Preparing for Christmas 2011

nat21luv

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Well

I sat down last night and budgetted ready for christmas whilst the boys (my step son and son) wrote their Xmas lists and told them to write 10 presents each that they'd like and anythign else is a bonus.

My sons was 8 gifts as he couldnt think of 10 things and came to £129.90 :money:
My step sons was 10 gifts and came to....................£349.98! :eek::eek::eek::eek: that included a £130 ipod nano and a phone!

Me thinks not - and I told his father about my son Bens and he said 'ah bless she doesnt ask for much' - in fairness it is all things he'd love or things he can play with people with if that makes sense.....and we only really treat him on his birthday and Christmas.

Told him about his other sons J's and he said if his current mobile is trashed then hes not getting the phone (its £49.99 but why does a 10 year old need a mobile in the first place! :mad:) and he said no point blank to the ipod nano! so at least we are on the same wave length! :T

Apart form that have been looking at things for Holly.
have opened an e-ISA so I can online save and shop as I think it will be cheaper.
have discovered Ive lost my christmas tree and decorations in the move so need to buy new.
will be starting to look for stocking stuffers soon.

will be making my list of things to do/get with regards to Xmas as soon as Ben is back in school in september I think.

Oh forgot to add I have got Bens main present sorted.
I had a bonus in work in July of £160 so with that I booked tow tickets to go to the WWE in Cardiff for him and we are staying in a hotel the night as trying to come home at midnight on a sunday by train is not going to be fun! So he has that but he doesnt know he has it yet!

Santa will be delivering it early to him.

Haha not just me then?!!

My boy has asked for board games and a few bit, nothing exciting whilst my Sson asked for a season ticket to Bristol City(I may aswell burn money ) an iPhone, an iPad, and tickets to see England play(again, may aswell burn money!) He doesnt want for much..! He's only 9 so dread to think what he'll be like when he's a teen..gulp...

Tala

I would be grateful for any ideas for a family present which includes five girls aged 15, two 12year olds a 9 year old and a 18 month old, I
have already done a family night in hamper.

carlamarie_2

Tala wrote: »

I would be grateful for any ideas for a family present which includes five girls aged 15, two 12year olds a 9 year old and a 18 month old, I
have already done a family night in hamper.

i pressume they arent the same family :eek:
for the families with 9-15year olds how about a games night? you could buy a board game and package together with some sweets, chocs, drinks etc?

or how about (depending on budgets) some tickets for a theme park, museum, etc

or you could buy them cinema tickets and popcorn, sweets, drinks

jakesbakescakes

Tala wrote: »

I would be grateful for any ideas for a family present which includes five girls aged 15, two 12year olds a 9 year old and a 18 month old, I
have already done a family night in hamper.

Yes games nite would be good - family board game like articulate, pictureaka, rapidough or partini would all be suitable. Tickets out to the cinema, ice-skating, local drama-pantomime maybe?

Or what about a 'girls night in' that all the children could get involved with. Put together a box of nail files, handcreams, varnishes, foot lotion, face masks, hairbrush, hair bobbles, hairclips, make-up etc.

Or how about a 'cake baking kit' with some nice cookie cutters, fancy cupcake cases, icing pens (or icing syringe) sweets to decorate, some packet mixes maybe? depending on how much you want to spend could get nice plate, tray, cake stand? The Works often does books like '1001 cupcake recipes' for £1.99.

Or could you buy each family member an individual present with the same theme - like get them all a pair of groovy socks, a magazine each, a glass or mug each (could actually glass paint them for individuality) scarf each? etc.

Wow just a few ideas - not bad for a sunday morning!!! HTH

sammy_kaye18

Tala wrote: »

I would be grateful for any ideas for a family present which includes five girls aged 15, two 12year olds a 9 year old and a 18 month old, I
have already done a family night in hamper.

What about a film night hamper? Maybe a nice girly movie for them all to enjoy, popcorn sachets, sweeties, pop etc that they could all sit and watch together.

Nitha

How many gifts do you give each child?

I also struggle with a spoilt stepson. Last year on his mum's side he got both an xbox and Nintendo DS (what was most annoying was that she used most of his birthday money o buy the Xbox and let him 'forget' he still had it so he thought they bought it him outright!) needless to say he wasn't impressed with the lego and football table we had got him.

DS wants a Ben 10 bike. He'll turn 4 in Jan - what size will he need? I thought I'd get the bike and helmet, a Ben 10 figure or something, then stocking fillers, PJs and an outfit to wear to Nana's dinner.

Baby DS will get a trike and maybe something to care for like a toy animal or something. Then just cars in his stocking I guess. And of course the PJs and outfit.

StS I want to get a Guitar kit (made up of an acoustic guitar, plectrums and some guide books). Then some Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and Horrid Henry books too. Clothes too I think.

mum2one

Just been bargain hunting today... in Peacocks, it was by the till they had a clearance bin, with all socks etc in-
3 prs of thicker trainer socks 50p (£3.00)
5 pk trainer socks 50p (£4.00)
2 prs of really fluffy socks - different designs £2 (£4.00)
socks with gripper bottoms cheapest 75p (£1/75)
Thicker fluffier socks - gripper bottoms £1 (£3 and £4)

The fluffy socks, gripper style socks would suit teenagers, whether as part of night in, pamper hamper

gripper socks - ladies pamper hamper.

babyrut

Just wondering if any of you would buy these kits, need to make an important decision regarding a Christmas Market and whether to go ahead, can you let me now your honest thoughts on these please https://www.cakepopkits.co.uk, my facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/cakepopkits. All thoughts are gratefully appreciated
Thanks
Ruth

jemtom

seem to be getting somewhere now, got some make-up for my cousins make-up hamper from asda 30p each rrp £1.53 so got 3 eyeshadows and a lipstick. managed to get a basket to hold my cousins in from cs today for 50p and another one for 10p but not sure that one willhold much. got ds a cars toy set for £3.75 from asda reduced from £11.25. giving my mum and dad vouchers that i have saved up with my consumer pulse so far at £55 so hopefully will build that up some more. and i think im just going to use their stockings i made last year and get them some smaller presents. ds son is about done now just need to get him his scooter and everything is done. im making ds an advent calendar as he wont eat the chocolate ones so got a x-mas book from library which had the patterns in so once its done will put up a picture.

SugarSpun

babyrut, I think the cakepops are adorable but am too MSE to spend £15 on a kit. Having said that, if they were priced at £12 (or 2 for £20) I could see myself buying them and could definitely see others buying them too