Best place to thrift birthday presents

[Boymum30]

No judgement please. Has anybody got any good ideas of where I can thrift birthday presents for my soon to be 2 year old? He turns 2 in August and I am in such a bad way financially at the moment i really cant afford to buy him presents. After rent food and bills I have nothing left and have no one to ask to borrow money, has anybody got any idea of where I can thrift some toys that are in a good condition and look fairly new or any charities that help with that kind of thing? I can spend about £20. He badly needed new shoes, some pjs and tshirts this month which i got on vinted and that used the last tiny bit of money i had spare and its so disheartening seeing videos of people on their children's birthdays. I know hes only 2 and luckily he wont remember much anyway.
TIA x

He won’t remember any of it and he won’t be aware of toy condition either. Look on Facebook marketplace for free stuff and charity shops. I am sure you could get a few lovely things for well under £10 total.

We were not struggling financially and probably only spent £30 ourselves when DD turned 2. They don’t need loads of stuff at that age. A bit of chocolate cake was DD’s best part of the day I think!

Do you mean where can I buy second hand toys? You buy them in a charity shop or on selling sites like gumtree. Some charity shops are more focused on baby and kids clothes and toys.

Post on Facebook? People may be thinking they need a clear out and it might give them the push needed.

Please dont feel bad children that age dont know anything different so by using Facebook market place, charity shops, vinted etc is just as good as going to shops and buying new! Being present and making it special is the most important thing to a child

At 2 he won’t care what the present values are or how many he gets. You can get a lot for £20, get him little things like a cuddly animal, new book, chalks if you have outside space, a puzzle game, look in charity shops for cheap presents. Then day out to the park with a picnic and a ball.

Our local area has a ‘freebay’ Facebook page which is really good for picking up kids toys- worth seeing if your town has similar. Also any charity shops are worth a look but particularly if you can find one that’s only baby/kids things. Some of my DD (3) presents have always been second hand- I could afford new but why spend the money when I can get good quality second hand. Nothing wrong with that and at 2 your DS would notice or care.
The other thing that’s often given away local on Facebook groups is the large number balloons or similar- DD loves that when she was 2.
Wrap up some of the clothes you have got as unwrapping will be fun for him no matter what’s in it. Then if you can add a book, cuddly toy and another small toy. Balloon and chocolate cake then he will be very happy!

Honestly OP there is no shame in buying secondhand birthday presents, it's better for the planet and your DS is so little he won't notice or care a jot! It's my daughters 4th birthday next month and I've bought her secondhand toys and games on Vinted that I know she will love and I don't even feel a tiny bit bad that they aren't new.

Definitely head into some charity shops, most of them have a kids section with books and games, cuddly toys etc. Vinted if you have something specific in mind and if something has been listed a while you could offer less.

Hope your boy has a great birthday!

Carboot sales at this time of year are the best way! There is bound to be one near to you, charity shops can also be good but tend to be more expensive than a carboot sale and it depends on the particular shop; some are massively overpriced in my opinion!

Can only echo others. Facebook Marketplace, charity shops (fantastic for books), Freecycle. If you have an Home Bargains nearby, they have some really good deals on kids’ toys.

Again, as others have said, he won’t remember stuff. What he will remember is you loving him 😊

Thanks some good ideas! I will look on marketplace and do a post on there too. Sometimes I find charity shops in my area really expensive and same with vinted hence why ive tried to prepare ahead of time to try and find some good bargains. I know he wont remember at this age or care much so that makes me feel better anyway!

Have you a Poundland nearby? They sometimes have good books too.

Im so gutted I dont have a home bargains near me i was actually looking the other week the closest ones are an hour away unfortunately as im always seeing videos of that place lol

Good idea thanks!!

Find a high street with a few charity shops, 20 quid will get you a good little pile of presents.. my son would have been happy with anything at 2, certainly happy with all the great things in a charity shops.

Also try and find some free cardboard boxes.. big ones.. get some pencils and decorate the outside. Cut a door. Turn into a little home. Free - my son loved a good box house at 2-3.

Birthday trip to a park he hasn't been to before? Doesn't matter if it is a normal free random park, as long as it's new and you make it into a "birthday trip" it will be exciting...

Pound shops often sell big packets of things like cars, soldiers, bath toys etc. buy, then wrap desperately. So it looks like a pile. They will find the unwrapping and quantity more interesting than the toys anyway.

Ohh yes a car boot is a great idea