I've had my ghds for about 8 years and they're still going strong so mine were definitely a good investment!
Don't know if this has already been mentioned but poundland have Horrible Histories DVDs in, DH spotted them today and bought one of each - romans, greeks, egyptians, vikings, middle ages, tudors, plague. Might have been more, trying to remember off the top of my head. Bearing in mind LO is only 10 months old he won't be watching them for a looooong time but DH loves history stuff and said it was too good to miss! Not sure how much they usually are but they'd make good cheap gifts. ETA it's cartoon versions not the BBC ones and you can buy them as a boxset cheaper but the single discs might make a ood cheap stocking filler.