Christmas presents...anywhere to get cheap but nice hair bits/jewellery?

I've got 10 mindees to buy for, aged 2-7 and am trying to get myself organised with Xmas gifts.
I don't have a massive budget for each, so have got most a book, older ones a little game, but would like to get something small extra - boys are fine, I have a boy myself! It's the girls, the older ones would love little hair accessory or jewellery, is there anywhere that sells little bits for £1-2?! Am I living in a dream world?! Had a quick look in town today and things were nearer the £5 mark and were nothing special!

What are others doing for Xmas gifts?

I was thinking of getting some little Christmas decorations such as:

Felt Owl Hanging Decoration 8 Cm | Hobbycraft


and sewing an old-fashioned 'Kirby' grip on the back, to make a little hairslide.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blonde-Kirby...rds=kirby+grip


Pop one in a little pretty bag or box for the child, and you're done.

Hope it helps,

LK

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Originally Posted by alex__17

I've got 10 mindees to buy for, aged 2-7 and am trying to get myself organised with Xmas gifts.
I don't have a massive budget for each, so have got most a book, older ones a little game, but would like to get something small extra - boys are fine, I have a boy myself! It's the girls, the older ones would love little hair accessory or jewellery, is there anywhere that sells little bits for £1-2?! Am I living in a dream world?! Had a quick look in town today and things were nearer the £5 mark and were nothing special!

What are others doing for Xmas gifts?

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Have you tried Claires (if you have one near to you) they sometimes run special offers. Primark etc also can be cheap for accessories :thumbsup:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lollipop kid

I was thinking of getting some little Christmas decorations such as:

Felt Owl Hanging Decoration 8 Cm | Hobbycraft

and sewing an old-fashioned 'Kirby' grip on the back, to make a little hairslide.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blonde-Kirby...rds=kirby+grip

Pop one in a little pretty bag or box for the child, and you're done.

Hope it helps,

LK

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That is a lovely idea and simple.

I've been looking today for hair bits/jewellery for dd and haven't found anything nice. (At a price I'm prepared to pay!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by loocyloo

That is a lovely idea and simple.

I've been looking today for hair bits/jewellery for dd and haven't found anything nice. (At a price I'm prepared to pay!)

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I buy my niece a new decoration for the tree every year and yet I have never thought of buying one for mindees :thumbsup:

Love the owl idea on a hair clip, may do that, and I don't know why primarks didn't cross my mind!
I did pop into Claire's the other day and the couple of Alice bands/hair clip sets I looked at were £5.99!! Seemed a lot for something that wasn't that amazing and it's iust a little extra pressie.
Annoyingly I was only in hobbycraft this afternoon...! I don't need much excuse to pop back but it costs a fortune as I buy so much stuff I never intended to buy each time I go in!
Thanks for idea though :-)

I'm reluctant to do presents any more after my ungrateful 6 year old mindee turned her nose up at her birthday present I bought her, opened it, said hmm ive got that already, no thank you, no thanks from the parents. I'm not going to bother again!

If I was looking for something for £1 I'd probably start in a pound shop. ;)

I am, on the one hand, very organised: I don't wait until Christmas, but pick up presents all year round as I see them.

On the other hand, I invariably get to December and find I have 10 presents suitable for one child and nothing for the others. :doh:

Bunyip that's exactly what I've done, I've been buying bits as I see them but have a load for 3 year old boys (which is what my son is so I find easy!) and younger and nothing much for older ones! I will try pound shop too, but I'm liking the felt owls as they don't look like pound shop if that makes sense!

I'm with mumofone. This will be the first Christmas where i probably won't buy any mindees a present, only for birthdays. I really think that parents don't expect you to and actually don't give it a 2nd thought (especially if they don't buy for you) my hard earnt money is often going on a child who then ends up leaving unexpectedly / temporary childcare, or a parent that doesn't say thanks, or an ungrateful child.

Also in the past i have given a child a present and then i could tell by the parents reaction that they really weren't expecting it and that they then felt guilty as they didn't even think of little old me, as they too have other people higher up on their list to buy for! I don't give to receive,but i also don't give to end up being totally broke until the payday after that payday! For now i no longer pay tax as my earnings is under the threshold,so it doesn't make a difference if i put it all in my accounts book.

My current mindees are before/after school (and not a full 5 days) and only started this Sept, whilst the other child is too young to appreciate it. I know i can buy cheap things,but then cheap isn't always that good,and even buying cheap can add up if you have a few to buy for. have enough to buy / shop around for with my young family and friends.Last Christmas a parent bought me a lovely gift and said a big thankyou to me and a Happy Christmas, whilst another 2 sets of parents gave me nothing,not even a card. I have all new kids this year. Parents always seem grateful for me looking after their child,but i don't think i am high up on their list of people to buy for!
Don't get me wrong, i am fond of my mindees,and grateful they are with me, but where do you draw the line?

I've bought all mine books from either the works or book people (collections) I try and give books that we've read and the children enjoy.
I'm buying for 12 mindees but haven't spent more than a couple of £each.

From past experience most of the parents will say thank you and I do get cards or something from parents, or my children do! I don't make a fuss giving it to the child, I just put it in their bag on their last day before Christmas along with their Christmas crafts and say ' there is a little something to pop under the tree '

I have bought all my mindees personalised pyjamas.
They only cosy £5 or £6 a pair from the studio catalogue. I also went to home bargains and bought a ceramic christmas shaped plate and used sharpies (and an oven) to personalise the plate and decorate it... All my parents are grateful for me and I always get a present at Christmas from them and some even remember my birthday :) it's nice they remember

I'm on the look out too for presents under £3 as I have 17 children. even at £3 per child that's a whopping £51 on pressies :panic:

I'm off to look on the hobbycraft website :D

Take a look on books for bugs website, they do lovely books for £1 or £2.50 each and delivery now if you're not local