so aussie mums - are you ready for the toy sales!!

[eidsvold]

anal I know but I have my BigW list and separated it into birthday and christmas laybys ready for my assault on the store at the crack of dawn ( okay 8am) tomorrow. Thankfully dh has the day off and I can go by myself.

Will have done some of my chrissy shopping then for nieces and friend's children - have them on layby and not have to get them until chrissy eve.

Now all I need is a good night's sleep after watching state of origin of course! Perhaps I can practise some of their duck and weave moves!

we are hoping to get the dds the climbing frame as their big pressy.

Good too as their birthdays are later in the year so I can get some inspiration.

Bloody Oath you are sooooooo organised!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I find the catalogues frightfully vulgar so I never touch them ergo I miss all the bargains and am entirely out of touch

suzy - I just find it helps to be able to layby from now to Chrissy eve and so have ages to pay it off. Notice it is just one place - have not thought about KMart or Target!!

I got some fab things for the dds last year - this year nothing so fab that has really jumped out at me.

i also now have 3 girls to buy for - so need ideas although dd2 is pretty good at suggestions but dd1 is often hard work trying to guess what she might like.

better things for boys than girls this year - unless you like bratz or barbie [puke emoticon]

I don't bother with the toy sales. There are sales every month and I find what my kids like now is not necessarily what they like in 5 months time

gilrs - craft, craft, craft, dress ups, hair stuff, bubble bath, jewellery, books, sparkly clothes, sparkly shoes, dvds, cd player??

My dd is nearly nine and still loves all mentioned except maybe the sparkly clothes and shoes.

I did the winter Kmart sale in NZ a few years ago ... put it all away and then still spent a fortune at christmas - ended up spending more than I would normally ...
I, like suzy, can't cope with the catalogues, although DS did spend the better part of yesterday evening poring over the kmart one and writing down what he likes in it in his best joined up writing (he can dream!)
As it is school hols right now I can't see myself going within spitting distance of kmart or target or any toy shop for that matter . My children are horrible in toy shops. They turn into children that aren't mine.
Why can't they do the sales when children are back in school?
I am impressed by your organisation eidsvold ...

my two are not into any of that mymamma

ghosty - the only way I am getting there is because dh has taken the next two days off work and I have a 9am meeting near the shopping centre. No way would I drag my three - especially dd1 ( who would go into meltdown!) into shops.

The junk mail had increased 3 fold here.....

We have seen some nice stuff for dd, may have to use layby...am using it fo the first time for her b'day pressies...tis good!

Make sure you tell us what you go eids ...
I have dd too as you know and I find her hard to buy for.

oooh maybe a keyboard? They seem to be the thing in the catalogues this year. Are the girls muscial?

I know I am too late and you are already there as I type. Keep safe amongst the madness and let us know what you got when you get back.

whoa what is going on in aus???

I have thought about laybying some things, especially as dd2's 2nd b'day is Xmas day
But I can't go this week as I will have dd1 and dd2 with me...... hopefully all the bargains haven't disappeared by the weekend when I might be able to sneak out on my own.
Now, off to find something else to eat, forgotten how much I constantly snack during the 1st trimester

PenelopePitstops - our mid range/discount department stores have their huuuge toy sales at this time of year - no deposit layby - pick up Christmas eve. You can imagine the hordes. Eidsvold had gone off bravely to fight the battle for her dds

well - in and out in under an hour - with four laybys sorted.

got the climbing frame for the dds to share as their big present

pillow books - winnie the pooh and princesses for dd1 and 2. they love their books and they looked fab.

dd1: ( 5yo at chrissy)

read along wiggles book and cd
wiggles dvd
disney princess colour set thingy with magic pen

dd2 ( 3yo at chrissy)
fifi dvd
bananas read along cd

for niece 3yo - lots to cuddle dolls ( thinking of going back to get one for dd2 for her birthday)

for friend's baby - baby rhymes with accompanying cd

for dd3( who will be 9 months old at chrissy)

shape sorter
water baby cd - relaxation
pooh bear night light - plays tunes as well
baby rhymes with accompanying cd

I was very surprised as I got there about 5 past 8 ( had to get to a meeting by 9!) and it was very civilised and not that crowded. Having said that went back later in the day for something totally unrelated and it was much busier. The best thing was everything was generally in its right place - you know - books with the books etc. Unlike target who have their stuff all over the place.

Still no idea of birthday presents BUT christmas is almost sorted - some crafty colouring sticker thing for dd2 and then a good reading book each - usually a hardcover, new pjs and stocking fillers.

best bit I have until christmas eve to pay it off and pick it up!!!

so that is the kids in our family taken care off.

Just the adults to sort now.

Message withdrawn

nah - it is as mymamma said - our mid range dept stores have huge toy sales with great prices and one off toys that they would not normally stock - you can get it put away and pay it off right up until christmas eve!! so no huge outlay all at once and no clogging up the cupboards etc trying to hide it all.

Message withdrawn

quaint - cod it is taking ones life in ones hands going to these sales - the women can get brutal and snatch things and run you over with their trolleys as their sneaky mates elbow you so you go down. some behaviour would not be amiss in a rugby league scrum.

Cod ... layby is fab ... you pay it off over a period of weeks/months and don't pay some stupid wanky bank credit card any interest.
One of the best things about Aus and NZ is the layby thing.

So bugger off with your 'quaints' you loon

Eids, sounds like some fav things there ... I am going to take a peek at the weekend if I can ... I'll let you know what I get for DD (4 in Feb)
We will get a table tennis table for DS ... for chrissy ...

have you got a swing set ghosty??

our dds love the one we have. We have the one like the one in the catalogue - given to us by friends whose children grew out of it - I just had to buy new seats - so 10 or more years later still going strong.

we are thinking some blocks or construction things for their birthday as they seem to love playing with blocks etc.

You can layby your swing set and they deliver!!! ( think it is for free or nominal amount for delivery!)

We just got one of the plastic slides as the other one that attaches to our swing set was a bit too big for the dds.

yeah, bugger off with your "quaint"

oh girls - I chose to rise about the 'quaint' cast in our direction. As you say ghosty - instead of running up the credit card I have 6 months to pay it all off!!