AIBU or is £6- £8 enough for birthday presents for nursery friends?

[Londonmamabychance]

How muh do you normally spend on birthday presents when you get invited to parties for your children's nursery friends? I have normally spend around £6-£10 per present, but with wrapping paper or gift bag + card I think it often end up being quite expensive, expecially when people have combined parties. On the other hand, I understand how much parents normally spend on throwing the parties (especially in London where few people have space enough to host at home and end up hiring expensive spaces), and don't want to come across as stingy. What do you consider a fair amount?

I usually spend between 7-10 euro. Homemade birthday card and buy rolls of wrapping paper on offer!
I think it's sad that we give kids gift bags now, isn't ripping open the paper half the fun?!!

In fact I only spent £10 on my own dd this week! She asked for an art set in a wooden box from The Works. She also got a bike off freecycle.

She will be having a party and that's the big expense! I could never keep up with spending £10 on every party they are invited to and I would hate to think others would struggle to spend a lot on my children.

I think that's fine and sensible I usually spend around that or less but the value much higher, I pick up toys that i believe to be good quality in the sales and stash in a birthday box along with a cheap multipack of cards and always reuse gift bags.

I go for wrapping paper with stars, balloons, animals. It's easier.

As little as possible. 50p is my record (reduced from about £10). Sale shop is possible and stash away.

I think card factory have a website? No chance I'm spending £3 on a card for a small child who probably won't even bother to open it.

Ikea do great wrapping paper. It's cheap and very thick. They tend to stay quite gender neutral too.

Cheers for all the ideas, all! Just want to say that yesterday went into Tiger, the Danish chain that's opened a fair few places around UK and especially in London as there's no card factory near me (looked t up and will defi be poppin in to stock up next time I'm near one) and they have really nice wrapping paper for £1 and cards for £50 p. Not quite as cheap as I'd like it, but okay.

My child has just started reception and i use wrapping paper off a role, get my little one to make a card, buy a gift for about a fiver and top it up with a big bag of chocolate or sweets.

I used to put £5 in the card or buy a nice book... Now they get a card and £1 bag of chocolate buttons or similar.

I used to fret over how much I had to spend and how it would look until one week I was absolutely brassic and thought, "fuck it". Who even remembers anyway. I'm sure any gift is appreciated at the time and most probably forgotten about later.

I actually think anything over a fiver is quite alot to spend on a child who isn't family/close friend but I suppose that depends on your financial position- five pounds is alot to some and practically nothing to others.

being against gender stereotyping isn't a political stand, its a moral stand. And I certainly will 'inflict' my moral code on my child....

£5 presents here

Ice that's right. What's bloody wrong with people!? Just buy some rainbow coloured paper or starry stuff. The pink fairies and blue pirates aren't mandatory!

When my dad was st nursery everyone used their children's paintings at wrapping paper. The ones they brought home from nursery.

Dd not dad

I agree with all the above - stash of cheap cards, £5 presents (often new pens and colouring book) a d present drawer. Maybe £10 for good/best friends. Also, I only ever buy silver wrapping paper. It does everybody for every occasion.

Clinton cards do packs of 8 age specific birthday cards for 99p. Unfortunately they are very obviously boy/girl so you need to buy 2 packs for any given school year of parties. I then have a massive roll of multipurpose happy birthday paper for all. And then asda 2 for £14 on the toy presents. So £7/child plus pennies for the card and paper.

I usually spend around £7, but try to get stuff on offer to get something good. Even then I worry about being seen as mean because round here people often seem to spend £15-20. My kids have been given £20 gift cards, not even close friends. I wish they wouldn't , no way I can spend that much in return. But I suppose £20 to them is probably like £5 to me!

A book on offer, so a couple of quid. I hate spending money for the sake of it.

no more than £5, bit more if a 'close' friend

savoy yes that is a win win...saves money and gets rid of 'art'....

I stock up in the January sales and keep an eye out on the clearance aisle at supermarkets and have a stash in my present drawer. I dont pay more than £5 and if you are worried it doesnt look much a cheap sticker or activity book can easily be added.

No need for boys or girls wrapping paper bearded how about you just use some wrapping paper?

How much I spend varies, usually £7.
I get my DC to make cards and decorate either plain paper or plain cotton bags instead of gift bags. I have a stash of multi coloured wrapping paper, tissue paper and cellophane for wrapping too.