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Brooklynian » Forum » Park Slope »
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hey kids, hoping to get some help on xmas presents. My wife & I are two unemployed copywriters (mikelightman.com & flyinglimegreen.com), living off savings until - we pray January-ish. She's got a bunch of kid cousins, from age 13 down, that we'd like to get presents for. For the girls, we're gonna get jewelry accessories from Forever 21. But, we're totally stumped for the boys. We're hoping to keep them to around $3 - $5 each. We're contemplating going to Tapoozie in the city & getting a few tiny things, but we did that already so we're hoping to find something new. Any hints are most most appreciated. thanks, mikelite
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I guess it depends on their ages, but what about some magic tricks? Er, illusions? My brother just asked me for one and I got it at Tip Top Gifts on 5th ave for like $4.
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this place (local to chicago, but you could probably find enough to make shipping worthwhile) always has fun, cheap stuff: http://www.sciplus.com/Bumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit
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Orientaltradingco.com has the cheapest and best art supplies, fancy balls and projects to do alone or with grownups. You will not believe the prices but I have found the quality to be above average. Check it out .
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Sorry - I just checked and it is: orientaltrading.com HTH
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Magic tricks are a brilliant idea! Also, don't be afraid to bet used stuff on CL or freecycle. As long as you wrap it nicely, you'll get more for your money. Boys this age also like big picture books--again, look online for skateboard, snowboard, science, castle, bridge, guiness book of world record books--and wrap em up! Good Luck!Ask a burning question, get a burning answer.
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also: pearl river market. and there are good craft projects here: http://www.instructables.com/kidsBumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit
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Matchbox cars.
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this game is $14.99 and is a good time for all: http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Planet-46001-Hyper-Dash/dp/B000TTPEXU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1229296079&sr=1-5
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I know that you want to be the nice cousins, but you are currently unemployed and you have no real idea about when you are going to work next. I think that your cousins may benefit from a lesson about life in the real world. I think that you should send cards, but keep your cash for rent, food and utilities. I know this sound tough, but so is a severe recession. If you feel you really need to give them something, go online and see if you can make them something for next to no outlay in cash. Or maybe buy something from a thrift shop. Your need for basic necessities of life may outweigh their need for holiday presents.
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Try the toy aisles in duane reade/CVS/Rite Aid. They usually have a bunch of toys for under 10 bucks. Things like pick-up-sticks, small 100 piece puzzles, small lego cars, checkers, etc.
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Anonymous
Posts: 9,622You can also go to the dollar store and look at games ad little toy -
legos!
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Light sabers for $5.99: http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Classic-Collection-Emperor/dp/B000OVNHO6/ref=sr_1_60?tag=slickdeals&ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1229264811&sr=1-60 Yahtzee, $6: http://www.amazon.com/Parker-Brothers-40616-Yahtzee-Free/dp/B0017RSYDU/ref=br_lf_m_1000310081_1_28_img?tag=slickdeals&ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=toys-and-games&pf_rd_p=465887251&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000310081&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1A0XBBQA4TT4PK41VNHZ
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Smitty » Light sabers for $5.99: http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Classic-Collection-Emperor/dp/B000OVNHO6/ref=sr_1_60?tag=slickdeals&ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1229264811&sr=1-60 Yahtzee, $6: http://www.amazon.com/Parker-Brothers-40616-Yahtzee-Free/dp/B0017RSYDU/ref=br_lf_m_1000310081_1_28_img?tag=slickdeals&ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=toys-and-games&pf_rd_p=465887251&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000310081&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1A0XBBQA4TT4PK41VNHZ
Wow, those light sabers are a great deal, you are getting tow of them for that price! -
temporary tatoos
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bohuma » I know that you want to be the nice cousins, but you are currently unemployed and you have no real idea about when you are going to work next. I think that your cousins may benefit from a lesson about life in the real world. I think that you should send cards, but keep your cash for rent, food and utilities. I know this sound tough, but so is a severe recession. If you feel you really need to give them something, go online and see if you can make them something for next to no outlay in cash. Or maybe buy something from a thrift shop. Your need for basic necessities of life may outweigh their need for holiday presents.
i've been thinking about this post since i saw it yesterday. i think this is the wrong lesson. while just sending cards will teach the kids that bad things happen and it sucks, it's not the only alternative to digging into debt. i'm broke this year. i've made changes in the way i live in order to save the little money i'm making right now for real necessities (okay, and festivus). so the gf and i decided that we weren't buying gifts this year, but rather making presents. not only has this saved me a LOT of money (granted, that's partly because i had some materials i could use already), but it's actually been really fun. we've both spent time on these projects, but shopping takes time too. making gifts for kids (or adults) doesn't have to cost a lot of money, and a small gift doesn't need to take much time. giving a kid a gift that you made -- even if that means it's not what they see advertised -- teaches that generosity is possible for everyone, not only those with money, and that even when times are scary, they are loved.Bumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit -
baking sweets is always a fun and inexpensive gift
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first off, thanks to everyone for the suggestions and conversation. when it comes to the discussion, I think it's a complicated one. My wife is the first grandchild to get married, so we're also pretty low on the totem pole, as far as family standing goes. We're not really expected to give real presents, the parents, aunts & uncles cover that. But, we'd still like to give them something small. When we were both employed we dropped $20+ per kid, but we're going small & tacky. On a personal note, opening presents at their household isn't the warm hallmark moment other folks have. the 12 kids plow through presents and there's shit flying everywhere. There's very little gratitude or appreciation and certainly no room for discussion about the rationale behind homemade presents. On a general level, sure, I'm all for forgoing presents in the name of necessities; especially since they're not my kids. If they were my kids, I'd probably go the route of homemade presents. Let's face facts, most kids don't want homemade toys. Adults like to use that line, but I've yet to meet a kid that'll be happy with something homemade as opposed to a video game.--
mikelightman.com
supersaturatednyc.blogspot.com -
Phase 10 illuminated touch screen game: $6 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0015XQXTS/ref=ord_cart_shr?tag=slickdeals&_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
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wait, your wife is the first grandchild to get married and that makes you LOW on the totem pole? you're doing it wrong.Bumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit
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what about astronaut ice cream? Every kid likes it.
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i hear your point on the brand/status consciousness of kids -- i certainly appreciated the real cabbage patch kids my grandmother finally bought me more than the doll my mother made me instead (though i like the homemade doll better now), but homemade gifts that don't pretend to replace branded items don't have to suck. age and your relationship to the kids in question matters, of course, but i definitely appreciated the earrings a cool adult made for me a lot more than the ones from claire's my (goofy, short-term) boyfriend gave me. if you have any cool points with these kids at all, you could likewise give a coupon for doing something cool together, sans parents, competing siblings, or whatever. you may well be right that a video game would be more popular than a handmade toy, but that's violating the "cheap" criterion a bit.Bumping ancient threads with bot-like bullshit
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What about the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company? Lots of fun/cheap stuff for kids. http://www.superherosupplies.com/
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halfpint » legos!
Legos are SO not cheap, FYI"...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa
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