if youre on a budget what are you getting your children?

[amechange]

how many presents/what sort of thing

At the moment, am making a list of what I would like to get on Amazon and then looking on FB marketplace, eBay and charity shops to see if I can get them in good condition for a better price.

For 2 year old, things like:
Melissa and Doug doorbell house
Kinetic sand set
Drawing easel
Parking garage
Books
Puzzles
Bath toys/lights/bombs
Paints/fingerprinting books

How old are your children?

@daydreamingnightowl there are 2 doorbell houses on Vinted at £10 each

Depends what you mean by on a budget really.

I don't spend daft money at Christmas unless the kids need something. So DS11 has been asking for a laptop for schoolwork. We will get him one but only cos he needs one. We've told him he has to wait til Christmas.

DD16 will prob get make up, clothes etc, but I won't spend hundreds on those things, like we will with the laptop.

Oh and DS will only be getting the laptop and that's it.

We are a family of five, everyone will get one present from each other person and then a stocking too. Secondhand as much as possible. We’ll also only have the one special meal for the entire festive period, eat normal otherwise. The kids will make homemade decorations and a gingerbread house.

DD18 case for her records, porcelain doll for her collection, heavy metal merch, steampunk ornament.
DD15 laptop as she really needs a new one, soft toy, Stranger Things merch, Funko
DD6 Magnatiles, Furby, Minecraft clock, Rubik’s Cube
DD4 Toy Ice Cream Van, baby doll, toy high chair, malleag mouse,
Me - I’ll get some essentials like new deodorant and new bed socks for them to give me.

I hate being poor. I also hate non-resident parents who pretend to the world they adore their children and yet don’t pay a penny in child maintenance.

We always budget quite strictly for Christmas. DDs are 6 and 4 so luckily they don't even notice if things are secondhand.

We tend to do 5 presents for each DD, plus their stocking (which comes from Father Christmas.)

Stockings I find easy to do cheaply. They tend to be filled with sweets or chocolates, nice hair slides or bobbles, bath bombs, stickers etc. Last year was really tight and I put in a pack of their favourite biscuits each which took up space.

Other presents I often do secondhand. This year they have some books they'll like from the charity shop that were 50p each. Bigger things like Playmobil, Barbie's etc I get on Facebook Marketplace or Vinted.

I also tend to get nice clothes that aren't day to day but they'll get use out of. So PJs with their favourite TV character, or a nice party dress that will do for other occasions.

My dds are 15 and 11.

DD1 I have collected various manga books and merchandise from her favourite anime off vinted. Then some art supplies heavily reduced from the works (she's doing art GCSE)

DD2 Im not sure yet. So far i got her a fake oodie, fleecy blanket and squishmallow. I'm thinking maybe a TV for her room if I can find a decent second hand one. Or I will do up a mirror with lights and get her some basic make up bits (she's asked im trying to hold out as I think she's too young!)

I got stocking fillers from Temu and Shein. Things like jewellery, pin badges for their bags, keyring each, nail art stickers, fluffy socks, pens for school etc. I got some body sprays on offer from superdrug and got Christmas face masks heavily reduced last year.

@sittingonacornflake thanks for that recommendation. I'm a bit late to the vinted party but just downloaded the app and got a doorbell house and a magnetic puzzle. Very happy!

@daydreamingnightowl yay! You're so welcome. I've had some fabulous bargains from there.

Surely your 18 and 15 yr can buy you a couple of presents even if you do give them the money?

Cheaper stuff we’ve bought to pad things out a bit include:

fleece blankets from supermarkets/Primark
Winter PJs/Oodie from Primark
Fleecy socks
A popcorn bucket, with popcorn
Bubble bath/shower gel
knock off version of lucky charms cereal
baking bowl (home bargains) with cake decorating bits

I have outsourced the expensive presents to the grandparents so all 3 of mine are getting new scooters. Most other stuff I'll get off fb Marketplace. I find lots of people have clear outs before Xmas. Currently looking for beanbag chairs and a kitchen.

Vinted definitely. And I buy from charity shops and the sales through the year. I can do this as they're 6; 4 and 1 at Christmas though so I appreciate it will get harder to predict gifts as they get older.

In July I started looking on Marketplace/Gumtree/Vinted/charity shops for items. For example my 4yo has got a playmobil aeroplane, a marble rush set, some books, a board game and a box of jigsaws all in excellent condition and so far I have spent just under £30. It's takes a lot of time and searching but is definitely worth it. I appreciate it's harder to do this as kids get older, more aware and have more specific requests though.

I think I've decided for the youngest. DD5 will get a barbie sized wooden dolls house and some dolls. DS2 will get a play kitchen and some playfood. the older three will get money. All will get stockings.

Ds is getting a second hand mini pool and air hockey table which I think he will love. Also a second hand Harry Potter wand. We’ve always done second hand and it still makes the most sense for things like this. Will supplement with other bits and bobs as well.

I think the kids will get 2 presents in the £20-£30 bracket, a book or 2 each, and a 2nd hand Pandora charm each. Also bits like glow in the dark stickers, Christmas decoration kit, temporary tattoos.
The grandparents tend to completely overdo it though so they will probably get some more expensive bits that way.