If you have youngish dc do you have a gift cupboard? Where do you buy stock from?

[TonkaTruckduck]

Dc have a party to attend most weeks, which is lovely for them of course. But I'm like a blue arsed fly running around trying to get pressies, finding out what the birthday child likes etc.

I'ta probably loads more efficient to have a cupboard of generic age appropriate stuff to dip in to, but where to start?

Any recommendations on what always goes down well, or any tips?

I never did because kids interests rapidly change.. My child also received recycled presents from other mums and dads as you could tell because they were not the correct age or match any of their interests. Even though they were new. To be honest these just went to charity shop.

No, it's space-consuming, fashions change, and it's easier to do what everyone in DS's class does, which is to stick a token amount of money in a card, or give Pokemon cards.

I have a store of Melissa and Doug reusable sticker scene books and everyone gets the same! My daughter is 5

Mine was generally filled with surplus gifts given to my own DC at their parties

I follow a couple of bargain sites on Facebook and so I do stock up on a few bits on there when they flash up. Things like colouring pens, playdoh for my nursery child and lego sets for my older one. If there's nothing in the bag that the dc want to give then I go to the shops. Gifts get empties once a year into a Christmas toy appeal.

I buy the 2 for a tenner craft sets from the works. Can't go wrong with craft stuff.

Depends on age, but from 6 - 9 then tend to do books (can get when offer on amazon 2 for £7), or small lego sets. Often get the creator 3 in 1 sets when on offer somewhere - like when argos do 2 for £15. Or the smaller superhero mech sets are less than £10. Or jigsaw puzzles. Or the dinosaurs in eggs are good fun too. For my older ones friends (age 9 - 10), we now do a pack of football stickers as they collect them (there is a pack where you get 6 packs in it), a bar of choc or bag of sweets, and £5 in a card. Seems to go down well.

When mine were little I did, yes.
Sometimes, as pp, they were things my dc had received that were duplicates or that they weren't interested in.
I used to buy things in the sales after Christmas sometimes, or sometimes shops had things on 3 for 2.
I used to buy things from the Book People.

It is a very practical thing when you are at work and have dc being invited to parties at short notice.

Would also sometimes buy a box set of books and give 1 or 2 - like Roald Dahl or horrible histories set as can work out as £2 - £3 per book.

I do a big order at Poundtoy now and then

Fiver in a card or colouring stuff.

Yes shop from argos clearance certain times of the year, smyths & entertainer clearance too. You can often get things for buttons. Also amazon you can sometimes get things dirt cheap too.

I've always done this! Usually just grabbed a load of the gift packs from Smiggle for years.

Now he's older it's a tenner in a card

usually duplicates they had been given / wouldn't use. Gets easier when they're older, bung a tenner in a card.

Thank you all so much.
I know money in a card is so much more practical and easy, but it just doesn't seem to be the done thing here just yet, dc are still lower primary age.
I think I'll stock up on some craft goods, always a lifesaver on a rainy day.
I'd never heard of Poundtoy but will have a look now.
The trouble will be keeping my dc away from the box, I'll have to hide it at the top of the airing cupboard or they'll ransack it I'm sure.

I am currently gifting stamper pens from paper chase £5 and a bath bomb. Going down well so far!

Sainsburys toy sale, or when they have lego 25% off. Or if I’m ordering something on a website wich you need to spend a certain amount to get free delivery. Or if there’s a game my kids like in particular in a sale I’ll get a couple. By age 8 there are fewer parties and more specialist likes than you know about.

I used to stock up on things from various toy offers from Argos, Rex London sales, books The Works, stuff from Tiger, and of course duplicate items that DD was given.

Now she’s a bit older I don’t need the toy stash as much, as large parties are fewer, and birthday gifts tend to be for children she knows well so they have preferences (like eg., Harry Potter or Ninjago stuff). Must admit I don’t miss having to store a stash of toys!

One thing I do recommend though is to get a big multipack of nice birthday cards so you always have one to hand.

Yes- a card stash is your friend. I get ones without age on, and ones like wheres wally ones are good as good for both sexes. And think one of my son's favourite presents from a party was a box of maltesers and £5!

Ooh I've got loads of cards....we have a cheapy card shop that sells 10 for £1, which my dc love embellishing with jewels and stickers, they are truly headache inducing work of art by the time they've finished! I also bulk buy wrapping paper, or use brown parcel paper which again the dc decorate.

Thanks to everyone again, I'll keep an eye out in the sales.

Do you tend to do one pressie or a few bits, e.g a craft bit, some sweets and a book? I imagine 5 year old are delighted with what appears to be a bag full of presents.

I’d suggest you start the new trend for a fiver in a card (£10 for closer friends) and a token wrapped item such as small stationery item or small box of chocolates. Upgrade to a costa or similar voucher from year 7 onwards although at that stage your child can be given the funding and asked to sort the present!

I guarantee others will be relieved.

Along the same lines keep a roll of generic stripy or happy birthday paper in a neutral colour, and multipack of cards from Amazon - or the cheapo card shops do 5 for a £1 or similar offer.

yes to smaller gifts if your dc will choose specifically for their friend, pop in gift bag.

No to multiple gifts. I think it devalues and it overwhelming. I do have a 'present bag'. It is in my daughter's bedroom and there is no way my kids would help themselves! I put in unwanted or duplicate gifts and things I find in sales. Books and crafts mostly.

never had a present cupboard, but do work next door to a big Tesco, so would unashamedly nip in there the night before a party unless it was a very close friend. Box of lego, lovely fresh pack of felt pens, box of maltesers are all a pretty safe bet. And as others have said cash in a card is never unwelcome.