To ask how much you spend on presents for other kids birthdays?

[Belladonna666]

My ds gets invited to all the other kids birthdays (seems to be the pc way of doing it in reception and year 1). However, I am finding that I am spending a lot on presents but dc goes to a school with lots of rich families who seem to think nothing of spending £10+ on each present for each child's birthday. We are not very well off and money is tight. I don't think I can get away with buying gifts from the £1 shop though. Last year he was invited to 30+ birthday parties (although he didn't go to all of them) so I need to find a solution.

Can I ask how much you spend on other kids birthday presents and if anyone has any ideas for nice but relatively cheap presents (that don't look to cheap)?

I try to spend less than £10 all in, often using the,Argos 2 for £15 and stashing one for later. We font seem to be overrun with parties though, maybe 10 a year, between them?

I try and spend less than £5 and around £3 if I can. I get multi packs of books from The Book People and split them, so that's maybe £2 or so on a good book and I get some other kind of plastic tat/chocolate/sweets with the other £1. Books are definately the way to go - I just got 15 Roald Dahl books for £15, cover prices of £3.99 to £6.99!

I do £5 gifts max for all but very close friends. And I stock up when I see bargains so very often it'll be a half price £8-10 toy from elc or similar. I very rarely pay full price for things and only for really close friends do I shop for the actual child. I have had several parties for dc and feel a bit uncomfortable if I feel someone has felt they in some way had to spend more than that. In an ideal world the expectation wouldn't be that children bring a gift at all.

I buy the birthday kid a nice top or t-shirt from Next or John Lewis to the value of a tenner or so, and stick a bag of sweets in as well.
I give the gift to the child's mum, with a gift receipt should they want to change it.

The child is normally besieged by toys and tat, so they don't notice if our gift varies from that, but the gesture has been made.

I try to buy a gift that is worth about £8 - £10 without spending that IYSWIM. So I stash up when there is a bargain on hotukdeals for instance.

In saying that, when it was DS1's birthday recently, I have not given any thought to the value of his presents until now, but most of them are the sort of thing that with careful planning etc I'm sure could have been bought for less than £5. Do I care? Does my son care? Not one bit. I would far, far rather have a carefully chosen book that is of interest to my son that cost £1 than a load of random junk that cost £10.

Anyway load of ramble but trying to say that if they are nice age appropriate books etc then really don't think you need to worry about them being cheap!

I go with the multipack of books from the book people so usually spend £1-2 on a £5-6 book then once you add a card. This is for parties that DS2 goes to where everyone in the class has been invited

DS2 is now in a position where it is one or 2 of them having a day trip out somewhere, so I have been spending £10 - £15 ish.. I don't mind as this is now 3-4 time a year rather than per term!!!

when they are going through the phase of inviting everyone, it was £5 inc card & wrap, no they are older and birthdays are more selective ie their actual friends, I will go up to £10

I second the book people, cheap gifts without looking cheap :)

If it's any help, then this all stops by the end of Y2 when they all subdivide into their own friendship groups.

3 for 2 offers on gel pens etc, books etc and recycling presents your own child has received and don't like/want/duplicated.

IF you have one locally, keep an eye on Lidl, about now, they do premium pen sets for £3-4 and look far more expensive. Asda is also doing 2 for £3 on pens, pencils etc.

TK Maxx does AMAZING toy deals. I generally go and stock up on a basket full at a time - barbies for about £6 / disney books for £3 and so on.

This is a really nice looking present for a Reception or Yr 1 girl. www.amazon.co.uk/Melissa-Doug-Sticker-Collection-Fashion/dp/B004KPKWL8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1344418585&sr=8-4

£3.83 from Amazon including P&P. I've given it to a few friends already, and it has always been really well received, even when surrounded by presents in the £10+ category.

I agree book people, sometimes I add a few bits, so a baking book and some cookie cutters, or dinosaur book and aome toy dinosaurs, art book and some pens etc. If you see something which is a bargain then buy 3 or 4 and keep them for the next party, e.g. For closer friends have a small stash of lego from when it was on offer. I would spend about 5 pounds unless very close friends. Hopefully too even rich parents will want their child to learn that their friend being at their party is more important than the gift that they bring. Once you discover the book people you might find that some of the presents are worth less than you think!

the book people have a look at this link.. there are SO many great book sets that can be split into individual gifts for very little money!!

£5 max. More money doesn't mean better presents.

Now DD doesn't go to as many parties (she's 10) I spent £10.

DT's (7) about a fiver but I try and buy something on sale or discounted. I often buy sticker books etc on Amazon.

Under a fiver for general friend parties up to a tenner for best friend group...

We do not do toys now (girls are 10 and 11) - a nice picture frame, a mug with sachets of hot choc and marshmallows, earrings, nail polish or other from Claire's, New Look (deemed "cool" for some reason)/Next T shirt, Lockable journals, gel pens - that sort of thing - can pick up cheaply in the sales for our "OMG it's so-and-so's birthday tomorrow" box..... which is also well stocked with cards when we see nice ones for £1 or less...

£5 here for school friends too. No need to sped more.

£10 - £15. For younger girls £10 claires accessories card and a box of malteasers. For older boys £15 amazon e voucher.

Should have added when they were little I used to stock up on toys in tescos sales and from book people. Also as they get older I find they get invited to less parties.

I spend about £5 on a party present, I go a bit more if it is a special friend.

I try and get a present that looks more expensive than it really is. Home Bargains is good for cheap presents that don't look cheap.

I got some talking Ben and Holly toys for £2.99 (rrp £14.99) and some bendaroos for £3.99. The stock they have changes weekly, so if I see something I get it and put it in a box ready for the next party.

I also look for cheap cards (the children don't really look at them anyway) and get wrapping paper from Costco in bulk which works out at around 5p a sheet.

It seems that some parents spend a fortune, but I am trying to ignore that and just spend what I can afford.

I spent £7.50 on a present for a party at the weekend (argos 2 for £15) and then ended up spending £6 on getting batteries for it - next time I will make sure I get something that doesnt need batteries!

About £5. Argos have recently done a 3 for £10 offer on outdoor toys, so I stocked up on some of those. TBH, most people have no idea who's given them what anyway, so I may just stick to a packet of maltesers next time .

Now that Ds is 11, there are less parties, but they tend to be longer, so I am happy to spend £10 for a whole afternoon's peace; if a sleepover is included I might the parents a bottle of wine as well.

However, I will not spend money on a card that will probably be thrown away a day or two later, so I always give homemade cards.

£5-10 depending on the person. I've been buying quite a few t-shirts from M&S this year as they are really good value and you get some nice ones which are a little different. Personally would prefer kids to get new clothes that will get worn than toys that they might not like, so do the same for other people.

For school, we put into a collection at £5 and the birthday child gets a nice wodge of cash - which always goes down well with them and their parents!

Used to be £15 for good friends' kids/family. Then recession hit and it dropped to £10, then £8, now £5 max. Amazing what you can get for that if you shop around on Amazon/ebay etc. and get thoughtful presents that suit the recipient.

I usually spend £5-£10 on presents for school friends parties. I take the view that if ds is attending a soft play, swimming or golf activity that would cost me at least £5 and then a couple of quid in top for a meal then spending up to a tender is reasonable.