A Latte Heather

Who suffers from Seasonal Depression?

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5 Money Saving Christmas Ideas for Kids 2022

Christmas never fails to stress my breaking point every year. Decorating the house, cleaning, grocery lists, baking, cooking, and the worst of them all, trying my hardest not to blow most of my budget on my kid’s gifts. Frustrated to find them either broken or with missing pieces at the bottom of a toybox a short week later.

I have two children ages 11 & 5 and up until three years ago I spent hundreds of dollars hoping to give my kiddos a perfect Christmas. I was addicted to smiling faces and the sound of excitement when they tore through wrapping paper and bows to discover they got everything they asked for. They were happy, but I was exhausted, and most of the time angry with myself for the toll it had taken on my bank account. I wanted to make a change. I wanted Christmas to have a deeper meaning.

3 years ago, I made the decision to change tactics completely. Last year I managed my cheapest and most budget friendly holiday season yet. I spent a whopping $150 dollars on each of my children. I’m taking it a step further this year and my goal is to be under $100.

The holidays are all about giving, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank, great. Here are five ideas that cost less than $80 that will add a little more meaning to this holiday season.

Board Games
Board games are a great way to spend time with the kids and teach them some skills. They’re also non-tech, so they don’t need to be plugged in or charged. Many of them can be played with friends and family, which will help your kids develop social skills too!
The best part? Most board games cost less than $20 Look for deals around Black Friday. Most places offer 2:1 deals or buy one get one half off.
I make sure to always find an age-appropriate toy for each of my children. We alternate who gets to pick the game weekly to keep it fair. If it’s an easier game for younger children, we usually play another one after my Kindergartener has gone to bed. If it’s more of an advanced game, my younger daughter and I play on a team!
Here's a great deal on Connect 4 only $6 usually priced at $11.99.
https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-A5640-Connect-4-Game/dp/B00D8STBHY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=OH96Y4657IOF&keywords=cheap+board+games&qid=1668102486&sprefix=cheap+board+games+%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-2

Pool/Beach

The best option is to give them something related to their favorite pastime: one our families favorites is swimming! Whether it's at the beach or in their own backyard, this gift will be especially useful during those hot summer months. If they have their own pool, then buying them some water toys would be a great idea since they'll be able to enjoy them whenever they want without having to leave home.
You could also consider buying beach towels if your child loves swimming outdoors because these items are often expensive but worth investing in if your kid loves being at the beach so much!
If, you live in an area that has a lot of snow and ice, don’t fret I find a bunch of items in the clearance section at the end of summer. Just make sure you hide them somewhere your kids won’t accidently discover them!
Here’s a beach chair from Bed Bath & Beyond for only $12!
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/h-for-happy-low-sand-beach-chair-in-lemon-blue/5636600?skuId=69759013&enginename=bing&mcid=PS_bing_nonbrand_outdoor_Online&product_id=69759013&adtype=&product_channel=Online&adpos=&creative=&device=c&matchtype=e&network=o&&gclid=a80fe41c473f1fd6302087717da91171&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=a80fe41c473f1fd6302087717da91171

Bedroom/Bedding

Bedroom/Bedding
Bedding is the perfect gift for your child, who has outgrown their crib and needs to move up to a big kid bed! For our kids it has become a tradition and they love finding out which theme they are going to have for the New Year.

Rugs

Rugs, I must admit I’m not a fan of carpet for sanitary reasons, so when we purchased our home one of the first things, I did was rip every inch of it up. After refinishing the floors, they were bare and in desperate need of some color contrast. When we made it to the kids’ room, we let them each pick a rug (with-in) a reasonable price. Every other year we usually replace it with a new one to freshen up the space.

Tech Items

Tech items are always a great option for kids. Here are some ideas to get you started:
• Smartphone accessories, like an extra charger and some colorful cases.
• LED light tape or even an entire room of LED lights. You can find this at most hardware stores or on Amazon and it's cheap! I put them on the trim around my kid's bedroom for a cheap and fun makeover. I found these on Amazon for only $15.99. Control Led
https://www.amazon.com/HRDJ-Changing-Bluetooth-Controller-4x16-4FT/dp/B08387CPNP/ref=sxin_15_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?adgrpid=1334808186593684&content-id=amzn1.sym.4e7a2229-074e-44de-95c4-9fd858f46295%3Aamzn1.sym.4e7a2229-074e-44de-95c4-9fd858f46295&cv_ct_cx=led+tape.+lights&hvadid=83425657727937&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=107533&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83426252646139%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=16029_10537571&keywords=led+tape.+lights&pd_rd_i=B08387CPNP&pd_rd_r=797b414d-768d-48bc-870a-c5debff24525&pd_rd_w=r1agC&pd_rd_wg=KjGUf&pf_rd_p=4e7a2229-074e-44de-95c4-9fd858f46295&pf_rd_r=PKDCQF0ND47Z48V0HWZ0&qid=1668102880&sr=1-4-a73d1c8c-2fd2-4f19-aa41-2df022bcb241-spons&psc=1&smid=A3QF4UFBUUK6A6
• Android/Apple gift card for games! They'll love the gift of new apps, especially if they have been begging for one of those games that cost $9.99-19.99 in the app store!

Crafts

Christmas Ornament

If you have children who are old enough to handle a glue gun, they will love making an ornament in their favorite color. I always include an easy project they can put together. Afterwards they sign their name on the back and hang it up. They always ask Santa to rate the new ornaments in our letter to him. It never fails. They both always receive a 10/10. I think my 11-year-old is catching on!

Sewing Kit

Sewing kits make great gifts for older kids and teens. Kids can sew their own clothes or create any number of fun things. I bought one for my 5-year-old daughter recently. It contained easy to sew projects and had an assortment of colors and fabric types. Here is a sewing kit like the one I first bought my daughter when she started out. You get 5 projects for roughly $25, plus we had enough leftover materials to add to our scrap bucket
https://www.amazon.com/Galt-Toys-First-Sewing-Craft/dp/B0002X7XW8/ref=asc_df_B0002X7XW8?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80608001419897&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584207577668867&psc=1

Jewelry Making
It's no surprise that jewelry makes for fantastic Christmas presents for girls and boys alike! There are kits available online which allow kids (and adults) to create beautiful pieces of jewelry at home without having any special skills or training beforehand - all it takes is imagination and creativity!

I get it kids can be incredibly hard to buy for, and expensive, especially as they are constantly growing and learning new things. The best way to make sure you don’t get stuck with a bunch of toys and clothes your children will never play with is by finding a gift that caters towards their interests. Save yourself the stress and money this Christmas without missing any of the magic.

Galt Toys, First Sewing Kit for Kids, Learn to Sew DIY Craft Kit, Ages 5+ Make a butterfly bag, Neck purse, picture frame, notepad cover and pencil case. Stitch the pre-punched sections together with the cord and decorate with foam shapes and stick-on gems. Contents: 5 sewing kits of pre-cut foam pieces and cord, plastic bodkins, stick-on gems, notepad, 2 pencils, guide.