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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Credit Crunch Christmas?

16 replies

stirfry · 11/11/2008 19:16

I am really worried about how much Christmas is going to cost this year.

DS is desperate for this big lego starwars space ship thingy but that alone cost £140

And DD wants a DS complete with games, so thats another £150

How do I keep the cost down without the kids thinking that Santa has been a bit of a tight wad this year?

OP posts:
compo · 11/11/2008 19:18

my dh wants that star wars thing, the Millenium falcon is it?

How old are they? If they're old enough to understand i think you need to be blunt and just explain that you can't afford it this year

Or get grandparents to chip in

stirfry · 11/11/2008 19:21

DS is 8 and DD 10, they both still believe in Santa, even though DD is nearly 11!

at your DH, if he gets one my DH would really like to come round to play!

OP posts:
mum2samandalex · 11/11/2008 20:49

Have you shopped around on line on one of those compare prices thingy?

MrsSchadenfreude · 11/11/2008 20:54

I'm shocked that you would even consider spending that much. Ours get a stocking filled with stuff from the pound shop/market/the book people and a present each from us which costs around thirty pounds - eg DD1 will be getting mainly books and a game, DD2 a spacehopper a couple of books and a game. They are 10 and 8. Quite sufficient!

mum2samandalex · 11/11/2008 20:54

www.play.com Largest Toy Falcon ever! Includes 2 Figures & Free Delivery. Heres one place.

LittleCheese · 11/11/2008 21:06

mrsschadenfreude i dont think the op started this thread to be judged for wanting to spoil her children at christmas

nametaken · 11/11/2008 21:22

What about Ebay. You probably wont get the star wars thing but you've got a good chance of getting a second hand ds and an excellent choice of games. Try 'em.

MrsSchadenfreude · 11/11/2008 21:25

I'm not judging, LittleCheese. She can spend what she likes - not my money, not my credit crunch! I don't see why I can't express an opinion though - that I am shocked that someone would consider spending that much if the credit crunch is biting (as it clearly is). Actually, I wouldn't - and never have - spent that sort of money on Christmas presents, credit crunch or not. My opinion, not judging.

TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 11/11/2008 22:00

Cheapest DS I have found online is Tesco at £96.99 but doesn't come with any games. TBH, ebay is no cheaper - they are still around £100 without games.

We are facing a similar problem with our DCs this year. They aren't greedy kids at all but they pretty much want the same as yours Stirfry and I don't think the price registers with them. However, I want to get them other bits too which makes it very expensive. If you can afford those two main presents, why not get them and then buy a few stocking filler gifts to make it look like more? Sweets, choc, book etc. You could also ask grandparents etc to chip in for say a game for the DS (so you are only buying DS itself), bringing your spend down by £50. Also, its worth knowing that lots of the gaming stores sell 2nd hand games at half the price of the original version. DH assures me these are fine.

I think also I get bogged down with wanting my kids to have loads to open on Christmas Day (comes from own severely impoverished childhood). However, this year I have decided better to have only one or two fab gifts with a few inexpensive extras than stacks of stuff.

bevlongy · 11/11/2008 22:26

I've been looking around myself today & the best I can find DS wise is on Amazon.. they have DSs for about £99, but are doing selected games (including some new ones) for free, when you but the console.
The best bit is that included in the offer are bundles that already have a game/extras in the box. eg I was looking at the bundle with DS & Guitar Hero game in one pack, then WallE game for free - just over £100 - about £50 free by my reckoning.

Yes I know its still not cheap, but if you're getting one anyway, you may as well get your money to work as hard as possible.

HTH x

janeite · 11/11/2008 22:31

I'm afraid I've always taught our girls that just because they "want" something doesn't mean they will get it; and that's without a credit crunch and with a reasonable wage! Either get grandparents etc to contribute so they get the one "big" thing they want each, or they will have to settle for less. Sorry if that sounds harsh but I think learning that some things are too expensive and therefore unattainable isn't a bad message. I "want" to shop at Vivienne Westwood all of the time but it doesn't mean I've ever done so!

MrsSchadenfreude · 11/11/2008 22:36

I agree with Janeite. Could you ask your DCs to contribute towards the cost with some of their savings/birthday money? This focused the minds of our two when clamouring for a wii/ds. "OK - you want it, you can both contribute 50 quid towards it from your savings book." Suddenly it lost its appeal!

TeeBee · 12/11/2008 10:33

Can the kids sell some of their old toys to get some money together to contribute? Also helps in getting your house cleared up a bit for xmas.

stirfry · 12/11/2008 19:04

The problem I have is that because the DC still believe in Santa they expect that he can bring them whatever they want.

They don't ask for tons of stuff just one thing each and the rest is pretty much stocking fillers.

Its just that things are so expensive. All DD wants is a DS like all her friends, I don't think she is being unreasonable in her request

OP posts:
ladypinky · 13/11/2008 21:34

John Lewis DS £95 in store bought one last week for DD. Games were extra though.

squilly · 14/11/2008 11:40

Game had in a second hand ds the last time I went in. It was around £85 with a secondhand game and came with a warranty. They're very good at that kind of deal, apparently, so that may save you a little chunk of money.

I bought dd a new ds lite, I have to confess, but have bought her second hand games from Ebay (eg Tamagotchi game, not the latest, but a proper ds game nonetheless, for £4.50...she knows she's getting it and is really excited about it). They seem to be increasing in price though, but there's a lot of weeks between now and Christmas. I'm biding my time for an Animal Crossing game at the moment

In terms of the Star Wars stuff, I suspect it'll be a case of just shopping around for the best deal you can find.

I really feel for you. There's nothing worse than feeling that you can't give your kids just what they want at Christmas, especially if they're not greedy. My mum had 6 kids and not much money and she always went into debt for Christmas. She wasn't a very loving mum, but I always got the feeling that she cared about me if I got the gift I wanted for Christmas (selfish 6 year old head speaking there, not the grown up version of me, obviously .

I'm not advocating that you go into debt to buy gifts for your kids, but I can understand your dilemma. It makes it harder that your little ones are so sweet and innocent with the santa situation. I always told my dd that we had to buy the gifts, then we send them to santa and he decides whether to bring them back! That way we get away with the 'it costs too much money' scenario.

I hope you manage to find a reasonable solution and grab a bargain or two that'll keep you and the kids happy.

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