Skint beyond belief with two young DC

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Hey folks, not posted on this topic before but quite desperate now. Will try to keep this short.

I've been out of work this year due to having a mental breakdown. Previous Christmases with my now dd 4 years (5 on new years eve) and 3yo DS have always been amazing. Had enough money to give them lovely magical Christmases.

On benefits now and literally don't have two pennies to rub together until mid November so in desperate need of ideas on cheep but good Christmas gifts/birthday gifts too since DD will be five soon afterwards.

Our local charity shops don't sell much in the way of toys, it's mostly just clothes. Hopefully be working again after the new year but I don't want this Christmas to come around and there only be one or two gifts for them, they've both had a hard couple years and things are finally getting better, they're settled and happy and I want them to have a good Christmas this year.

So any ideas on cheep but good gifts for them would be extremely appreciated, thanks!

I like the idea of the medical kit, as another poster suggested. I had similar when I was little, and loved it.

When my sister was younger, my mum got a cheap little photo frame, printed out a picture of Father Christmas, then wrote a message on it, "signed" and framed it. My sister thought she was the bee's knees because she had Father Christmas's autograph!!!

Agree with b&m and home bargains suggestions - if you'll have £50 per child you'll be able to get loads of decent stuff in those shops. Keep an eye on hotukdeals.com as there are some amazing deals posted on there. If you're really REALLY struggling, Very often have a 3 for 2 on toys/gifts at this time of year and it's interest free for 3 months but be realistic about paying back as it's really high interest if you go over the three months.

Also, make use of loyalty points. One year for DS2's birthday I was absolutely skint but managed to get him a trike and Thomas set from Tesco for £5 in cash because I'd been able to use the clubcard boost - would've been about £70 otherwise.

I would be looking second hand. Car boots preferably. They are at the right age to love it whether new or second hand.

Asda has done v cheap artificial christmas trees the last couple of years.

Buy a little photo album with pockets, and fill with pics of them, their friends, relatives and favourite toys, their bedroom...

Best of luck for 2015... Sounds like you are due some.

I think 50 pounds is loads of money! They will have loads of lovely gifts for that amount. We will spend a similar amount on our toddler, this is what I intend to get him.

2nd hand toy kitchen, it was 2.50 at a jumble sale, some toy food/pans from ikea (around 15 pounds)

Books from the book people, I'll probably spend about 10 pounds on them.

New pyjamas/dressing gown/socks with diggers/trucks or trains on rather than just plain ones.

Cheap stocking fillers like bubbles, balloons (he loves the ones with a string on that you put rice in and you shake them to make a sound) plastic animals, some balls.

DD wont be getting much more than £50 spent on her this year - An Anna and Elsa doll, new jimjams, couple of books and a stocking. The only thing she asked for wasa Ladybird Yoyo which I found in wilkos for £1.50.

I think the Chad Valley colour in castle at Argos for £9.99 is brilliant. It's a cardboard wendy house type of thing that comes with a load of fat pens to colour it in/decorate it. Mine had one when she was 5 and absolutely loved it - kept her and the rellies busy for most of the day. Also it comes in a big box so looks like a lovely big present.

I'll attempt to link:

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2376718.htm

Heya, sorry for not replying, hectic evening. Love the colour in Castle, think my dd would love it too so that's something I can get her for her birthday

I know £50 is a lot in terms of money, I just wasn't sure how to make it stretch but I've had some pretty fantastic ideas from here and thing this may possibly be one of the best Christmases yet for them

Definitely have a look in home bargains if there is one near you, I've had all sorts of books and craft bits for dd from there, they also do character pyjamas and underwear

Has anyone suggested the giant box full of (inflated) balloons yet? We had a £50-per-child-per-head Christmas a few years back and I found MN an invaluable source of ideas.

Has anyone suggested NCT nearly new sales?

Around where we are, they are massive and there are quite a few local ones in the lead-up to Christmas.

The NCT website is here and you put your postcode in to find your local sale.

They charge £1 donation to get in (ours does, anyway) but prices start from 50p and as they are nearly NEW sales, items are good quality and amazing bargains to be had. I will be doing my Christmas shopping at our local one at the end of November - clothes, toys and baby equipment. Get there early and don't be scared off by the queue, it moves so fast when they open!

Have a happy Christmas.

Keep an eye out for xmas fairs. They often have toy stalls. Argos do a three for two sale. You need to keep an eye out for them as they are short lived.

Can have a lovely time making decorations and treats. It really isnt all about presents.

Think outside the box (sorry ) and you'll have a great xmas.

I would search on facebook for your local freecycle/for sale or wanted page and have a look at what is available. They have some amazing things on there for next to nothing

MisForMumNotMaid that was a brilliant suggestion - homemade doctors kit. I'm definitely going to do that! Thank you.

I have bought half price craft paper, felt, holographic card etc in Tesco today for a homemade craft box to share :)

I've been reading this thread as I'm in the same boat OP. My dc are also 4 and 3 and things are very tight this year.

Some great suggestions, I've reserved two of those cardboard colour in castles as they will have hours of fun with those. Will keep reading for more suggestions and if I find any bargains I will post them.

Hope you all have a great stress free Christmas without breaking the bank.

Just need to find a play kitchen/supermarket till thing with all the accessories now....

I did a dr kit for ds, he loved it. I got a real stethoscope from amazon for 2.15. A bunch of bandages/plasters/gel pack from poundland and made a prescription pad and x-rays using this site for the method. Hope you have a fun Christmas.

Loads of fab ideas here but just wanted to second car boots a and charity shops especially at this age. Also here are a few (v cheap) ways to add some excitement (I'm a firm believer in that kids remember events rather than actual presents)

1. As others have suggested definitely go on a pine cone hunt which can then be made into decorations.

1. Salt dough decorations are really cheap and easy to make (Pinterest has loads of recipes and ideas)

1. If you only end up with small presents, ask your local supermarket/corner shop for a giant box, fill box with balloons, hide presents inside then wrap the whole thing. - makes even the paltriest presents into the most exciting thing ever!

1. You could still do the Christmas Eve hamper with some cheap bubble bath, cheap hot choc and they're normal pjs - just a lot more exciting to unwrap something even if it is something they already have!

1. Wrap the door to whichever room you have your presents in so they have to burst through it (the cheaper the paper the better as it rips easier!)

1. Do a carpet picnic one night (normal food - just more exciting to sit on the carpet rather than at a table) under the twinkly christmas lights

1. If you're crafty you can get some fab homemade presents ideas on Pinterest - I'm making DD a dollshouse out of a bookcase and DS an under bed lego storage table out of an old wardrobe - both ideas shamelessly nicked from Pinterest!

1. Go for a walk/drive around your neighbourhood to look at everyone's lights - do an eye spy style checklist eg snowman, waving Santa, flashing snowflake (depends on your neighbourhood though!)

Hope this helps x

Also, bikes seem to be going really cheaply on Ebay at the moment. I was looking to put an old one of dd's on - some of them are 1 hour to go and selling for 99p. A couple have just gone for less than £5.

Have been thinking.

You can do so much. You could make up a fairy etc outfit yourself (buy or/and make) there are also blogs on how to make your own PLaydough, bath bombs etc or even make kits to do these. The little girl (she's 10 now) loves that! How about painting a picture on a top or decorating one?

My friend used to swear by new PJs and festive warm slipper/cozy socks from Primark for her kids - you can get Father Christmas etc.

Also I think a lot of it is in making decorations, carol singing, making cookies (the German friends I know do great ones with icing and spices).

There's been lots of fantastic ideas on here, really I can't thank you all enough. I've got heaps of ideas and I think (and really hope) that my dc are gonna love this so much more than big expensive toys that they get overwhelmed with and then forget about.

Feeling heaps more excited about Christmas now than I was, when I'd posted this thread id been upset and dreading it. So really, thank you everyone

I recently got Hello Kitty jewellery sets in Home Bargains for £1.37 instead of £14.99, so there are some real bargains to be had in there. I second all the Poundland/99p stores too. Lots of branded stuff, all £1 obviously! socks, toys, books, craft stuff, sweets.

Lidl is worth a look too, I have bought some books in there last week for just £1.69 each. Plus they have cheap chocolates and candy canes for the tree too.

Charity shops also yield some great bargains too, with brand new toys and clothes going very cheaply. Also Facebook selling pages in your local area could yield some good quality second hand toys as people are getting rid of stuff to make room for more

At your DC's ages, it is all about the excitement and the unwrapping etc, so they would love lots of bits and pieces and won't be looking for a big present, but you should be able to get toys from Argos or Tesco if you were looking to buy a "big" present plus several smaller bits/stocking gifts.

Probably a bit late for this Christmas, but you could earn yourself money or nectar points or gift vouchers etc by doing online surveys. I have earned over £100 in vouchers towards this Christmas, all by doing online surveys.

Not sure where in North lan you are but jack and Jill markets are fab!

Some nice ideas here:

happyhooligans.ca/70-awesome-toys-make-kids/

What fantastic ideas people have come up with on this thread. I came on to give the op a few suggestions and got loads more I can use myself!