How much are you spending on DCs xmas gifts
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Max of £100 per child and less if I can get away with it. DS1 and DH had birthdays last weekend and mother this weekend so that's a problem for the purse!
DS1 is easy - anything to do with Rugby and CD's is fine by him so he is getting that and maybe a small airfix thingy (don't expect technical details). DS2 wants a watch and beast quest books so that's easy and some meccano.
They always get a family board game between them and also a playstation game between them. That's them done then.
DH and I have agreed no pressies this year but will be redecorating so I suppose he is getting paint and I am getting a roller!!!1
DS1 is easy - anything to do with Rugby and CD's is fine by him so he is getting that and maybe a small airfix thingy (don't expect technical details). DS2 wants a watch and beast quest books so that's easy and some meccano.
They always get a family board game between them and also a playstation game between them. That's them done then.
DH and I have agreed no pressies this year but will be redecorating so I suppose he is getting paint and I am getting a roller!!!1
At long last I have succumbed & I've bought a wii for them to share (and a wii fit for me ) I've always banned computer games , playstations etc before so it will be a very big surprise for them.
Between now & Christmas, DS1 has a birthday & has asked for sensible things like a dictionary/thesaurus, a buff, walking boots & some star wars lego (shops are all sold out of the one he wants though ) so got him the new Alex Rider book & some dvd's of books most recently read - Inkheart, City of Ember & the Spiderwicke Chronicles - all a steal from either Asda or Tesco online £2-£3 each.
He went to a friends birthday last weekend & has just added Tech Decks to his list - but I just think they are a short term hit type of toy. Anyway we have a party to go to this weekend where everyone on the football team brings a gift - sort of secret santa thing & I have bought some tech deck stuff today for our gift. Now he is plotting to get his own gift in the draw & enlisting DS2's help with a guarantee of sharing it - that will be a first!!
Between now & Christmas, DS1 has a birthday & has asked for sensible things like a dictionary/thesaurus, a buff, walking boots & some star wars lego (shops are all sold out of the one he wants though ) so got him the new Alex Rider book & some dvd's of books most recently read - Inkheart, City of Ember & the Spiderwicke Chronicles - all a steal from either Asda or Tesco online £2-£3 each.
He went to a friends birthday last weekend & has just added Tech Decks to his list - but I just think they are a short term hit type of toy. Anyway we have a party to go to this weekend where everyone on the football team brings a gift - sort of secret santa thing & I have bought some tech deck stuff today for our gift. Now he is plotting to get his own gift in the draw & enlisting DS2's help with a guarantee of sharing it - that will be a first!!
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Probably only about £100-150 on each of them this year,partially as we're trying to save for 2 weeks holiday next year(first time flying in 20 years...AARRGGHH), partially because they haven't really given us any clues and partially because they'll get spoilt rotten by grand parents.
Seriously though, there doesn't seem to be anything that's caught their fancy this year although DS is easier to buy for than DD since his hobbies(Warhammer,xBox and computers) lend themselves more readily to presents than hers( drawing,painting). She has expressed an interest in trying different sports, so a trip to Decathlon at Lakeside should yield good results for limited outlay(seriously good value!!!)
Seriously though, there doesn't seem to be anything that's caught their fancy this year although DS is easier to buy for than DD since his hobbies(Warhammer,xBox and computers) lend themselves more readily to presents than hers( drawing,painting). She has expressed an interest in trying different sports, so a trip to Decathlon at Lakeside should yield good results for limited outlay(seriously good value!!!)
"We've got a date with Destiny and it looks like she's ordered the lobster."
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I tend to view it more in terms of the items asked for than a set amount. For example until recently DS, 10, has been very undemanding. I put it down to watching very little television until quite recently and therefore not being influenced by ads for expensive rubbish! He's asked for things like a file to keep his drawings in (2.99 or so ), a book to write his music in or maybe a bit more Lego. This year he originally asked for a Wii, but I wasn't sure that he'd really use it all that much and it isn't something he's been requesting for ages which he would need to have been to justify spending the money, so we've suggested a second hand computer with which he'd be delighted and which we feel will be useful for his h/w next year as well as to access the school's VLA. It'll also get him off mine! We already have a monitor, keyboard, printer etc and expect to spend between 75-125, depending on what we can find.
DD, 3, would like a bike so I suspect that's what she'll get. I definitely agree that certainly for the first few years they're happiest with a few balloon face making kits from Wilkinsons. In fact, pretty much anything from Wilkinsons....
I must admit I love buying them Christmas pressies and always buy lots of little fillers too. What's more it's often the cheapest present that becomes the favourite. I bought a pen from one of the pound shops last year that had a recording facility on the end and everyone had great fun making up messages, singing Christmas greetings etc. Also those little things from Hawkin's Bazaar that you press down and they spring up were a big hit
On a side note, my DD is miles more demanding at 3 than my DS ever was and is constantly asking for things! Is this a girl thing?
DD, 3, would like a bike so I suspect that's what she'll get. I definitely agree that certainly for the first few years they're happiest with a few balloon face making kits from Wilkinsons. In fact, pretty much anything from Wilkinsons....
I must admit I love buying them Christmas pressies and always buy lots of little fillers too. What's more it's often the cheapest present that becomes the favourite. I bought a pen from one of the pound shops last year that had a recording facility on the end and everyone had great fun making up messages, singing Christmas greetings etc. Also those little things from Hawkin's Bazaar that you press down and they spring up were a big hit
On a side note, my DD is miles more demanding at 3 than my DS ever was and is constantly asking for things! Is this a girl thing?
Hmmmm,don't know about a girl thing,mine are still very easy to buy for. DD aged 9 wants-wait for it-a Tammi Terrell & Marvin Gaye CD !! She's completely mad about motown ! Unenthusiastic youth in HMV had never heard of either singer,but did offer me the Jackson Five sing Jingle Bells Not quite the same thing !
Older boys are always a doddle. Guiness book of records for hours of comparison with last years book,& any of those experiment type kits/build your own robot type stuff.
DS2 was desperate for a Wii,which we completely refused for ages,then the smartie pants went & won one in a competition ! The novelty lasted less than a month. So glad we never parted with any cash.
We used to try to spend exactly the same on each child,however,with such different ages,likes & dislikes it gets a bit silly. Biggest spend ever was £150 on one child,while I have been known to rummage through the loft & recycle older childs toys for the youngest-no-one ever noticed
Older boys are always a doddle. Guiness book of records for hours of comparison with last years book,& any of those experiment type kits/build your own robot type stuff.
DS2 was desperate for a Wii,which we completely refused for ages,then the smartie pants went & won one in a competition ! The novelty lasted less than a month. So glad we never parted with any cash.
We used to try to spend exactly the same on each child,however,with such different ages,likes & dislikes it gets a bit silly. Biggest spend ever was £150 on one child,while I have been known to rummage through the loft & recycle older childs toys for the youngest-no-one ever noticed
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Had saved up £200 to spend on my three and a young niece and nephew (over-18 nieces and nephews don't get bought for any more- hurrah!).
Unfortunately OH measured car tyre treads and found 3 were illegal so have had to spend £188 on three new tyres,
So that's £12 left for 5 presents! Oh b*m!
Any ideas for raking in some dosh rather quickly? No street corners suggestions thanks, not that anyone would give more than 2p anyway
Unfortunately OH measured car tyre treads and found 3 were illegal so have had to spend £188 on three new tyres,
So that's £12 left for 5 presents! Oh b*m!
Any ideas for raking in some dosh rather quickly? No street corners suggestions thanks, not that anyone would give more than 2p anyway
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A not-very-bright friend of my late sister spent weeks trawling round toy shops (before internet days) looking for an 'electronic thesaurus' as requested by her son. She thought it was a new dinosaur toy!rosered100 wrote: Between now & Christmas, DS1 has a birthday & has asked for sensible things like a dictionary/thesaurus
My sister kindly informed her that it was a type of dictionary and the poor mum at last managed to get one in WHSmith!