Christmas Shopping

I have to say I have had an absolutely depressing time Christmas shopping this year.  The budget is tight and the choice of Christmas gifts available in the shops is darn right dismal.  I am not looking for the conventional toys like Barbie, Furby, Lala Loopsy or Leap Pads (crikey who could afford one anyway) or even Fisher Price or Lego.  I did however succumb to a Pillow Pet, which Coral has been collecting for sometime now - but I still don't feel entirely right about it. 
I don't really have any desire to add mountains of toys to our already sufficient collection, and I certainly don't want to spoil the kids silly but I do want it to be a fun and happy occasion for the family and one where the kids don't feel short changed or let down.  So I am trying to find a balance between quantity and quality, less expensive and more expensive, popular and the less well advertised options.
It is a real struggle to find stores that sell interesting or functional toys, games, instruments, costumes or art /craft supplies at reasonable prices.  I have turned to online shopping for a few items, but the little speciality stores that don't charge like a wounded bull have been hard to find.
I have also done a few rounds of shopping at the local Gold Coin shop for a few novelty items which I felt were not too shamefully of poor quality - items which seem to pop up in the larger chain stores like Farmers and The Warehouse at three times the price in the exact same packaging.
I wish there were some kind of magic gift guide or store available that more closely matched the type of presents and budget I have in mind for Christmas.  The type of Christmas that has been thrust upon us these days is just not realistic or frankly fair to most families.