BUYING the perfect presents for children has got to be one of the most expensive and stressful things about Christmas.
You can find yourself spending a fortune trying to get it right – with no guarantee they’ll even look at the toy you spent hours picking.
One shopper has shared their budget-friendly solution for the perfect gift for kids, though, and it’s genius in its simplicity.
Rather than shopping from top 10 lists of the year or popular and expensive bestsellers, they came up with the “brilliant idea” to buy kids’ magazine subscriptions as gifts for their friends’ kids.
Taking to Reddit to share their brainwave, they listed magazines including Highlights and National Geographic for Kids, and said that they “spoke with the parents first to gauge if they thought the kids would enjoy those.”
“When I was a kid, I had subscriptions to some of those magazines and it would always make me feel special to get mail addressed just to me,” they wrote.
“I have fond memories of doing the puzzles with my parents when I was little, and learning all kinds of cool facts and stories.”
Having gifted the subscriptions, they were pleased to report that they went down really well with the kids.
“So, a year later I’m touching base with the parents and asking, ‘Have they been enjoying the magazines? Should I renew as a gift this year?’ and the answer is yes across the board.”
The poster added, “So it looks like I have my Christmas gifts for those kids figured out for the foreseeable future, until they outgrow them.”
The post on Reddit has been upvoted 281 times since being posted just a week ago, so it’s clearly a popular idea that’s taking off.
It prompted a discussion with dozens of other Christmas shoppers, who said they’re keen to try the same gift idea.
“I was thinking the same thing for my 3 1/2-year-old grandson who loves to go through my wildlife books when he visits,” one person replied.
“Little kids love getting their own mail!” someone else agreed.
“They also like to cut out the pictures and put them on their walls; my niece’s room was plastered in baby animal pics from kid magazines,” they added.
Someone else even said that they’ve become “favourite Auntie” to their three nieces and nephews after buying them the Australian Geographic D-Mag monthly subscription.
Elswhere, one person noted, “For anyone in the UK, I really recommend The Phoenix.
“It’s a magazine of comics, good for ages 5-12ish. It’s on the pricer side, but my kids love it.
“My parents renew it every year and it’s a birthday sorted.”
For another commenter, the gift idea took them back to their own childhood and how much they loved receiving a subscription themselves.
“When I was a kid, someone gave me a subscription to the Weekly Reader, I loved it. The library didn’t have it.
“When the subscription ran out, nobody would renew it for me. My mother thought it was a waste of money. I was so disappointed.
“It’s funny. I’d forgot all about that until now. After all these years some emotions are coming out,” they recalled.
Celebs most ridiculous presents for their kids
Celebrities are known for their extravagant lifestyles, and this often extends to the gifts they give their children.
Here are some of the most ridiculous and over-the-top presents that celebs have gifted their kids:
1. Blue Ivy Carter
Parents: Beyoncé and Jay-Z
Gift: Diamond-encrusted Barbie
Estimated Cost: $80,000 (£64,000)
Details: For Blue Ivy’s first birthday, her superstar parents reportedly gifted her a custom-made Barbie doll adorned with diamonds and other precious gems.
2. North West
Parents: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Gift: Michael Jackson’s Jacket
Estimated Cost: $65,000 (£52,000)
Details: Kim and Kanye bought their daughter North West a jacket that once belonged to Michael Jackson, which they had altered to fit her.
3. Suri Cruise
Parents: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Gift: Custom Playhouse
Estimated Cost: $24,000 (£19,000)
Details: For Christmas, Suri received a custom playhouse that included running water, electricity, and even a mini grand piano.
4. Stormi Webster
Parents: Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott
Gift: Mini Lamborghini
Estimated Cost: $400 (£320)
Details: Kylie gifted her daughter Stormi a mini Lamborghini electric car, complete with a custom paint job to match her own luxury vehicle.
5. Max and Emme Muñiz
Parents: Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Gift: Shetland Ponies
Estimated Cost: $600 each (£480)
Details: For their twins’ second birthday, J.Lo and Marc Anthony bought them their own Shetland ponies.
6. Blue Ivy Carter (Again)
Parents: Beyoncé and Jay-Z
Gift: Golden Rocking Horse
Estimated Cost: $600,000 (£480,000)
Details: Blue Ivy received a solid gold rocking horse designed by Japanese jeweler Ginza Tanaka.
7. True Thompson
Parents: Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson
Gift: Mini Bentley
Estimated Cost: $2,000 (£1,600)
Details: True was gifted a mini Bentley, complete with a sparkling paint job and custom interior.
8. Max and Emme Muñiz (Again)
Parents: Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Gift: Custom Playhouses
Estimated Cost: $40,000 each (£32,000)
Details: These playhouses were fully furnished and designed to look like mini-mansions.
9. North West (Again)
Parents: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Gift: Alexander Wang Leather Jacket
Estimated Cost: $1,450 (£1,160)
Details: North received a custom-made Alexander Wang leather jacket, complete with her name embroidered on it.
10. King Cairo Stevenson
Parents: Tyga and Blac Chyna
Gift: Mini Ferrari
Estimated Cost: $2,500 (£2,00)
Details: King Cairo received a mini Ferrari, complete with custom rims and a personalised license plate.