Day 37: A Gift for a 13 Year Old Girl

 

That's right.  Thirteen years ago, my sisters managed each to produce a child only one day apart.  At the time, Auntie Fran was in great practical demand, given that my mother couldn't actually split herself in two.

Last year's gift
- or something like it!

So today it is the turn of my niece and goddaughter to celebrate her birthday.  She is an absolute delight: not the girly type who wants trinkets and sparkly things, but one who nevertheless enjoys a well-chosen and tasteful gift.  Last year, for her twelfth birthday, I took her into town and let her choose a little silver ring - a pattern I shall repeat for my other two nieces when they turn twelve.  (A little celtic-style silver ring can be bought for under £6, btw.)

This year, she has taken up cross stitch.  Never one to do things by half, she took on a sampler for her first project, and taught herself as she went along.  I used to do a fair bit of cross stitch myself, although I have let this hobby lapse a little.  But when packing to move house, I came across my old threads.  A plan began to form ...

The internet is a wonderful thing, and some googling did indeed reveal that you can get free cross stitch patterns online.  The best site I found was the DMC site, which had some lovely designs, and prints out as very clear charts.  To buy all the recommended threads would be very expensive, but with a bit of work, I was able to match up the suggested colours not too badly with threads I already had in stock.  One problem is that the patterns don't tell you how many threads you will need, but my guesses should be close enough.  I then measured out the threads for her, attached them to a numbered card, bought a square of the recommended fabric for £3.20, and there she has a very nice present indeed.

Total Expenditure (includes card) : £3.70

Day 36: A Gift for a 13 Year Old Boy

Yes, the summer birthday season is now half-way through.  Today was the birthday of my wonderful, macho, hard-working charmer of a nephew, who is now officially a teenager.  (He has been an unofficial one for some time now). 

Boys are tougher than girls when it comes to presents, just as men are tougher than women.  They just don't seem to care for the little trinkets that make girls' rooms so decorative.  Instead, they want sports equipment, gadgets, computer games, all of which cost a small fortune.  I would love to be able to present him with a game for his Wii, or a new football kit.  But it just ain't gonna happen any time soon.

So I have mulled over this one for weeks now, at times close to despair.  I already had a small item for him - a magnetic screw-holder for strapping round one's wrist when engaged in DIY, which I picked up for a couple of quid in the Co-op last January.  On its own, it is not terribly exciting, but it at least fulfils the 'useful' criteria.  I had thought of simply adding something else to his toolbox: however, he already has just about every tool under the sun, and those he doesn't have will be well beyond my pocket.

Luckily for me - not to mention his family - he is a lad who takes a great pride in his appearance.  The family shower practically has his name on it.  So while it may not be the most exciting gift in the world, I think that some suitably manly shower gel and deodorant will be appreciated.  I managed to pick up a Body Spray and Shower Gel set at Debenhams for £5.50, so added to the wrist strap, the boy is doing well out of me for a frugal year.  Though based on progress so far, I think I may have to revise my minimum gift spend upwards to £6.

Happy birthday, my boy! xx


Total Day's Expenditure: £6.29

Day 20: A Birthday and a Great Day Out

Home on the Farm

Home to Mum!

I am very very lucky, because whenever I need out of the big city, my mother lives only an hour and a half away.  What's more, she still lives on the family farm, way out in the beautiful countryside of southern Scotland.  I had to go there late yesterday night after handing in the keys, because apart from anything else, I had to return to her sheds the garden tools that I don't need this year in the flat. Having a parent with a farm is a great advantage in the storage department!  It is also a great place for a relaxing break, which will be very valuable this year.

But the main reason for coming home is that my nephews and nieces are all there this week.  And today is the oldest's birthday!  So what can you buy a 15 year old boy for £5?

To be frank, he is at the age where he would prefer just the money.  He is into sports and computer games, and that is about it.  But I dislike giving cash or tokens.  With careful shopping, one can make a £5 gift seem like a £10 one.  But there is no disguising a mere £5 note.

Amazon to the rescue!   I managed to track down a wallet for his darts for £5.76, which is a slight overspend, but not too bad.  Add a 50p card from Tesco's, and the total comes to £6.26.

Today I also joined in with his birthday treat, which was a day out with all six children to Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfriesshire.  This is a rather gorgeous privately-owned stately home, which I have been coming to all my life.  It is not a cheap option - entry into the grounds alone cost me £5 - but once there, you can spend the entire day walking or cycling the grounds, wandering around the gardens, or playing in the huge and wonderful adventure playground, which doesn't seem to have any age restrictions!  We took a packed lunch with us, and so no cost to me in the food department.  So all in all, though the day cost my mother (as doting grandmother) a great deal, it cost me my £5 entry fee and nothing more.  But it has been a lovely day, and I don't regret that £5 one bit!

So I am home again, among my boxes and crates of books, and have just cleared my bed so that I can actually sleep.  Good night xx


Total Expenditure: £12.56 (gift + card + entrance fee + one bus fare)

Day 12: A Summer of Birthdays

I am the proud aunt of six nieces and nephews.  They range in age from seven to fourteen.  But very soon indeed, they will range in age from eight to fifteen.

This is because my sisters managed to time things so that five out of the six have their birthdays all within a couple of months.  When one niece turns eleven tomorrow, that is the start of a summer of birthdays.  A challenge for any frugalist.

Grown-ups, you see, understand things.  They understand that I am strapped for cash, and are generally content with a thoughtful 'wee minding', as my Gran used to say.  And even if they are slightly huffed, at least I won't eternally damage their self-esteem.

Children, however, measure your love by your present.  My presents over the years have been a visible, tangible sign of my adoration.  Not that they have ever been particularly expensive or large, but I have tried to target them appropriately.  I have not always succeeded.  Well do I remember forking out more than the norm one Christmas on a Barbie Duvet Cover, only to have my then 6 year old niece sidle up to me and whisper hopefully, "Auntie Frannie, have you bought me just one present?"

So what shall the Frugal Aunt do?  How shall she remain both Frugal and Favourite?

Careful shopping is required.  I have set a budget of £5 per child, not including the card.  And here is what I have found so far.

Cards
You can easily spend over £2.50 on a card.  Avoid the big card stores and the classy crafty ones.  Marks and Spencer sell lovely big cards for £1.  Barnardos - and possibly other charity shops as well - sell nice cards for about 75p.  Even cheaper, check out your local bargain book store, where I got two very pretty ones for £1.  Best of all, Tescos is currently selling cheerful cards for 25p, perfectly suitable for children.

Presents for an 11 Year Old Girl
If yours is the kind of niece that loves pink sparkly stuff, then your task is easy.  Just go into any Claire's Accessories shop, and buy anything.  However, my niece, an unusual child, isn't too fussed about pink sparkly stuff, but does love sudoku and craft work.  The bargain book store came up trumps, with a neat little £2.99 box of sudoku puzzles, which had originally retailed at £6.99.  In fact, such shops are very good shopping locations generally, with plenty of colourful picture books for younger children, and other nice gifts such as glossy gardening or cook books.

Meanwhile, Hobbycraft is selling small craft projects that are great for slipping in with a card.  For example, this pom-pom chicken family costs only £1.49, or for the same price you could buy a small scraper foil kit.  There is also a option of cute little pom-pom kitten or dog keyrings, for £1.99. My niece is more than capable of making these herself, and would spend a happy couple of hours putting them together.  A small but thoughtful present.

So all told, in my case, my niece's birthday has cost me £5.48. 
Add that to the bus fare for today, and some food shopping, and today's expenditure is £14.36