Cheap presents for 5 year old schoolfriends - birthday parties

Prudent

I would recomend keeping a present box. I buy things in sales and at car boot sales and keep them in a platsic stacker box. My daughter is well past this stage, but at 14 still needs to buy pressie for loads of friends. I buy quite a lot of small items and bulk buy gift bags when I see them reduced. When a birthday come up, my dd just chooses some of the items and places them in a gift bag. We often give pressies that should have cost £10 -£15 for around £1 to £1.50. I also bulk buy cards. A few weeks ago someone at a local boot sale was sellinglovely cards for 10p, so I bought 30.

gingin_2

super41 wrote:

Slightly off topic but have others found that parents are now giving chocolate/sweets to everyone in the class when it's their child's birthday? Who starts these things - and why? Just more cost and oneupmanship I guess.

Really? they are really strict about it at ds's school, one mum a couple of months ago had made fairy cakes for everyone and had to take them home because she wasn't allowed to give them out on school grounds!

super41

gingin wrote:

Really? they are really strict about it at ds's school, one mum a couple of months ago had made fairy cakes for everyone and had to take them home because she wasn't allowed to give them out on school grounds!

Yes I was surprised myself. It has happened twice now. The other day she came out clutching a mini flake as someone's Mum had sent them for a birthday, so I assume they were given out at the end of the day by the teachers. My daughter is egg and nut allergic so I don't like her getting sweets when I'm not around. However she is sensible and always asks. Her immediate reaction was 'Can we give out sweets on my birthday??'!

LopezLopez

The Entertainer sells 'My Little Pony' which girls love, reduced from £5 to £2.50 and sets of 'Magnetix', which boys love, also reduced from £5 to £2.50.

Becles

super41 wrote:

Slightly off topic but have others found that parents are now giving chocolate/sweets to everyone in the class when it's their child's birthday? Who starts these things - and why?

When mine were in nursery, they had "snack time" half way through the session where they got a drink and a biscuit or fruit or some sort of seasonal snack a mince pie at Christmas, spring rolls for Chinese New Year, samosas for Diwali etc. On their birthdays parents tended to send in fairy cakes, crispy cakes or similar for snack time and they would all sing happy birthday to the child.

Some parents did continue to send cakes etc., in when the children went into the infants, but the school keep them and hand them out for the children to take home at the end of the day.

If you go on holiday in term time, children usually bring back lollies or sweets to share with the class.

Rachie_B

super41 wrote:

It's not tight it's common sense! I limit presents to £5. As other people have said you can get good presents for this amount especially in sales etc. My DD has just gone into Reception and there are 58 in her year - hope she's not too popular!! Slightly off topic but have others found that parents are now giving chocolate/sweets to everyone in the class when it's their child's birthday? Who starts these things - and why? Just more cost and oneupmanship I guess. Been to a party today, and it was very nice but honestly don't think the parents would get change from £200 - my food budget for a month!

its like that in my sons class,very often he comes out clutching a lolly or bag of haribos as its been a childs bday

keithkeith

TK Max have a good toy section. Loads of cars and trucks for boys, some really good quality die cast stuff for between £3 and £20. (The branded lorries for £4 are great. Weetabix, Argos, Marmite, loads!) definitely worth a look for christmas.

FZwanab

I have to say that I agree with you, but my ds got invited to so many parties this year already, the close friends from his class will be going to his, but how do I get away with not inviting those that invited him to theirs.

FZwanab

rio wrote:

Thanks for everyone's advice. This may sound tight, I have no problem in spending money on the friends who my son plays with regularly, and come to our house etc. I just don't want to spend loads of money on children he doesn't really have that much to do with. When it comes round to our little one's turn we will take him and four friends to the zoo and then to McDonalds on the way home, and that will be his birthday treat. I'm not putting on a party for 28 children. I think a lot of this is to do with oneupmanship on behalf of the parents!

I have to say that I agree with you, but my ds got invited to so many parties this year already, the close friends from his class will be going to his, but how do I get away with not inviting those that invited him to theirs.

skystar

I can recommend having a present box as well. Also handy when an invitation appears the day before the party after languishing in a school drawer for weeks :rolleyes:

I pick up little cheap things in the sales. Last year for example in Borders books they had little kits like jewellery making, car kits, paper planes etc reduced from £5.99 to £1. Boots are good as well. They usually reduce things to silly prices after Christmas.

I keep a stash of cards and paper as well. Cards are usually bought in bulk and just get an assortment of simple "Happy Birthday" ones so they can do anyone.

I am tight and proud of it. I refuse to spend loads on a classmate that has barely been mentioned before.

Just thinking back I remember when my stepson first came to live with us and he was invited to a birthday party of the daughter of one of my mother-in-laws friends. Now at this point I had zero experience of kids so asked mil for advice what to get the little girl. She said "oh £20 in a card would be fine" :eek: :eek: :eek: The present box was born shortly afterwards