ideas needed for a cheap christmas presents

[butane123]

hello
well as the title says really struggling at the minute and looking for cheap gift ideas for my 5 year old .really worried im not going to be able to get him anything as after rent and council tax were left with not much still waiting for wtc to be sorted out hoping its done pretty soon and that they wil backpay in the meantime im planning ahead so any cheap presents that would be suitable for him please let me no last year xmas was awful we was on benefits and couldnt afford much thought this year would be different but just incase its not all sorted i need a plan so any ideas please tell me :)
were reusing last years xmas decs and tree so we have them its mainly gifts were struggling with everything hes asked for is not cheap lol all ben 10 and hot wheels

xx

[mignonette]

Saw Hot Wheels in a local discount store- single cars for £3 each. Also net strings of Marbles (overdue for a comeback), large Alien figures, Disney, Action Heroes bubbles, plastic zoo/farm animal sets, Transformers and similar toys' drawing/pencil/pencil case sets- all for 99p-£1 each.

All great for stocking fillers. I used to buy a couple of childrens comics/magazines and put them in stockings too. Some markets have stalls selling last months magazines for 80p-£1 a copy.

[izzywizzyisbizzy]

go on the christmas bargains thread and keep a very close eye,

[butane123]

thats a really good idea about the comics and magazines will have a look around see if i can find any :)

trying to find the christmas bargains thread can someone send me a link please xx

[mignonette]

Here is that link, Butane -

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/1598355-Another-bargainous-christmas-gift-ideas-thread-already-Surely-not here

[butane123]

thank you x

[butane123]

hiya ive just been thinking i no you can make home made gifts well does any body no how to make your own playdough ? x

[glenthebattleostrich]

Here you go.

www.pampers.co.uk/how-to-make-your-own-playdough

I put glitter and vanilla / cinnamon in mine at Christmas to make it extra special

[butane123]

ooh thanks :) sounds good that i love the smell of vanilla lol xx

[Violet77]

You could make him a cat mat to pay with or a farm mat with a few plastic animals. They are very easy to do. Can be hand sewn or even drawn on plastic.

Google hand made toys, loads of ideas for not much money. Sock monkeys etc, anyone can make.

Have to second charity shops, i got loads of games, marble run, cars, trucks etc for my little one for a pound or two each.

[Violet77]

A car mat!!!!

[butane123]

thanks for the ideas violet will have a look on google and see what i think i may be able to make lol never made anything before :)

car mat sounds fab will definately look into that x

thanks x

[Violet77]

Good luck, you can make your town.

[Actuallylookingok]

Saw a fabulous idea in tescos mag via martins money tips i think. You fill a large box with inflated balloons and wrap it. Prob suitable for younger kids but my 5 yo ds would love it!

[inmyheadimthequeen]

I've PM'd you

[russiandolly]

Could someone let me know how I send a PM please?!

Thank you.

[inmyheadimthequeen]

russiandolly, you will see these options on the bar at the top of the post: add message/report/message poster - press the 'message poster' one then type your message in the box that appears and press send. The poster will get an email to say they have a PM and/or they can check their messages in the 'inbox' which is at the very top of the page (logout/inbox). HTH.

[russiandolly]

Thank you v much.

[russiandolly]

Butane, I have sent you a PM (I hope).

[blackeyedsusan]

morrisons do a small pack of pencil crayons for 15p

asda had cheap felt tips. (something like 26p?)

wilkos do colouring books far cheaper than a printer could.

tesco and asda do wind up bath toys that were a pound I think.

[butane123]

thanks for the replys everyone
xx

[butane123]

had no joy on freecycle so anybody have any cheap websites they no of .dp gets paid again friday so will no what i can spare then .quite thankful he gets paid weekly would be so much worse if he didnt .also signed up to start saving with park savings for next year so this never ever happens again xx

[LaLa07]

Get hold of a huge cardboard box, fill it full of blown up balloons and then wrap it up. When he opens it he will love it and he can then (with help) spend the rest of the day occupied making a castle or den or similar out of the box.

[butane123]

that sounds really good lala hed love that xx

[elvisaintdead]

lots of the ideas have been said but I find great bargains on bigger items at car boot, especially near the end when people just want to get rid so as not to have to take stuff home. Got DS2 some skates from a car boot last year, good condition and cost £5, also got DD an ironing board and iron (toy obv) and dolly highchair all for £4, gave them a clean up and they were fine. Wilkos and poundland good for stocking fillers and craft bits. Also get plai T-shirts and buy iron on patches or transfers on ebay to make your own ben 10, star wars etc T-shirts for a fraction of the price....

[sweetkitty]

Look out for schools and churches having Christmas Fayres, people donate their own books and toys. I've had great bargains at ours.