Being a mum of 3 children can be an expensive job - especially when it comes to birthdays, Christmas, Easter etc
I have always tried to be organised as my children’s birthdays are September, October, and December - bit of an expensive part of the year. My solution? Present buying all year round with a budget of £30-40 a month.
I have a list of all the birthdays I buy for in my phone, and I try to have all the cards and presents organised by at least a month before. If I see something one of my 3 would like, or even my partner I grab it and it goes in the ‘cupboard’.
I try to keep track of everything I buy - hence why the list is on my phone these days so I can write it down instantly. (I don’t always remember though!) Make's it easier to keep track of what I've spent on each of the kids too as I try to spend the same on each.
Now January is an amazing time to grab cheap wrapping paper, cards, tags etc, but also gift sets. (It’s also a brilliant time to support small business) But then it’s Easter egg time! Every year you hear the same complaints in supermarkets - ‘oh it gets earlier every year’ but I can guarantee it doesn’t! Well definitely not since 2001 when I can remember putting Easter eggs out on shelves before we closed for Christmas.
I collect Easter eggs from the end of January. Every year I do an egg hunt in the garden - even my 18 year old will still take part this year! I collect the smaller eggs first in various flavours. Normally 1 or 2 packs a week with my weekly shop, then I grab their bigger egg closer to the time when I find an offer or 2. I collect other Easter bits too like craft kits etc as my youngest loves things like that still. I will attempt to get her to wear one of my Easter creations - but I won’t hold my breath (she’s autistic with sensory differences)
When looking for birthdays, Mother’s Day etc I try to think what would the person like? What would they need? But also try to find something no one else will get. I often make little gift boxes up of smaller items to spread the cost even further. Pamper bits, sweets and chocs, crafty bits etc all make great gift sets. Plus I do make some gifts too - think most of my family have one of my snoods now!
If you need some help with gift ideas you can always visit my website gift page, up all year round for all budgets and tastes! I do need some more ideas for men though as they tend to be the hardest to buy for these days. Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.
For those of you who need a list of various holidays coming up this year, here are some dates for the first half of 2025.
My top tips to help you find bargains:
- make sure you've got any shops points card/app etc - there's always offers, or you can save your points (you can do that on Head Geek too!)
- Use the January Sales as much as you can - a lot go live boxing day!
- Yellow sticker bargains - always check the clearance sections of supermarkets you never know what you might find.
- Don't be afraid to use charity shops/ second hand items - sometimes they're brand new anyway!
- Small businesses often do mystery boxes etc - great for people you're just not sure what to buy!
- The end of a season means a sale in most shops/small businesses - always good for a bargain.