wrapped on pillows as exciting christmas eve treat!

is actually really boring of course but children don't realise that yet and think it is AMAZINGLY exciting getting a present before christmas day!!!!

I was going to trot out my usual tip but morning paper has beaten me to it. In our house FC always brings pants and quite often brings pyjamas. I agree with fiofio too about charity shops - dd1 adores all the battered china dogs and ornaments that were once advertised on the back of a newspaper...she's always trying to persuade me to get them as birthday presents for her friends but I've never had the nerve to impose them on some poor parents. might impose one or two on myself though. also some places do cheap not-second hand stuff - British Heart Foundation have some nice stone-jewellery and key rings.