To have ferreted away sales items for my boys for the next two Christmas's 🙈

[ItsAllBlahBlahBlah]

I think I've lost the plot. I'm ending my mat leave this week, it's been the longest year of my life, not unenjoyable but extremely challenging with a now 1 and 3yo. I have nothing to do in any down time and through the night bfeeding ds2... I got drawn into the bargain christmas thread last year which saved me a fortune which was a life saver on stat mat pay. Thanks to the savings and doing sweet f since, I had a little money left and have been browsing the sales for toys. So things that are safe bets, mega bloks, lego, toy story (my DS has just got into pixar) Thomas trains, most with 70% or more off for £1-5 per item, lego sets for around £4. I've just typed it all into an app and realised if I stick to my 8 gifts for bday/christmas rule I have enough for two Christmas 🙈 it does mean the events are coming in at about £40 per child which is fantastic but I'm wondering if I have just actually lost the plot. I can still return bits. I appreciate my eldest my ask for something but I am expecting him to ask for lego anyhow as he doesn't have any big boy lego yet, except at the childminders.

Aibu, is this lockdown insanity, really.

Yes and no.
You don't know whether they will like these items in two years time, especially the older one. Buying stuff ahead when you see a bargain can be good. But as you've seen, you can end up buying more than planned.

Can you honestly say you won't buy anything else? What if they prefer Paw Patrol to Thomas... Or hate Lego... Or really want a doll? Will you say no as you already have the gifts?

Just make sure you don't put it away and forget about it, as I did when trying to be efficient and doing Xmas shopping in October! You can always use them an presents for other kids as bday parties crop up, or Xmas for other young relatives- or donate to charities looking for gifts for kids.

Very sensible IMO. I always buy Christmas cards and wrapping paper in the period between Christmas and New Year becuase they are always half price.

I haven't brought anything except the thomas trains which are actually a character item, so I felt fairly confident that they will like them. The lego sets are things like a construction set, petrol station, cars so not themed. The thomas trains I brought as they're colourful and will fit on our wooden track. I don't expect they need to be big thomas fans to appreciate them iyswim.

If they do want a particular item, they will still have wishlists for grandparents. I can always regift the items to younger cousins if I need to swap them out. Oh god. I feel stupid

I think at that age you can get away with it as long as it's not too much character stuff. I've already bought my DS (16 months) an electric rode on because a) it's an ambulance and daddy is a paramedic and b) it was such a bargain. He can't even walk yet but he'll grow. If he's not quitereaxy for it at Christmas I can push it back by a year.

The only issue I can see is that when you get into the christmas spirit you may end up breaking your 8 gift rule!

I do the same, we don’t have kids but I do buy clothes for my husband in the sales and keep them for his birthday/Christmas. I think it’s perfectly sensible

I think you e done amazingly! Wish I had the time and foresight to do the same for my two boys we end up spending a fortune on them last minute because busy and foolish to be honest 🙈

Yes I don't think I'd get away with it when they are older as their tastes change so quickly, especially when my eldest heads off to preschool. My 1yo obviously won't ask for anything and so I've stuck to mega blocks, wooden trains, a few playmobil bits and a car tent. My eldest is lego junior small sets, a robot thing, and admittedly I have brought him a tot story forky as it was £5 from £30 at argos. He finds him hilarious, for a reason that escapes me 😂
I think it's just because I've had so much time. I'm back to work next week so there will be less of that, and please god the youngest will sleep through soon 🙏

Why on earth do you feel stupid??? Until this year, I've always bought things in the sales, ready for birthdays and the next Xmas. Our local WH Smith is closing down so my husband took me and we got quite a few things for gifts over the next year. Every penny counts for many of us and you've bought sensibly.

Honestly I'd keep them but I might be tempted to use them up as gifts. 3-5 is peak party time as lots of whole class parties at nursery/ reception. Obviously not recently but fingers crossed kids can have parties again. Pack of mixed cards from amazon and some wrapping paper and it'll save you those expensive emergency dashes.

Yes that's true, there will hopefully be some parties if I want to get rid of a few bits.

Im not sure I will get the festive urge to buy as I'm hoping we will have more time to actually do some stuff this year 🙏

Thank youb@Pinkfreesias I just feel like I've hoarded abit and don't want to feel like I'm giving my kids bits just because they were cheap iyswim. At the time I was overjoyed, now I'm wondering whether I've been daft. As I say, I have too much time to think 😅

That sounds okay. I must admit that I tend to buy my son's clothes in the sales a year or so before he will be able to wear them.

I do this too although my kids are older now. I had a stash of Thomas trains that I gave my nephew for his birthdays for about 5 years. A stash of Schleich animals, my kids got a few every year in their stockings until they ran out. A local shop were closing their toy department and everything was reduced by 75% or something equally ridiculous.
My latest bargain purchases have been a Boden onesie for my niece and two dinosaur lunchboxes for nephews. Boden sent me a £10 voucher. It would have been rude not to use it especially as the items were already in the sale.
If you buy ahead you can find some fabulous bargains. One of my best buys were two large Emma Bridgewater serving bowls reduced from £60 to £20 as they were being discontinued. My two best friends were delighted with those Christmas gifts.

I predict... Lost the plot. You're gonna want to buy them different things when the time comes so you'll spend plenty more after all -- false economy to buy almost 2 yrs in advance. Plus they may not like those things at all any more. Styles change wrt clothes.

I don't think you've lost the plot, but I think you'll end up buying more. They'll either be into different items, or like me you'll forget where you've stashed them. So you'll have to buy additional things, only to find the gifts again some years later.

Hmm OK, thanks 😬

I do this every year. Safe stuff such as PJ's and clothes or little techy bits I know they'll like. I've always done it. DDs favourite gifts last year were a pair of trainers I got for £15 down from 80 and a hoodie reduced from £100 down to 20 that I'd bought in the January sales. There's no way if be able to afford either full price.

And take it from a mum of adult kids you can't go wrong with Playmobil/ Lego / Brio etc.

I often buy small things in the sales and put them away for Xmas/birthday presents for my DC (or my nieces/nephews/friends' children). I was actually thinking that I must get start getting some bits in now.

I normally buy: clothes/shoes in next sizes up, bath things, funky pens/pencils (stocking fillers), colouring/activity books, small toys/puzzles. I stash them in a box and then gift them.

The main presents, I wait until closer the time, find out what they want and then see if I can get it secondhand (if it costs a fortune brand new!). My DD wanted a Fur-Real unicorn for Xmas last year. I found a lovely one secondhand (brand new, they really do cost a fortune!).

@JesusAteMyHamster

I do this every year. Safe stuff such as PJ's and clothes or little techy bits I know they'll like. I've always done it. DDs favourite gifts last year were a pair of trainers I got for £15 down from 80 and a hoodie reduced from £100 down to 20 that I'd bought in the January sales. There's no way if be able to afford either full price.

And take it from a mum of adult kids you can't go wrong with Playmobil/ Lego / Brio etc.

My 14yr old still loves his Lego (and would have more if we had the room). He's accumulated enough over the years to probably set up his own store! Hell, my siblings, cousins and myself (our age range is 30's-50's) have been known to get our old Lego sets out (and put them together etc)!

If each individual item is relatively inexpensive just leave them in the loft and if they don't fancy those toys when this Christmasses come around just use them for all the gazillion class parties ahead of you over the next few years.

There is a thread every year, someone who bought early presents and now can't find them as Christmas is very fast approaching.

Big DS sold off all his Lego at age 14.

I do this and have a "gift box" to delve into for presents as and when needed over the years. I do less now for the older children 8+ as they ask (or we ask) for more specific things.

I've done this in the past but find I normally end up buying things nobody wants when the time cinema.