I'm ashamed that i'm getting the kids gifts from charity shops this christmas

[ShakeysGirl]

But its all i can afford to do. I have £20 per child to spend. I have 2 children and i've decided that for them to get the most out of their money that charity shops are the best option. I feel like such a loser and i'm ashamed of myself. I feel like i am letting them down in some way. I know they are only young (6 & 4) so wont know but i'll know. I feel like i've failed.

My ds is getting a Hairy Mclary jigsaw book which was brand new - you could see the jigsaw pieces had never been taken out - it was £1 in a charity shop. (Thankfully he's getting some other stuff too! But I was v. excited by that purchase!)

how old are your dc? i might have some stuff for you.

I have to do it too ShakeysGirl. The first time I done it was last year and I came home and cryed. Do you know though my children loved the books that Santa got them. They didn't know the difference.
Don't be ashamed please. I think children have too much these days and hardly play with it all. Christmas has gone mad. How old are your children? I may have soemthing I can send to you.

How old are your boys?

Bless you, you've made me cry i know they wont care and that i shouldn't be bothered about what other people think. I have an image in my mind of myself walking down the street with my charity bags and people thinking 'her poor children' the boys will love getting presents and will be pleased with anything that father christmas leaves them. I dont have to worry about getting adults stuff as getting presents stops when you hit 18 in our family! Thank you for your kind words

ShakeysGirl, you are absolutely not a looser. And you have not failed. You sound like a wonderful, caring, thoughtful and loving mother, and that is a gift that is priceless, that you DC will appreciate and hold dear for all their lives.

There will be plenty of children this Christmas who will have a mass of toys under their tree, but will not experience much or any love from the people who mean the most to them.

I am sure you DC will love whatever they get, if it comes from a parent who cares about them as much as you obviously do.

are your children boys or girls??

it says in op they are 6 & 4.

My 2 are getting the charity shop bargain bucket this year as well (as I like to call it). They will have no idea where there stuff is from. As has been said you are putting towards a charity and the planet which they will inherit so 3 gifts in one!! How many kids have hundreds of pounds worth of stuff and don't appreciate any of it 'cus there's so much. You're doing a dinner "that they love" So christmas is going to be about being loved not being loaded. A wise person once said "riches are not measured in wealth alone"
I remember being hurt one year by my mom saying about a present "oh I don't remember buying that for you . . . " and then last year she got me something from a charity shop because "I saw it in the window and knew you'd love it, so I made the poor girl reach across and get it for you"
Have a very merry christmas and e-mail lapin (i've no idea why but everyone else is saying it!!)

if I saw you walking down the street with bulging charity shop bags , I'd be thinking "grr, how come I never see all these fantastic bargains everyone else does?" and be incredibly envious actually.

They are 6 and 4. Its really nice of people to offer to help but i've only been on this site a couple of weeks and have no way of paying you so couldn't possibly accept but thank you all the same.

Shakey- I have an unopened scalextric set upstairs that I was going to donate to sectret santa- Id like your boys to have it- can you email Lapin asap so i can send it.

ShakeysGirl-please do email mnsecretsanta at the email address given below

I've bought a few Christmas presents from charity shops in the past. In fact quite a lot of my dcs books, videos and various toys are second hand (bought at school fairs etc).

There is nothing to be ashamed of at all.

Bookes are great presents and they are always cheap in charity shops..as more people now buy dvds you can often get kids videos for cheap prices too...

SG DO email LL
You sound like an amazing Mum x

You're donating to charity, so in my book that makes you a very clever shopper

My heart breaks for you spending last Xmas day alone

Please, email lapin & let us help you

You should feel proud. Recycling is environmentally sound. And resisting the pressure to spend, borrow, spend is a good thing to do. The charities need your money too.

SG, you souind like a wonderful mum

IMHO, buying from charidee shops makes it even more special, as you have hunbted for the pressies and really given so much tyhought into what you hbuy for your boys.

Plus you can be all smug thsat you have donated to charity, helped the environemt, and not aided thge evil tesco/adsa/toys r fecking us empires in thier quest for global takeover.and

EMAIL THE RABBIT. NOW.

we are on a major budget this year like never before and basically cant afford to do christmas so I spent a total of £1 at the local scouts jumble sale on DS' crimbo presents this year and will be scouting the charity shops for the rest. As for anyone else we are making tree decorations and biscuits. I dont feel ashamed, in fact i feel quite proud that i am not falling into the debt/consumer trap that most people are getting into at the mo!

and,

I get most of my kids pressies from charity shops. I have got some fantastict things, I got DS1a Tonka fire engine, which lioked quite new. They are normally about 15 quid - I got it for 75p

If you lve anywhere near Bath, I can point you to 2 excellent charity shops

again email lapin, we had stuff donated to us last year as we had very little spare cash to buy presents (which felt awful) we recieved some lovely stuff clothes, selection packs, books and toys and also a few little pressies for me from some very generous people. This year we are a little (but not much) better off and have some lovely bits to send out to people that are in the same situation as you. So please please please email lapin and let us help you.

I am absolutly amazed at how lovely you all are. Just this morning i was reading a thread about bullies on mumsnet but i have to say that you are all wonderful lovely people who have made a very upset mum smile! My email is down at the moment but its my user name with no capitals at hotmail dot co dot uk i am speechless for the first time in my life lol although i am worried about accepting gifts when i have nothing to give in return

Although my boyfriend is a dj and has every album and song released this year and will have the ones coming out in the run up to christmas if there is any music anyone wants? I know its not much but i would like to send something in return

I can't CAT you Shakey, so please email me when you can. Don't worry about paying it back - that's what NEXT year's Secret Santa appeal is for!