Cheap gifts for boys?

my3girls

This is probably going to sound really cheap - i hope not though lol

I have five boys to get presents for xmas for - used to spend about a tenner each but i'm so skint this year i'm struggling at even that :-(

Girls are easy enough to buy a wee bracelet, hair bobbles, lippy etc and pad it out to look more but i really struggle with boys things.

Is there any way i can spend about a fiver each but make it look more? Dont want anyone thinking ima cheap skate

their ages are

8
7
6
three
and almost two

Help please lol im useless at boys gifts at the best of times

Jenni
x

2monkeys

I have 3 boys and they love poundland: stickers, colouring sets, bubble wands, cars, toy soldiers and sweets!

teacherandmum

how about a craft box? buy or just decorate a cardboard box and fill it with crafty things. The Works or the £shop or Wilkos do packs that you could share out between the boxes.
paint brushes/paints, glue, sequins, stickers, coloured paper, lined paper, pens, chalks, pencils, rubbers etc .

you could make some playdough to go in it too

If they are all in one family then what about doing a box to share.

whitesatin

The Book People have some really good books for children of all ages and they are not too dear. If you look also for their deals you can get an extra pressie or two, e.g. I got a RHS desk diary and a Peppa Pig party invites and thank you notes free. Can't remember the minimum spend to qualify but you could do all your shopping in one hit, not just for the children.

I got sticker books as part of mine, always popular with the kids (if not the parents when they end up stuck all over the place, lol)

zippybungle

Hi,
I have 2 Boys, 9 & 6 years.
You can EASILY spend half of what you usually do without looking 'tight'.

How about these Kung Zhu Hamsters, bargain at £2.49 each (usually £10!). My Boys got some of these last year and they liked them. (don't forget Quidco and pick up from store to save on delivery)

http://direct.tesco.com/q/s/search.kung+zhu.aspx?Ns=P_HIDDEN_Stock_Available%7C1%7C%7CP_SORT_Price&btnResultSort.x=27&btnResultSort.y=10

You've just missed out on the free Lego with the Sun Newspaper otherwise that would have been a good prezzie.

Poundland is great sometimes for bargains, I've stocked up on Horrid Henry books for my 9 year old from there.

Wilko has some great value arts and craft sets for approx £3 per set, they might be ok for the younger Boys?

Hope that was some help

Zippy x

katiecoodle

wowie - look at the prices of those hamsters. They're definitely the cheapest I've seen them. Thanks very much for the tip.

mandragora_2

A new library book, a bottle of water and a football pretty much saw both my boys through their childhoods! They always struck me as pretty easy to please.

Thinking back to Christmasses past they usually were delighted with whatever came their way - a new torch, plenty of Flumps, an annual, new pyjamas, a couple of matchbox cars - and to be honest, we were so hard up they were never accustomed to things from boxes - it was whatever bargains I'd been able to pick up along the way from car boots, or sales bins or jumble sales. It sounds miserable, but actually, I enjoyed the challenge (not that I had a lot of choice!) and took my time over it, just as you are now. Don't forget, too, that other people will want to give them things too - relatives, neighbours, friends, especially if they are a little bettter off and sensitive enough to realise that a little from them will help pad out the pile a little. Please try not to worry about it - I bet that your lot will say, exactly as mine did at about 4pm this Christmas day - 'That was the best Christmas EVER!!'.

my3girls

Thanks for the great advice :beer:

I've never seen those hamsters before- what do they do? Such a novice here LOL

I'd forgotten about book people - i bought my daughter some peppa things so i'll have a look there. Also would never of thought of poundland so i'll see if i can get some bits and bobs in there.

I had wondered about crafts but i know the younger two have lots already.

Boys are from three seperate families. I think i have a couple of horrid henry books that dd was given and not even looked at - is it majorly tight to re-gift those?? Haha

Great ideas thank you

Jenni
x

zippybungle

The Hamsters have batteries in them and move around the floor, if something is in the way they will turn around and they make lots of strange noises (not loud or annoying). They are basically the same as the girl ones, but not as pretty. You can buy sets for them, but mine play with just the hamsters more than they do the sets. Bargain at £2.49, they are usually £10.

Zippy x

my3girls

Mandragora - thanks for your message. Its true this christmas is the first i've ever had to think this way, i lost my job due to illness this summer and still struggling, then hubby was made redundant, all within the same month.

Its very hard, and i'm quite annoyed with myself for being so materialistic before. We're going to have the best christmas ever this year, i'm determined.

Think i just worry that other people might not be on the same wavelength, thats all.I've been making some things for family members and just hope they're appreciated.

Jenni
x

mandragora_2

I think i have a couple of horrid henry books that dd was given and not even looked at - is it majorly tight to re-gift those?? Haha


Nope. Majorly sensible. Every pound you save now will help them find accomodation when they're at uni or have a decent pair of football boots when they need them, or go on that life-changing trip when they're 18. Don't spend what you don't need to when you don't need to. Both my lads went to university, and because we'd scrimped by when they were little, we had enough put by when they were older to help them out properly, And the special things they've kept from their childhoods aren't any the less precious to them for being 'pre-loved' (or even 'pre-unread/unopened'!). Ducky, much loved and pride of place in my 25 year old son's house came from a charity shop for 50p and has repaid the investment 100 times over :-)

Edited, as we cross-posted!! All the very best with it - it does work out, I promise, there are things that matter in life, and then there's Christmas shopping. All the very best.