When you are low on money and have a child's birthday or holiday coming soon, consider various inexpensive gifts that your can handcraft or find in dollar stores, thrift shops or discount stores. Homemade gifts require more time than money and create a level of personalization that a child can appreciate.
Coupon Book
Create a coupon book from construction paper that allows a child to redeem activities that he enjoys doing. Include coupons for activities that require little or no money such as going to the park with his friends, having a sleepover, or having a movie or game night. Other ideas include a trip to his favorite fast food restaurant where you can order off a dollar menu or coupons that allow him extra time watching television or playing video games. This gift requires using some creativity to think of cheap yet fun and interesting activities a child will enjoy.
Handcrafted Gifts
With the appropriate material, you can make a variety of homemade children's gifts, most of which do not require you to have any special skills or knowledge. If you have a sewing machine, you can buy inexpensive fabric and patterns at a discount store to create a child's shirt or dress. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can create a fun shirt using tie-dye. You can also try hand-embroidering items such as pillowcases with a child's name and decorations. Other homemade children's gift ideas include making the child's favorite candy or dessert and placing it in a personally decorated jar or container.
Gift Baskets
Use a large basket purchased at a yard sale or thrift store to create themed gift baskets for a child. Most items in gift baskets can be bought cheap at a dollar store or discount store. Assemble a craft basket with art supplies such as crayons, markers, coloring books, construction paper, paint, scissors, stickers and any other items you can find for a low price. Make a movie gift basket consisting of popcorn, small boxes of candy and snacks, and inexpensive movies. For a little girl create a dress-up gift basket with makeup, nail polish, hair accessories and flashy dresses or costumes, which you can usually find in thrift stores. If you know a young boy interested in sports, create a sports gift basket containing a foam football or baseball, sport stickers and trading cards.
Learning Aids
Give children gifts that are both fun and educational such as magnetic numbers and letters, coloring books and activity books that teach things such as making paper airplanes or origami. Sidewalk chalk creates a fun way to to teach children to write and make shapes and designs.
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