10 Affordable Gifts for Your Kids This Holiday

By Laura Lifshitz | Nov 29th, 2018

The holidays are a stressful time for a lot of parents due to one thing: money.

We all have budgets, well, minus celebrities, and we don’t want to kill our wallets, however, we still want to make those holiday wishes come true. But before you set out to spend on high-ticket items, here are a few tips I have learned over the years that will help you stick to your budget, and still feel “all aglow” with the magic of the holidays:

• Babies don’t care much about gifts, so you can wrap up empty boxes full of random safe household items and they’ll still be happy. Seriously. How does a six-month old know he needs “gifts?”
• Your little preschoolers and young elementary aged kids absolutely love the dollar stores or Five Below. Shop there. They will love what you get!
• Consider the item’s relative length of use and quality, in conjunction with the price tag before dropping money on a costly item. Is your child really going to still like that expensive doll or hot toy of the moment six months from now? Kids cycle from toy to toy these days. Don’t go nuts wasting your hard earned money on a fad.
• Putting yourself in debt to be the best “Santa” ever is not worth it. How happy will you be paying off your holiday debt, month after month? Still feeling jolly with those credit card bills?

Here are 10 gift ideas you can budget for, and your kids will still enjoy them!

1. For the baby- 2 years old: Baby Einstein Take Along Tunes, $8.99, Target. This toy was my daughter’s favorite in the car and on the go, for at least two years, and it’s fewer than ten bucks!
2. For your little kid, who’s just learning games—and the big siblings who want to join in: Candy Land, $14.39, Wal-Mart. An easy simple game that’s cheap and can be played by big kids and little, alike.
3. For your girl or boy who is obsessed with L.O.L. dolls: L.O.L. Surprise Confetti Pop, $21 or L.O.L. Surprise Glam Glitter Series, $9.99, Amazon. My own kid is pretty obsessed with these dolls, and I may have played with them a few times … or a hundred. Wink.
4. The most adorable “dog” for your baby, toddler or preschooler: Leap Frog, My Pal Scout or Violet, $25.80, Amazon. This interactive toy dog doesn’t shed, poop or bark. Two thumbs up!
5. For your budding scientist, this is worth the pennies: Dr. Cool Lunar Telescope for Kids, $39.99, Amazon. You can indulge their love for all things science, especially the stars and planets this holiday!
6. More science—gift your geologist: National Geographic Mega Fossil Mine, $29.99, Amazon. Dig up 15 fossils? Wrap up this gift and watch your kid’s imagination explode. In a good way, of course.
7. Keep your little sports fan happy: Wilson Black/White Soccer Ball, $8.27, Wal-Mart. This is a cheap gift and a good way to get your kid started on the soccer field!
8. Inspire your future chef: Curious Chef Chef’s Kit, 11-Piece, Blue/Green, $19.99, Amazon. Get your kid cooking now, this way you can relax later on in a few years.
9. Another classic game: Battleship Classic Game, $19.99, Target. “You sunk my Battleship!” Hopefully, you won’t be the one losing when you play your kid at this old school game.
10. Let your kid express what’s on his or her mind: My Cinema Lightbox, $29.99, Amazon. Hopefully, they’ll have something nice to write, unless of course you’re busy being the “meanest mom ever.”

Remember, no matter what you buy your kids, it’s the love that matters most. You can’t bury yourself with a bunch of “stuff,” so fill the holiday time with memories and love!