tips for parents low on cash for gifts for their kids

**Sara Noel** · 10-05-2007, 05:16 PM

Each year many of us read about parents experiencing hardship during the holidays. Let's brainstorm frugal gift ideas for children under the age of 15 for those parents and give it a price range of $25 and $50 if your reply includes food.

I know for many of us, $50 would be more than enough while for some they can't even imagine a holiday with so little.

Let's be as frugal as possible to be as far under the budget as possible to reflect our knowledge, but still have as much as $50 to be more creative.

**fizzie** · 10-08-2007, 07:26 PM

I can't wait to see what others post! How about:

1) a gardening kit/farming kit: seeds, homemade watering can, gloves, kids' book about gardening
2) "pet" worms: composting worms, a compost bin kids can decorate with markers, and instructions
3) baking set: a couple of cookie cutters, a homemade apron, and a kid-friendly cookbook
4) bead making kit: miscellaneous beads from a bead shop, string
5) "trunk" (box) full of dress up clothes gleaned from friends' closets, thrift stores, freecycle (could include funny hats, necklaces, crazy shoes, old halloween costumes)

**stcycly66** · 10-08-2007, 08:58 PM

What about asking lumber yards for wood from their scrap pile? (My 8 y.o nephew LOVES to build things from scrap lumber)

**mom2three** · 10-08-2007, 10:33 PM

A journal jar, journal and new pens for the young writer (organizedchristmas.com)
The dressup box concept works really well for young children - I started with a $20 box from Ikea.
Movie night bag - cheap movie, homepopped popcorn, etc.
Bargain books.
Knitting kit (cheap book, dollar store yarn and needles)
The "traffic jam" jar mentioned with little cars.
Play dough set - homemade playdough, cookie cutters, rolling pin (freecycle)
Hair stuff (can you tell I have girls)
Stocking stuffers in balloons (takes up space, interesting wrap)
Homemade chocolates/candy
Family game with game night coupons
Lego bucket

**justpeachy92** · 10-08-2007, 10:37 PM

When my oldest dd was 5 at a yard sale I bought 10 prom/homecoming dresses for $1 each, found a trunk for $5 at another yard sale and picked up some cheap costume jewlery at the flea market. She played dress up with those for the longest time.

**monkeywrangler71** · 10-08-2007, 11:13 PM

Things I'm doing/planning:
-Making rag doll for 2yr old girl
-Making denim quilt for 15yr old girl, sewing all her girl guide patches on it - received denim on freecycle
-Homemade soap crayons, playdough, and cookies for stockings for 2yr old girl and 3yr old boy
-Health & beauty freebies collected over the year for stocking for 15yr old girl
-Free movie pass from icoke (Canadian version of coke points) for stocking for 15yr old girl
-Free truck from Chapman's Ice Cream(Canadian only) for 3yr old boy
-Free calculator, pens, etc from Chapman's for stocking for 15yr old girl
-Making new pyjamas from fabric that I have on hand for all three kids

Total for above: $0

Bought:
-Train set for 2 & 3 yr old to share - purchased secondhand through ad on kijiji
-Books bought online from clearance section of Chapters and Bookcloseouts.com - ranged in price from $1-$4 - for all three kids.
-Viewmaster reels for the 2 & 3 yr olds stockings - didn't actually pay for them, used a certificate from one of the many FP recalls

Spent about $50 between the trains and the books.

I need to get a train table, am watching the classifieds and also considering making it myself but have never built anything before so I'm a bit nervous.

Am anxious to see more ideas for my 15yr old, although I'm sure I will end up buying some expensive gadget that she simply can not live without.

**monkeywrangler71** · 10-08-2007, 11:23 PM

Another thing I did last year was make a book for my (then) 2yr old son, with pictures of him with different family members, and a very simple text (My name is ___, this is me with my Mommy....). I just printed it at home, had considered laminating it but was way too expensive - it is just heavy paper, stapled together and hasn't ripped yet. He LOVES it.

I also did the journal jar last year for oldest daughter and she really liked it.

**smk0817** · 10-09-2007, 07:30 AM

This is for the older kids...
-a mini Christmas tree (can even be made out of poster board) and attach gift cards to their favorite places such as McDonald's, Wal-Mart, Claire's, gas station,etc... Can be small amounts like $5 each.
-A money tree. Shape each $1 bill into a bow and attach it to a mini tree with floral wire.
-used video games from Game Stop
-there is a paintball field in my area that has its own website. Kids are always posting things for sale or trade on its message board (Ipods, MP3's video games). We've gotten several things from there for our kids and in great condition and great price.