Inexpensive Christmas toy and stocking stuffer ideas

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  • TripletDaddy
    sweet triple
    • Nov 2008
    • 58186

    #1

    Inexpensive Christmas toy and stocking stuffer ideas

    MMM and I were out on date night fri night and it turned into the first official Christmas shopping trip of the year. Actually, it was more like Christmas recon, we didnt really buy anything. Just trying to get ideas.

    The Puffy Check are turning 6 in early Dec, so we have a busy month or so ahead of us.

    I wanted to start a thread dedicated to ideas for inexpensive toys or stocking stuffers. As an aside, I understand that we are in tough economic times and families are struggling out there. The purpose of this thread is not to be showy or insensitive to that, but rather to share ideas from one parent to another. I'm not looking for expensive suggestions (xbox, wii, new iPod, laptop, etc) and I welcome all ideas, even cool homemade gifts.

    I would really appreciate any and all suggestions for appropriate stuff. I stink at trying to think of gifts, so I can use all the help I can get.

    I did pick up some cool stocking stuffers at Urban Outfitters (Gateway) this past week. They have a great "random" section with all sorts of little toys and misc items. Things I picked up, all of which cost $5 or less:

    1. Hello Kitty backpack clip: small HK with a clip so you can hook it to your backpack. They had all sorts of HK dolls/costumes
    2. Lego Man keychain/backpack clip: squeeze his chest and light shoots out of his feet. My son will love this
    3. Snake pens: 7 or 8 inch rubber snakes with shiny glass eyes, bendable, look very cool. remove the tip of the tail to reveal a ball point pen.
    4. Writing/drawing pad: one for each of the the Puffy Check. Great for church or while we are driving in the car. The pads come in bright colored covers and unique designs. Pretty inexpensive, too.

    Also, the kids have been asking for Pillow Pets. Does anyone else have one or know where to buy them? You can get them online via the website for around $19. I don't know how I feel about buying them a pillow. I get the sense we will see a drastic diminishing marginal utility on that sort of gift.

    We are making a road trip to SoCal for Thanksgiving. Time to hit up the Lego store and buy a few pounds of misc bricks and pieces. Won't be too costly.
    Fitter. Happier. More Productive.

    sigpic
  • marsupial
    Mississippi Queen
    • Nov 2008
    • 3678

    #2
    My daughter just got a pillow pet--$20 at Best Buy. It's LAME but she loves it.
    What's to explain? It's a bunch of people, most of whom you've never met, who are just as likely to be homicidal maniacs as they are to be normal everyday people, with whom you share the minutiae of your everyday life. It's totally normal, and everyone would understand.
    -Teenage Dirtbag

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    • TripletDaddy
      sweet triple
      • Nov 2008
      • 58186

      #3
      Originally posted by marsupial View Post
      My daughter just got a pillow pet--$20 at Best Buy. It's LAME but she loves it.
      Best Buy? I would not have guessed that, but thanks. The website charges you $5 shipping for each pillow, so I would rather just buy them in person.
      Fitter. Happier. More Productive.

      sigpic

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      • marsupial
        Mississippi Queen
        • Nov 2008
        • 3678

        #4
        Originally posted by TripletDaddy View Post
        Best Buy? I would not have guessed that, but thanks. The website charges you $5 shipping for each pillow, so I would rather just buy them in person.
        Well, Wal-Mart has them too. We were just in Best Buy and she had birthday money burning a hole in her pocket.

        And of course Best Buy--Pillow Pets are great accessories for a new TV or Blu-Ray player. Something comfy to watch a flick on.
        What's to explain? It's a bunch of people, most of whom you've never met, who are just as likely to be homicidal maniacs as they are to be normal everyday people, with whom you share the minutiae of your everyday life. It's totally normal, and everyone would understand.
        -Teenage Dirtbag

        Comment

        • old_gregg
          scaly man fish
          • Nov 2009
          • 16915

          #5
          they've probably already got bionicles, but those are pretty cool.
          Te Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est.

          Comment

          • Babs
            Not a Lawyer
            • Nov 2008
            • 17128

            #6
            Triplet, your kids just started school, right?

            Your school should send home a Scholastic book magazine each month. Your kids are probably on the Honeybee level. If you want you can call the school and make sure you get a copy, since you'll need to order out of November's in order to get your stuff in time for Christmas.

            Anyway, point is, every month in the Scholastic catalog, they'll have one or two books for just a dollar or two. When my kids were younger, I used to buy the book specials all year round to keep on hand for any and everything.

            one of last month's $1 specials:
            :

            Comment

            • cougjunkie
              *Banned*
              • Nov 2008
              • 23223

              #7
              I bought my daughter a pillow pet a few months back. I paid $35 (uggh!) for the large size one at the University Mall. She loves that thing and plays with it all the time. Every night before bed she makes sure that it is a pet and not a pillow (seems backwards I know) so that she can sleep next to it. But when she watches movies during the day it is always a pillow.

              She named it Anna.

              She also wants a zhu zhu pet.
              *Banned*

              Comment

              • Sizzle
                #ThisIsY
                • Nov 2008
                • 9004

                #8
                In the same line as toys, we have no idea what to do for our 18 month old this Christmas. He has plenty of clothes and toys from his older brother. Older child is likely getting a bike, and we don't want to be totally unfair in getting a sweet present for the older child and nothing for the younger one. How do you all handle equality at Christmas time with your kids? This is an issue that my wife and I never had to deal with.

                Comment

                • HuskyFreeNorthwest
                  Time to camp
                  • Nov 2008
                  • 26082

                  #9
                  Could we create some kind of CUF toy-exchange? Kids are only into stupid toys for such a short time and we end up overloaded with them.

                  I have no shortage of Bakugons at my house just collecting dust and making me angry. Obviously an older kid would notice if it was a pre-loved toy, but little kids wouldn't.
                  Get confident, stupid
                  -landpoke

                  Comment

                  • Jacob
                    Junior Member
                    • Oct 2009
                    • 6801

                    #10
                    Originally posted by HuskyFreeNorthwest View Post
                    Could we create some kind of CUF toy-exchange? Kids are only into stupid toys for such a short time and we end up overloaded with them.

                    I have no shortage of Bakugons at my house just collecting dust and making me angry. Obviously an older kid would notice if it was a pre-loved toy, but little kids wouldn't.
                    And I have 2 pillow pets that nobody uses. If you want a lamb or a panda, I'll trade it for 4 Bakugons.

                    Comment

                    • TripletDaddy
                      sweet triple
                      • Nov 2008
                      • 58186

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Babs View Post
                      Triplet, your kids just started school, right?

                      Your school should send home a Scholastic book magazine each month. Your kids are probably on the Honeybee level. If you want you can call the school and make sure you get a copy, since you'll need to order out of November's in order to get your stuff in time for Christmas.

                      Anyway, point is, every month in the Scholastic catalog, they'll have one or two books for just a dollar or two. When my kids were younger, I used to buy the book specials all year round to keep on hand for any and everything.

                      one of last month's $1 specials:
                      :
                      Thanks. I will chat up MMM for more info on this. For some odd reason, you tend to know your stuff when it comes to books.
                      Fitter. Happier. More Productive.

                      sigpic

                      Comment

                      • Soccermom
                        Senior Member
                        • Nov 2008
                        • 4063

                        #12
                        Originally posted by HuskyFreeNorthwest View Post
                        Could we create some kind of CUF toy-exchange? Kids are only into stupid toys for such a short time and we end up overloaded with them.

                        I have no shortage of Bakugons at my house just collecting dust and making me angry. Obviously an older kid would notice if it was a pre-loved toy, but little kids wouldn't.
                        We are pretty lucky in that respect. The only thing I have too much of is pokemon cards. I despise pokemon right now.

                        My boys started loving legos at age 4 and still prefer legos to any other toy --oldest is 11 1/2, younger is 9. My two girls even love the lego thing. Makes shopping really easy. I even recently sorted all the legos by size and color, but need to find better containers to hold them so that all my hard work doesn't end up wasted.

                        Ugh. Pillow pets. My kids want them too. And I thought last year's snuggy wish list was cheesy.

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                        • PaloAltoCougar
                          Semper infra dignitatem
                          • Nov 2008
                          • 16929

                          #13
                          I loved being Santa for the kids over the years, and really liked heading into TRU, the mall, etc. to start piling up the crap for the kids, and I envy all of you young parents. Happily, we'll have all five grandkids at our place this year, so I shall follow this thread with interest as I intend to get my shopping groove back.

                          Comment

                          • TripletDaddy
                            sweet triple
                            • Nov 2008
                            • 58186

                            #14
                            Originally posted by PaloAltoCougar View Post
                            I loved being Santa for the kids over the years, and really liked heading into TRU, the mall, etc. to start piling up the crap for the kids, and I envy all of you young parents. Happily, we'll have all five grandkids at our place this year, so I shall follow this thread with interest as I intend to get my shopping groove back.
                            If you are buying gift certificates to TRU, please add me to your list.

                            Fitter. Happier. More Productive.

                            sigpic

                            Comment

                            • Soccermom
                              Senior Member
                              • Nov 2008
                              • 4063

                              #15
                              One thing I will probably put in my daughter's stocking is those silly bands that are the big hit with the kids right now. You get a pack of 24 for around 5 dollars and they have all sorts of shapes. You can get Spiderman, Star Wars, Strawberry Shortcake, Hello Kitty, etc. I am not a fan of silly bands, but my daughter loves them. Apparently, they take them to school and trade shapes.

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