Birthday and Christmas Gifts for Nieces and Nephews

[Marigold]

Hi

I have the good fortune of having 8 nieces and nephews. The majority of which have their birthdays in November/December.

I have a few questions on how I can save in the gift area.  My husband was recently laid off, but in general, I am not keen on expensive gift-giving/elaborate parties.

For the older kids (those with birthdays in November and December), I have enough "scene points" to take them to a movie for free - I could do that for their birthdays. They'd all enjoy it.

For Christmas though, I am torn.  For the younger kids (babies) on my side, I am pretty comfortable with "re-gifting" some of my daughter's nicer but gently used toys and stuffed animals (I don't think this would offend my brother or sister).

For the older kids though, I am not sure.  They range in age from 5-11 and I think I should get them a small new gift for Christmas.  What's an appropriate amount for children that are seen pretty regularly? I am hoping to keep it to 20 dollars each.

I know my sister's boys would be thrilled with just the 20 bucks itself, but on my husband's side, the kids are a little older and spoiled. I am embarrassed to say I am worried about their reactions to their gifts.

Would I be better off doing another outing with them? Like taking them out to lunch? or? any suggestions welcome...

I try to keep any money spent/excursions equal on both sides of the family as much as possible...

Thanks!

[chicagomeg]

I have 3 nieces and a bad habit of going overboard for Christmas. But I have a budget of $30/kid and try to get AWESOME deals to stretch it as far as possible. For $20, you can get something nice for each kid if you scour clearance ranks, Amazon warehouse deals, etc. I like getting crafty things we can do together in particular.

OR

You could take it as an opportunity to teach the kids, especially the older ones, about all the great lessons like money doesn't buy happiness & some people can't afford to have Christmas etc. I don't think they'll be scarred for life if one Christmas you don't buy them anything. Maybe you could take them all to pick one of those "Christmas Angels" and buy a present for a less fortunate kid together. Just throwing out some ideas. 5 is plenty old enough to understand those ideas, especially if you're not the only person buying them presents.

[elaine amj]

I scour clearance racks. Can get lots of stuff typically $40-$50 for $20.

DH is kinda miffed with our nieces so is insisting we spend about half what we typically spend on our great-nieces. On the other hand, my brother's first baby is due in Dec so we are already planning to send a lavish gift.

[Marigold]

Thanks for the helpful responses.

My daughter's aunts and uncles spend on average 20-30 dollars on her. 

I am going to keep an eye on Chapters online sales, because the older nieces did enjoy some books I chose for them last year. On my husband's side, the kids are just treated so over the top, it's hard to feel like I am giving something "good enough".

On my side, they'd be happy with whatever they received.

[HappierAtHome]

I struggle with this too - more so the expectations (or perceived expectations) of the parents of my nieces and nephews than what the kids will think.

Last Christmas I got each child a story book and a picture book from book depository. Plus some crayons. A cute outfit (on sale) for babies too young for books.

You can easily get a few age appropriate books for $20 and under. Plus you're encouraging good habits like reading :-)

[ichangedmyname]

I have 1 nephew who I spoil too much :( I'm thinking of just sending him money for Christmas and his birthday early Jan which will amount to $100 probably.

[cbgg]

My mom does something kind of cool as a group gift for all the nieces/nephews.  Since everyone is local, she plans a big skating party every year on Christmas Eve morning for the whole family to enjoy.  It's become an annual tradition that's been on-going for about 15 years now and is the #1 thing I look forward to at Christmas time.  In her case the party includes renting out a private rink and pizza lunch afterwards. 

[C. K.]

I like the idea of your giving the gift of an experience.

I also endorse those who have said buy books. I have recently given a kid-friendly joke book to a child within that age range that you mention. He's enjoying it and making up his own jokes.

He also enjoyed his parents giving him breakfast in bed for his birthday.

You're on the right track.

Carry on,
CK

[blissmonkey80]

I also love the experience idea.  Why not take each one individually for a special 'date' with you to something simple like a coffee shop to get a hot cocoa/apple cider and a treat?  I know my kids (8 and 10) would love one-on-one time with aunts/uncles!

[ichangedmyname]

My mom does something kind of cool as a group gift for all the nieces/nephews.  Since everyone is local, she plans a big skating party every year on Christmas Eve morning for the whole family to enjoy.  It's become an annual tradition that's been on-going for about 15 years now and is the #1 thing I look forward to at Christmas time.  In her case the party includes renting out a private rink and pizza lunch afterwards.

This would have been awesome growing up. I have 17 cousins. We would have had a blast!

[Norrie]

I just have one niece, and she's still a young toddler, so I'll probably do a combined gift for her/my brother (single dad). I've budgeted $30 for it. He'd really, really like to take her to DisneyWorld, so maybe I'll start a travel savings account. That way I can throw a bit more in on both of their birthdays in January. Ah hell, I don't know.

I think that the gift of experiences is a wonderful idea. Our kids would love to be taken out (by themselves) to a movie or hot chocolate and pie.

If I had eight nieces and nephews, I'd probably cap spending around $15. In most families, Christmas is just a giant gift overload, and no one can remember what they got from Aunt Sue last year. Books and a pair of cute socks. Teen girls? They have small gift sets at Sephora.
Don't do more than you're comfortable with.

[mm1970]

This is hard.  We have a lot of nieces and nephews too, and everyone has their own kind of "budget" that may or may not match ours.

For our 13 and 11 year old niece and nephew, we have started to give them gift cards to ITunes because they both have Ipods.  Or gift cards to Amazon.  $20 to $25.

For my 10 and 7 year old nieces, last year I sewed them little wallets and put $10 in there.  This year?  I'm not really sure.

My 20 year old nephew gets $20.

All the other nieces and nephews are in their 20's and 30's.

[geekette]

I've gotten myself in "trouble" now by giving (often) a hand made item with money tucked in.  One time it was bill folded as an origami shirt.  I've knitted little sweater ornaments and tucked money in the sleeves.  I've poured glycerin soap with coins and bills suspended in it (bills sealed in plastic).  Put some in tins of weird "thinking" putty.

They're all in their 20's now, and I need more ideas!

[MrsPete]

I usually give books or art supplies of some sort to my nieces and nephews.  They're all the kind of kids who enjoy those things. 

Something you can give to a family, a great keeps-on-giving kind of gift:   A membership to a museum or a zoo.  My siblings and I LOVED this as children, and for my own kids we used to rotate memberships -- science museum one year, zoo the next, etc.  Don't forget, too, that memberships often have reciprocal entry agreements, so if you're a member of the science museum in your hometown, you may get free entry to a history museum in a town where you're vacationing.  With some memberships, if you put the membership in grandparents' names, they can take all the grandchildren. 

[4alpacas]

Any recommendations for really young kids (toddlers & newborns)?

[ritchie70]

Any recommendations for really young kids (toddlers & newborns)?

For whatever it's worth, my daughter (18 months) spends a lot of time  playing with six colored plastic balls slightly bigger than ping pong balls and a box with lid to put them in. (The box is actually an old wipes box.)

There's also a doll with "flippy" yarn hair that she really likes.

My mom gave her a plastic trick-or-treat bucket that she likes to put her face in and yell.

You sure don't need expensive stuff to make a little kid happy.

[ichangedmyname]

Any recommendations for really young kids (toddlers & newborns)?

For whatever it's worth, my daughter (18 months) spends a lot of time  playing with six colored plastic balls slightly bigger than ping pong balls and a box with lid to put them in. (The box is actually an old wipes box.)

There's also a doll with "flippy" yarn hair that she really likes.

My mom gave her a plastic trick-or-treat bucket that she likes to put her face in and yell.

You sure don't need expensive stuff to make a little kid happy.

When my cousins were younger their dad refused to buy them toys. They'd play with empty boxes and powder and lotions bottles. They had fun. :)

[MrsPete]

Any recommendations for really young kids (toddlers & newborns)?

Fisher Price Little People.  My kids played with them for YEARS, and now I see my nieces and nephews doing the same thing.  They make LOTS of playsets:  A pirate ship, a farm, a garage, a doll house, an RV, a castle . . . and the Little People are interchangeable with all the playsets.  My kids, however, liked the people better than the playsets.

[Li]

I usually give books or art supplies of some sort to my nieces and nephews.  They're all the kind of kids who enjoy those things. 

Something you can give to a family, a great keeps-on-giving kind of gift:   A membership to a museum or a zoo.  My siblings and I LOVED this as children, and for my own kids we used to rotate memberships -- science museum one year, zoo the next, etc.  Don't forget, too, that memberships often have reciprocal entry agreements, so if you're a member of the science museum in your hometown, you may get free entry to a history museum in a town where you're vacationing.  With some memberships, if you put the membership in grandparents' names, they can take all the grandchildren.

This is a great idea.  We received a zoo membership one year and although we only got there twice, my daughters loved it.