Christmas Ideas

TallulahTaboo_2

Hi all,

I have started Christmas shopping already due to the fact I have 9 children to buy for... (none of which are mine!) I am still trying to manage my debt etc. at the moment so looking to buy bargins.

I am aiming to spend around £15 for 4 children (friends kids), £50 for the other 4 (nieces and nephews) and around £20 for the sort of nephew.

Can anyone give me ideas for cheap stocking fillers? I am aiming to make the sweetie trees that they have advertised in Hobby Craft for my nieces and nephews and, think I priced the around £10 each.

Also looking for good quality stockings.. Any ideas?

Merry Christmas! :rotfl:

Own_My_Own

Are those amounts between them or each.

TallulahTaboo_2

I wish it was between them but each! X

Mojisola

TallulahTaboo wrote: »

I wish it was between them but each! X

If you're the one doing the buying, can't you reduce the amount you choose to spend on each child? What you've put adds up to a lot of money!

Own_My_Own

Sorry, I know this isn't an answer to your question, but couldn't you reduce it a little. £50 per niece and nephew is a awful lot when trying to sort out your own debts.

Have you thought of looking at the Amazon thread. Sale items are posted there most days.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4107121

TallulahTaboo_2

It is steep but I don't really buy them anything throughout the year. Well have a look at the website just now.

Thanks a mill, x

midnightraven3

have you thought about making them hampers?

home bargains have great rubber tray box type things for under £2
i have bought 9 to use in the pantry:o

anyways
you can buy little bits and pieces and make an impressive hamper
and everyone loves them
have a look there WAS a hamper sticky, i dont know if its still there

you will make fab hampers WAY under budget

kingfisherblue

Wow, I'm glad I'm not paying out as much as you, OP. I spend a maximum of £20 on my niece and nephew (each), and no more than £8 on friend's children.

I agree that hampers are a good idea, especially if you have a theme in mind. Teenagers usually like film hampers, so think about DVDs, popcorn, soft drinks, etc. Maybe a voucher for a local cinema, especially if you want to boost the niece and nephew hampers.

Girls from age about 10, you could think about 'pink and fluffy' for many (I know not all girls enjoy this theme!).

Younger boys might like a transport hamper.

Chocolate hampers always seem to be a hit, no matter what age.

If you do prefer a specific present, what about microscope, craft kits, iTunes vouchers (if they have iPods), magic set, baking set.

Savvybunny2009

Hi Tallulah well done for trying to keep costs down by looking for MSE bargains and ideas

With regards to sweet trees, Hobbycraft tend to be very expensive and you would probably get a better deal on the items you need for them online, perhaps somewhere like ebay or a wholesaler as you're making a few? I'm hoping to make some for the teens in the family, not sure what I need yet but if I figure it out and find the bits cheaper I shall let you know if I do.

I adore the stockings on notonthehighstreet but not very MSE at all. I found the nicest stockings we found were from a local craft seller at Centre Parcs and they were very reasonably priced considering the time and care put into them. You could have a go at making some yourself if you are crafty? You would need some batting, and fabric of your choice, Kirstie Allsop has a fab tutorial online somewhere from her homemade Christmas TV series.

Not sure about stocking fillers, if you have a home bargains or similar stores near you they may have bits and bobs that are suitable, and keeping an eye on the 'Grabbit' board for bargains and glitches may help.

You haven't mentioned ages or interests, but you could always add some homemade iced biscuits, or maybe even an individual Christmas themed cupcake for each of them?

Good luck, hope you find lots of bargains x

Spendless

My suggestions for cutting costs are to keep on eye on here, look out for promotions, offers, use vouchers, items in sales, shop loyalty card points. If your budget is £50 and you spot a suitable item half price, then you have spent your budget for that person. Don't go looking for something else to 'top up'. Try shops like B & M, I got some fantastic stuff there last christmas, including a pack of around 20 moshi monsters (that dd was then into!) for £15, I saw the same pack in another store for £25 and a metal notice board for son reduced to £2.

Though you don't give gender or ages. My own 13yo is in to minecraft, his pc (recently bought a gaming mouse, he's requested a gaming keyboard for xmas), science related stuff, gadgets. He seems to be one of the few teens that isn't obsessed my his mobile phone or branded name clothes/footwear/accessories.

My 10yo loves her ipod touch, acting/singing, one direction, sparkly stuff, handbags, lip gloss/balm, costume jewellery, hair accessories (she's requested a braider she's seen).

Son likes books by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson series), The Hunger Games, ones about teens with 'super-powers' Daughter likes ones about girls in school settings

Both like experiences, concert tickets, gaming conventions. Both like board games like monopoly.

At younger ages they were into things like soap making kits, science experiment kits, Dr Who, excavation kits (dig out your own dinosaur bones/semi precious stones), build-a-bears, lego, k'nex, moshi monsters, littlest pet shop.

Jfalc

WOW! So many cool things offered! Spendless, your advice is great!