Tight budget

[Baldyant]

Hello.. First post on here!

I have a 7 year old son, almost 8. For the past probably 6 Christmases I have spoilt him as he lives with his mum, and i only see him 2 days a week. This year I am on a really tight budget, but I don't want him to feel like he hasn't had a lot etc. So I'm after cheap ideas for presents etc so I can get him a few.

I really am a hopeless shopper so any ideas would be great!

[gregssausageroll]

And sign up for quidco and topcashback.

[ThickCut]

Sorry, flickr scooter, not razor, doh.

[ThickCut]

Smyths also do a two for £15 deal, with loads of decent stuff, we're getting ds a telescope and globe.

[ThickCut]

Smyths toys have got razor (sp ?) Scooters for £59.99 you'd still have £ 40 left to get loads with. Oh yeah, co-op have got sets of toys two for £10 they've got quite a few things including an army set with figures and tanks etc that my 7 y/o ds will love. Oh and £100 is NOT a tight budget.

[iloveholidays]

I posted this on the bargains thread last night. Might be suitable if your son is into snooker and something you could do together.

www.homebargains.co.uk/products/5946-ronnie-osullivan-3ft-snooker-table.aspx

£20 here... £60 on amazon!!! Think home bargains might be limited time though.

[iloveholidays]

No experience of 7 year old boys but I'd suggest shopping around as much as possible online to get best bargains.

Check out the bargain thread on Christmas board as someone else has suggested.

Compare prices on amazon, play.com, toys r us, Argos, supermarkets, home bargains, the entertainer. I always assumed amazon was cheapest but have found a lot cheaper elsewhere by googling.

ELC usually have a 20% off birthday code floating around, again bargain thread can help.

Google free delivery codes if buying online.

You'll get a lot more for your money I find if not TV characters, although no idea if 7 year old boys are into tv characters.

I'd recommend having a look at the entertainer www.thetoyshop.com. They do a lot of stuff half price and I think suitable for 7 year olds. I think there is a 5% off code around... Check out the apbargain thread for that.

Oh and if you've got any tesco club card vouchers you can double them up for toys at the moment.

Hope this has helped. I'd just do a lot online to compare prices rather than go to shops as you wont know if that's the cheapest.

Good luck

[Badvocsanta]

Nerf gun
Science kit
Board games - angry birds?
iPod shuffle
Books - the book people.co.uk are great for sets of books like beast quest, dr who etc
Kits
Remote control helicopter - amazon
iTunes voucher
Look out for amazon Black Friday deals from Monday 19th
Also argos 3 for 2

[spottymoo]

We have got ds a snowboard it's only a cheap one from argos £15 but thought I'd be something different to play with when it snows we got a cheap sledge the other year and put presents in that. Went down really well

[3bunnies]

You can order from the book people online, there are free delivery codes on the bargain online shopping thread, think festive and rudolph. There are loads of books on there, bound to be something of interest.

[showtunesgirl]

I didn't even get any smaller presents. It was one smallish present and that was it and I was grateful!

[Beamur]

I still work on the basis of one big present, a few cheaper fun things - toys/games etc and stocking fillers.
The kids all get further presents from their GP, their Mum (2 DSC's) my Mum, and so on - so they do all right and are happy with their loot!
My Dad is buying DD Lego for Christmas and I've suggested 2 kits that cost £30 in total and I'm happy with that and so will DD be.

[BloominMarvellous]

I'm afraid so, when I was a child I had one big present and lots of smaller ones.

I'm ashamed to say I'd have been gutted if that changed and just got one present

[showtunesgirl]

But that's the thing, when I was a kid we got ONE present and that was that. Do kids REALLY expect three or more presents these days?

[Baldyant]

True BloominMarvellous my son normally wants Lego, and that's priced from £5 to stupid amounts!

[BloominMarvellous]

I just don't have the imagination that some MN'ers do

[Baldyant]

I always find when I go into Home bargains I come out with £20 of sweets and rubbish!

[BloominMarvellous]

showtunes I would struggle to get more than three Presents for £100 if I bought conventional games at £25-50 each.

If it wasn't for these threads I'd say £100 was tight.

Especially when kids want wii, Xbox and all of the stuff to go with it.

[Baldyant]

I know people who spend crazy amounts! I've always spent more, maybe to try to make up for the fact I'm not living with him and I don't see him often etc I suppose. Which is wrong I know :/

Binfullofgiblitsonthe26th - thank you, I have a week off next week so
I shall start the search for those things! :)

[ZigZagWanderer]

Home bargains are very reasonable.

[marriedinwhite]

Tiger Tiger is your friend. Is there one near you.

[showtunesgirl]

£100 is a tight budget?

[Beamur]

You can get loads for £100.
I won't be spending more than that on DD and didn't think of it as being a tight budget
YY to Nerf guns (apparently) and UNO.

[Binfullofgibletsonthe26th]

You could get a fair bit off my lists for £100, especially if you get some 3 for 2 or BOGOF offers.

[Baldyant]

I'd say £100? But I want to maximise the amount of presents I could get for that.

Thanks everyone.

[Binfullofgibletsonthe26th]

I have a ds7 who sounds like yours, do a stocking:
Small magic kits
Horrid science kitchen experiment set
Grow a crystal set
Reconditioned games from Game
Fingerprint/spy kit
Science museum intruder alarm kit
Horrible Science build a volcano
A smallish Nerf gun and foam bullets
Flashy yoyo

All can be bought on amazon.

Then off to WH Smith with you for:

3 for 2 on paperbacks - Captain Underpants/Dinosaur Cove/Horrible Histories
2 for 1 on annuals - Beano, Dandy, Top Gear, Doctor Who, football teams
Top trumps
UNO playing cards
Rubber bouncy balls
Make your own comic pack

Look out for deals in Argos, 3 for 2 and get some mid sized Lego kits

Lego minifigures
Lego Ninjago sets
Mecchano.

Hope that helps!