By Katelyn Fry

We all know that money doesn’t grow on trees. Come holiday season, this only becomes even more apparent. And while many Savvy Aunties love spoiling our nieces and nephews, perhaps this year you find yourself needing to keep to stricter budget than you are used to.

Here are some savvy ways of putting a big smile on your young nieces' and nephews' faces, while keeping your budget this season - and on!


Auntventure Ticket Book

If parents have warned that their child is getting to spoiled with gifts by relatives (ahem, Auntie) design an “Auntventure Ticket Book” for each niece and nephew. Each Auntventure Ticket is marked for a special Auntventure with their favorite Auntie. They can redeem the Auntventure Tickets at just about any time. One Auntventure Ticket could be for a movie night at Auntie's house, one to play a favorite game indoors - or out, one Ticket can be to bake whatever they want, one for lunch at their favorite family restaurant, and one to take a real adventure outside of their hometown!

The Auntventure Ticket Book is the gift that keeps on giving because you and your nieces and nephews can enjoy it long after the holidays are over.


Bath Crayons

Here’s a gift that is not only economical and easy to make, a preschool niece or nephew will get really excited for bath time! DiyNatural.com’s simple recipe to make bath crayons uses nothing but soap, hot water and food coloring. The end result? A beautiful batch of crayons that are non-toxic, stain-free, and will have your nieces and nephews ready for bath time - anytime! Oh the joy! We can see the writing on the bathroom walls now!


Homemade Play-dough

Have crafty nieces and nephews? Why not make playdough at home with basic household ingredients? For this timeless children’s classic, all you will need is flour, water, vegetable oil, cream of tartar, salt, and some of that leftover food coloring from the homemade bath crayons! If you keep the playdough in an air-tight container, your nieces and nephews can enjoy their playdough for months!


Discounted Fashions

Teach them early that good taste doesn't mean you have to break your budget. Your FashioNieces and spiffy nephews will love the lux fashion finds on POK – Premium eOutlet for Kids, Zulily.com, Gilt.com and 6PM.com! 


Knit it!

Instead of buying a doll or stuffed animal, consider knitting it yourself. Sites like LoveKnitting.com have patterns for all sorts of adorable toys - even gingerbread boys! You can even knit an ornament for the whole family to enjoy!


Something of Yours

Auntie Brianne Spinelli suggests taking a more personal approach to your gift-giving by passing down something special of your own to your nieces and nephews. “Heirloom gifts are wonderful because they don’t cost anything, and are some of the most personal, heartfelt gifts you can give,” she says.


Holiday Budget Calculator

PracticalMoneySkills.com has created quite the helpful tool with their Holiday Budget Calculator. Provide your income and estimated holiday expenses, anything from gifts, to traveling, to food, and the calculator comes up with an amount for you to put away each week throughout the year so that you are more than prepared when the time comes.


For the Future: A Gifting Box

One of the smartest ways to approach the holidays is to not wait until the last minute, but rather, when you spot a cool toy, adorable sweater, or other gift on sale or at a discount store, purchase it now and store it for the future in your Gifting Box. Before you know it, you’ll have more gift options to give your nieces and nephews than you know what to do with!


Photo: style-photographs
Published: November 2, 2016