Presents for 12 kids.

[Treesandsheepeverywhere]

My husband and I don't have kids, but have 12 kids in the family/friend group.
Have been trying to get presents and hhooked at the
Doesn't help that 4 have birthdays in November and December.

UNO, pass the pigs etc and a box of Xbox's per family. We'd love that!

I wouldn’t give presents to friends kids. Immediate family only. Token tin of biscuits/ chocolates if you want.

Thank you for the suggestions and links.
Having a look now.

That's the thing, all of the kids want for nothing really so it's even harder tying to come up with good presents.

I like to give stuff that will be used and not just end up in the bin by the new year.
It takes a lot of thought and time on top of the financial cost. It's exhausting but the numbers crept up slowly.

If you want to get them presents then just ask the parents what they think the children would like or what will be the 'main' present and if you could get something that goes with it - ie main present is a Barbie so you gift a couple of outfits or main present is the Lego Police Station so you gift the little Police Car set.
I think it's better to have presents that go with each other rather than lots of random stuff.

Oh blimey, buying both birthday and Christmas presents for 10 kids who aren’t related to you is a bit of a madness, however if you enjoy giving and can afford it what I’ve always done is keep an eye out for bargains and buy throughout the year. And if the kids are of a similar age you could get them joint Christmas presents like a game they could all play together and then perhaps a big tin of sweets/chocs.

Just get them choc/sweets or stick £5 of coins in a card. I remember our next door neighbour doing that for us at Xmas or Easter and we were thrilled. I agree board games are good but even they can get expensive (when buying for more than one family) - and you don't know what games they already have. You're friends

I would be buying a book for each of them. Look at the Waterstones lists for their age group, select and order. Simple to wrap too.

Yes to a game per family for friends - and def keep an eye on the bargain Christmas thread. There was a link to Exploding kittens for example pst week for £11. That and a box of Roses/Heroes etc is fine. If you are seeing them over Christmas then you can ply it with them.
Also great ideas for your niece/nephew and birthdays on bargain thread.

Sorry.... You're friends, not close family so I'd have thought gift expectations would be minimal. Even you could bake some nice Xmas cookies, that type of thing.

Great suggestions on here for family gifts going forward for your friends only. I'd probably get my siblings kids a gift but for friends kids, I'd buy a board game or tin of biscuits. Buy a gift for the friends kids that you're seeing over Christmas but don't buy them a birthday gift as well. Or just get a small taken gift like chocolate or a book only.

A box of chocolates/sweets and a small gift, hobbycraft had lots of little craft items for £1-2 yesterday, great for kids. It’s hard, we have 8 nieces and nephews, it adds up!

I would definitely stop buying for friends children - your friends should understand that it's just not affordable to keep buying for so many children. If you're going to see them over Christmas plenty of sweet treats etc. for under a fiver as a small token.

I think it's harder for family tbh, but you could definitely scale back/focus on getting bargains etc. the bargain thread on here is good and depending on ages think of consumable or useful gifts rather than adding to mountain of 'stuff'. Pyjamas, bath bombs, American sweets etc.

That is waaaaay too many to be expected to buy for.

If I had the budget I'd just stick £10 in a card for each of them.

Failing that, I'd get a family gift like a board game for Christmas (something that the kids can also play by themselves) and just buy individual birthday presents. If the families didn't know each other I'd just duplicate the gifts.

Write a list and buy from that. I don’t know how you just walked into tk max and spent a fortune and didn’t cover it

child 1 - play dough
child 2 - barbie
child 3 - books

etc. I’m assuming if you see them often you’ll have a good idea of their interests. If not, ask the parents for an idea. Write a list, buy what’s on the list. Sorted.

10 books for £10

carton of 24 selection boxes for £22

So for £32 each kid gets a book and a selection box. Job done.

Yes as pp said the main problem is you are buying for friends and their children which isn't common, even if you are close friends. There just ends up being too many and it gets out of control. Get in touch with them now and say you aren't doing gifts any more for cost and environmental reasons, and you don't want to receive any.

I have one child and I wouldn't expect my friends to buy him a Christmas or birthday present, let alone four! What are these people thinking?!

For your relations, the family gift of a game and/or tin of sweets/chocolates is a good idea, and I would let me them know I was going to do that. Obviously birthdays are more personal, but Christmas really isn't.

We only have 3 additional kids to buy for (plus one birthday near Christmas) aside from our own and that seems to cost a fortune, with 12 I’d definitely be trying to cut back. Maybe to birthdays only and then a family game and selection box each for Christmas

If you join jacks birthday club on the entertainer you get a 20% off code emailed 3 weeks before each birthday you enter. You can use it at the entertainer or early learning centre.

I'd buy for family kids. It doesn't have to be amazing - book or crafts set. Hobby craft or the works is good for that.

For friends kids - either stop buying for them or give a family present like chocolates and a game.

I'd buy a "proper" present for your nieces and nephews, and perhaps a selection box of chocolate or similar for each of your friends' children (if you can afford it).

I'd let your friends know before Christmas that with the cost of living going up and the amount of children you now have in your friendship group, you just can't afford to keep buying big presents. I'm sure they won't even bat an eyelid - I think it's very generous for you to buy anything at all for your friends' children!

My DH had a big family so we have 10 nieces and nephews to buy for every year (plus our own kids). My tips would be:

• set a budget before you buy anything, some years we have been low on funds so have done £7.50 per head (I know that sounds really stingy from an uncle and auntie, but it was what we could afford at the time!) and any gift that is more is automatically ruled out
• buy gifts around a “theme” to minimise burden of trying to think of something different for everyone- this year (as our budget allows!) all are getting an oversized hoody/blanket thing tailored to their preferences so far as possible e.g. leopard print for teenage niece, dinosaur themed for 3yo nephew. Previously we’ve got them all pyjamas, adidas T-shirts, sweet hampers and hype rucksacks.
• as others have suggested buy joint gifts it it works (we did this for the sweet hampers and also with a board game per family plus individual selection boxes one year)

The main thing to remember is not to stress!! Giving gifts is supposed to be a nice gesture, not something to worry about, they are your close friends and family and wouldn’t want you fretting over it I can guarantee!

How about a charity donation per family?. For example, for £20 School in a Bag, based in Somerset, will send a bag of stationery etc. to a child to whom it will give a better chance of education and opportunities in ,life. The bag is numbered and you can track your bag on their website and in many cases see a picture of the child with 'your' bag. I've been involved with them for a number of years.

I don't think you have to do this for all the kids of your friends.

Do you actually spend Christmas Day with them?

A card and a 5 note or sweets for the kids is plenty.

Just buy them chocolate! Or if their parents don't like that, get them stocking filler type gifts from Wilko or The Works