Cheap presents for 5 year old schoolfriends - birthday parties

mirandab

haven't read the other responses but I have stocked up on tins from Sainsburys as my daughter had a party last week, one this week and one next. For the boys I bought a glider tin (contains book and gliders to make), and a dinosaur tin (contains book and how to make fossils etc). For the girls I bought a princess tin and a fairy tin. Normally £5 each but had a 1/3 off so a bargain £3.33 although I was lucky and got a friend to buy them with a further 15% discount!

HTH
MIranda

irchy_mum

Nicki wrote:

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.

I always have a £5 limit and Woolies are a great,good choices for both girls and boys and if you're going to be having quite a lot of party invites you can always stock up on the 3 for 2.

Becles

skystar wrote:

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:

We got one the other week that was pushed through our letter box either late Thursday night or early Friday morning.

I didn't find it until the Friday morning and the party started at 4.30pm that day. As I work school hours, there was no chance at all to find a present!

As it happens we were already going to the school PTA event that evening so my children couldn't go, but I did think it was a bit cheeky sending the invite at such short notice.

rio

Ha, Ha I already have a birthday box, and a christmas box, so now it sounds like I need a school birthday box as well. At this rate I shall need a bigger house!

nessquic80

i can fully recomend these shopping chanel on cable/sky, bid up and price drop,(cable 741/745 and sky 635/644) ive brought most of my xmas prezzies from here a got 4 creative boxes where the kids can make their own jellery boxes or snow shakers for 7.99 then add on p&p which is 7.99, i thought i got a bargin, and just lately there selling chocolate mould makers and stuff like that, give it a go, I cant do the links put its, https://www.bid.tv or pricedrop.tv.happy bidding

ruthyjo

I think it's also worth putting yourself in the position of the receiver of the presents as well - I'm all for a bargain and like most posters maintain a present box BUT I do also try to apply the criterion that if I wouldn't want to give it house room chances are no one else wants it either. I'm a big fan of receiving good quality books, which can be bought very cheaply from red house or the book people, as they're useful and don't take up much space.

I've had a number of really big parties for my children with 30-50 guests. Not because I want to indulge in one upmanship but because I like to entertain, I like to make a special occasion of my children's birthdays and I don't like to exclude other little ones (my DS is in reception this year and has the first birthday of the year - I don't like to think that any child wouldn't get an invite to the first party of their school career so everyone will be invited). Under those circumstances I'm not keen to receive loads of cheap presents and usually suggest charity donations into a closed collection box. Best friends usually buy under those circumstances but no one has to feel obliged.

morlandbanks

I learned early on to keep a stock of gifts for parties! The entertainer is great for special offers so I go in there regularly and get toys BOGOF. I have a limit of £5 for school friends presents, but usually don't spend that much. Got half a dozen of those 'Oxford Uni Science Kits' when they were BOGOF so they worked out £2.50 each. Also got MB games BOGOF recently, so the next 4 birthday presents are Connect 4!! got those for £4 each. I do try to get something that my children would like and wouldn't give rubbish because I have to face the parent in the playground the next day!!

My son is on EVERYONES invite list (don't ask me why!! I think he's a little sod!!), but there were only 12 parties in the past year out of 30 kids, so it might not be as bad as you think. Can't say I'm not nervous though - my other one starts school next year!!

becci23

I have been having this exact problem, my daughter started reception in September, there are 40 children in 2 classes so I need to keep cost down where possible but don't want to look like a cheap skate! I recently discovered www.tishtashtoys.com that do some lovely wooden educational toys at really good prices, for girls they are doing a fairy skipping rope for £3.99 at the mo and Mr Grassheads £3.50 which are great for any 5 year old, just remembered they do footwalkers for £5.99, I got some frog ones for my nephew at Christmas and they were really popular with all the children on Christmas day!
They have got a sale on at the mo and I am just about to stock up on these sorts of toys. The good thing about this company is that although they are mail order they have party agents and if you order through them you are not charged p&p (normally I think around £5) so worth saving! If you contact the company they will put their local agent in touch with you.

tessie_bear

have u tried home bargains for gifts ? they sell all sorts

Savvy_Sue

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