show us what u have in for LOs xmas 2011

[satine51]

Hi Ladies, I don't want to cause a disagreement, this is a genuine question...do you put all these presents on credit cards? Or do you buy a little each month? Some if these lists look like they are worth over £200 if not more...I consider our financial situation as comfortable but there is no way I coukd afford spending over £100 on christmas presents for my Lo. Maybe I am not a good bargain hunter...what are you budgets? Or could you share some tips?

 

[sequeena]

Hi Ladies, I don't want to cause a disagreement, this is a genuine question...do you put all these presents on credit cards? Or do you buy a little each month? Some if these lists look like they are worth over £200 if not more...I consider our financial situation as comfortable but there is no way I coukd afford spending over £100 on christmas presents for my Lo. Maybe I am not a good bargain hunter...what are you budgets? Or could you share some tips?

I buy throughout the year and always look for the best price. I don't use credit cards to buy. I save for everything we get x I don't really have a budget either x

eBay is a great place to start x and bargain shops like b&m and home bargains are great too x Argos have toys on offer 2 for £15 at the minute and boots always have 3 for 2 at this time of the year x

 

[Laura--x]

Hi Ladies, I don't want to cause a disagreement, this is a genuine question...do you put all these presents on credit cards? Or do you buy a little each month? Some if these lists look like they are worth over £200 if not more...I consider our financial situation as comfortable but there is no way I coukd afford spending over £100 on christmas presents for my Lo. Maybe I am not a good bargain hunter...what are you budgets? Or could you share some tips?

I buy little bits every so often too, i started the beginning of september. If i hadnt of started then i wouldnt of been able to afford half of what ive got already. I ALWAYS compare prices online and shop for the cheapest, and like the other lady said places like home bargains and b&m's are great.. the other day i got a ben and hollys little kingdom toy from home bargains for £3.99, when i was so close to getting it online the night before at £13! Couldnt believe it. xx

 

[ames_x]

Hi Ladies, I don't want to cause a disagreement, this is a genuine question...do you put all these presents on credit cards? Or do you buy a little each month? Some if these lists look like they are worth over £200 if not more...I consider our financial situation as comfortable but there is no way I coukd afford spending over £100 on christmas presents for my Lo. Maybe I am not a good bargain hunter...what are you budgets? Or could you share some tips?

Ive been buying bits for the last few months Also picked up alot of his stuff in the sale like his toy story bits are from Sainsburys half price toy sale, then his tag junior books from ELC again half price. And I also got his 'main' presents from Argos 3 for 2 so saved money that way.

 

[satine51]

Thank you! I need some more forward planning! I am very new to this mummy business so thank you for sharing tips!

 

[MissBroody]

I start my shopping in August and buy a few things each week until Christmas so that the cost is spread. No credit cards. I do compare online to find where is cheapest to buy a particular toy. I have a rough budget but rarely stick to it. The downside of start my shopping early is that I end up going a bit mad towards the end and probably end up buying more. But I don't get into debt for it we don't buy LO toys throughout the year -just clothes really, so at Christmas and birthdays we go all out and get him enough to last

xx

 

[pinkneon]

I used to get a lot of things in the January sales then save them til Christmas!

 

[Reid]

Hi Ladies, I don't want to cause a disagreement, this is a genuine question...do you put all these presents on credit cards? Or do you buy a little each month? Some if these lists look like they are worth over £200 if not more...I consider our financial situation as comfortable but there is no way I coukd afford spending over £100 on christmas presents for my Lo. Maybe I am not a good bargain hunter...what are you budgets? Or could you share some tips?

yeah like the other ladies i had a plan i started buying when my son was only 2 months old and it was the early learning centre half price sale also got some fab deals on the argos 3 for 2 and where i work (peacocks) we get friends and family vouchers every so often and get 40% off so i wait till then as i no when there coming up and buy. if i didnt plan and buy early theres no way i could have done it and i made some very smart savings with the sales and offers so i plan 2 do the same next year or was even thinking of saving with park or a credit union xx

 

[cookielucylou]

Most of ours has been getting bits in early, looking out for the best bargains and saving all our tesco vouchers up for Christmas.

 

[lisasheldon]

Bought these from Boots 3 for 2 offer for my youngest Joe:

Lego Duplo Play with Words
Lego Duplo Play with Letters
Handy Mannys Talking Toolbox
Red Rover
Gator Golf
Mr Colour Maker

...these are for next year!

 

[Lilicat]

Hi Ladies, I don't want to cause a disagreement, this is a genuine question...do you put all these presents on credit cards? Or do you buy a little each month? Some if these lists look like they are worth over £200 if not more...I consider our financial situation as comfortable but there is no way I coukd afford spending over £100 on christmas presents for my Lo. Maybe I am not a good bargain hunter...what are you budgets? Or could you share some tips?

I don't have credit cards, this year William's (and everyone else's) gifts were paid for:

• Partly with some extra money we received which we don't usually have, which is why William got an Ikea kitchen. I wanted to use the extra money to get a gift that would really last and we wouldn't usually be able to afford so that was it.
• With money saved throughout the year, I pay some in to a savings account every month.
• With vouchers I got doing market research, I do surveys for Amazon vouchers then use the vouchers to buy Christmas presents.
• By starting early, I buy gifts though out the year, when I see then and when they are on offer.
• By buying secondhand, not so much this year as I would usually as I haven't see that many great bargains but I did get a Fisher Price Ark for £3 (£39.95 on Amazon), an Island of Sodor toy for £5 (£39.99 on Amazon) and and for his birthday a Megabloks pirate ship for £4 at the NCT sale (not sure how much that is new as that one isn't sold anymore).
• By buying things when they are on sale and on offer.
• By shopping around to ensure I get best price. I recently got William the Thomas Tidmouth Sheds playset which is around £40+ virtually everywhere, I checked every shop till I found it on Play.com for £33.

I still went overboard this Christmas but there will be nothing I buy for Christmas that will be paying off in the New Year. Next year I do plan to cut back, we live in a flat so I can't always be buying this many toys we just wont have room and also I wont have the extra money I did this year.

I already have his next years main present, a huge box of wooden railway and Thomas accessories brought secondhand from eBay so that should help.

 

[PinkEmily]

Most of our family presents are from boots, i set a budget for each person. Ive only actually spent £70-80 on LO, most of the stuff was bought in sales.

 

[danniemum2be]

i save over the year. this year ive put £20 away each month and then started buying things in september aswel as saving extra. i dont have any credit cards so its all my own money saved over the year xx

 

[Nikkinoonoo]

I started in the january sales, also we put away some each week from our current account to a savings account, this helps with xmas, birthday, car tax/MOT/insurance etc ... I'm hoping to do the same in the sales for next year too if pennies allow. xXx

 

[_laura]

I buy throughout the year and save £20 each month towards presents
Also I hunt for hours to find the best deal.
Also I've sold over £500 worth of stuff on ebay this year (old toys, old clothes, dvds etc)

 

[Mynx]

We dont have any credit cards but we save a little every week if we can. It's been an expensive year so far as we got married in September, then it was my eldest's 19th birthday in October (as well as starting Uni.. we helped out a little by buying some bits n peices for her room) and Evie's 2nd birthday on Sunday, but we've managed to save enough to get presents!

So far Evie has for Christmas ...

Happy Land Goosefeather Farm
Happy Land Bus (she has a thing for buses lol)
ITNG Projector Torch
Small Tinga Tinga red monkey
Small Zingzilla Drum teddy
Little Washing Machine
Peppa Pig Fuzzy Felt
Christmas board book
Lights and Sounds type play camera
Hello Kitty Duplo bucket

And we'll also be getting her some DVDs (Peppa Pig, Ben and Holly, Charley Bear) and a little Laundry play set (washing basket and clothes line) to go with her washing machine and a Magnadoodle thingy

For her birthday we've got her a Sizzlin Kitchen from ELC and some play food to go with it, along with some clothes, a mini toaster and kettle and a couple of other little bits, so it was difficult trying to think of something to get her for Crimbo lol!

 

[RileysMummy]

Finally getting sorted so thought I'd add what I've ordered for Millicent

Already got:
Pink Spin & Bounce zebra
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/spinnbounce.jpg

Waiting to be delivered
Laugh and Learn purse
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/purse.jpg

Laugh & Learn Say Please Teaset
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/teaset.jpg

Hide and Squeak eggs
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/hidensqueakeggs.jpg

Galt Baby Farm puzzle
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/galtpuzzle.jpg

ELC Little Artist Scribble Board
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/elcartistscribbler-1.jpg

---------------------
That's it for her now I think, just want to get her a christmas book and pjs
x

 

[candeur]

Hi Ladies, I don't want to cause a disagreement, this is a genuine question...do you put all these presents on credit cards? Or do you buy a little each month? Some if these lists look like they are worth over £200 if not more...I consider our financial situation as comfortable but there is no way I coukd afford spending over £100 on christmas presents for my Lo. Maybe I am not a good bargain hunter...what are you budgets? Or could you share some tips?

I get share pay outs every September, so whereas I work 2 days a week and normally get paid around £600, in Sept I got paid over £2000. So every year I can easily afford to put £600 to one side which covers Xmas, Serens birthday and also other peoples gifts. If it wasn't for that, we prob wouldn't be able to afford christmas without using credit cards etc.

 

[RileysMummy]

Finally getting sorted so thought I'd add what I've ordered for Millicent

Already got:
Pink Spin & Bounce zebra
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/spinnbounce.jpg

Waiting to be delivered
Laugh and Learn purse
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/purse.jpg

Laugh & Learn Say Please Teaset
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/teaset.jpg

Hide and Squeak eggs
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/hidensqueakeggs.jpg

Galt Baby Farm puzzle
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/galtpuzzle.jpg

ELC Little Artist Scribble Board
https://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii378/mwahmwah123/elcartistscribbler-1.jpg

---------------------
That's it for her now I think, just want to get her a christmas book and pjs
x

Oh and to cover the other topic going on regarding money I can tell you how much these presents cost..

Bounce & spin zebra I got secondhand delivered for 30e, it's immaculate

The laugh and learn 2 sets and scribble board, I got from Boots 3 for 2, delivered to Germany was £40

The hide and squeak eggs and puzzle board were £10 delivered to Germany.

So about £80..With her pjs and Christmas book with be around £100, which is just perfect for us. £80 of that was from her child benefit money so we're not losing any money
x

 

[meldmac]

Got a few more things for Colin:

https://trusca.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRUCA1-7013546_alternate1_reg.jpg

https://trusca.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRUCA1-10367826reg.jpg

And a cars plush chair