Its that time of year again... XMAS

[misscutandstick]

I only have 5, and have started the xmas shopping - otherwise we wouldnt have time or money to get it finished in time...

How does everyone else do it? when does everyone else start? Have you changed toy buying habits as the numbers increased? AND most IMPORTANTLY, what sort of budget do you set, and can you stick to it???

AND OTHERS:
When do you start? during summer - but all year if good offers are on.
Stockings? YES - budget £15
MAIN plus extras? Yes
Shared toys? some, but not many.
CASH? NO
Total budget per child? about £300-£400 (ish!) but babies dont get anywhere near that as they dont really need it.
Toy buying habits? have had to scale down as A)no room for as much! B)same amount of money has to be shared between more children. I HAVE LEARNED TO BUY WHT THE CHILD MIGHT LIKE AND NOT WHAT I THINK THE CHILD SHOULD HAVE!

It is the summer holidays. It is nowhere near Christmas. Chill.

Chestnuts roasting on a open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your toes.

I start in october, i have 2 dd's and 3 step children, we spend £100 on each of them, although this year i hav'nt got a clue what to get dd2 as she does'nt realy play with anything apart from puzzles. We put £20 a week back for x-mas to cover evrything.

No way would i spend £300 even if i had enough to spend it.

actually i saw in game station same sort of deals - and some were brill!

we had that talk too MILK, explaining that baby toys are huge... and if thats what DS1 (15yrs) wants, it CAN BE ARRANGED

tee hee when do i bring up easter???

actually was just thinking:

the present i remember best from childhood was a not very pencil shaped pencil case (around 1977 before they were popular), and i lurved it to bits...

theres a 'snow plough' still in the toy box that attatches to a cheap version of thomas (from ELC) that we made years ago from a block of wood donated by next door, during the penniless years, and the present thomas fans love to bits!

The year that we really had no money at all, and i made the family biscuits/cookies and edibles each for xmas (wrapped in recycled stuff like ribbons and tissue) - my father almost shed tears! tho im not sure if it was sentiment or taste that did it!

This thread is very very helpful

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2652&threadid=226086#4562232

I buy whenever I see a bargain that I think DC would like. We also have to cover birthdays in oct,dec and jan.

I normally try to get everything wrapped up and shipped out to relevant houses / stored in hiding places by beg of dec but this year im due dc4 on 20/12.
So now thinking im gonna need everything sorted out by beg of nov but god konws what everyone is going to get .. plus dont know if we should get present for new baby?

reban i would get somethinng (but i would say that!?!)but not something particularly xmassy just incase DC4 makes a late entrance and just misses xmas. Something like a 'first set' of rattles, definately wrapped just in case baby arrives before xmas so that the rest of your DC's can see baby receive something for xmas. Congrats by the way - when do you think that baby will make his/her appearance?

I was fortunate to buy all of my 3dc pressies in the january sales (mostly at boots as they went down to 75% off!!!)
I got Thomas drive and draw for £6 instead of £24 and a wooden likabike for £12 instead of £50 etc.

I have used some of my stash for birthdays but will only have stocking bits to buy come december. Been a bit of a b!tch to store them though!

I love Christmas

How do you know what your children will want a year in advance to do that? My MIL will be asking me what my two will want shortly but by Christmas they will probably have changed their minds.

lol bozza you are right but some things like bikes and thomas the tank, noddy and bob the builder pop up play tent dont go 'out' for a 2-3 year old ime.
Also I bought smellies for dd1 (8) and a rock guitar power pro thingy plus dr who board game, dr who figures, stationary (always a biggie with her)and craft kits, wooden jewellry beads etc.
The soon to be one year old has a selecion of age appropriate games and toys such as soft skittles and a wooden trundle truck etc.

I dont think you can go far wrong really and if you must have the latest fad it will make a lovely addition to all the cheapies you managed to pick up in the sales rather than being stretched to afford it in the week before because you had evertthing else to get as well iykwim?

Also I bought a 14ft trampoline with enclosure, ladder and cover for £79! because it was Jan and nobody was buying them. I just pulled it out of the garage for dd1's birthday in July an saved myself hundreds of pounds by doing so which meant she could have a bigger birthday party.

I also don't ask what they want but they make a collage of the argos book which gets sent up the chimney with an explanation from me that FC sends what he thinks is best and not what they demand.

I am a BITCH lol

misscut i really dont know when baby will make an appearance. First was 5 days over, second was 3 days over and third was one day over so if it goes to form this one should be a day early! But we all know babies never do what we predict they wil!
I have started warning family that will need to know fairly far in advnace what kids will want or else it will be tokens / cash and in most cases i know that will be more appreciated.

QueenBhannae - i think thats an excellent plan! kids dont always know what they really will play with (IME) and often get caught up in the hype of the ads.

reban - good luck for whenever LO makes an appearance!

I'm still sortin school uniform and my autum wardrobe, plus dance school fees are payable in September, I don't know how you're all so organised.
Hats off to you, I have done the shop in that my ELC basket is full, just can't pay for it yet.