Cheap presents for 5 year old schoolfriends - birthday parties

rio

Has anyone any tips on nice but cheap presents to buy for 5 year old boys and girls? My little one has just started school and we have 3 birthday parties in the next week! It seems all the class are going, as this seems to be the norm for this age group, so I am calculating that my LO may get invited to about 26 parties over the coming year! HELP

Counting_Pennies_2

For the boys how about the tub of bugs that Tesco sell, they are bound to make any 5 year old boy happy!

Nicki

I always find Woolies invaluable for cheap presents for birthday parties. You can usually get something which looks pretty decent for £5 or less. They do good board games, jigsaw puzzles, character toys, books and DVDs for this kind of price.

Becles

It does seem to be the norm to have whole class parties for the first few years at school. You'll be pleased to know as they get older, the parties get fewer and tend to be smaller ones for close friends rather than the whole class.

I used to keep an eye on things like Crayola craft kits. You can often pick them up on offer in Woolies. If you have a book man at work keep an eye out for cheap books and craft kits as well. I once picked up a few Finding Nemo books cheaply when the film came out which were popular.

I know this is sneeky, but when my sons had a party I would hide away duplicates and things I knew they wouldn't play with and use them for gifts for other children

blessings3

Boots have got a bug explorer backpack for £4 and its part of their 3 for 2 range plus points! I have brought 6 for all the boys parties - they probably have somthing similar for girls 2

Rachie_B

I often pick up things i think would be suitable when i see them on sale / offer etc

you cant go wrong with lil pencil,ruler,rubber sets, or crayons and a colouring book

maybe add some crafty bits and a cheap glue stick

i also find out from my son what character they like, and print them off a persoanlised birthday card card and some other printables - colouring sheets / story etc

on either http://www.dltk-kids.com/ https://www.activityvillage.co.uk or http://www.disney.fr/DisneyOnline/funzone/printstation/index.html

HTH

Scarlett1

I usually pick up a few nik naks from the boots sale when they knock bits down half price, glad I did this and put them in the wardrobe as I couldnt believe how many parties DD got invited too whilst being in Reception :eek:

gingin_2

I agree with the reception class parties. It was madness at one point!

At that age boys tended to get a hotwheels car set (about £3.99) and girls tended to get those Tesco butterfly bead cases which were about £3.50 the perhaps a little cheaper. Special friends tend to get a more personalised present as we know them a little better and what they do and don't like.

This year Mr T's have been selling a bulk pack of Bionicle Lego (ds goes to 6 + 7 year old parties now). The pack was £18 for 6 boxes which normally retail at £7 each so we have split those up and given one each for presents and I have put a few away for the xmas stocking.

tiff

I bought a craft box in Sainsburys the other day, it makes paper flowers (nice ones) and contains all the stuff you need, was £4.99 now £1.25. I bought 3 boxes for future birthday presents. Look around on clearance shelves and bins for reduced stuff, its surprising whats around when you look.

bobsa1

I look for clearance stuff too. DD was at a ten year old joint party on friday and each girl got a boots lip gloss and photo set (bought on a boots glitch so approx £1 each) and a claires acc. piece of jewellery (50p on 10 items for £5 clearance) so for £1.50 per child they got about £9 worth of pressie.

DD12 was at a party sleepover and her good friend got a vanity case (cosmopolitan one from boots had been £18 cost £5) and a nail varnish set (boots again £8 to £2 in the sale) so for £7 she got a fantastic pressie)


DD3 is going to a party soon and her little friend is getting a fifi and the flowertots set £1.99 from amazon but retail at £10

I buy loads of stuff and just put it away, anything leftover gets given to my dd's as stocking fillers.

misty

Do you have a Works near you? I've bought gift sets that come in a box - a re usuable camera, film and album for the pics - flower fairies or ballerina for girls and spiderman or pirates of the carribean for the boys. The box they come is lovely and all the items have stickers of the theme on them. They cost £4.99 but look a lot more -maybe one for their close friends.

Woolworths have 3 for 2 offers pretty much all year round plus their sale stuff is usuallly pretty good. At 5 they good at board games and these can be pretty cheap too.

Tesco stuff is usually reasonable and they ahve a wide range.