Hello Readers
Xmas can be a very expensive time of year especially if you have younger children that are exposed to peer pressure. I am very lucky with my 3 boys they tend not to go along with what everyone else wants and as a result I don't end up with a never ending list come Xmas time. Here's an example, I asked the boys what they wanted for Xmas this year and here is what they told me.....
Eldest son = A Norman Price plush toy £7.99, A decent set of headphones £10
Middle son = A set of gaming headphones £15, Some notebooks and pens £5
Youngest son = Dr Who DVD £8, Magic sand set £4, Extra sand £4, Air hockey game £10
I save £30 every month from January through to November which means come the 2nd November I have £330 to spend on my entire Xmas. That's for everything presents, wrapping paper, tags, cards, decorations, food, and treats. I set a budget of £60 per child this year as things are a lot tighter than they have been in previous years. Now to some this might seem like a big figure but when you consider some families spend several hundred pounds on each child at Xmas this really is not that much at all. I am also very fortunate that I have a big family so they get lots of presents through them also. My children never feel deprived come Xmas morning and are always overjoyed with whatever they receive. As well as my 3 boys I have another 28 people to buy for at Xmas (yes you read that right 28 lol). I tend to spend around £5 on each person so around £140 in total. I usually buy 6 Xmas gift bags for £1 from The Card Factory. I buy 5 nice items per person from Pound land or Pound world and pop them into a gift bag for each person. An example of what might be in one is as follows.....
Ladies = A nice bottle of bubble bath, A nice scarf, A book or DVD, A box of festive biscuits, A box of chocolates.
Men = A bottle of shower gel, A matching deodorant, A book or DVD, A box of festive biscuits, A box of chocolates.
Children = A bottle of bubble bath, A set of play dough, A book or DVD, A chocolate Santa, Some chocolate coins.
Some people may feel that £60 is not enough to spend on their child and what can they possibly get for a mere £60 in this day and age but if you do your homework and know where to look you really can do well for £60. Here's what each of my boys have got this year.....
Eldest son
Norman Price plush toy £8
Set of skull candy headphones £12
Air hockey game £10
2 Brand name t shirts £5
Pack of 12 pairs of socks £5
A set of 3D virtual reality googles £10 (you put your phone in the device and you can watch movies and videos in 3D)
2 Shower gels £2
2 Deodorants £2
A Book £1
A DVD £1
A Chocolate snowman £1
A Tin of festive shortbread £1
A Bag of chocolate coins £1
An Emoticon pillow £1
Middle son
A Set of gaming headphones £15
A Set of 3D virtual reality goggles £10
2 Brand name t shirts £5
Pack of 12 pairs of socks £4
5 Picture frames to frame a set of laminated A4 posters £5
Set of 5 laminated A4 posters £5
Table top pool table £10
Notebooks and pens £6
2 Shower gels £2
2 Deodorants £2
A Book £1
A DVD £1
A Chocolate snowman £1
A Tin of festive shortbread £1
A Bag of chocolate coins £1
An Emoticon pillow £1
Youngest son
Dr who DVD £8
Batman Scooter £15
Magic sand set £4
4 Sand refills £4
Batman t shirt £2
Large army play set £8
Air hockey game £10
Foam dart gun £1
Avengers pencil case and matching stationary £3
A DVD £1
A Chocolate snowman £1
A Tin of festive shortbread £1
A Bag of chocolate coins £1
An Emoticon pillow £1
So you see each of my boys will wake up to a nice pile of Xmas presents and they each have exactly what they have asked for and then some. Don't be afraid to inform people you are on a limited budget and therefore can not afford to buy them an expensive gift this year. You could even ask them if they would mind a no gift giving policy this year (you don't buy for them and they don't buy for you). Check out stores such as Pound land, Pound world, B and M, Pound stretcher, Home bargains etc. They are not beneath you and save you a whole heap of money. The stores all my gifts have come from this year are as follows.....
EBay
Morrison's
Sports Direct
B and M
Pound land
Pound world
Asda
Store 21
Home bargains
If anyone wants to know where I purchased a particular item just ask in the comments and I will let you know. Cost for presents for 31 people this year £320.
Until Next Time
Much Love
Maria xxx
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