Perfect Gifts for Kids That Won't Break Your Wallet
Written By Savvy Auntie Staff Writers
By Sarah Kaufman, Manilla.com
Your nieces and nephews mean the world to you, so when the holidays come around, it makes sense that you’d want to shower them with gifts to show them how much you love them. But, gift giving comes at a hefty price—literally—so it’s important to do your research to avoid emptying your bank account. Here, we’ve outlined some of our favorite gifts for kids who have interests of all kinds.
For the musician:
If your niece or nephew is obsessed with the sound of music, consider a musical instrument or toy that will further that passion. Check discount sites, such as retailmenot.com or dealcatcher.com, to see if there are any available discount codes you can use to make the purchase.
Try these:
-Toy guitar
-Karaoke machine
-CDs of their favorite artists
-Musical accessories (piano bench, music stand)
-Music books for their instrument
For the dancer:
For the little one who is constantly prancing around the house and obsessed with going to dance classes every week, consider a dance-related gift that can help improve her performance or simply enhance her excitement for her art.
Try these:
-Dance apparel (ballet tights, leotard, leg warmers, leggings)
-Personalized duffle bag for dance gear
-Subscription to dance or gymnastics magazines
-Dance-themed smartphone case
-Ballet ornament
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For the sports fanatic:
Sports fan gifts run the gamut in terms of cost and type, but no matter the sport, if your little one has a favorite team, your options are absolutely endless. Get a customized jersey, T-shirts and other apparel, posters, school supplies, and more that will allow your little one to show off her obsession with her favorite team.
Try these:
-Boot slippers with their favorite sports team
-Team apparel (hoodies, PJ pants, T-shirts)
-Sports-themed smartphone or tablet case
-Custom sports jersey
-Team headwear (caps or beanies)
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For the reader:
Readers can be hard to shop for because there are so many book options available. Check with your nieces’ and nephews’ parents to see which books they’re dying to read or if they already have the ones you’ve chosen for them, and then search book sites for your favorites:
Try these:
-Boxsets of their favorite series
-Gift card to a bookstore or e-reader store
-Poster of the characters from their favorite book
For the artist:
Let the little artist in your nieces and nephews come alive with art supplies and crafts kits. Your gift will allow them to embrace their creativity and improve their skills.
Try these:
-Poster paints
-Sketchbooks
-Daily deal for an art or photography class
-Art supply kit
-Different-sized canvases
For the athlete:
For your niece or nephew who can’t stop throwing, catching, batting, kicking, swinging, fielding, planting, hiking and spiking, give a gift that will enhance your little athlete’s performance on the field.
Try these:
-Baseball pitching machine
-Sports helmet
-Performance stopwatch
-Gift card for new sports shoes
-Subscription to exercise or running magazine
Sarah Kaufman is the editor-in-chief of the The Manilla Folder at Manilla.com, the leading, free and secure service that helps consumers simplify and organize their daily lives. Using just one password, Manilla lets you manage your finances, utilities, daily deals, travel and rewards programs, Netflix and magazine subscriptions, OpenTable reservations, and more — all through Manilla.com or the top-rated iOS and Android mobile apps. Sarah is also a regular contributor to Yahoo! Finance, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Redbook and various other sites. For more tips on how to live on a budget, visit Manilla.com.
Published: December 5, 2013