Inexpensive gift ideas for young girls/teens

[MELSMICE]

I'm looking for ideas for my assistants at dancing. They range in age from 12 to 16 years old. I have 17 to buy for.

In the past I have gotten $20 gift cards to popular stores, but that is just not in the budget any more. Last year I bought them leg warmers, which were about $8 each.

I'd like it to be something inexpensive, but not junk that they'll just toss aside. I don't want to do a $5 or $10 gift card because that just looks cheap then, IMO.

Any suggestions?

 

[Aristomommy]

I'm looking for ideas for my assistants at dancing. They range in age from 12 to 16 years old. I have 17 to buy for.

In the past I have gotten $20 gift cards to popular stores, but that is just not in the budget any more. Last year I bought them leg warmers, which were about $8 each.

I'd like it to be something inexpensive, but not junk that they'll just toss aside. I don't want to do a $5 or $10 gift card because that just looks cheap then, IMO.

Any suggestions?

If you wanted to still do gift cards, I would suggest Starbucks, a local smoothie place or ice cream place. Around here they are popular gifts to give in the $5-10 range.

Other suggestions I would have are: scarves (long skinny ones are in style here), bracelet or necklace or ear rings, fingerless gloves (not sure how else to explain them, got DD a pair at Rue21 for under $10) or maybe some lotion/lipgloss type stuff from Bath and Body works.

Also, check sales periodically. Every once in a while I find girly stuff on sale and set it aside. DD has a b-day party next weekend and I was able to find most of the gift bag items on clearance.

 

[monkeybug]

When my younger cousins were teens, and I was much more broke than I am now, I would put together little baskets for them.
I would buy a few fashion magazines, some skittles and starburst (because of the bright colors, I have some sick disease where everything has to coordinate, so the candy had to match the magazines), a nail polish, a cute emory board, some Stewarts sodas (again, because of the bright colors), cute pajama pants (seems like Old Navy and other stores always have sales on these around Christmas), and a $5 gift card for a movie rental. (you could give a redbox card these days) I figured they had the perfect girl night all tucked into that one little basket.

 

[monkeybug]

I just realized you said $20 was more than you wanted to spend, wasn't paying close attention to your post, sorry!

 

[Arkansan]

Target has some nice looking elf (eyes, lips, face) makeup sets for $5-7 and they look like they cost much more, imo. I bought one for my DD and it has an eyeshadow pallet (4 shades of brown), an eyeshadow brush (it is large, not small with sponges on the ends), an eyelash curler, a brown eyeliner, and a mascara. These are full sized, not travel or "purse" sized. Hers cost $5. They had other options for older teens--day into night, smokey eyes, lip pallets, etc. This might be a nice option--especially since they dance, they might wear the brighter colors during the recital, for example, even if they can't wear them out to school.

 

[mamacatnv]

My DD is 12, they all love goofy socks - socks with toes, socks with spots, stripes etc. The ones that are slipper socks are also very popular and can be found for under $5 at Claires, Target, Wal-Greens etc.....

 

[onelilspark]

I was thinking along the lines of make-up kits, nail polish, etc. They have fun kits at Target!

 

[kwelch10377]

You could do a movie ticket and a box of candy.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Bath and Body Works has some nice things for pretty cheap. I also like the idea of a Starbucks card or some sort of juice place, whatever is in your area. My dd loves getting cards to our local smoothie place.

Another thing is socks. I don't know if you have them in your area, but we have a store called Justice that always has very cute socks. My dd is 14 and Justice and Bath and Body Works are where I get most of her stocking stuffers. She loves those crazy toe socks and so do all her friends. Target also has great stuff for very cheap.

 

[MELSMICE]

Some good ideas. I like the socks idea because they do wear crazy socks to class.

I also like the movie ticket & box of candy idea.

I had thought of make-up but some of them don't even wear it yet - or maybe they just don't wear it to dance. I had also thought of a little nail kit.

I've had to cut my budget on many things, but I don't want to look like a real slouch & completely cut out giving them some sort of Christmas gift. I want it to be something they can use, but not cheap looking. Does that make sense?

 

[scrapquitler]

I agree with the socks suggestion.

Last year my DD got a pair of socks from the dance teacher (my DD works as an assistant) that said "Smells like dance" on them...they were a HUGE hit. I've been googling to see if I could find a source to refer you to, but I'm having no luck. But funky socks seem like a great idea.

Other years my DD has gotten some of the following gits for assisting from the various teachers: Scarf and gloves, huge popcorn tin, a feathery heart shaped pillow, gift certificate for a manicure,

 

[kacaju]

my dd17 teaches two classes at her dance studio now. She would love a small box of candy. Bath and Body works stuff or some small trinket from Target. Last year I bought her ballet shoes ornament from Target. Maybe you could find something like that?

 

[kristina87]

When my younger cousins were teens, and I was much more broke than I am now, I would put together little baskets for them.
I would buy a few fashion magazines, some skittles and starburst (because of the bright colors, I have some sick disease where everything has to coordinate, so the candy had to match the magazines), a nail polish, a cute emory board, some Stewarts sodas (again, because of the bright colors), cute pajama pants (seems like Old Navy and other stores always have sales on these around Christmas), and a $5 gift card for a movie rental. (you could give a redbox card these days) I figured they had the perfect girl night all tucked into that one little basket.

I am in love with this idea!

 

[minkydog]

If you wanted to still do gift cards, I would suggest Starbucks, a local smoothie place or ice cream place. Around here they are popular gifts to give in the $5-10 range.

Other suggestions I would have are: fingerless gloves (not sure how else to explain them, got DD a pair at Rue21 for under $10)

Those gloves are really the hot thing around here. ANd they're not very expensive. My DD17 also likes the Starbucks card. She really enjoys going up there with her friends.

 

[bgirl29]

Our Bath and Body Works just started carrying smaller size spray bottles of their scents. I just bought some that were 3 for $10. These were perfect for my daughter who is a sport junky because she likes to keep a bottle in her sport bag.

 

[MELSMICE]

I just found some fashion scarves for $9.95 - normally $29.95.

I'll check out the sprays also........they all have smelly dance bags that they leave in the employee room!

I looked at crazy socks. I found some site with mismatched socks & you get 3 socks for $12.99 I think it was - I don't understand the 3 sock thing, except for mix & match I guess.

 

[kacaju]

http://www.dancedistributors.com/gifts-accessories?range=25,48,68
What about these silhouette magnets? They can put them on their lockers at school??

melsmice...can I ask you a question. This is my dd17 first year of teaching classes at her dance studio. Come recital time we normally have two shows. DD 17 has been in the 2nd show. DD 10 was in the 1st show I will be honest... my younger dd stopped dancing this year due to softball and I was excited about only having to sit through 1 show!!

Now dd is teaching and I feel like I should be there to watch her two classes perform.
These two classes will most likely be in the 1st show. If I go I will get to see her go up on stage and and be announced with all the other teachers. Is this normal for a mom of a teen teacher to be there for this?
I mean if she was working in the local grocery store I would not be going to watch her work...LOL!! So I am confused as to this is something i should be there for or just wait and see her annouced as a teacher in the 2nd show, though her students would not be there.

 

[orbrian]

I also recommend make-up kits, nail polish.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

When I was that age I didn't wear make up, and I still don't do much with my nails; neither do any of my young relations that are that age. But socks, socks will work with any teenage girl. Target usually has cute socks for about 2 - 5 socks that are fun and funky. And I agree, a $5 or $10 card to Starbucks is NOT a tacky gift, especially to a teen. They love being able to go there without trying to scrape up enough for their favorite calorie laden drinks.

 

[kristina87]

http://www.dancedistributors.com/gifts-accessories?range=25,48,68
What about these silhouette magnets? They can put them on their lockers at school??

melsmice...can I ask you a question. This is my dd17 first year of teaching classes at her dance studio. Come recital time we normally have two shows. DD 17 has been in the 2nd show. DD 10 was in the 1st show I will be honest... my younger dd stopped dancing this year due to softball and I was excited about only having to sit through 1 show!!

Now dd is teaching and I feel like I should be there to watch her two classes perform.
These two classes will most likely be in the 1st show. If I go I will get to see her go up on stage and and be announced with all the other teachers. Is this normal for a mom of a teen teacher to be there for this?
I mean if she was working in the local grocery store I would not be going to watch her work...LOL!! So I am confused as to this is something i should be there for or just wait and see her annouced as a teacher in the 2nd show, though her students would not be there.

well i'm not the OP or a mom, or even close to being one ,but! i will say that i know that when i was 17 and if i were teaching a dance class i would have been a little disappointed if my mom didn't come to the recital, at least the first one. i would have been proud to show off my hard work! if you think your DD wont mind then don't go, but I know i would have been upset