40 quid

[Notsuretodaynope]

5 yr old girl, got 40 quid for Christmas, incl food (Not veg as got healthy start vouchers for that). Don't drink alcohol.
Not getting things for family.
What can I get to make it a good Christmas?

@DecemberSnow I am in Aus and our cinemas are open. Tickets are just normal price and way cheaper than yours if that's normal price.

Yep, bit too hot here next week though, going to be mid 30's for most of the week.

If you get healthy start vouchers, I'm assuming you have a health visitor? They usually work with organisations like Salvation army who look after low income families during Christmas. Have a word with your health visitor or where you get your vouchers from or directly with salvation army.

www.salvationarmy.org.uk/children-and-families

An acquaintance got a large gift bags of toys & treats after her husband left her penniless at Christmas one year. They also went to a salvation army centre for Christmas Dinner. It helped them to be with people as there was less focus on her trying to make it perfect on a shoe string.

www.salvationarmy.org.uk/children-and-families

I got a cheap pack of cards for 50p from Morrisons & gave them out to my neighbours. We're now getting cards back with tubes of sweets for the kids so that's nice. Just trying to foster some community spirit.

Is there anything you can sell on local fb pages/community pages to supplement your budget? I just sold my dd's old doll's house for £20, it's been gathering dust for a while.

Well done for trying to make the best of it as you can.

And remember that she really doesn’t care about the money. She cares about being with you, doing something fun and a little bit different to a normal day. I hope you enjoy some of it. Well don’t to you for keeping on in hard circumstances. X

Just seen wilko are doing 25% of blox sets online it's like lego and its fantastic I get them regularly for my 4 year old. A "big build" set is about £10 so would be £7.50 for a nice present the sets start from about £3 and they are great.

Let us know how you get on OP.

Thank you. I didn't know I could speak to a health visitor about anything other than a child's health.
I think tonight we will do the snowflakes and paperchains. She will enjoy that.
I'm not very good with pancakes but I can get the milk with the vouchers so that's not too bad. I think she will like that too.
Is it ok if I go to salvation army? I'm not struggling as much as others, just trying to pay off debts quicker. Rather people who need the help get it than me taking away from that

Can you get a referal to a Food bank or the Salvation Army? School can do it.

I've been struggling financially for a couple of years due to illness. Last year we had a food hamper and some presents from the Salvation Army. It gave us some lovely treats and I remember my DD got a beautiful unicorn cuddly.

I won't be entitled to a referral I don't think.i could have some extra money if I didn't pay extra money back for my debt but would rather not as I habit of stopping myself from doing thing like this. I'm trying to stick to my plan of finishing the debt by March. I've done really well.
I budgeted enough for food and usual this month, just needed ideas for the money I have.

Also I assume you are pregnant as you are getting Healthy start vouchers so don't forget you and maybe get a little treat for yourself.

A friend who is involved with a local food bank has just told me that (in our area at least) anyone who is entitled to free school meals is entitled to claim a food bank parcel in the holidays. Apparently the school, social services, GP and churches can refer.

Re the cinema, maybe someone could give you a meerkat movies code so you'd only pay for one ticket. I wonder if you could use this alongside clubcard vouchers too? Maybe for Christmas eve.

I think it's very admirable that you're so dedicated to paying off the debt asap. You sound like a lovely person and a great mum.

Please do mention that you're on a tight budget to your hv. I regularly donate gifts to salvation army and other organisations & would be happy if one of my gifts went to your dd. You both sound lovely and pleasevdo reach out to organisations/food bank & hv. It's what they're there for and you're not taking advantage, you just need a little boost like we all do.

Do you have a Range near you OP? If your daughter enjoys arts and crafts, they're doing a decorate your own Santa grotto. I believe its £10. I know my 4 year old would love decorating and then playing in it.

You could make things too. Playdough is so easy to make and keeps for a while. Pm me if you would like a cheap, no cook recipe.

You could make little bags of craft kits such as sock puppets (if you have old socks and some buttons?), Bath bomb kits (I have a cheap recipe), cake kit (cheap fairy cake cases and decorations). Stickers are cheap,pipe cleaners, googly eyes from Wilkinson's or Poundland. You could get some crafty bits to put together in a kit. Will give her lots of things to do on Christmas day.

I have some coloured pens (brand new) from smiggle that I would happily post to you if you want to pm me your address
I bought them as an extra last year and forgot to gift them

Any good?

My own dd cares more about the sweets than any of the other tradition Christmas foods. For a menu, I would figure out what she cares about most and focus on that.

I've got some Xmas books from the works that I'd be happy to send your dd.

If you want me to send you them, PM me x

Thank you for the offer but that's ok. I would feel bad as I'm not asking for help just suggestions.

I think I asked because before I've not worried for money and while I got enough, it's less than I usually spend. I guess I just used to lots being spent and wanted to know I could do it with less money. And you are all right. She won't know the difference.
She was happy to do paper chains and snowflakes today when I told her. Will be doing more after dinner.

Speak to your school. Our school organise gifts for the families who they know are struggling and it's all very discreet.
If they can't help they should be able to point you in the direction of someone who can.

My idea is a coke float (I know it's not good but it's Christmas) I made one once on the 23rd of December and now my kids call it come float day And get me to make one every year 🤔.

The bits of my childhood that I remember, the really special moments, were the ones where my mother used to read to me and make things with me.
Apart from a single very special Christmas gift for my 9th birthday, I do not remember any other gifts.
I do remember the selection boxes though.

I think children thrive on time, laughter, and fun with a parent. Throw a bit of chocolate into the mix and it's perfect.

For a treat I sometimes use chocolate buttons as game counters. Then make up silly rules to allow the eating and replacing of the counters. They love this.

You'll have a great Christmas and I expect this Christmas will set the precedent for all future ones as there will be much fun and time together.

Wilco, Poundland and charity shops for presents. Particularly things like colouring or craft activities you can do together. Get some cheap Christmas DVDs from charity shop. Maximum £5 per item, a few things at a pound , maybe spend up to £20. If you have got card / paints (or buy some within your present budget ) you could make decorations, cards for family, pasta necklace/bracelet.

Christmas lunch (if you want traditional) - small chicken or chicken breasts, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and may be a chocolate log for pudding might be more child friendly (should be able to do this for around £10 including stuffing mix and gravy granules)

Then with what you have left get some of your DD's favourite treat foods , frozen pizza, crisps, chocolate biscuits etc or you could buy a pizza mix, tomato purée and cheese and a cup cake or cookie mix which gives an activity as well as food (I've said a mix as these often work out cheaper than the separate ingredients)

I am assuming from what you have says that the £40 doesn't need to include food for the rest of the week, apart from treats?

Use cheap wrapping paper to make paper chains; makes a lovely activity to do with DD or her and a friend

@Notsuretodaynope
You should be really proud of yourself. Paying off debts spending time with your daughter and making memories while making Christmas stuff. Your daughter obviously has a caring mum with great morals. She will have a fantastic Christmas. She will have no idea what you have spent on presents and she won’t care. Well done and I hope 2020 is a fab year for you and your daughter. 🤗

Also I assume you are pregnant as you are getting Healthy start vouchers
You can get them up to age 5

Also OP I'm not sure if you're aware but if you go to a supermarket, I know this works on self checkout, you can use your vouchers against your whole shop whether you have the fruit veg etc or not. So potentially could use it towards other food items for Xmas day.

@patricksrum - the healthy start vouchers are for under 4s (or pregnant women) and the OPs DD is 5.

Could you make some slime? Buy some bits and make slime and playdough x