I am going through a divorce this year so there isn't alot of money for the holidays. Does anyone know any ideas for my 3 year old girl and my 10 year old girl?? Thanks!!
2007-10-31 01:19:30 · 11 answers · asked by lvbrdy4vr 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
go to a dollar store and buy thoughtful gifts. man, i have milked the "it's the thought that counts" thing for soooo many years.
2007-10-31 02:17:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know it sounds corny, but you can really make this your opportunity to show your kids the true meaning of Christmas.
Decorate the tree, do arts and crafts, bake cookies, or have them make their own stockings and then fill them with small and practical treats on Christmas morning.
You could maybe buy them joint "house" gifts that they both can enjoy. This is a little difficult with the age difference, but you could get creative. Chances are your 3 year-old will be more excited with the decorations and music and festivities than with gifts, so focus more on your 10 year old who may need something a little more special. Maybe a mother/daughter day where you do each others nails, or pick out a special holiday outfit. Don't focus on how little money you have, but on how much fun you're going to have.
Get into the spirit of the holidays and your kids will understand if there isn't a mountain under the tree.
2007-10-31 10:49:23 · answer #2 · answered by linzlou83 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I went through this last year! At age 3, it doesn't really matter what the gift is, as long as it is wrapped up. Get some books (half priced books is a great place if you have one in your area), Target and Walmart usually have a toy isle with toys that aren't name brand and are at a fair price. Wrap up hula hoops (they look big and cost next to nothing). If your older daughter doesn't believe in Santa, tell her that things are tight, but you will do the best that you can. And if possible, shop the day after Thanksgiving!! You can save a ton of money that way!! If you do stockings, fill it with candy, pencils, chapstick or any little trinket. Also, if you give gifts to friends and family, just make them cookies (a good thing to do with your girls) this year and slip them a note that tells them how much you appreciate their friendship and love. They will understand that things are tight this year.
2007-10-31 12:56:50 · answer #3 · answered by elloel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Micheal's' 40% off coupons are a good way to strech Christmas money. I have already told my children that they will not be getting a lot of stuff. They look at me with these funny faces and I say what do you want? and they can never really answer me. There is more to Christmas then just the presents, bake cookies with them, decorate the house with a homemade paperchain, there is a lot of fun stuff that does not cost much money.
2007-11-02 13:43:37 · answer #4 · answered by applecrisp 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Target has a lot of great stuff for girls in their dollar bins right now (Hello Kitty, Disney princesses, cool winter/christmasy socks etc). I just grabbed a bunch of stuff there. Also, if you go to http://www.mattel.com/pollypromise/ there's a $5 coupon for Polly Pockets, if she doesn't have any yet I'm sure your 3 year old would LOVE Pollys! Also, if you have a Michaels or Hobby Lobby or JoAnn Fabric's near you, get a Sunday paper, they almost always have fliers with coupons for 40 or 50% off any 1 item, they've got cool craft kits for your older daughter! (make her own purse, scarves, etc)
2007-11-01 18:02:54 · answer #5 · answered by Salli B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi my single mother is also in that situation with me and my little brother but don't stress *** long as you buy something nice it doesn't have to be expensive or anything they will never know. Last year my mom was in that situation also and she bought us not to expensive present and they were so much better than the really expensive one ^^ This year it will be the same but it's all good cause we know her situation as a single mother. If u want try walmart or kmart usually they have some special 50% off going on Hope I helped love alwayz Baby GG *^-^*
2007-10-31 09:46:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would buy a few nice things for the 10 year old and go to a consignment store for the little one. She is too young to realize the stuff is used and at that age quantity beats quality every time.
I'm in the same boat as you and I buy my boys things they need (socks, underwear etc.) and wrap them for x-mas so it looks like they have more. I wrap stuff for myself that I already have so they think Santa brought Mom stuff too.
2007-10-31 12:14:40 · answer #7 · answered by Mom of 2 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi!
Well I'm a little older than your 10 year old daughter, but if I were you I would find out what she wants most. Gernerally the thing on the top of the list isn't too expensive. I would try to get her one nice thing, than a lot of little things. I agree, just try to get them into the holiday spirit. For the 3 year old maybe just get her a movie with sing alongs, that is what I loved when I was that age.
When I was 10 I would have loved for my mother to take me out on a girls day out! I wanted that really badly! Just some quality time would be fun. A pretty cheep gift that is fun for that age is a cake mix. Pick out her favorite cake flavor, and go to target. You can gernerally buy them for $2. It would be great fun for you two to make a cake together. I always loved doing that. Or you could find a bunch of old pictures(try not to bring her dad into them)(of her, or her pets) go to hobby lobby and buy some scrap booking supplys and make a scrap book.
I dont know if she into this kind of stuff, but when I was her age I really wanted to be a teacher, so if she wants to be that you can make up some "worksheets." Go to walmart and buy one of those flieling boxes(or containers)(pretty cheep) put some flying folders into a contianer and seperate out the worksheets. if she wants to be a teacher, she will spend hours takign them in and out, and pretending to be a teacher with them!
Also, if you would want to go as far as like a hamster, or bunny. If you get online you can generally find people giving away bunnies(with their cages) very resonabily priced! I understand if you wouldnt want to get any animals though.
Something else kind of fun to get your kid if they are girly, go to ulta and get them a little make up kit. They have big kits right now for $20(that could be somehting as her main gift). I loved make-up when i was her age, but I really didnt have any.
Also, when I was her age I really wanted a cell phone. If you go on ebay you can buy "dummie"(not working)" cell phones for $0.99 on ebay with a dollar or two shipping. My dad gave me one once and I loved it.
If she likes books you can give her some.
If she is really into clothes you can go online to ebay and buy her a clothes lot(you can get REALLY nice clothes REALLY CHEEP!).
If she gets really cold at night you could buy her an electric blanket, thats what i got for my 10th bday, and it still works today!!
hope this helps!
2007-10-31 12:09:58 · answer #8 · answered by Katie K 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Maybe time to focus on real Christmas first and the greed 'n grab activities of commercial christmas second .
First plan real activities ( visiting seniors and the like ) also caroling with classmates or church groups etc .
Second , get into the material side by getting supplies from craft stores and creating your gifts .
Any chance the divorce is a result of $$$$$ being the house deity ?
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2007-10-31 10:03:22 · answer #9 · answered by kate 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Try to get each one a "special gift" and then several smaller dollar store stocking stuffers. Just make sure there is love in your hearts, and you will be just fine.
2007-10-31 12:53:02 · answer #10 · answered by C>/ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋