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Original poster

The inexpensive Christmas presents always the biggest hits?

66 replies

ChocolateSantaisthebestkind · 04/01/2021 12:58

Was just musing really on childhood and Christmas presents. My kids were very kindly given small stocking filler type gifts from a neighbour of my Mum's and they have been the stand out hits this year. Not that they have made other gifts overshadowed if that makes sense, just that they have been played with so much. I have to admit, I wouldn't have picked them myself, as I would have thought them a waste of ££. Readers, I was wrong.

DS got a small remote control mouse from Hamleys and DD got a set of paint your own peg dolls. They have loved them. I was chatting to my mum and she said, 'oh yes it's always like that, you loved a handbag filled with sweets from a friend more than anything else one year' Anyone else had similar this year or as a child themselves?

OP posts:
TakeMeToYourLiar · 04/01/2021 12:59

DS is 4

Most played with thing here is the stick from the middle of the sprout tree

sandandso · 04/01/2021 13:05

There's a bit of pressure around "big presents", isn't there - they can be anticlimactic even if they were much wanted. And surprise presents are even riskier. I heard of some research that found that people actually prefer to receive simple, predictable gifts that they will definitely enjoy, like a box of chocolates, rather than something unexpected.

Felty · 04/01/2021 13:10

Can’t comment on toys, but my mother gave me a sort of mesh plastic soap rest thing and now my soap is dry and perfectly formed for every use. Every time I wash my hands now and put my soap back I have a mild surge of pleasure at my new soap holder.

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Frownette · 04/01/2021 13:12

Definitely, I'm inordinately attached to a pair of metal tongs and a hot water bottle!

reprehensibleme · 04/01/2021 13:14

TakeMeToYourLiar Grin

NachoNachoMan · 04/01/2021 13:20

My kids love the little bits they get in their stockings. This year my daughter played for ages with a £5 calculator. Then in the evening all 3 loved their bath bombs with hidden dinosaurs, less than £1 each. Some of the larger presents haven't even been touched yet!

NachoNachoMan · 04/01/2021 13:22

Although actually I think I could have just bought them a box of crackers each and they'd have had a whale of a time!

Ireallymustgotobed · 04/01/2021 13:25

DD, 5 years, asked for Frozen dolls and a baby doll with closing eyes to be friends with the one she has for Christmas. I bought an amazing Frozen set but rather than buy a new doll I got out and spruced up a Tiny Tears and some doll’s clothes that were mine as a child (my mum keeps everything!). Frozen set has been played with for about an hour since Christmas, Tiny Tears has been played with constantly. Including playing a Frozen character in the show DD put on for us on Christmas Day.

DD is getting another hand me down doll for her birthday in a few weeks!

AldiAisleofCrap · 04/01/2021 13:27

@Felty do you know the brand of the soap holder?

CarolEffingBaskin · 04/01/2021 13:30

In my house the PS5 has definitely been more loved than anything cheap. Joys of teenagers! Grin

Turnedouttoes · 04/01/2021 13:33

DP is in his 30s and his absolute favourite gift was a Bluetooth shower speaker I got for £10 on Amazon on a whim in the Black Friday sales. He’s over the moon with it

MaidofKent78 · 04/01/2021 13:35

The £2 box of marble run that I found in a charity shop which fits with the existing stuff was my DS5's favourite gift....

EnolanotAlone · 04/01/2021 13:35

A changing colour lightbulb with mini remote for DS room with a timer to switch off ... endless fun every night ..all for £8

ComDummings · 04/01/2021 13:39

I think this is mostly true, yes! This year my son cried with joy because we got him some plushies (about £3 each) of characters from his current obsession, the game Among Us. He was excited about his main present of Minecraft Lego which he really wanted but he was just overcome by these plushies and hasn’t put them down since!
My DD was thrilled with all her presents but the one she loves the most is a handbag which comes with a toy animal in it.

Original poster
ChocolateSantaisthebestkind · 04/01/2021 13:40

[GRIN] These are lovely!

OP posts:
GameSetMatch · 04/01/2021 13:46

Last year both children got silly squeaks just 99p each and have been played with more than anything else last year!

Staysexyanddontgetmurdered · 04/01/2021 13:49

The highlight of my 3 year old son's Christmas was a magnifying glass bought from poundland Grin

BarbaraofSeville · 04/01/2021 13:49

I bought a very hard to please young relative of mine a simple game from the Aldi aisle of crap for under a tenner.

It was on a whim and I was concerned I hadn't put much thought or effort into it.

It was his best present, he played it for hours and just about the only thing he got that willingly got him off his ipad the whole of Christmas.

Tal45 · 04/01/2021 13:50

Mine says his favourite was an automatic card shuffler (we play a lot of card games), it was just a bit of a joke present really.

StillMedusa · 04/01/2021 14:17

DH got a can crusher from DD2 ... and he loves it! He's super hot on recycling and we have a lot of cans over Xmas and it has made him very happy Grin
And the hit present from me was a little hand held sewing machine thingy like a stapler... DD2 hasn't stopped with it since and I got her a book of really simple patterns to go with it. Very satisfying!

UpShutTheFuck · 04/01/2021 14:20

When I was little my mum got me a double dolls pram (the old "carriage" style prams - Silver Cross?). She bought two identical dolls and made dresses and knitted little cardigans for them. She also made a frilly blanket to cover them in the pram.

The pram was left by the Christmas tree all ready for Christmas morning. My granny (we lived with her in her house - my mum hated her!) decided, for no clear reason, to "pop" a little box of embroidered handkerchiefs in the pram when she went up to bed .

My reaction on Christmas morning was, predictably, "oooh, hankies".

Apparently the dolls were quickly stripped naked and wrapped in the hankies Blush

AudTheDeepAndCrispAndEven · 04/01/2021 14:30

The favourite stocking fillers here were picked up on a whim on Christmas Eve day. It was a little sachet of seeds and 'how to grow your own Christmas tree' instructions. They were for sale in BH charity shop at a quid each. I also picked up a set of white glass tumblers to plant them in. Although not 'played' with as such, the kids are checking them everyday after planting them to see if anything is growing yet! I think they think they'll have a six-foot high tree each by next Christmas!

Ariela · 04/01/2021 14:30

DH loves his longer length hot water bottle - our bedroom is on the end and can get a bit chilly, I don't mind it but he likes to be warm and the fact this heats the whole bed is remarkable.
One year I made a furry bean bag, that was a top hit. And another really good present was a basic wooden pull-along with peg people in it.

maxineputyourredshoeson · 04/01/2021 14:42

Dd2 absolutely loved a perfume set I got cheap from B & M, she’s worn it everyday, used the shower gel and moisturiser and is in her handbag ready to go Grin

Dd1 loved the metal rings in her stocking, she’s been practicing her tricks with them Grin

They both absolutely loved other ‘main’ presents too but these are the ones I’ve seen/smelt the most of. Total cost £11 for both....

GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 04/01/2021 14:45

Remote control farting speed poo £5 from groupon bought my ds 5 and friends ds 8 one best present ever 😂