In going to the 99p shop to buy a few birthday gifts.

[DillyDaydreaming]

Background - tis end of the month and all bills are paid - food in the house apart from milk top ups etc. I have £15 to last until Friday and DS has a party invite for tomorrow ( only invited yesterday - a last minute thing).

I was thinking of buying 2 or 3 items so not a total cheap skate.

Or do I get a card and say pressie will follow which tbh I'd rather do as I could afford something better then.

Birthday boy's Mum is taking him and a fee friends bowling and to the quasar thing.

Mum is lovely so I know she'd be okay with " pressie to follow" but don't want DS to be the only one not giving something - even if it's something small.

End of month is always a hard tine for me financially now petrol has gone up.

I don't think it matters what at all what it actually cost, that child receiving will not know that. I look for bargains that look as if they cost more than they do. I still think that a hardback book is plenty.

I buy nearly all my presents for kids parties in the 99p, poundshop or Asda £1/sale range.

13yr old this weekend is getting 2 sets of Miss Sporty makeup for £1 each
5yr old last week got a truck from Asda sale for £3
3yr old week before got a CARS book, toy story colouring book and toy story pens all from the £1 shop

I dont see the point in spending a fortune on other kids. I only spend £20 on my own sons for their birthdays so like to shop for decent bargains for others. like someone else said, 99p and £1 shops are often full of labelled stuff from last seasons range, or bankrupt stock.

Cant you put a fiver in the card?

Kids don't care how much stuff costs (parent might, but kids are nicer) As long as it's something pretty/interesting/useful they are happy. I buy stuff in sales, unless it's a good friend or someone who has bought good for my dd before, but the 'going rate' for birthdays round here is £15-20. I can tell because lots give vouchers and cash, and they are all 10-12 year olds.

YANBU I do this all the time! When the £1 shop has some good stuff I buy a few and keep them in stock for children's friends' birthdays.

Agree with earlier posters that quality is more important than quantity though,you have to search through the tat. Better to have one nice pressie than 5 tat ones definitely!

Pound shops are good for party bag gifts too, I sometimes buy a load and have a lucky dip.

Craft stuff is good value and i think mums like it too as it gives their kids something to do! Especially things like paint your own piggy bank or beads for threading, card making stuff etc.

The Works is good for craft stuff as well as books and they often have cut price cards. Yuo can often get 3 books for £5 on special offer there. The books often have a rrp of £10 each so a bargain really!

I felt a bit embarrassed when some parents spent a lot on dd's birthday gift last year. She'd invited the class to a good value soft play do and I felt that it was a bit wrong when we ended up in profit! A token is all that's needed, esp at the stage when there are lots of children invited, ie you could be going to many, many parties in the year. Budget usually a fiver, or what could be bought for fiver full price so sales bargains don't get topped up. And bargain cards and paper.

consider my family well off (as in earn enough to cover all bills, go on hols once a year etc)- but we don't spend lots on presents. Get multi-pack books from bookpeople then split them up for parties (so £1 per book) and for anyone close budget for birthdays is £10 ish. Don't expect anything expensive for my kids either - they love: a pot of playdough, a set of hair clips, a plastic farm animal etc

YANBU, I get the ASDA £1 and £2 gifts throughout the year and use for pressies, DS b'day and stocking. ATM they have Ben10 and Disney Cars Mugs for £2. I have bought 4!!

I went mad in Poundland this Xmas for our three kids and do you know what? They loved the cheapo prezzies better than the 'biggie' ones!

I always will remember having our first invite the whole class party.

Everyone came apart from one little boy, his mum had sent a text to say he was unwell (I still suspect she was having a bad month but her DS grumbled so much she gave in)

They arrived during the food being handed out & DD's face was a picture when an extra friend arrived.

When we opened presents, later at home, her late friend had given her a box of choc's which still had the discount sticker on them as they were nearly out of date.
DD shouted "yeah chocolate".

I sent thank you notes & the mum phoned to apologise, I didn't get the apology but she made me laugh when she told me she had to leave the discount sticker on incase we didn't check the best before date & the present made us all ill!!!

So thoughtfull.

Total price of present = £1.99
Card with price tag on = £0.99

DD very pleased that every one enjoyed her party

I've just got back from a visit to town and popped in the £1 shop. Managed to get a Disney Princess glass for £1 and a Ben 10 Kite for £1. Both retail at over a fiver, and are being put away for the next birthday parties the kids are invited to. Not tat, just last seasons stuff

otherwise I'd go with a box of Maltesers and a 'pressie to follow' note in the card.

but isn't a card and a box of Maltesers a perfectly acceptable present?
OP is skint, kids love chocolate, card is there, bingo.

why send anything else, it's not like the OP's really close tothis child's family/it's a massive long term planned thing

i don't get all this expense on presents for children, there are so many parties throughout the year i'm surprised most parents would expect more tbh

Reporting back - birthday boy LOVED the football encyclopaedia - in fact had to be told not to go off and read it while ignoring his friends.