Frugal Christmas: Budget gifts for kids

by Chiara Cavaglieri on 07 December 2011  |  5 comments
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Today we’re looking at the best discounts and deals for little ones this Christmas. Highlights include the best prices for the top 12 Christmas toys 2012 with the Nerf Vortex Nitron reduced to £22.50 and the VTech Kidizoom camera for £34.99, the latest Harry Potter film for £8, children’s computer games for under £10, Mr Men and Little Miss books for only £1.35 each with free delivery, beanie toys for £2 and Disney jigsaws for £3.99!

Welcome to our first frugal gift guide for kids, young teens and babies. Make sure your ankle biters aren’t in a sulk with these top gifts, at the best price (to keep you happy too!).

Top 12 Xmas toys for less

The high street is always crammed full of toys and games for kids so it can be difficult to know where to start.However, the Toy Retailers Association's tips for the top toys is a good place to start, as we explained in The top 12 toys for Xmas - however a few prices have changed since then! Right now you can buy the Doggie Doo Game for £17.99 (RRP £22.99) and Lego Ninjago Fire Temple for £61.99 (RRP £91.99) at ToysRus.

The Monster High Lagoona's Hydration Station has gone up in price, but is now cheapest at Asda, costing £35 (RRP £39.99) and the Nerf Vortex Nitron is now cheaper at £22.50 (RRP £44.99) in Debenhams.

Then head to Amazon, which has the best deals on the Figit Friends figures, reduced to £38.50 (RRP £54.99), the VTech Kidizoom Twist Kids Camera, reduced to £34.99 (RRP £49.99), Milky the Bunny, reduced to £41.49 (RRP £59.99) and Sesame Street Let’s Rock Elmo which has been reduced even further to £39.99 (RRP £69.99).

DVDs, books and computer games

If you want the best price for some of the latest computer games head to The Game Collection for Nintendo Wii game Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, now £28.95 (RRP £39.99), or for the DS, stay put to buy Mario Kart 7 for £28.99 (RRP £39.99) and Super Mario 3D for £29.75 (RRP £39.99). Or for games under £10, Amazon is offering Junior Brain Trainer for the DS (RRP £19.99) and Wii game Doctor Who Return to Earth (RRP £34.99) for £9.99 each. Or get DS games Scribblenauts for £8.97 (RRP £29.99) and Peppa Pig Theme Park Fun for £9.99 (RRP £24.99).

If you want a new film for the Christmas holidays, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 is £8 (RRP £24.99) on Amazon, Johnny English Fully Reloaded is £3 (RRP £9.99) at Tesco (and Amazon), Horrid Henry The Movie is cheapest at HMV, costing £9.99 (RRP £19.99) and Cars 2 is only £10.95 (RRP £18.99) at The Hut.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic deal on Mr Men and Little Miss books by Roger Hargreaves – head straight to Argos where you can buy the books online (with free delivery) for only £1.35 each! Even on Amazon and The Book Depository they cost from £1.66 so it’s a great time to stock up your kid’s library. And, if you’re looking for a new bookcase to store all their books, Sainsbury’s is selling this Disney Princess Sling Bookcase for £27 and this Cars Sling Bookcase for £22.50. 

It’s hard to find a child (or adult) who doesn’t like Harry Potter so if you’re looking for a game for the family to play this Christmas the Scene it? Harry Potter interactive game should be a popular choice. As well as being a traditional board game, you watch clips from Harry Potter, answer trivia and then make your way round the board to win. It retails at a rather expensive £29.99 but if you move quickly there is one left on ChoicesUK for only £19.99 (RRP £29.99) – or if you miss out Amazon is selling the game for £21.97.

Something a bit different

If your little one has trouble getting to sleep you can buy kids’ pillows (for over five-year olds) with speakers from Sound Asleep (costing £12) so that they can wind down to their favourite songs or listen to an audio book in bed without using earphones or having the sound blaring out and keeping others awake. 

Stocking fillers for under £5

I remember being insanely jealous as a tot that a friend from school had glow in the dark stars in her room and with these ones costing only £2 at Marks & Spencer I am sorely tempted to make up for lost time and get some for my room now! They did run out of stock the other day so if you miss out, I did see some for £3.48 at Play.

There are some cute bits and pieces from the Eden brand over on Lovethymakeup which are great for girls and young teens. This fashion flower compact is only £3.49 and comes with 18 eye shadows, two blushers, lip gloss, a mirror and an applicator. Delivery is only £1.50.

You can also find some really pretty gifts for girls on Mad Beauty – I like these Russian Doll lip balms (£2.99) and glitter nail files (£1.18) and for older girls they stock Mad Pluckers in lots of different designs for £4.99 (delivery is from £2.99).

I was really impressed with some of the deals on toys at Matalan. There are beanie puppies for only £2 (or buy 3 for £5), a toy iron for £2, the My First Play Dough Station for £3, Disney Jigsaws for £3.99 and Transformers figures for £4.99 just to mention a few steals!

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