To ask how much you spend on presents for kids you don't know?

[TessieVanKendre]

My DD started reception September and has been invited to a fair few parties. Thing is, I always feel obliged to take a present for the child ( which I absolutely have no problem with at all) my problem is, I never know what to get and how much to spend. I try not to go over £10, but you don't really know if that's too much or too little.

What do you buy for boys and what do you buy for girls? (turning 5-6)

At that age colouring book and pens Older no more than £5.

My child is the same age and I always buy kids I don’t know a sticker book like this one: www.amazon.co.uk/Sticker-Picture-Atlas-World-Books/dp/140955001X/ref=asc_df_140955001X/?hvlocphy=9045945&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=310977284312&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos=1o2&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=aud-543776533562:pla-470165934691&hvrand=13975655725448483725. Under £5 and goes down well. I get the kids to draw cards as bought cards are a total waste of money at that age when kids are never excited by the card.

Of course you must take a gift even if you don’t know the child! It’s their party, your child (who IS their friend) has been invited... I spend £10 per gift. My top tip would be to stock up on age appropriate presents at the start of the year, ideally taking advantage of sales or buy one get one free promos. That way you’ll always have something in the cupboard. For example this year I bought lots of slime kits in the Tesco toy sale. Were about £16 reduced to £10. Also they are suitable for most ages and genders.

I have a box under the bed and when I see something super cheap on sale I buy it and put it in the box.
Also, duplicate presents my kids get go in too and are regifted.
I get the kids to choose something out the box for their friend. It is often stuff like stationary, squashies, slime, lego.

I always give a £10 book tolken unless i knew the child and parents.

There’s sometimes Orchard Toy games on Amazon reduced. I did that a lot. Could get one for maybe £6/7 rather than £10.

How do people afford or justify £10? When mine where little they often went to 3 parties a month £30 on gifts would be impossible

I buy all the cheap kids stuff from Aldi and save. Little box for parties. We have a party today for a 5 year old. Box of felt pens and stickers. Bag of sweets. Slipper socks and play doh and colouring book. Came to about £7.

Between £5 & £10 I try to spend.

Build a Beetle is only £5 at the mo. Age 4-8 suitable. Buy a few of them then you’re sorted for boys and girls for the rest of the year.

No more than £5.

Party today, I got a garden game thing from B&M for £3.99

I've tended to get stuff 2 for £10 or similar in The Works as they often have nice little game or craft sets. Or I recycle presents we've been given which ds has no interest in. This year ds2 received 11 lego sets from 11 school friends, some of which was duplicated so that goes back into the future gifting pile ready for the next party.

I tend to get 2 gifts for £15 from Argos. I always think that works out well.

Oh God, not the super cheap stuff from the back of the shelf at TK Maxx or Home Bargains. Generally some shitty craft activity they ll never use!
I used to buy a not too lurid tee shirt from Tesco with a little bag of sweets, so spending generally £6 ish, and stick the receipt in the card.

£5 for kids we don’t know, £10 for best friends.
Stock up on stuff you see going cheap, arts and crafts stuff is always a winner.
A bag of sweets and a book / Argos / Claires voucher inside the card for them to choose their own book, toy, tat as they get older. DD loves choosing her own stuff.

Well yes, you have to take a gift. You sound a bit reluctant?

We spend £10 or sometimes get the 2 for £15 as above

Used to spend £5 when they were having while class parties, but I used to get things that were reduced so looked like I had spent a bit more

Now they are a bit older and parties are smaller and less regular, o probably spend £10-15.

“my2bundles

How do people afford or justify £10? When mine where little they often went to 3 parties a month £30 on gifts would be impossible”

We have 3 parties TODAY🤣 I suppose if you can afford it £30 isn’t impossible? We both work FT

£5 max on a child I dont know. More for an actual friend.

I buy things in mutipacks and split them. Tkmaxx sometimes have wallets with usborne books with 10 for about £7 but the rrp of each is £4.99. Split the pack, that's 10 presents.
Aldi kids events are good for cheap toys and books. They often have good brands st much lower prices, for example this month they had orchard toys games for £3.99. Stock up and stick them in a drawer for next time you have a party.

Cards from card factory where its 7 for £1.

Parties cost a fortune for the parents - especially class ones, rent a hall, an entertainer or bouncy castle, loads of food, party bags. The party bag alone costs more than the gifts some of you are giving. I get it if that’s your budget, but given the middle class demographic on here I think some of you are just being stingy.

I refuse to spend money on kids I don’t know. I’d rarely spend £10 on a present for my own children! But I’m crafty (sewing mainly ) so so far I’ve made some little hair clips or hair bows and given those. Not so easy to make for boys though, not sure what I’ll do then.

I aim to spend £7 on something that should cost £10.
We have down orchard toys games, my little pony, small Lego sets, usbourne books.

£5 is my limit, asda have some lovely kids garden kits for £5 at the minute which are great for summer birthdays. The fairy/desert/pizza garden planting sets or paint your own gnome/birdhouse.

£5

You don't have to accept every party invite though. Mine only go to their friends parties, not every whole class party. I think it's nice to get a decent gift rather than plastic tat that will end up in the landfill. The Book People sell lovely sets/sticker books etc at a reasonable price. I try and spend around £8 or so.