Birthday presents for other peoples children
Birthday presents for other peoples children do not need to be expensive.
Other children’s parties are a fantastic and free way to spend a fun afternoon with prizes, cakes and usually tears that are not your responsibility. When it comes to buying presents for your little one’s friends, you really don’t need to spend much, no matter how much was spent on your child or how wealthy your friends are. My answer to buying presents when you’re feeling skint falls into one of three options.
Option One:
Buy exactly what you know the child will love, however small the price. A pirate sticker book, a fast little car, a CD of nursery rhymes, snap cards or threading beads will last for ages and keep child and mum happy.
Option Two:
Go for something original – that way no one has a clue how much you have spent. Ideas can be old-fashioned (a yo-yo or a Diablo) or kitsch (think ribbon kite or a personalised T-shirt). We bought our son the coolest tops from Skegness Pier each summer with his name written on them in silver for £3. These were the most complimented piece of clothing he ever had, largely because no one else had one – they don’t sell them in designer boutiques, just good old Skeggy – so they were unique!)
Option Three:
Regifting. But be careful with this one. On more than one occasion my son received the same gift twice and even at his rate of losing or breaking toys two is one too many. I couldn’t return these gifts as I often had no clue where they were from. To sell them would have bought in mere pennies and they are cracking presents so what’s a girl to do? I popped them in my present box so that in future I could wrap them up and pass them on. They were brand new and the most perfect of gifts. But, and here’s the but, try not to give it back to the person who gave it to your child; they (well, their mum) might be terribly upset.
Have fun and do remember your birthday presents for other peoples children will probably be one of many it doesn’t stand a lone or make or break a birthday. A packet of colouring pencils is fine…if you help with the party tea and a bit of tidying up everyone will think your the bees knees anyway you don’t have to buy your popularity!
Oh and definitely do make the card yourself!
Birthday presents for other peoples children can be fun, simple and inexpensive
Further reading:
we often buy craft stuff or books – usually works out cheap 🙂
It’s so not about the money. A practical present, like a torch or pyjamas, can be just as well received as an expensive toy that might only get used once. Don’t spend a fortune on wrapping, use a child’s own artworks, ditto birthday cards. If in doubt ask mum for advice!
Another way to keep the cost down without ending up with a disappointed child is to give a joint present. Either with one or more other child(ren) or with an entire class to get something bigger.
Author
The joint present idea is great particularly if its something they really want. All his grandparents and us wonece bought frankie a thomas tank bed for Christmas and he was beyond elated! Its what he wanted more than anything and the pleasure he got from tha t bed! Great tip.
Some of Top’s friends get a photo of them with Top in a frame. The frames are normally the plain ones from Ikea, but decorated by Tops and me! It costs so little but are normally loved because the children love to see themselves with a friend!
Yeah I think home made gifts are great, people notice the amount of time and thought that has gone into them =)
Also its great to be organised. Buying presents of the day of the party tends to work out more expensive as you just end up running to tesco and buying the first toy you find. Great blog post