| Although Christmas is more about the magic and | | | | Girls enjoy kits as well. Fill a fishing tackle box with |
| memories than the money, the Christmas season can | | | | beads and string and let her create! You could buy her |
| add up quickly. With the economic crises fresh on | | | | some yarn and a crochet hook and offer to teach her |
| everyone's mind this year, this may be a time to look | | | | how to make a beanie, or put together some "cooking |
| for inexpensive Christmas toys for the family. Here's a | | | | kits." Put together a cookie mix, a soup mix, and a hot |
| list of ideas for kids to help you get started. | | | | cocoa mix. Pair these with some oven mitts, spatula, or |
| Princess costumes are an inexpensive investment for | | | | apron and of course the cooking instructions. Younger |
| girls. If you are crafty, you can try sewing these | | | | girls especially will take great pride in being able to |
| yourself! Dressing up princess style is fun for girls, and | | | | cook something on their own. Sewing kits are also |
| princess costumes can be affordable. If princess | | | | easy to put together, just drop in some fabric, needles, |
| costumes aren't in your budget for this year, dressing | | | | and thread. They will need only their imagination to get |
| up princess style isn't impossible. Rather than giving a | | | | them started sewing clothes for their dolls. |
| dress as a Christmas gift, focus on accessories | | | | Don't rule out the second hand stores! While you may |
| instead. She'll need a tiara to go with her princess | | | | not find everything you want there, there are some |
| costumes anyway! Cheap jewelry, gloves, and hair | | | | worthwhile options at thrift stores. Often the porcelain |
| accessories are all affordable and make great | | | | dolls there are inexpensive to buy and have a much |
| Christmas gifts for girls. | | | | higher value than their mass-produced companions. |
| Small pets are also inexpensive, and are a creative | | | | Baseball cards are another great find. Does your little |
| way to give to multiple children with one gift. Just make | | | | boy like to tinker with things? Purchase an old |
| sure you get parental permission first! Fish are | | | | typewriter, stereo, clock, or other mechanical object |
| inexpensive and so are their cages. Small water frogs | | | | and let him take it apart and put it back together. Thrift |
| are also a popular option. Small lizards and hamsters | | | | stores offer many different gift opportunities if you are |
| are also inexpensive and are great Christmas toys. If | | | | creative in your gift giving. |
| the children already have a pet, find out if they need | | | | Christmas toys don't need to be limited to just toys. |
| anything more for it. My nieces and nephews would | | | | Books are inexpensive, especially if they are lightly |
| rather receive hamster toys than personal toys this | | | | used as well. While movies aren't always cheap, |
| year! | | | | purchasing one movie for several children can be an |
| Try making the child a kit of some sort. Pieces of | | | | economical option. |
| wood, a few nails, and a small hammer would be a | | | | However you do it, be creative. Sometimes all it takes |
| delight for a boy. He'd love to be able to make | | | | is thinking a little more about gifts rather than just |
| something real on his own, and the gift wouldn't cost | | | | buying what's popular in order to give a truly unique, |
| much to put together! If he's older, you could give him a | | | | and cherished, gift. |
| small whittling knife and teach him how to use it. | | | | |