Money saving Christmas help needed

sweetilemon

What about measuring the ingredients to make cookies, pop in a jar, attatch reciepe and wrap Or even ingredients to make a gingerbread house/people and spend a day helping them make it. You could also personalise christmas baubles for or with them. Or personalise a mug each and give them it with a sachet of hot chocolate and marshmallows.

neverdespairgirl

littleredhen wrote: »

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

I'm sure you're still not sure which way is up, so shortly after the split. Do you really need to spend "your" money, though?

Seanymph

Ask a mum to have yours for tea, and have hers a later night in the week so she can spend some time 'getting organised'.

daska

littleredhen wrote: »

Two girls aged 10 & 13 and have already bought pj's, dvd's, books, nintendo games.

TBH it sounds as if you've already bought enough for them to have several things to open and you're in a time of change so it's probably better to keep the cash in the bank just in case. However, there are things you can do for very little outlay which make necessities a bit special. In the past I've decorated hairbrushes with nail varnish (does help that I used to wear wacky colours LOL), painted t-shirts (find an image on the net and cut a stencil out of cardboard), used bits of ribbon/lace to decorate hair clips etc. And as they're 10-13 you could put things like that in a craft box for them to do themselves.

ska_lover

daska wrote: »

TBH it sounds as if you've already bought enough for them to have several things to open and you're in a time of change so it's probably better to keep the cash in the bank just in case. However, there are things you can do for very little outlay which make necessities a bit special. In the past I've decorated hairbrushes with nail varnish (does help that I used to wear wacky colours LOL), painted t-shirts (find an image on the net and cut a stencil out of cardboard), used bits of ribbon/lace to decorate hair clips etc. And as they're 10-13 you could put things like that in a craft box for them to do themselves.

I totally agree with this. OP don't get caught up in all this christmas commercialism -kids don't need piles of expensive bits to know they are loved. Sorry to hear of your troubles

littleredhen

thanks for all the great ideas everyone - knew i could rely on you friendly lot to give me a kick start
Merry Christmas everyone - it is going to be tough emotionally this year but i am going to try my best to stay positive

ViolaLass

OP, sounds like you've got plenty for them already, why do they need more?

indebtinsussex

when my in laws split up, my fil made up a photoframe for each of his children with photos from when they were a baby with him, and a short note in the back, as much as I think the bloke is an a*se I think that is one of the loveliest gifts I have even seen, and it is still one of dh prized possessions (in laws have been split up for about 15 years now)