would you or do you buy your children second hand toys for xmas?

[miche8]

my children 2,5,9 are not very careful with their toys, in the past i've got them second hand toys they want for a fraction of the price they would be new, i am fussy so would only buy something that looks almost new but can't help thinking its not the norm for xmas/birthdays, i could save us so much money if i got their xmas presents second hand this year, my daughter is peppa pig crazy and on sunday i got her the rocket for £6 at a carboot i think its nearly £30 new. Just wondering what everyones thoughts are?

thanks for the replies, glad to know other people do the same, already watching loads on ebay. To the person that was worried about germs, i always give everything a wash or wipe down first, you can use an old tooth brush to get in all the little areas.

Yes, nothing wrong with it.

Yes. I am tight, my DC are too small to care and there is too much junk in the world as it is. eBay, NCT sales and charity shops are my friends.

I don't - but I should !!

Yes even now when dcs are 10 and 12. They have 2nd hand ps2 games etc from amazon, got ds2 an old version of guess who as he didn't like the new version.

Would only buy 2nd hand for relative children if okay'd it with parents first.

yes i do and last year ds1 who was 12 at the time got a second hand bike, it was in great condition and it meant he could get a better quality bike than we could otherwise afford, he was perfectly happy with it.

they often get second hand stuff, esp clothes and are quite happy, infact they like nothing more than being given some money to choose something in a charity shop.

but ebay, gumtree etc all good for secondhand stuff, and esp things like play cookers, and playhouses etc you can get some good bargains, our little tykes playhouse was second hand.

lego also second hand sometimes, put it in a pillow case, tie a knot and put it in the washing machine, ditto duplo!

most things can wash or be sponged donw if you are really picky about germs you could even milton things but i never bother.

oh yes second hand games for the xbox etc were also xmas presents this year and bday presents!

yes, just got some items off of Ebay, this is a good time to buy, prices only go up from here.

Only thing is I normally wouldn't buy so ridiculously early, but these are sure bets, & prices will only go up until January. I've still money in budget if I'm inspired to get different stuff later.

yes every year I buy 2nd hand, most of it's from bootsales but a lot of the stuff is still BNIB but I still buy some used. Last year I managed to get DD a bnib bratz doll for £1. My kids don't care they are not brand new so niether do I :)

yes, just arranged to collect a bike for DS for christmas - £25 in near perfect condition, no assembly required, and for a 3 year old, he won't know that it's pre-loved! now just to figure out where to store it away from prying eyes!

Yep I do, I got DC2 a massive amount of little people stuff for £10 in total from ebay/boot sale

Ive always scouted around for good stuff.

I will do. I've just got dd a second hand pink Nintendo DS for £40 for her birthday actually. Hers broke and I can't afford £170 for an updated nintendo console she won't know the difference between or use 80% of the features on anyway. She's only 6. This should see her through till she's ins enough to understand and want the updated version.

Old not ins

Yes- definitely.

Yes, but if your looking for certain stuff like playmobil/lego - start shopping about 3 months ago!
I always mean to start looking in the summer holidays but by the time I've got round to it in Oct/Nov it's in a frantic bidding war on e.bay which means I panic that I won't get it and end up paying too much.
My 8 year old is getting a little fussy ie he recognises that it's not this years edition as per the catalogue but it doesnt stop him enjoying getting the present.

Yes. Especially since DD has become Sylvanian Families mad!

Its such expensive stuff to by new £50 plus for s building with nothing in it. £15plus for a family and then furniture starts from £10 to £20 for furniture.

£50 got me a school, a large house and a boat. Loads of furniture, 5 families and loads of accessories.

I bought nice new boxes to put it all in.

Secondhand is just recycling. I have been told by some people though that they think secondhand for xmas is taking away the magic. I dont agree.

Yes. My DS's first console was 2nd hand. He never knew.

I didn't, but am this year. I can get much better toys for my money and my 3yo and baby won't give 2 shiny toots.

It's great for getting toys that aren't really around any more - one of my favourite gifts from \dh was an N64 game I used to love and I've just got DS a baby toy with locks and keys which I haven't seen around for years.

I think it mAkes sense that santa wouldn't package toys shop fresh anyway. He is supposed to make them!

yep

I got a box of used action men on our local forum and found a motorbike thingy for them in Argos for £4.99. DS1 will be thrilled with that - he's five

I always have been a 'buy new' parent, but I've just bought DD's 3rd birthday present off ebay. She particularly wants a bike - specifically a pink one with flashing lights - but to buy a new one would cost £150.

I'm not actually averse to spending that kind of money on a birthday present, but we don't yet know how much she'll enjoy cycling, and we don't know if she'll have got the hang of it before she's outgrown the bike! So we've bought her a £39 good as new one off ebay and might get her another toy as well.

So I'm converted. But I would say that it does depend on what the toy is.

I do. I have got loads off of my local facebook selling pages.

Normally I wouldnt no because I look for sales etc, but this year I got DS2 (9months old) a bounce & spin zebra, a Winnie the pooh activity table and a fisher price amazing animals train for £27 2nd hand, they are like new and would have cost £110 brand new. They must be in excellent condition tho, I save saved the money saved in his Halifax bank account.

I do, have got some great bargains this way, I got DD a massive box of brio train track and trains for £20, and a lovely ride on toy that looked like new, plus lots of books and DVDs.

I'd like to see stuff was in good condition before I bought it though.

DS collects series of books (GooseBumps, Tramp - it's a dog, Spy Pups). Some of them are out of print, so he got loads from Amazon.

Nintendo DS and X-Box games too. (Interesting to see which ones have most available pre-owned. If the games are disappointing, I'm glad we didn't pay full price)

Yep last year I had a massive ELC happyland train set, it was really for my 3 year old but my 6 yr old thought it was for sharing and they love it! It was cleaning, batteried and set out on floor. We were delighted with it it cost under £50 for all the different sets.

DS1 had a used battery motorbike year before last. (still £150)

Books - brilliant buy.

Odd clothes.

I love bargins and hate paying full price!