$10 gift ideas for older kids

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

My DH family is HUGE. He has 10 other siblings and therefore there are a lot of nieces and nephews. The nieces and nephews range from 3 months to 17 years old. We have 15 nieces and nephews on his side alone so we have a limit of $10 that we spend on each of them. The little ones are easy to buy for and there are a lot of gifts to choose from in that price range - the older ones are the tough ones.

When we ask them what they want for Christmas they usually say nothing - but they are going to get something so we usually end up getting something we THINK they will like.

What are some good ideas for the ages 12 - 17 boy or girl?

Thanks for your help!!

Lisa

 

[lovemickeya]

I think that girls that age would like nail polish set and/or makeup sets that they sell at Walmart in that price range. I am stumped on boys tho- sorry.

 

[gina2000]

McDonald's gift certificates

Gift certificates to the local movie theatre

 

[CajunDixie]

Unless you know what each of them is really into....such as a scout might be into camping, the girls may really like candles...it might be best to simply give them each a $10. mall certificate. If your malls dont have these then a gc from a favorite store like Old Navy, the local movie theatre, or for a restaurant. My oldest nephew now lives with my parents and works but last year he thought it was great getting the movie and restaurant gc's to use to go out with the other teenagers in the neighborhood.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Ok, I have faced that dilema myself and here are a few ideas:

1)Go to www.bitsandpieces.com and search for brain teasers. There are alot of "puzzles" out there that are fun and challenging and the teen set generally really love these things. I just bought 2, 1 for $6.99 and 1 for $7.99. This is a good place for stocking stuffers for DH also.

2)Crafty kind of stuff works for teen girls. If you go to Walmart in the craft section (where they sell material and stuff) you can usually find latch hook kits, bead kits, modeling clay, things like this.

3)Pass the pigs! This is a game I just bought for DH I think it costs about $7 at toys r us and is a really fun thing. Entertaining but doesn't break the budget.

4)Also at toys r us they have their store brand games pretty cheap, I bought some marbles ($2) and mancala ($7) and some card games like Mille Bornes for about $4.

5)How about Jenga? I think that's pretty cheap.

6)Also, how about a gift card to a music store for $10? That almost pays for a CD and is sure to be appreciated.

That's all I can think of for now....now if only someone would hep me with grandma-in-law........

 

[CajunDixie]

That's all I can think of for now....now if only someone would hep me with grandma-in-law........

Do you have kids? And is her eyesight good? My grandma-in-law loves the photo calendar we gave her last year. Each month she had a new pic of the boys to show off to her lady friends. She also loved the Yankee candle sis-in-law bought her.....she's in an assisted living apartment and the scent filled the living room and kitchen.

 

[Cindy B]

Lets see Target has a lot of wonderful things....


Jenga, Uno, card games are fun.. There are some fun handheld electronic games as well.

Gift card to Best Buy is wonderful as well.


CASH is always good as well.

Journal, books, gel pens, things like that.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Ok, I don't want to derail RIDisneyLovers thread here talking about grandma-in-law but I had to respond to Cajun Dixie.

The Photo Calendar is a fabulous, fabulous idea! Unfortunately we did this last year for mom in law and grandma in law. This was a huge, huge hit last christmas so if anyone is looking for ideas for this age group it's a wonderful item. They generally cost about $20 and can be made up anywhere you have photos made.

Good luck RIDisney, it looks like you could buy one of each of these items and get everybody on your list something different. You're sure to have the biggest hits for under $10!

And by the way, I second the nail polish idea. Girls can never, ever have too much nail polish. Another idea along these lines is the lip gloss that has just a smidgeon of color added that you apply with a wand. That's a hot item with the girls we know.

 

[nativetxn]

My nieces and nephews loved getting cash at 10-17 years. It isn't very creative but it's what they loved.

 

[antnee]

How about Baseball Cards for boys?
Gift Certificates for the book store?

 

[cinmell]

Gift certificates to the movies and/or fast food (mcdonalds,wendy's, etc.)

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Favorite foods? Gummys, gum, pop, movie passes, one of those shoe bags that fits like a backpack if they are into sports (my boys each have four and even that is not enough for every season!) disposable camera, team related mug or glass....

If you are unsure I am positive they would like cash. Or the gift certificate idea is also a good one.

Good luck!

 

[Disney845]

OK I hate to shoot down some of the other posters ideas, and of course I can not speak for every teenaged person in America, but I was a teenager not too many years ago ( ) and I really think that grouping 12-17 year olds in a category will not work. Maybe 12-14 year olds would like bead sets or walmart makeup sets, but 15-17 year olds will be a little bummed by these gifts. The gift card idea is the best. Make it to some place appropriate (read: not walmart, young girls do not like to shop at walmart, no matter what those new commercials with teen trying on "cool" walmart clothes try to tell you) find out a little about them. Do the boys or girls play video games? Maybe a blockbuster $10 card. Do they enjoy reading? A gift card to Barnes and Nobles/Borders. If they are into music then maybe a giftcard for an f.y.e. or whatever music stores are in their area. Teen age girls love to shop, and whether you think this is fair or should be condoned or whatever, most girls at their school probably buy their clothes from the mall, and wouldn't ever be interested in shopping for clothes at walmart. A gift card to the mall is a great idea. They have book stores, music stores, clothing and accessory stores. Again, random board games/craft kits are not interesting to most 15-17 year olds. Some may be exceptions to this rule. Please no one who shops for their clothes or their childrens clothes at walmart be offended by what I wrote. I am only telling you that from my experience walmart is not an exciting store for teenagers.

 

[christineann]

A $10 gift card for gas is always appreciated by the older kids!

 

[SPAGo 98]

i'm with Disney845. at 17, i would have been mortified to recieve Jenga or something like that. at 12 i might have enjoyed it. CJMM's suggestion was good. those bags (if i understand correctly) are pretty nice, and they sell for $10.

these?

 

[Nutsy]

Waht about a leggo thingy.........they come in a plastic container & there are dinosaurs etc. or just a lego kit.

I know my boys 13 &14 bought themselves one each of these at the Lego store in Anaheim when we were over there in September & they were around the $10 mark.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Spago that is exactly what I was talking about! We have a ton floating around the house, but all of them are in use!

 

[KimRaye]

I know you said Older Kids but, if they're 18 (I think that's legal), buy them scratch off Lottery tickets. I did this once for older cousins and, one cousin won $50. In our state, they have several different Holiday games.

For the 'younger-older-kid' crowd, I have bought Blockbuster gc's and Movie Theatre gc's.

And, even extending this downward to 6-9 (can be awkward age also), I bought those small decorated tin boxes (they come in all kinds of characters/designs) which contain anything from candy to small toys to play make-up. Matchbox, Barbie, Hello Kitty, there's a bunch of them, all shapes and sizes.

 

[luvdzny]

If they drive, gas cards are great. My DS (18) really appreciates them. Last year he went for months without having to pay to put gas in his car. They can use the $ they would normally spend on gas for whatever they want.

 

[Robinrs]

I'm with spago and Disney845. I have great nephews and neices from the ages of 3 to 17. They are completely different animals every year!!

I just asked my godchild what she would like and she responded very assuredly a GIFT CERTIFICATE! I would make sure it's to a store that they can relate to or to a mall, which are great gifts.

I remember when I was a teenager that I NEVER really liked the gifts adults gave me ... it's the nature of a teen... so I would've rather bought it myself!