That Time Again

2. July 2008, 2:13 pmshoppingKin

It’s that time of year parents dream of and dread at the same time.

It causes us to closely examine our parenting, work out where we failed six months ago, where we succeeded and exercise our abilities to see into the future.

Yes, it’s time for the major department stores Toy Sales.

For weeks I’ve been going through my kids toys, seeing what they play with, what’s broken and needs replacing, what’s broken and doesn’t need replacing (stupid Bratz doll), and what’s in perfect condition because they haven’t touched it (thankfully not much).

My kids don’t have a real lot of toys. Lots of stuffed toys but not a huge amount of others. It makes it easy to clean up after them, but at this time of year I start second guessing myself. I check in with the forums and realise I spend about half of the “average” for my kids for birthday’s and Christmas. Do they need more? I should get them more toys. They need more toys.

This morning I took them through our local department store, and asked the kids to point out what they wanted. Apart from a couple of completely rediculous things (camping stove and dog toys) it was a complete reality check. I asked Kiki what she wanted for her birthday. She looked at the dolls house then turned around and pointed at the $5 Disney Princess doll. I told her she only gets one present for her birthday (house rule - I prefer to give the majority of toys at Christmas) and is that really what she wanted? Yup. $5 and the kid is happy. $148 dolls house? Not interested.

The best part? I have 4 left in my present box after buying them last year . Well, that’s one birthday sorted.

I find taking the kids in a good way to gauge what they’d like. And since it’s 3 months to M&M’s birthday and 5 months til Kiki’s, they’ll have forgotten what they saw by then.

Tomorrow is D-day. Hubby needs to be at work by 7:30, so I’ve lined up my mother-in-law to come with me. Once again two trolley’s, lists, and probably lay-by will be utilised for maximum advantage. And now I have three to buy for for Christmas.

I wonder if I’ll be as successful as last year. Stay tuned for my Toy Sale Shopping Report.

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4 comments:

Kelley (8 comments.), 2. July 2008, 21:34

Good luck! I am SOOOOOOOOOO thankful that my days of the toy sales are OVA!

I will be thinking of you while watching the madness on the news
Lightening (24 comments.), 2. July 2008, 21:47

You do well. If I take my kids anywhere near a toy department, they want everything in sight. I find it’s better to keep them away. Then they don’t know what they’re missing. Having said that, I’m going to Kmart on Friday to shop for my nieces and nephews. Hopefully there are still some toys left by then.
river, 3. July 2008, 15:31

when my kids were little I’d buy toys for christmas at the mid year sales too, but when they were a bit older they’d change their minds and tastes so often before christmas that anything bought in July had to be given to younger newer family members or friends kids. I found it easier between the ages of 6 and 12 to put aside regular amounts of cash and layby in the six weeks leading up to christmas. After that age it was gift vouchers for everyone with just a little trinket for unwrapping. The vouchers were and are much appreciated because they save them for the after christmas or the next years stocktake sales and get more for their money.
Bettina (58 comments.), 7. July 2008, 19:31

We are all sorted this year!

all the kids are getting DS Lites. No need for trolleys or re-inforcements.