How much on the children - am I mean?

[SilverDoe]

We are stretched financially at the moment; I have 2 little ones who will be just turned 3 and 11 months come Christmas.

We both, DH and I that is, adore Christmas and want it to be magical. But the fact is I don’t have a lot to spend on presents - will this ruin the day for them do you think?

On the one hand, I feel guilty feeling the need to make sure that at least the 3 year old who can understand what’s going on has a big pile of presents. On the other hand, I feel guilty at the thought of not providing that! I had pretty wealthy parents growing up and remember the excitement of opening the presents - but surely it’s exciting regardless, especially at such a young age?

So my question is, at what point does being frugal become being miserly and Scrooge like? I have an idea of what I’d like to get DD, and I don’t think the not even 1 year old will be too fussed as long as the day is nice. I’d rather focus on the fun and magic and food without stressing about presents but I’m genuinely worried and stressed about affording enough to make the day special. What is normal to spend and roughly how much stuff do you/did you buy for your little ones when they were toddlers?

Keep an eye out for second hand toys in great condition on eBay. We never spend too much at Christmas - they get a big present for their birthdays, to me Christmas is about wider family and being together. Last year we found a nearly new Playmobil set online for less than a quarter of full price and my 3 year old was ecstatic. My older ones now understand that sometimes their Lego is second hand, but it is still in the box, in mint condition and they understand that second hand = bigger sets.

Plus you're helping the environment too, we all talk about plastic recycling these days but forget about the plastic explosion with new presents!

Simething you want, something you need
Something to wear, something to read.

That's what I try to keep in mind.

I've never spent a lot at Christmas. Your youngest will have no idea what's going in, so a couple of gifts will be fine. I still do stockings with small things in like hair clips, tangerines, £5 note etc. My DDs are adults and still love them.
For your older, things like second hand lego in a box, books from charity shops, etc. Anything cleaned up and wrapped nicely will excite them.
Have a budget and stick to it. Also have a budget for food and drink. Start collecting now.
I used to save up the family allowance for Christmas and birthdays. Also, I only deal in cash. I need a certain amount for weekly shopping, dinner money etc and with draw that. I challenge myself not to spend it all! Any left over goes in a jar for special occasions. One year I managed to collect £350 by doing this.

I'd go for quality (not necessarily cost) over volume. A huge heap of pound shop tat is likely to be overwhelming and will end up broken and binned in a short time. I used to get a stocking and a main present like a sindy doll and outfit or dressing up stuff and when I was older a book or a tape (shows age 😂), then maybe a couple of other bits if my mum had seen them. My kids get a bit more but it's not worth bankrupting yourself.

My little one is currently playing with a wet wipe and a plastic plate. Been absorbed for ages!
We are not going mad this year as they don't play with half of it and we are really worried about the amount of plastic etc

I bet you and DH love Christmas as you remember lots of lovely memories and traditions - not the height of your present mountain. You can make it special in your ways and create new family traditions 😊🎄

At that age they are perfectly happy with a few cheap bits, TBH. They are not nearly old enough to have come to expect a lot.

Last Christmas my Gdcs were 2 3/4 and 1 1/2, and the number of presents, some of them expensive, were frankly far too much for them to appreciate.

I well remember Gdd at 2 being so delighted with a relatively very cheap set of 5 little baby dolls called So Many Babies! - and a little plastic bath to wash them in.
There will come a time when they have very definite ideas about expensive things they want. Until then, make the most of it!

Argos are selling blind bags for 99p - pj masks, play mobile, my little pony etc. If your dd is anything like mine she’ll love them!

More brilliant ideas :)

You are all right; the day and atmosphere are much more important than the amount of presents. Obviously part of it is waking up to Father Christmas having been but as you’ve all said it’s not about the amount spent. I was thinking of getting her a couple of this £1.50 character cupcake kits too, she loves those!

My sister wraps up those miniature cereal packs and mini cans of pop for her dc as he doesn’t have them during the year.

Some other budget ideas:
A comic
Post its
Hair clips
Slime or putty
Seeds, or one of those grow your own grass man sets
Gloves
Fluffy socks

I try to be moderate - particularly with the plastic tat. I have always bought some of that but I’ve included second hand and hand me down wooden toys ( which I also prefer to look at). Some of the gifts we’ve given our DD ( or she’s received from family) include, a wooden farm set that was my DHs which the GP re-painted and we bought the animals, a modernist dolls house made out of a wooden IKEA cube, a handmade quilt to play on, a craft box made from her old baby box which I covered in stickers and Pom poms and filled with craft bits and bobs, play doh, a little wooden stove top ( not a big kitchen) and play food, a tee pee for the garden ( bought but not difficult to make) handmade dolls with clothes, books, clothes & accessories like fun knitted hats and gloves, little back packs with things like torches in. Ive bought her a little white Christmas tree in January from Paperchase and have picked up fairy lights and little cute decorations cheaply ( although there are plenty of DIY options on Pinterest ) so we decorate her room in addition to the rest of the house. I’ve also bought her a special musical snow globe ( from TK Maxx) and we enjoy unpacking it in December. I definitely think it’s a matter of quality over quantity but investing in toys that are versatile and can be used in different ways will be better investment over lots of cheap bits that can be broken easily.

When my two were that age I got one of those cheap Ikea circus tents and filled it with red and green balloons. It was a few days till they got to the presents!

Slight older it was one of those cardboard Christmas houses from the range and a pack of felt tips that stole the show.

They were just messing doing a Christmas list the other day and they have asked for a Christmas den like they had when they were little. Need to put some thought into that now they are 10&7!

Definitely second hand - I still do that now my dds will be 10 and 6 at christmas. If you go on eBay you can search collect only and within a certain radius. I bought a boxed sylvannian house, family and furniture for £5 one year doing that. Another I bought a big box that unfolded into a playmat full of happyland from a church fete for £3.

Now is a good time for second hand as people are clearing out/doing car boots.

The works is great for crafty bits, they offer cashback (if you aren't signed up you should. I use quidco but there are others too) and there's often discount codes. I have one for 15% off, it's in the magazine can use in-store or online.

The book people are great for book collections. I got 10 mog ones for £8 last year. Again they often have discount codes.

Second hand dvds - cex or charity shops can get loads for a couple ££ I then sometimes buy a toy/book to go with it. Often the busy books (from supermarkets/whsmith/tkmaxx) they are a book with playmat and 12 figures for around £5. My girls have had Disney, superhero, character ones since around 3 and still play now.

My dds love looking at photos especially of days out, you can often get free photo book offers or free prints. Then a cheap/second hand photo album/frame.