feeling guilty.

Hiya, I registered on Netmums.com and I managed to get my kids loads of nearly new toys for next to nothing from other mums having a clearout. Also because you are connected to mums in your area you could swap toys that are in good condition. I swapped my little boys trike, he wasn't too interested in it, for a nearly new train set which I know he will love!

Hope this is helpful

Nicki x

you can get some great stuff off ebay including loads that has hardly been used so you shouldnt feel guilty. its the thought that counts after all and tbh a 2 year old and 8 month wont care if its brand new or not and wont know the difference anyway. bought my daughter a little tikes dolls house off ebay last christmas and she loves it. wanted one i knew was sturdy enough to withstand ALOT and they dont sell them in the shops anymore gave it a good clean and im sure itll last years.

ive become obsessed this year especially with getting stuff cheap as possible- if theres a special offer to be had im there! i know im a cheapskate lol oh takes the pee all the time x x

think of it as a good opertunity to teach the little one that Christmas isn't about the presents, it's about spending a special time with mummy and daddy. if you scrimp and scrape to afford everything this year she will expect it every year and you will be making a rod for your own back. when i was a kid money was tight and we only had a budget of 20/30 quid each. but Christmas was always special because we got to spend lots of time as a family and have a nice dinner and snuggle up on the sofa in the afternoon with a crimbo film and a tin of choccies :) i'm going to be the same way with my little girl, most of the toys will be old news come boxing day anyway

Surely its the thought that counts not the place you bought it from? Your children are incredibly lucky to have a mum who is worrying herself this much over where she was to get the presents from! If things are really that hard for you to buy, why don't you suggest them to other people so that then you don't feel quite so much like they'll be missing out?? Nans and grandads are always up to spoiling the kids!! And ebay is fab! why spend 30 quid in a shop for something you could go on ebay and get for a tenner! relax a little and just make things easier on yourself! At the end of the day your children are going to love you regardless to what they get for xmas! x

oh hun.i know how you feel.my oh has hurt his back on living on sick pay.the bills are coming in fast and furious and leaving nothing to put away for xmas.i have 4 kids and my oh also has kids too.last year we bought a lot on ebay,theres nothing wrong with it at all.im ok with my youngest 2 but my eldest always want the latest gadget out(have just forked out £100 on a new fone for my daughters bday)but they just have to cut back on list this year which makes me feel awful.i think most of us in the same boat hun xxx

hi i get my stuff off ebay and last year i took everything out of the boxes so i could put things together put batteries in etc so my daughter was ready to use them and im going to do the same this year with the new things i buy but i am also looking on ebay this year,also in sainsburys at the min till 4th of nov all toys are half price but hardly any thing left online i got a few things in my nearest store though x

Hi dont feel bad hun, loads of us are looking at ways to cut back! eBay is great actually, I usually get several pressies from there each year and you can get some new/nearly new stuff for great prices!! And just think, you're putting money into the pockets of normal people like yourself (not big chains etc) who are trying to raise a bit of cash too! I'm thinking of doing a late car boot sale or eBay some stuff myself to raise a bit of cash for xmas in fact so you could always do something like that if you have anything to sell that you don't need or use. xx

Honestly hun, they have no idea what you have spent or not and I can understand you want to be fair but its not possible. Children need to understand they cant have everything they want anyway or they get spoiled ;) I would defs go for Ebay, I have cut right back this year for my friends kids and had a slight pang but we simply dont have the money so that's that. Spending time with the kids is what they really remember, i cant remember many presents I got when I was younger but I do remember the smell of mince pies that my mum always made on christmas morning as we came down. Hope you have a lovely time hun I am sure you will. xx