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Christmas

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

Original poster

I have spent £50 in total on my 4 children for xmas.........am pleased I'm in budget but worried the older ones will be disappointed.

39 replies

conniedescending · 10/12/2008 14:51

Posted a while back for ideas about cheap xmas presents for my 4 (6,6, 2,1).....we had about £50 to spend and whilst I have never gone overboard in the past, I have always spent alot more....

anyway here's what they have got
pyjamas £12(primark)
colouring books/ sticker books £4
my little pony (girls) toy fire engine (boys)£5
hair slides, bobbles, slipper socks, £10
In the night garden beanies (pack spilt in half so 2 each)£6
bubble bath, bath crayons, rubber ducks £5
chocolate santa and coins £5
book each £4

so that cost me around £50

then off freecycle I got a bag of barbies and barbie clothes which I have put in a pink box for the girls, a huge crate of megablocks for the boys plus a massive stuffed lion for all of them to share which will look fab wrapped up with a big bow on.

does this sound ok???? I know the barbies and the megablocks are things they will like and play with but not necessaily what I would have bought had we the money. I've tried so hard to get bits n bobs they will like but with all the convos at school about playmobil circus, fur reals and ds lites I've got a bit paranoid that it's a bit rubbish!

OP posts:
moondog · 10/12/2008 14:52

Sounds great.
They wil lbe thrilled.

mumto2andnomore · 10/12/2008 14:54

It sounds lovely to me you have chosen thoughtful presents.Much better than spending lots of money on things you cant afford. They will love them Im sure !

singyswife · 10/12/2008 14:55

Sounds great and it will look good when it is wrapped too. Well done you.

notdoingthehousework · 10/12/2008 14:55

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frankbestfriend · 10/12/2008 14:55

It sounds to me all though you haven't spent much, you have made a huge effort with your choices of gifts (the barbie stuff in a pink box and the lion with a big bow sound particularly lovely)

Don't beat yourself up.
My dh always got tons of plastic crap for Christmas as a child, and all he really wanted was for his parents to pay him some attention and spend time, not money on him.

givethedogachristmaspudd · 10/12/2008 14:56

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Lemontart · 10/12/2008 14:57

sounds great to me too. Good mix with girly bits, some choc, art activities, story each, construction toys, role play barbies. I am sure they are going to be really happy.
Stop worrying and start enjoying looking forward to seeing their happy faces

CliffRichardSucksEggsInHell · 10/12/2008 14:57

Sounds fine! Christmas isn't all about presents and children need to learn that they can't have everything they want. It's a good lesson to teach kids that things cost money and money doesn't always grow on trees. It might make them think about prices of things.

thatsnotmymonster · 10/12/2008 14:57

I'm sure they will love their presents. In some ways children have to accept that they get what they are given. We hate to disappoint our children but getting what they want is just not always possible.

I know as a child I hardly ever got what I wanted at Christmas but I still loved it.

KbearingGiftsWeTraverseAfar · 10/12/2008 14:58

What matters is that Santa will come and they will have some stuff to unwrap! They won't appreciate a DS lite any more than a tube of maltesers. You don't want to stress about it, enjoy the day, you can guarantee they will remember it as a good one!

lilolilbethlehem · 10/12/2008 14:58

Sounds great - and just imagine what you would have paid for the barbies and megablocks if you had bought new. If young children get too much, they don't get the pleasure out of it all.

We don't spend anywhere as much as many of our DC's friends. DCs understand that and if they ever complain (rarely), they are reminded that some children will be getting a lot less. they are older now and have a very healthy, responsible attitude to giving and receiving.

givethedogachristmaspudd · 10/12/2008 14:58

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Boco · 10/12/2008 14:58

Sounds really really good, you've done well! Mine would be thrilled with all that.

For the older one, www had a really good idea for making promise cards like yu-go whatever. She did things like 'a trip to the park', 'a get out of chores' card, 'an hour on the computer' 'stay up half an hour later' etc. They looked really good printed out - and it's free!

MrsMattie · 10/12/2008 14:58

Sounds great! Kids see presents, not the price tags. Merry Xmas!

kingprawntikka · 10/12/2008 14:59

I think it sounds perfect and your children will be very happy on christmas morning.

pigleypudding · 10/12/2008 15:13

When I was a kid I loved Drawing and colouring and I remember my stocking being full of different types of pens and pencils, note books, stickers, rubbers, stencils etc.
They were all wrapped up individually and I remeber spending ages unwrapping them all.

Just shows you how about 20 years later I still remember that and it cant of cost alot at all

All sound like great presents to me

Original poster
conniedescending · 10/12/2008 16:10

awww thanks....have been having moments of wanting to go to toysrus with the credit card but that is absolutely barking given that we are in mortgage arrears.

Things are not too bad thanks housework - the interest rate drop has helped us and we could make the full payment this month plus some of the arrears because of the drop so NorthernRock are happy(ish)for now.

And thanks for the tip about vouchers....my older 2 will love that - will get some printed off and laminate them!

Merry xmas!!!

OP posts:
Coldtits · 10/12/2008 16:16

oh god I was picturing gutted teens. Yours are tiny children and the presents you have got them are great. Megabocks are brilliant for all of them, I have a huge bag and they are the most played with thing!

orangina · 10/12/2008 16:18

Last year, dd's (then 2+) most talked about xmas gift was......

the (50p) father christmas lolly that she had in her stocking (amongst all the other stuff).

Picked up in Tesco on a whim on Xmas Eve.

Money doesn't matter, it sounds as though you have put a lot of thought and consideration into their presents, they will all be thrilled I'm aure....

Merry Christmas!

FioFio · 10/12/2008 16:25

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ChristmasCakeYerbouti · 10/12/2008 16:26

They will love it.

I never go mad on my kids for Christmas. They always seem mega happy with what they get.

No point getting into debt for 1 day of the year IMHO

MerryChristmasPANDAGHappy09 · 10/12/2008 16:30

connie - sounds a lovely lot of presents. Well done for sticking to your budget. your children will have lots of wel choisen stuff to play with, and you won't have a huge bill.

mollythetortoise · 10/12/2008 16:32

it all sounds wonderful and not disimilar to what I am giving my dd. My ds (1.5) is only getting a Maisy book and some cars from tesco (£3) (plus a fisher price garage that I was given by my neighbour - which is rather large!) At that age, it is the quantity that counts!

OsmosisBOOnana · 10/12/2008 16:34

I think that sounds really lovely. Good work.

MincePirateCat · 10/12/2008 16:34

HIya, from one skinto to another, would your tinies like to have the V tech talking bus? I have had a clearout of stuff, and the 'stuff' is sitting on the landing. It's in great condition.

just a thought? I was going to put it in free section here.

BTW, your gifts sound fab, and my 6 yr old is getting similar. !!!!