Top 15 Toys for 2007 and only 86 days left to buy them!

I found some interesting statistics today. The average spend on Christmas gifts in 2006 was £378 per person in the UK according to Deloitte - and over £7.7bn was spent online based on information from IMRG. That's a lot of money!

Every year my family says Christmas is too commercialised and that we won't succumb to the spend-fest of the Holidays. But it is very difficult not to be drawn into the frenzy. However, I do set budgets and I have just put together a spreadsheet to help me budget this year. Email me if you would like a copy.

My kids are not overly demanding, but they do get influenced by the top toy trends like most. Sometimes, however, I think the kids only get into this behaviour because of us parents. One year I remember queueing up outside Toys R Us at 5.00am, hoping to get a Telly Tubby. I had no idea what hey were- my child had never seen them on TV, but I had been sucked into media frenzy and convinced myself that if my child didn't have one of these for Christmas then I was a terrible mother! I did manage to get one- the green one- I didn't even know it's name at the time! The toy did become one of my young son's treasured soft toys, so I suppose there was a happy ending!

Still there is nothing worse then disappointed children on Christmas morning, and as we live in a society that is heavily influenced by trends, I guess we just have to go along with them to a degree. I have found the predicted Top 15 toy list for the USA. This list was issued by Toys R Us on 27 September 2007 and is in alphabetical order:

• Aqua Dots(TM) Super Studio from Spin Master (TM)


• ClickStart(TM) My First Computer from LeapFrog(R)


• Daisy Pocket Mod from Razor (TM)


• Eyeclops(TM) from JAKKS Pacific(R)


• Geotrax(TM) Rail and Road System (Grand Central Station) from Fisher-Price(R)


• Guitar Hero(TM) III: Legends of Rock Game and Guitar Controller from Activision(R)


• Hannah Montana in Concert Collection Doll from Play Along(R)


• Made For Me MP3 Music Player from Playskool(R)


• Monopoly(R): Boutique Edition from Hasbro(R) Games


• Shining Stars from Russ Berrie & Co.


• SMART CYCLE(TM) Physical learning Arcade System from Fisher-Price(R)


• T.M.X. Friends from Fisher-Price(R)


• TRANSFORMERS(TM) ULTIMATE BUMBLEBEE(TM) from Hasbro(R)


• XPV(TM) R-A-D Robotic Air Defense(TM) from JAKKS Pacific(R)

I haven't got the list for the UK yet- it will no doubt have some of these toys on, but there may be a few differences. I'm expecting a list to be available in early October and as soon as I find it I will put it on the blog.

In my view missing from the list are the gadgets such as the new Ipods, game consoles such as the XBox 360 Elite and the still popular Nintendo DS.
It's October tomorrow- time for Doris!!!!

Only 87 days...

Bought a 3-in-1 winter jacket yesterday. A bargain from Costco. It is warm and cosy, and I put it on when I went shopping this morning. The weather warmed up though, and I had to take out the inner liner as I was roasting hot!

Still, never deterred by warm weather, I was still on the hunt for pre-Christmas bargains. Woolworths have a fabulous half price toy sale on at the moment. I bought two wonderful dressing up outfits for two of my nieces and some stocking fillers. Had a mooch around the mall and a coffee with my mum. Is it just me that thinks coffee is just too expensive in these coffee shops? The most expensive ones always seem the most crowded! What happened to a cheap and cheerful cuppa and a chat? (Sorry to rant).

The shops are just starting to get their festive displays in place. I know it's still officially September, but once the kids are back in school I think the months fly by and Christmas just appears before you know it! The garden centres near to my home have advertised their Christmas Display Launches for next week- and I'm going to one on Thursday. I can't wait! I know I sound a bit sad, and no, I don't get out much!

I'm still collating my best pre-christmas bargains. So far, PC World seem to have some good online prices for things like digital cameras and PC's (if you are looking for a laptop etc for that someone special!). They also have the new range of Ipod's which are no doubt going to be on a lot of wish lists this year. The Big Red Warehouse have a lovely range of character toys and my youngest has been eyeing the site up hopefully! I will list good sites as I find them, and if I hear of sales or real bargains I'll let you know (like this weekend's Next sale).

Hope you get some bargains! Thanks for reading!

88 days to go

Still on the subject of bargains and sales, Next has a sale starting tomorrow (Saturday). It will be online with NEXT Directory aswell as instore. Might be worth getting some early bargains in the mid season sale!

Catch up with my main blog later!

89 days and counting

Just bought my first chocolate tree decorations today. I've hidden them in the back of the cupboard- not because the kids will get them, but because my dog will!

I'm starting to think about Christmas lists and budgets. I'm fed up of overspending. I say every year that I won't, but I always seem to have a last minute panic and spend too much on a last minute splurge. This year I will NOT do this. I plan to be a bit boring and have a Christmas spreadsheet for all my gifts, food and decorations. I will not over buy on the food (the shops are only closed for a couple of days!) and I do not intend to be looking at a pile of Christmas tat that no one is interested in, and that I've just spent a months salary on.

So, this week I am:

1. Putting together a spreadsheet listing everyone I intend to buy gifts for, together with three things they like the most. This will give me some inspiration for gifts.


2. Set a budget for each person.


3. Go to the stores (and search online) for gift ideas.


4. Think of the theme I'm going to have this year for the house decorations- it won't be very different from the one we have every year as I don't believe in throwing away perfectly good decorations. However, I may add a new stair garland that is dog-proof (new dog in the family!) and replace the glass baubles with plastic ones for the tree (again thinking about the dog!)


5. Set the budget for any new decorations, lights etc.


6. Begin to think about food- but I won't plan the menu just yet.

Part of my search for gift ideas will include searching for best prices and seeing if there are any bargains around at the moment. I reckon that if you shop wisely, you can save atleast 30% on gifts if you shop early. I'm not saying that you will get all your presents at bargain prices, but you may well get the stocking fillers, and the gifts for your extended family and friends at greatly reduced prices if you shop in the pre- Christmas sales.

Only 90 shopping days left!

Christmas is 90 shopping days away. Seems like a long time doesn't it? Well if you are anything like me, the time will fly by and before you know it it's Christmas Eve and you've forgotten Aunty Dora's present (and she's coming for Christmas dinner!), the dog's chewed up all the chocolate decorations that were sitting so beautifully on the Christmas tree, and you feel like sitting in the corner crying into Santa's milk!

Well, this year I plan to be extremely organised! I say this every year, but I feel that I'm experienced enough to tackle the mammoth project of christmas head on, and have the best festive season ever.

I've started to look around the shops for gift ideas, and there seems to be some bargains around at the moment. There are some good toy sales around, and early 3 for 2's on cards and gift wrap in a few shops. I'm going to start a few lists and see if I can bag a few bargains early- every penny counts in the ever increasing spend-fest of the Holidays.

I'm going to try and get back to a more traditonal Christmas this year. My son will be playing carols for us on the piano, and hopefully we will all join in and bring back some of that Christmas magic I felt as a child. We will be attending Midnight mass now all the family are old enough to attend, and this does help to remind everyone why we are celebrating.

Well, I shall get started on my lists and see what the next few days bring in terms of ideas and bargain hunting!