Great "How to have a cheap Xmas if you've kids" Hunt

JimmyTheWig

jellyhead wrote: »

The 2 children's wards I've been to don't take second hand toys for health and safety reasons - I give to charity shops, and freecycle.

Blimey, with the state of most of the toys and books at our hospital, you'd think they'd jump at the chance. Though I guess I'm talking outpatients and the like, rather than the children's ward itself.

Last time we had a big clear out we gave a load of stuff (toys, mainly, but also clothes) to a local refugee charity. I think it's good to encourage children to think about those less fortunate.

liza83_2

I started shopping in january just the smaller gifts for my sisters and parents and wrapping paper (50p for 10 meters) to start with.
then throughout the year ive been picking up little items for stocking fillers for the kids from pound shops and asda.
My DS who is 5 has wanted a nintendo ds for past 2 yr so this year i kept my eyes peeled for the best deal and finally found one at argos was 99 and came with an accessory pack and free game. and as i picked up another present in the sale too and my order was over 100 i got £10 voucher too which has been used for a another present.
DP has decided he wanted a DS too so i made him sell his psp to fund it lol.

clayhallqt_2

I have always tried to buy something decent for my three kids, who are now 17 (boy), 15 (girl) and 11 (girl).

But things are very tight this year and I have no idea what to give them. My little girl is demanding an Ipod Touch (£169.99)!!!!!! She is not spoilt during the year but expects good presents for her birthday and Christmas....

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can give them. I always try to spend equal amounts on them.....

jellyhead

Perhaps a DS? or a wii between the 3 of them. Equal amounts on all of them would be horribly expensive if you buy your daughter the ipod.

Have all of her friends got one? My boy is at high school and he is happy with his £30 MP3 player. I think it's phillips, it is a little black square thing, not expensive but it looks very cool.

They are not small children, I think they would be able to understand that money is tight this year, and understand that they can't always have the best of everything. Some of my son's friends have ipod, some have ordinary MP3 players and some don't have one at all.

My boy wants a phone, but it won't be an expensive one. At 11 they are mature enough to realise that not all parents have an equal amount of money to spend, or that choices are made and spending is prioritised.

raspabarbas

My parents never had that much money when I was little but Christmas was always fun because all the family came together and there was a lot of food. We used to get small presents, but a few of them. I think I was a bit of a weird kid as I never asked for big expensive things. Even as a teenager. One year I asked for a stockpot - I got it and I still use it!

Superfast_Gran

Join Kleeneze and earn approx £50 for few hours weekly - they also have a great Christmas Catalogue and reasonably priced costume jewellery in their Cabouchon catalogue - PM me for more details - I do it now and that's where I've gotten a lot of my family's presents this year - another bonus - you don't have to leave the house! (well, not to shop anyway!!)

jellyhead

My friend has joined betterware instead - you get your own exclusive territory and there's no outlay. No offence to kleeneze, but an exclusive territory and no outlay seemed like a better idea to my friend.

Moneyhound_2

My friend has told her two children that Santa had his money squirrelled away in the Icelandic banking system and that since he does not have access to it it at the moment he cannot afford to buy expensive presents this year. :-)

capn_nikko

Here's the traditional Scottish Method, as frequently expounded by my Scottish father in law:
1. Go into the garden late on Christmas Eve and fire off a gun.
2. Come back in and tell the kids Santa's committed suicide.

big_gay_kirk

capn_nikko wrote: »

Here's the traditional Scottish Method, as frequently expounded by my Scottish father in law:
1. Go into the garden late on Christmas Eve and fire off a gun.
2. Come back in and tell the kids Santa's committed suicide.

love it!! rofl!! lmao!!