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Original poster

Struggling to afford Christmas

68 replies

Lonelymum · 31/10/2004 18:51

I know a few other MNers must be in the same situation as I am in so I wondered if we could pool ideas to help each other out.
The struggle for me is that dh and I have four children all of whom (with the exception of the youngest) believe in Father Christmas, but the cost of filling four stockings is really daunting. I know some paretns explain to their kids that money is tight and hence presents will be limited, but how can you do that when the presents are supposed to come from FC?
Has anyone any good ideas for filling a stocking on a budget without making it look like FC has forgotton their children or given them a load of sub standard toys?

OP posts:
hmb · 31/10/2004 18:55

Lonelymum, do your kids like the hoobs? (are they small enough?) if so contact me and I can send you some. I cleared them out today as dd has grown out of them

hmb · 31/10/2004 18:56

You'd be doing me a favour

Original poster
Lonelymum · 31/10/2004 18:57

Don't know what they are. So I suppose that is a no! But thanks anyway.

OP posts:
hmb · 31/10/2004 18:57

daft things on far too early in the morning on channel 4. Sort of muppet like

Original poster
Lonelymum · 31/10/2004 18:58

Perhaps we could set up a swap shop though.
Ds1 is 8, ds2 is 6 (7 by Christmas), dd is 4.5 and ds3 is 20 months (22 by Christmas).

OP posts:
misdee · 31/10/2004 18:59

get smaller stockings?

can u do one main present for each, then small ones for stocking fillers?

if u start now, getting notebooks, stickers, pens etc u should get more than enough for the stockings, at about £5 a week.

hmb · 31/10/2004 19:00

I have a leapfrog counting train up for grabs if you want it. Press the button job. It i=will go out to oxfam otherwise.

Original poster
Lonelymum · 31/10/2004 19:05

You mean for dd hmb? Sounds a bit big for my means. We only have small stockings to fill. Still seems to cost too much though. Even toys advertised as stocking fillers usually cost £2 - 3 a go. It all adds up.

OP posts:
hmb · 31/10/2004 19:07

Would do as a prezzie, and you could divert the cash to the stocking?

misdee · 31/10/2004 19:09

try elc and small toy shops for small items for stockings. elc do paints/craft stuff from 50p.

hmb · 31/10/2004 19:15

Also have some ladybird books and some ETC plastic animals if anyone is interested

MummyToSteven · 31/10/2004 19:22

bargain books shops - the works/county books do some good cheap books, say 99p upwards. could you do the traditional thing of putting a satsuma or two in the stocking as well, or do some home made cross-stitch piccies/book marks maybe if you are at all crafty. boots and woolies have 3 for 2 on a lot of toys atm if that helps.

Twiglett · 31/10/2004 19:29

just seen this

how about clubbing together with some friends and shopping on baker ross .. they have lots of little stocking fillers that would be suitable .. and you get lots for a couple of pounds

HTH

zebra · 31/10/2004 19:33

I May be interested in plastic animals, hmb!

Lonelymum: I have some small soft animals DD doesn't need... also, having just done a party for DS, you'd be surprised what things kids like that's quite expensive. I found some very small picture frames (like 2"x2"). I printed out pictures of tigers and lions I found on the Internet -- could have cut these out of a catalog or newspaper if we didn't have a printer. And put those in the little photo frames. You would not believe how excited the little girls at the party were to get little pictures of tigers or lions in their party bags.

Last year in Party Bags I put in big chalks (pavement chalks). You could buy a big box for something like £2 and give each of your child 3 or 4 of them.

Another idea -- I want to get DS some scooby doo socks, He needs socks, and he likes Scooby Doo. So he'll be well-chuffed to get them, and it's something I have to buy, anyway.

zebra · 31/10/2004 19:34

Oops, that should have read "things kids like that are quite cheap"!

hmb · 31/10/2004 19:40

Contact me then zebra, and I'll shove them in the post for you.

Tortington · 31/10/2004 19:46

doesn't help with the prezzies but - my kids have always grown up knowing that we pay for the prezzies - they didn't reconcile this fact with FC delivering them until they were about 7. then we told them that when you buy them from the shop nothing works until FC sprinkles magic dust on - and he has to decide who has been good.

pound shops are full of crappy things but there are some good stocking fillers to be had. colouring books and felt tip pens. also "the Works" bookstore has some cheapo stuff in - like pens and colouring books and paint by numbers and magic sets for under a fiver

doziduck · 31/10/2004 19:54

I have some little bits and bobs that would be o.k for stockings. I have some videos, monsters inc and others (will have to check)
I ahve a trace and draw projector (not used much but not in box anymore)
if they are any help please let me know lonelymum.
Charity shops are good too or maybe e-bay?

frogs · 31/10/2004 20:00

I use Boots card points to get big bottles of Matey bubble bath. Tangerines are good for taking up space, and go down strangely well considering they're healthy. Also recommend Lidl -- I keep an eye out all year for special offers on kids' things. They sometimes have crayons or other quite wholesome arty things which can be put into stockings. They currently have Christmassy bags of chocolate footballs and chocolate coins.

zebra · 31/10/2004 20:12

Did you mean ELC animals, HMB? Cows, dogs, what? Does Lonelymum want a first refusal?

hmb · 31/10/2004 20:13

Ikea do packs of felt tip pens for 30p

lou33 · 31/10/2004 20:15

Superdrug often do good offers for stocking fillers, although mainly for girls.

hmb · 31/10/2004 20:18

A dear, horse and pig, probably a sheep. Have a few lurking at the bottom of boxes that never get played with. None are in boxes or anything, but all are as bought. It wouldn't make a farm set as my kids have bought them in dribs and drabs, so a bit of a strange mix but you are welcome to them if you want them. Also have some hard back PB bear type books, not new but in very good nick, also little ballerena books.

acnebride · 31/10/2004 20:19

could try a few things from the 50p/pound bits of Hawkins Bazaar , although now I actually have a kid it is even more infuriating that they don't say which are really safe for children.

Kayleigh · 31/10/2004 20:19

Asda do pens/pencils/rulers very cheaply with names on. Kids always love something that is meant specifically for them. Make a good stocking present.

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