Money saving Christmas help needed

littleredhen

Hi - I am normally very money saving but my dh left us a few weeks ago and although i had done quite a lot of Christmas shopping i am really struggling to come up with the last few presents that are not going to break the bank. i had bought most of the presents with our joint money which we are giving together but i feel i need to get some extras with my own money now - need some inspiration and encouragement pls.
Two girls aged 10 & 13 and have already bought pj's, dvd's, books, nintendo games.
thanks

**curlywurly**

I don't know if this may be an idea for you? My DD (12) is constantly taking photos of her mates. I secretly borrowed her Blackberry, uploaded them all, and made a collage. Easy to do and won't break the bank. I used photobox, but there are others which are cheaper, and lots of deals around at the moment.

The other thing I do is make a list of what she likes - Jack Wills, Lush, New Look, Primark, One Direction, Lady Gaga, anything pink, Spongebob, ballet etc etc, then I type keywords into Amazon or Ebay to get inspiration.

Also keep an eye on the Grabbits board: lots of bargains on there.

Seanymph

How about a letter to each of them (get them to do it to each other too) saying all your favourite things about them.

Hand made biscuits or sweets.

Vouchers for your time - like a picnic in a park, to run them a bath and a bathbomb.......... that sort of thing.

A book in which you write your favourite recipes for them - or a family tree - or a book of photographs of the people they love.

Kids want your time, and your attention, far more than they want 'things'. A jigsaw you sit and do with them, or a packet of cards and you taking the time to teach them card games and play them will be of far more value than anything you buy in the shops and walk away from.

missmontana

Take a trip to the pound shop and make them a hamper each of smellies etc, all girls like that sort of stuff!

msb5262

Hi OP,

I love Curlywurly's collage idea - my ex made each of our kids a collage of photos for their 13th birthdays and put them in frames. A really special present.

For stocking gifts, you might like to get them new undies/socks and new face flannel/toothbrush etc - you can get these at excellent prices and they are things you'd have to get anyway at some point so quite moneysaving...

Also don't forget little bars of chocolate, mini soaps, a tiny Christmas decoration - and you could make some tokens for things you can do for them like "IOU one batch of muffins" or "IOU one trip to the cinema with a friend". If you are feeling brave, you could do "IOU one sleepover with 3 friends at a date to be agreed"...

HTH, have a lovely time with your girls and try to relax during any time you get to yourself.

MsB

balletshoes

my DD is 10 - I have got her nail art stuff from our local discounted beauty shop (its kind of like Wilkinsons prices but its all beauty stuff). Primark has some great costume jewellery, I've bought her winter headbands and gloves to match £1.50 each from there, and she chose a silver charm bracelet there too (£1) and charms at £1 each to put on it from her Gran. They have toiletry bags starting at £1.50 going up to vanity-style cases at £4 in some really great prints too.

Card Factory - my DD chose secret diaries for her friends, only 99p each and they're really cute. If you have a dig around in there, they have quite a lot of great novelty stuff at 99p or less.

msb5262

Just thought - The Works has loads of fabulous bits and pieces at the moment, from calendars and diaries to books, craft stuff, little toys, art equipment, posters...lots of these are very good value. Pop in and see what your girls might like.

littleredhen

problem is i work school hours and then they are with me!

balletshoes

littleredhen wrote: »

problem is i work school hours and then they are with me!

could you arrange to have them go to a relative's for tea straight after school for a couple of hours, let you get into town for a quick whizz around?

Emmarillo

My girls are also 13 and 10 and i've ordered them bags from here http://shop.animal.co.uk/womens/bags+luggage/icat/clewomensbagsluggage/ Animal stuff is great quality, and there are a few bags there for under a tenner with original prices at £20-30! Delivery is free and very quick

kingfisherblue

Do you have a local shopping centre with a cafe? Can you leave the girls there, having a drink, while you pop into the pound shops? I know it is a couple of pounds extra, so that they can have a fizzy pop while you shop, but they will probably appreciate being treated in a grown up manner.