Christmas is usually a time when many people spend more money than they should. With the problems in the economy currently affecting many people around the country, Christmas will likely need to be less financially burdensome this year. This can be particularly tough on parents who feel the need to provide a Christmas full of presents for their children. However, many parents do not have a choice but to scale back on Christmas presents for their kids this year. If you need ideas for Christmas gifts that are cheap but still provide fun for your kids, the following guide may be helpful to you.
Keep it simple – Kids don’t have to have 25 gifts each in order to enjoy Christmas. Keep your Christmas cheap by limiting yourself to only buying 3-5 gifts per child. Along with a stocking, this amount of gifts is enough for kids to have fun opening presents, while still allowing you to keep your Christmas costs down. Simple gifts can be inexpensive, as well as educational. Consider cheaper items such as coloring books, crayons, puzzles, Play-Doh, books, and Hot Wheels.
Don’t write off buying used items for Christmas – If you really need to keep Christmas gifts for the kids cheap this year, consider buying used items. Check out local bookstores for their used children’s books, and consignment shops for used toys, as well as dress up playwear for girls. Additionally, many great toys can be found cheap on Ebay, such as Legos, Little People, and Barbie. You might even find a deal on a cheap pair of used Heely’s or video games on Ebay. Be sure to wash any clothing items you purchase, as well as wash and disinfect toys before you wrap them up. Consignment shops now have to be careful about toy recalls and cannot sell items that have been deemed unsafe due to lead paint or other hazards. So as long as you clean them properly, toys from a children’s consignment shop might be your answer to a cheap but fun Christmas for the kids.
Focus on the season, not the gifts – Try to fill up your days surrounding the holidays with small but meaningful Christmas themed activities with your kids. Print out Christmas coloring pages and color them together, or make it a point to sit down with your child and watch any Christmas DVD’s you have over the course of several days leading up to Christmas. You can make Christmas cookies cheap, and kids will never forget the memories made making Christmas cookies. Make a construction paper chain to count down the days to Christmas, or check out Christmas themed children’s books from the library and read them to your child. If your family is one of faith, take this time to really focus on the meaning of Christmas.
