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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what the best £1 you've spent on your kids has been?

56 replies

MrsAukerman · 27/05/2016 17:51

I'll start with mine (DH's actually to give him his dues) - a ball from the pound shop - hours of hands-free parenting both of in the park and our small back yard.
Yours?

OP posts:
DramaInPyjamas · 27/05/2016 17:53

Pavement chalks from the pound shop.

NoTractorsAtTheTable · 27/05/2016 17:55

Bubbles. Every time.

CrazyDuchess · 27/05/2016 17:55

Mini tubes of bubbles

winchester1 · 27/05/2016 17:55

Bubbles

The best nothing I've spent (much better than the bubbles) was learning to make a paper car/hat/plane/ boat - great when travelling with a car obsessed toddler.

CrazyDuchess · 27/05/2016 17:55

Snap tractor

Sgtmajormummy · 27/05/2016 17:56

A packet of crisps that also had a kite in it!
Basically a square plastic sail and some thick thread on a spindle.
We had a picnic on the beach and they played for hours.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 27/05/2016 17:56

It's between the winter coat I got at a charity shop and a toy from the same place. The coat has been worn by both children between the ages of 1 and 2, is lovely and fluffy and has those button on mittens that don't get lost.
The toy I found for £1 is a small version of the things you get in Dr surgeries with the wiggly wire frame that you shuffle beads about on. Ds2 was having a spectacularly bad day when he spotted it and it kept him calm for ages. Still does occasionally!

NeedACleverNN · 27/05/2016 17:57

Stacking cups off the car boot

Both kids love them (3 and 1)

sunnyoutside · 27/05/2016 17:57

Chalks, bubbles or water pistols from the pound shop.

I can still remember mine as a child. For Christmas i was given some lovely presents but my favourite was a doll about 4 inches high in a pink night gown and night cap. Bloody loved that doll. Mum told me years later it had cost her a couple of pounds from Woolworths that she bought at the last minute as an extra stocking present. She had also saved for months and months to buy me a 3 storey Sindy house - which I also liked! But not as much as i loved that doll :)

Buzzardbird · 27/05/2016 17:57

I have just bought DD a skipping rope from the pound shop that counts how many skips you have done...backwards! Hmm

She is thrilled that she can do 990 skips in a few seconds.

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 27/05/2016 17:59

Whoppee cushion

Wannabestepfordwife · 27/05/2016 17:59

Baby massage course! The only thing that would make dd sleep as a baby and still chills her out now, when she's nearly 4

MrsJayy · 27/05/2016 18:01

Etch a sketch doodah with stylus from poundstretchers she played with it for hours on a car journey

anyoldname76 · 27/05/2016 18:02

pavement chalks here, bubbles last about 5 minutes as they always spill them

FlouncyMcFlounceFace · 27/05/2016 18:04

When I was a single parent my elder two were in the equivalent of nursery and infants as a special treat we'd get a box meal at McDonalds. They then had a choice of £1 for the carboot, a McDonalds icecream or to go to the supermarket next door and use the £1 to get a bag of donuts or pack of ten icelollies that'd last a good few days. I remember their agony of deliberation - the treat they could see others around them enjoying, going just across the road for even more or waiting for the weekend for a toy.

They're really sensible with money now at 10 and 12 and whilst money isn't as tight as it was then they really understand the concept of waiting for a better deal and saving for the right thing. My youngest is just five and going through that so important learning curve of you can only spend each pound once. I don't need to do the teaching the DS's sell the concept better than I ever could.

winchester1 · 27/05/2016 18:15

flouncy that a great idea I'm stealing that for in a few yrs time.
(I'm good with money but have no idea how I learnt as my parents weren't and my siblings find it hard going at times.)

seeyounearertime · 27/05/2016 18:16

Pack of balloons. Endless fun, till they pop, then blow up another.

Lovepancakes · 27/05/2016 18:18

Aqua beads, very cheap on eBay and these tiny little balls that when you soak in water turn into big marble-sized things that the DC find fascinating

ineedamoreadultieradult · 27/05/2016 18:19

DS bought a blue bear from Pound land when he was 3 and has slept with it every night since he is now 6. He has countless more expensive soft toys he doesn't give the time of day.

MadamDeathstare · 27/05/2016 18:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IdaShaggim · 27/05/2016 18:19

Rainbow coloured ribbon with a plastic stick on one end... DD spent hours and hours and hours twirling it around and running around the house with it.

Sickofthesickness · 27/05/2016 18:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ohtheholidays · 27/05/2016 18:22

A bag of marbles,I bought one bag from a poundshop,they had loads of marbles in the bag.
I made a circle with some string and my 5DC played marbles with me in the garden for a good couple of hours,they loved it. Smile

LetThereBeCupcakes · 27/05/2016 18:23

Playmobil zoo from the charity shop. Quite a few bits missing but plenty to play with.

Ended up costing far more though as it sparked an obsession in me.

lovebeingmum · 27/05/2016 18:25

A spud gun