Holiday gifts for teens
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| Wed, 12-06-2006 - 10:28am |
Just curious what everyone if thinking of getting thier teens this year for the holidays.
We have so many things to choose from, but I'm finding that my girls really don't need much. We're also trying to be a little frugal due to college costs both present and future (dd17 is right behind dd19). Mostly, dds have asked for either DVD sets or movies, a couple of CDs (although we have iTunes) and gift certificates...oh, and cars. lol.
I think we're going to make a small monetary deposit into each dds savings account, one for college (DD19) and the other for a car (DD17); each will get a CD & DVD, and then some GC's for restaurants and clothing stores so they can go out and get what they want with friends.
Each year we do something for our community in terms of gift giving, Foodshare & donations. This year we've asked both dd's to give to a charity instead of get us a gift. We really don't need anything and I'm just happy we'll all be together this year. My mom and my brother and his family and my sister and hers will all be over Christmas day, so that's good enough for me! Good food & drink, a nice fire and family. What more could we ask for, KWIM?
So, what's on parents' minds this year for gift giving?

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DS2's birthday is this weekend and he has requested cash. I hate to give money as it isnt personal but Im stumped and THEN I have all 3 boys to buy for at Xmas!
I am giving him a soccer ball as he is talking about getting some of the new dorm buddies(roommate change)together to do indoor soccer. I thought to purchase a little air pump to go with it as I have no idea what resources there at school are but yep, then it will be cold hard cash. He wants to visit the GF and take her out so if thats what gives him pleasure....
DS1 has a list of almost all tech stuff and then some Bear apparel(we flipped between IN and IL during his growing years and I think this is some weird declaration of statehood myself-LOL) I'll probably end up getting the expensive head phones he requested(I think he gave me everything but the website)The apparel requests are better for extended family-although MIL's reaction to 'hoodie' was hilarious!
DS3 will probably have a video game list
The birthday boy? Well, Im back to money and maybe a gift card for a mall? I dunno-he went to a formal at GFs sorority and she was not happy with his shoes.
Im planning on sticking gas cards in stockings along with the car wash tokens I usually give(for the drivers)
It just isnt fun anymore :(
Yeah, gas cards are great for teen drivers! I gave them out last year and they were much appreciated!
We also stuck some Dunkin Donuts cards in stockins as well and those were loved by everyone! We're doing that again this year along with Chilis.
My kids don't need anything either, and really don't want much but I've managed to spend some $$ on them already.
I bought each of them one of those boom box things to plug their iPods into. (Shortly after I bought them, I overheard DD announce to DH that it was what she wanted! So, I'm on track with that particular 'want'.)
I bought DD a really lovely sterling silver bracelet with two charms on it -- one a crystal encrusted heart and another plain heart that I had engraved with her middle name. (It's a rather unusual name. Both DD and DS were born in the middle name and we gave DD the Arabic middle name of 'Johara' which means 'jewels' or 'precious stones'.) I want her to remember and always know she is precious to me!
DS still enjoys computer and PS2 games (no PS3 this year!) so I bought him the new game he mentioned he wanted.
I also bought both kids a lap desk with a really thick padded bottom because they both like to do homework sitting on their beds listening to music.
I'll probably pick up books and a few other incidential items. I always stuff their stockings with a pair of wild undies, (usually in a holiday print) a new toothbrush and their favorite candy.
And lastly, Santa always brings a 'family' gift. This year it is the deluxe Scrabble gameboard that spins around and has locking places for the tile. I'm a Scrabble junkie!
Sadly, it looks like we'll be all alone this Christmas for the first time, so it will be a little bit weird. DD doesn't have as long a Christmas break as DS this year -- it's going to be a little bit strange for us all.
For the teens, they have mainly asked for clothes. ] I also have a 10ds, and of course he is easy to buy for. He also has a wish list, and we mainly stick to it which in a way takes the fun out of it.
The only "surprise" is that we are getting dd14 a brand new sewing machine. There is a "to die for" sale and the machine she has been using (MY grandmother's old one) finally went to sewing machine heaven. She is expecting her handyman daddy to fix it, but instead we have conspired to buy her this new one.
This brings up another question: when we are talking cash and GC, what is an appropriate limit? Guess it's different for every family, around here everything is done in excess. How much is "adequate"? I hate when Christmas comes down to this...
I'm doing 200 in cash for ds2's birthday(soccer ball/pump was extra 20ish)
Xmas I would say $300 without counting the stocking stuffers which can be a bite since a pack of Skittles doesnt bring quite the enjoyment it used to!
Its hard because it never SEEMS like that much when I am actually buying the gifts. But DS3 just had a November birthday so it wasnt too hard to add up and a tad over 200 was what I spent on the digital camera,charger pack, 2 Target t-shirts, and computer game.
>>I bought each of them one of those boom box things to plug their iPods into.>>
Wow - I was going to get that for dd17 - are they expensive? I heard they are great because they also charge the iPod!
>>I also bought both kids a lap desk with a really thick padded bottom because they both like to do homework sitting on their beds listening to music.>>
That is a GREAT idea -
>>And lastly, Santa always brings a 'family' gift. This year it is the deluxe Scrabble gameboard that spins around and has locking places for the tile. I'm a Scrabble junkie!>>
I LOVE scrabble - I was going to get one of those. You're right, they make the perfect family gift. We always do that, H is usually in charge of that one and last year he bought us tickets to see Wicked, but since we're working at a much more moderate level this year, Scrabble should be perfect! I've always wanted the Deluxe board.
Since you will be alone this year, it would be nice if you began a new family tradition, one that everyone can be part of. Any ideas on something you, H, and kids could start?
You gave me so many great ideas! Thanks~
>>what is an appropriate limit? Guess it's different for every family, around here everything is done in excess. How much is "adequate"? I hate when Christmas comes down to this...>>
I totally hear you on this one! Here's a pretty general breakdown of what I do, not just for dds but also nephew and nieces.
Dunkin Donuts: $15
Border or Barnes & Noble: $30
Clothing GC's: $35
Chilis or other food establishments: $35 (or $25 plus movie GC for 2).
Cash: $30-$35
I typically will mix up my gifts. If I can find some type of bath stuff for my nieces inexpensive, I will pick that up and then give a GC to dunkin donuts or something. I've bought inexpensive small baskets and filled them with sample sized shampoos and lotions or nail kits for my nieces/dds. Or, I've made gift bags with popcorn, a GC to Blockbuster and some candy. This year I'm getting my nephew an air popper popcorn maker and some flavored spices along with a bag of popcorn - total it will run me about $35.
The ones I got were about $100. I bought them at Sam Goody and there was a $50 rebate! So that makes them $75 each. After I bought them, DH did some research on the web and came to the conclusion that all the brands were about the same and he didn't see any reason to spend the $300 on the 'official' Apple version.
Oh ... and I bought the official Scrabble dictionary too!
I have actually been trying to come up with a new tradition, or something to keep us occupied and together. I would like to do something like a Habitat for Humanity week or something, but DD's break isn't long enough to do that with the holiday right smack in the middle. But ... I'll come up with something! Do YOU have any ideas?
Glad I helped a little bit!
Happy shopping!
We get the Wish List of a local women's shelter in our nearby city and then we go shopping! All the money we'd spend on the adults in the family (if they were all here-lol) we spend instead on goods for the shelter in thier names. The family memebers then receive a note of thanks from the shelter in ackowledgement of our gifts. We get a $50 GC from Walmart (usually donated) and toiletry items and pjs, socks, towels, backpacks, etc. We spend about $200 but if we shop at the right stores we can get a lot of stuff inexpensively. Then, we take the stuff home and wrap it and put a label on the bottom saying what's inside so the admins at the shelter will know who to give it to.
My girls and I have such fun doing this, I can't even tell you.
I think my 17 yo DD is pretty easy to buy for because we like the same things--clothes, bath & body stuff, jewelry,etc. Plus now that she has her own car, we can get her gas cards and maybe gift certs. for restaurants are pretty good ideas too since she likes to go out w/ friends. I know it's like money, but at least a gift cert. doesn't really seem like it. My 16 yo DSD is more difficult cause she doesn't like anything that I like that's "girly." We could get her a GC to the clothing stores she likes to shop in (that sell the black rock group T shirts that she likes to wear>) She usually makes a list of CDs and DVDs she wants. Last year we got her a basketball hoop for the back yard.
My 11 yo DS is the most difficult. He isn't that thrilled to get clothes and by now, he has all the stuff for his room--TV, DVD player, IPod (that he bought w/ his birthday money). We have PS2, but I'm NOT spending $500 on PS3. I noticed that he doesn't play video games that much anyway. He did make a list of some games he wanted and put on the list "available at Target," which made me laugh. He also wants a cell phone, which he really doesn't need. If I get him one, it will be one of the pay as you go plans, so we don't have to worry about charging up the bill.
We try not to spend that much on the kids, maybe $100 each. The thing about having your parents divorced is that you now get gifts from 4 families, so they really get a lot of stuff.
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