Budget Christmas

[jess3817]

For lots of reasons, my budget for my childrens Christmas presents is quite low this year, feel bad about it but can't do anything about it at the moment.
Was hoping you could give me some present suggestions please. 80 pounds each child - probably less for the littlest. Thanks very much for any help.
14 dd.
12ds
9ds
5ds.
My mum is doing their stocking for me. No tech or books needed. 🙂

14 yo dd - there gave been deals on morphe make up sets and brushes on the deals thread, also done deals on hair curler things there too. Primark for PJs and a throw for her room - it a fake oodie off amazon. Dunelm, Primark etc have wee sets of hot chocolate and Dunelm had lovely make up bags with your initial letter on them - silvery grey and looked really nice. Again on deals thread baked in had brownies in a mug boxes but that might have been a one off although you can get similar from B&M. Again on deals thread there's money off New Look if she wants clothes etc. Argos candy floss maker, a waffle maker or cake pops machine.'make up a baking set from £1 shop, supermarket etc.

I got lots of bits off IWOOT for my 2 and nieces and nephews.

Are the 9 & 5 year olds into anything in particular?

My 8yr old ds is crazy about How To Train Your Dragon & his main gifts are dragons that I bought as a bundle from FB. He won't care at all that they aren't new. In fact if I was buying new he'd only get 1 or 2 as the rare ones are really expensive.

You could pad out all the dc's presents with books from the charity shop & things they need anyway. Swimming/football kits, trainers, hoodies, rucksack, pants, socks, pens, pads of paper etc.

Saying that £80 per dc is a very decent budget especially if you could trim £20 - £30 off youngest for a little extra for the older two.

I'd lower the budget slightly for the littlest and increase for the eldest as you'll be able to buy lots for the youngest fairly cheaply.

I'd go to The Works, they have loads of craft sets, toys, books and you'll be able to get a lot for your 5/9 year olds.

Would you be able to say what they’re interests are?

And don’t worry about that budget, I think you’ll be able to get lots of nice stuff.

Also, come and join us over on the bargains thread. Lost of great deals and everyone is friendly

Ah thanks very much everyone - I'm feeling a lot better now. I will more than likely spend a bit less on both the younger boys. My daughter is into the usual sort of stuff make up ( really good at that ) and hair. She likes making videos on her phone and editing them. She's into photography too. The boys are all sporty - running football and swimming ( when able to) we are an outdoorsey type of family - they have a lot of outside toys so don't need bikes/ scooters/ footballs at the moment either.
YouVery given me some great ideas thanks. Will come and read the bargin thread.😀

Keep an eye on facebook market place and ebay for preloved things that you think they may like. Charity shops are brilliant, majority of my sons presents came from there for christmas and birthday last year. It also means you can afford more. They dont necessarily need to know they're second hand and the youngest wont even notice.

For the 5yo, the works have lots of different sets and games on there. Often its 2 for £10 so it could easily look like a big pile of presents and itll be things that keep them busy.

As your an outdoorsy family (like us) what about a new hat, scarf and glove set for everyone?

B&m, home bargains, pound land will all have little sets and I'm sure you'd manage to find a little something in there that would be suitable for each.

Would you consider tickets for a day out? So you could buy everyone a ticket to something that will interest you all and just do a small present each? May get it cheaper on a family ticket and itll give you all something to look forward to

@MotherPiglet - I'd forgotten about the charity shops ! I do usually get a few things in there, thanks 🙂 hat gloves and scarf sets are a good idea too. Will check out B and M too.

I’m not sure for ideas for your boys as I have all girls but a hypothetical list for your DD if I was on that kind of budget.

An oodie style jumper (had a look on Amazon nice for around (£12/£14)

£10 to spend in super drug on makeup, some nice cheap gift sets round about Christmas, or make up a little nail hamper, sparkly nail varnish, toe divider, nail file, nail transfers etc

£15 on a scrap book bundle, my DD loves doing this, big cheap blank book, stickers, washi tape, sparkly pens etc, (we have done this for so many of my girls friend’s birthdays) abs it’s so fun to find all the bits, The works, Tiger, Home Bargains etc)

£5 on a good book, you can get some real bargains on Amazon and there is always something for everyone.

There’s a really girly chocolate fondue set on Amazon that my sister bought my DD a few years ago and is still one of there too sellers it’s pink and comes with little forks etc, my girls absolutely loves it and it’s always very popular at parties or sleepovers £20. But and wrap a huge bar of dairy milk to go with it!!

Amazon again do beautiful boxes/Sacks of Christmas bath bombs, lots of fun, glittery ones and always come really nicely packaged. £10

A nice chain/necklace from top shop, pick one up in the reduced bit that they always have wrap it in the bag, my DD loves Topshop but knows it’s expensive she always lets out a high patched scream that could shatter many windows when she sees the bag/logo £5-7

Any pennies left, Matalan always does lots of pretty personalised/initial bits (hair brushes, note books, trinket dishes etc...

Reckon that’s about £80, maybe just over but definitely think you could borrow £5 from each of your younger DC’s budget.

I’ll wave the links of some of the things I’ve seen on Amazon in case you want to have a look.

www.amazon.co.uk/Bomb-Cosmetics-Creature-Comforts-Handmade/dp/B01D1HFUSU/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=christmas+bath+bombs&sprefix=christmas+bath+&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1602756226&sr=88

www.amazon.co.uk/Bomb-Cosmetics-Naughty-Handmade-Hessian/dp/B07572237H/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=christmas+bath+bombs&sprefix=christmas+bath+&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1602756226&sr=8-3

www.amazon.co.uk/Huggle-Oversized-Sweatshirt-Blanket-Comfortable/dp/B0821JX99Z/ref=asc_df_B0821JX99Z/?hvlocphy=9045307&hvlocphy=9045307&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvnetw=g&hvadid=400724973276&hvadid=400724973276&hvpone&hvpone&hvlocint&hvlocint&ref&hvpos&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-843390561776&hvtargid=pla-843390561776&hvrand=14391899156580320793&hvrand=14391899156580320793&adgrpid=91130663251

www.amazon.co.uk/Global-Gizmos-Benross-Chocolate-Accessories/dp/B00JHP2XNQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=pink+fondue+set&sprefix=pink+fondue&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1602756915&sr=83

www.amazon.co.uk/Tallon-Medium-Scrapbook-Quality-Scrapbook/dp/B085QJ4978/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=scrapbook&sprefix=scrap+&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1602756950&sr=8-5

Last year our then 6yo DD asked for an explorers kit. We got

• explorers jacket, about £10 on Amazon
• compass (less than £5)
• collecting pots
• digging tools
• notepads and pens
• identification guides
• some paracord
• binoculars (actually an old pair)
• bag to put it all in (actually one of DHs old at bags)

None of it cost much but dded up to a decent present.

If you do get anything from the works there are often 20% off codes, either advertised on the website or google. Not everything gets a discount but it can make a difference.

I think you have a good budget for them and will be able to get what they’d like. I’m trying to stay much more focused this year to get less.

If you look at Reastie’s bargain threads you will find loads of great deals on things.

I would focus on making the whole of December special, the way they do it in Denmark, including advent on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, because it will make the whole thing much more magical and the presents will just be the icing on the cake. A very simple, inexpensive Christmas Eve box is a lovely tradition and all you need is Christmas mugs (which you can get cheap in supermarkets or charity shops), hot chocolate and marshmallows, a Christmas book or two which can be had from the library, a Christmas film and if you can stretch to it (and if they need them anyway) new pyjamas for everyone.

I would keep an I out for clearance isles like wilkos

Occasionally you can get decent stuff in Poundland. Last year I did table presents rather than crackers I bought books, make a volcano kit etc. The works do some great kits for making cards or decorations. Don't worry about the budget it's plenty high enough.

Thanks for the inspiration everyone - just want to get them some nice stuff without breaking the bank.🙂

Hi there, for DS5 if he is into avengers / superhero's B&M have some great offers in the 2 for £20, there was a nerf Ironman or Spider-Man set that looked really good and it's in a nice big box, I was tempted for my DS5. They also had some quite big transformer type toys in the deal.
Also, I got a Star Wars dressing up costume (a baddie I think) from h&b for £2.99, again, in quite a big package!

I am trying to spend less this year and so choosing more carefully. I think it’s proven to me that when I spend more I buy extras that aren’t really necessary. So please don’t feel bad or think it’s not enough. As parents we always seem to feel bad over one thing or another

I think a trip to B and M is in order 😀@PinkJam that's very true.

If your DD enjoys making videos, home bargains have a ring light that you put you phone into the middle of, they are £8.99 and perfect for aspiring you tubers xx

Has the eldest already got Straighteners? These look like a bargain on amazon. If you wait until black Friday there are usually some amazing perfume bargains about or try the perfume parlour I think it is, that has been recommended on the bargain thread before.

Agree with B&M/Home Bargains/Primark you will get loads eg candles/jewellery box/make up sets/things for their room for the older ones or plenty of toys for younger ones. The works are great for craft sets.

For your girl selfie light

Tesco sell them too and id buy some pamper type gifts from home bargains, maybe a voucher so she can but her own makeup

Have you seen toys for a pound website? You could get some bits for the youngest from there. Maybe for the 5 and 9yo one of the electronic targets from amazon and a couple of nerf guns. Top trumps, dobble. I bought DS a sweet shop from amazon and have added sweets and paper bags. Whole thing under £15.

You might have seen this already if you've been on the bargain thread and it might not even be any use but mountain warehouse have a sale on and the code ACORN gets a discount on top of that. You might be able to get hats, gloves, scarves from there.

Please do not worry about it, you're not alone I have two DC and my present budget this year is £75 each.

Ideas for the younger ones.....binoculars, bug catching kit with magnifying glass are both cheap off Amazon.

If any of them like fossils I got a lovely ammonite from the UKGE website for less than £10.

I agree that B&M will be a good place for a browse to get ideas, maybe TKMaxx too.

I picked up some die cast cars in a charity shop for £1 the other week so they're definitely worth a browse.

@crazyhairbear thank you - hadn't thought of that.@Asj0405 she has got lots of hair stuff including straightners - had thought of waiting for black Friday too, as know they're some good barging to be had there.
@Bananaman123 thanks will check the self light out think that will be something she will like 🙂@Fueledwithfairydustandgin ooh no I haven't heard of that, will definitely give that a look too!
Thanks for the mountain warehouse tip - we use to have one in the town but it closed down, use to get a lot of bargins in there.@Pepperwand thank you, will check those out..He does love bugs/ animal / nature related stuff.

Not sure if home bargains has been mentioned yet. Saw some lovely stuff like mirrors in there today.
Also craft kits... Massive packs of playdoh for only a few pounds for example.