Classmates birthday presents. What do you do?

[Easy]

So now ds is at school, we are on the birthday rounds. We already have invitations to 2 birthday parties in November, one a girl, one a boy.

Any suggestions for inexpensive but imaginative pressies accepted.

BTW last year Woolworths did little playdoh kits for £1.99, but the supply seems to have dried up.

What about books? One of the online book clubs does packs of 10 quite cheap. It was on one of the party bag threads - I'll go and try and find it.

My daughter got a calendar similar to this one at her birthday party, and we since gave it to her one of her classmates.

Try some of these ideas maybe.

Toys R Us own brand play doh is 12 tubs for £5, which you could split and re-wrap.

Also, apparantly, Argos do a set of 24 small pots of playdoh and 21 cutters, scisorrs, rolling pins, etc for £9.99. Again to split and re-wrap.

Baker Ross do little gift types thinsg too.

I go to the outlet centre at Ashford, stock up with half price gifts suitable for 5 year olds and put them in the cellar ready to wrap up for the next birthday party. Doing it individually seems to cost a fortune.

I think the online books come from The Book Club

I once heard someone whose child was not at the same school as mine say that they had a collection from all the children invited to the party and than bought one big pressie that the child really wanted. I assume an amount was agreed on. Having endured years of pens, stationery, etc. I wish I had the nerve to suggest the same.

I must admit that I always welcome books so tend to check out with the parents first and they always seem quite happy. Less clutter...

I keep my eyes open when I'm out and buy anytime I see bargains or nice things at a reasonable price. They all go into a big box under the stairs (as do eg presents that my children have been given that we already have - duplicate books and board games etc) and I choose from there. There are often very good heavily reduced elc and other toys in Sainsburys, M&S do wonderful imaginative puzzles and games for about £5, etc. Takes the pressure off not having to think "god,what do I get them" every time an invite comes in the post (once a week at the mo!) and works out cheaper.
Must say I spend about a tenner per present though, on average. Which seems to be the same as the other mothers in my children's classes.

PPH, I was wondering that myself. It seems around here that something around $20 is usual (which is about 12 pounds).

Ouch!

I was hoping to get away with no more than £5 per child on average. As there are 10 other children in ds's class (ATM, more to come after Christmas and Easter), and ds is the oldest (his birthday the day before term started), we are likely to need to buy 10 - 15 birthday presents, if not more, before the school year ends.

I had intended to look out at our local outlet centre next week and bulk buy if poss.

I certainly like the idea of books, ds can't get enough books, but some kids just aren't bookish are they?

I spend £5 on presents for school invites which I think is plenty, they get so many. I sometimes think there is too much pressure to be 'the one who bought the best present', but at the end of the day it's down to how much you can comfortably afford. I find some good items at the big W, which is a huge woolworths for those who don't have one near, and again stock up when I see something suitable and have a supply ready.

I also buy stuff when I see it on special offer. 3 for 2's, sales etc. I try and keep to between £5 and £7 for most of the parties although I will spend more for a special friend.

I often feel some pressure not to be too cheap with gifts, as some of the party bags are quite extravagant. Don't want the party bag contents to cost more than the present we've given!! But, I agree it's not a competition......

Hula

Don't know if it was me who suggested on line 10 packs of books for party bags but I do so it could have been. I use The Book People , check the Book Ends section for the best deals.

I also use the books as presents for friends, they are usually lovely books and I end up keeping more than I should for dd & ds!

Am amazed at U guys -- Books r definitely unappreciated prezzies among the children we know. Try Action-man, Power-rangers, Lego, Fire engine, monster truck stuff instead. Barbie and fairy stuff 4 the girls.

I too spend about £5 per child unless he/she is a special friend and then we'd stretch to a tenner.
Sainsburys have a pre christmas sale on their gift lines at the moment and I must confess to having bought 3 presents already. I've got two big tins with a recorder, bag and cleaning cloth with a first stage music reading book and a tin with science tricks in. They are normally £5 but at the mo are reduced to £3.33 - but they look a lot more expensive iyswim!!

Easy do you have a savers near you.

they have pots of playdoh 5 in a pack with the lids as cutter for 99p