Budget ideas for children's presents

Clairy

Any ideas? Things are a bit tight and I need to bulk out their stockings a bit.

imfedup

how old are your children and how much do you have to spend?

earthmother

You could print out a load of colouring sheets (or puzzle sheets for older ones), make sock/flannel creatures/cakes (someone on here will be able to point you to the right threads), if you have some budget left, then hit the party-bag aisles for little bits and pieces, Woolworths have some nice tins with single cookies inside for £1 that are big enough to make an impression on a stocking, M&S (or Instore for a tighter budget) often have bags of chocolate coins with a small toy inside for not much more than the standard bag.

Also, keep an eye on any jumble sales, tabletops coming up - I got some great stocking fillers in the way of old comic freebies a few weeks back (notepads, pinball games etc) for pennies and in perfect condition. Along those lines, why not see if there are any trial subscription deals on suitable comics, get them delivered, save them up and pop them in the stockings - the BBC had a few '£1 for three issues' deals over the summer, but I don't know if they're still on.

rainmac

I bought two lunch tins from Asda for my boys and filled with sweets. The tins were reduced to 75p, not sure if they still have them. You could fill with cheapie craft bits instead.

Wilkos and The Works are good for stationery - pens, books etc

I made some crayon cakes for my youngest using old crayons... http://www.fawnandforest.com/blog/2008/6/16/108-project-melted-crayon-cakes-

Depending on how old your children are, how about a journal jar... http://organizedchristmas.com/printable/child-journal-jar

Lots of bits to make on this site... http://www.craftbits.com/viewCategory.do?categoryID=XMS

Some fab book plates here... http://www.myhomelibrary.org/colour.php

HTH, good luck

Toonie

Depending on your budget, check out https://www.bakerross.co.uk/ they do packs of toys which you can split up. I find it very useful as I have 11 children to buy for (6 nieces/nephews and 5 children I babysit/nanny for).

belle2008

I am also on a budget for stocking fillers, just wanted to say a special thanks to rainmac for that crayon cakes link! What a brilliant idea! Now i know what to do with all the manky old broken crayons we have ended up with! :T

Baybee1984

Also loving the Crayon Cakes idea, just shown DS and we decided we'd have a go 2moro. Something to keep him amused during half term week, thanks rainmac!!

brookeslay

You could some Ikea hearts and edible sweets and little icing tubes to decorate.

http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk and look @ bin ends childrens fiction

If you click the arrow next to disney fairy it lets you print lots of diffrent characters.
http://www.printstation.disney.co.uk/index.html;jsessionid=6D3AC9984A011CD787583F6FFF8F65BF

Go to party shops for cheap fillers little wooden toys etc.

perhaps some seeds and a little plant pot. again ikea do really cute silver ones .

b

sammy_kaye18

Just wanted to add that woolworths have some good items in their value range which are £1 each and look pretty good - my little boy has circled them all so they are on his 'i would like' list but i think they will be stocking stuffers instead - alsoa little bag of choccie coins

Also wilkinsons do some nice little colouring books too which you could roll up in a stocking with a cheapy pack of craysons - im sure they had 50 colouring books last time i was in adn my little boy had a truck themed one last year - he will get another one this year as he loves colouring

RoxieW

the mirror newspaper are doing a lego givaway this week and next. Just collect 7 tokens and send off £6.50 for a set of 12 lego items such as dinosaurs, speedboat, digger etc. I'm collecting tokens for both my boys. You can redeem tokens daily in woolworths but as I dont have one local I find it easier to just pay the £6.50 to get the whole set at once.

Mamae

I bought my 3 year old a Stanley DVD (disney cartoon) in tesco's for £1. Bargain! :j