Your older kids ~ is it harder to buy for them? ~ 2010

[kval07]

I have always been one to want to give "experience/memory" gifts, rather than stuff. Is there some kind of activity all your girls like to do, or is there something they've always wanted to do? What about tickets to go see a movie, or a play or concert? Maybe a day at the spa? It would all depend on your budget and what your girls (and you) are interested in.

[3timesoccermom]

Oh my gosh I have heard the SAME thing here - they're "too dark" or "too light." Good grief! I don't know about where you are, but if I were to buy jeans now that DIDN'T have holes in them I'd probably hear "but there are no holes." Can you imagine what our grandparents and great grandparents would think about this???

I have never had them make a list and bought the items on it. This year, however, because I was finding it harder to shop for the younger 2, I asked them all to give me 3 things they would like but I told them they may get none of them or they may get all, it just depends.

In the past the stockings have always been the highlight of the day and they sound very similar to yours except since they're old enough to shop and go out to eat I always have a bunch of gift cards in there too, even if they're just $5. One year they were all so excited to have a $5 gift card to Cold Stone Creamery.

I didn't know until a couple of years ago that they were looking at all the things in their stockings before their Dad and I got up so last year I put their REAL stocking contents away and only put an orange in the stocking for them to see Christmas morning (I'd been telling them we were cutting back, LOL). Later I gave them their "stocking stuff." Boy you should have seen the looks of happiness and relief on their faces!!

For many years my "joke gift" for the girls was a hair brush (from $ store only). Even though it was funny they really needed them too. With 4 girls in the house brushes were something that was constantly being looked for. This year, at least for the 2 oldest who are not at home, the "joke' will be a multi-pack of toothbrushes from the $ store. hee hee

Hubs' "joke gift" was a flashlight. I think I did that for 10-12 years.

I saw those snowball makers online somewhere and thought they were cute too. My girls are almost 22, almost 19 and 16 but they're getting a can of play doh with the other things in their stockings. I think they'll love it!!

The "toys" are by far more expensive-laptops, phones, video game stuff. The clothes I have given up even having an idea on that-I bought my 16 year old son a pair of jeans the other day, they were "too blue" ,huh?!?! So even though it isn't a whole lot of fun they get money or gift cards or there is really no good surprise stuff xmas morning because they send me a detailed list via email with links (Santa has bcome high tech). I try for the "fun" and "surprise" in their stockings; jewelry, hair stuff, toiletries, joke gifts, candy or gum, little cute toy things-I found a snowball maker at the CHristmas Tree Shop the other day, it make 8 snowballs and has a carrying case for them to take to a snowball fight it was $1.99 and I figure you are never too old to snowball each other.

[Mothernature]

This is not limited to the older kids. My son is six.

I am helping my IL's afford gifts for my son. He wants a Tag reader. I used $15 in coupons with the clearance Toy Story 3 bundle set at Target. I found $5 off $9 Tag book coupons; they can purchase cheap books. The cost of "toys" today are quite expensive.

[meems]

Not harder...just more expensive!

LOL..you stole my line!

[3timesoccermom]

You're right Mothernature! Even the toys for the younger set are more expensive than they used to be.

I spent a good deal of time looking on the Toys R Us website today just to see if I could find anything cute that would work for my girls as a fun thing. I found some Play doh on clearance (all 3 of mine are getting a can in their stocking, LOL). I also think my daughter at college will get a hoot out of giving these to her friends along with some other things in little Christmas goodie bags.

I also found an adorable stuffed dog I'm giving to this same daughter. It looks exactly like a brown Labradoodle she's been working with to begin training as a seeing eye dog!! She is going to be so excited I can't wait to give it to her.

I couldn't believe the number of action figures - some of them pretty disturbing looking. I actually saw a figure from The Exorcist!!! Gross!

And nearly everything I saw was plastic, plastic, plastic.

[Lori63]

YES!!! My boys are 22, 18, and 15. We were always able to get a 'big' gift (like an XBox 360) as a combined gift, but now my oldest is in Boston, middle at college, so we only have my youngest here fulltime.
On the bright side- my oldest will be home for Christmas!! We didn't think he would be, so I am just thrilled!

[angeleyeza]

anyone know where to get really cheap Xbox, PS3 games, Wii Games

[3timesoccermom]

You might try this:

SecondSpin.com – The Internet’s Largest Buyer & Seller of Used CDs, Used DVDs & Used Games

or Amazon where they may be available used or new (but cheaper) from another vendor.

[Mothernature]

I made sure most of my sons gifts were not plastic. Regarding cheap xbox, wii, etc games, some drug stores carry them.