Small gift card ideas- not food.

[Jajone]

I am planning to give my kids a calendar with a small gift card ($5 ish) for each month for Chirstmas. I have lots of food ideas, but was hoping to do more than just food. Does anyone have some creative ideas? So far I have movies, gamestop and hot topic. My kids are DS10, DS14, and DD16.

 

[Marionnette]

I am planning to give my kids a calendar with a small gift card ($5 ish) for each month for Chirstmas. I have lots of food ideas, but was hoping to do more than just food. Does anyone have some creative ideas? So far I have movies, gamestop and hot topic. My kids are DS10, DS14, and DD16.

Walmart/Target, iTunes/Google Play, Amazon

 

[amcnj]

Around here we have stores called Five Below that kids love. Also my daughter always liked Claire's.

 

[deedeezee]

Dollar Tree, CVS/Walgreens?

 

[TwoMisfits]

I am planning to give my kids a calendar with a small gift card ($5 ish) for each month for Chirstmas. I have lots of food ideas, but was hoping to do more than just food. Does anyone have some creative ideas? So far I have movies, gamestop and hot topic. My kids are DS10, DS14, and DD16.

With your age kids, I'd do "activity" places (if these places have gift cards - not all of them may - some may have tickets)...
Trampoline Park
Laser Tag
Bowling
Ice Skating/Roller Skating
Batting Cages (for the boys)
Mini Golf
Arcades
Minor League Baseball
Barnes and Noble
Youtube/Amazon
Coffee Shops (for the oldest girl)

 

[clh2]

What about Charming Charlie's for the DD? It is an accessories store, with some reasonably priced products.
I second the suggestion of a coffee shop for the DD.
And-does your DD drive? What about a gas CC?
What about a GC for Sally Beauty Supply's? Would work for hair products, nail polish, etc.

I have a DD, so the girl gifts are a little easier for me!

For all-what about a $5 GC to Target? Let's them buy anything they need!

And, how about for 1 month just give them a $5 bill? Kind of mixes it up a little!

 

[DreamIsaWish]

Bath and Body Works -- and put it on the calendar for the same month as the semi-annual sale. During sale month they might even be able to get two bottles of product!

 

[StephMK]

Ulta, Steam, Xbox if you have one, Michael's or Hobby Lobby, music store if any of them are into that, Dick's or Cabela's or whatever is local if they are into sports.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

I am planning to give my kids a calendar with a small gift card ($5 ish) for each month for Chirstmas. I have lots of food ideas, but was hoping to do more than just food. Does anyone have some creative ideas? So far I have movies, gamestop and hot topic. My kids are DS10, DS14, and DD16.

They are your kids, but I personally find it rude to get people gifts that they have to do work to receive. Since you can't buy a ticket to the movies with a $5 gift card, I now have to budget my money to redeem the $5. I think a ticket voucher instead of a $5 gift card would work better.

I like PPs idea of getting them experiences for each month or every other month. If you don't have the money right now, you could also just print out vouchers and when you plan to redeem them.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Something to consider--we had a Starbucks $10 gift card kicking around--I think someone gave it to me, but I don't drink coffee. DD21 ended up using it to take her sister (age 13) for hot cocoa and sister bonding time. It was a nice, shared experience. My point is, for some of the months, it might be nice to have 1 gift card for them to share, with the understanding that they go together. It doesn't have to be food, it could be a movie night or bowling or whatever. You might not see it now, but in a few short years, your oldest will be away a lot (college, then career). I feel like DD21 is a mythical creature sometimes! But, my younger kids adore her, and really appreciate special time with her.

 

[Jajone]

They are your kids, but I personally find it rude to get people gifts that they have to do work to receive. Since you can't buy a ticket to the movies with a $5 gift card, I now have to budget my money to redeem the $5. I think a ticket voucher instead of a $5 gift card would work better.

I like PPs idea of getting them experiences for each month or every other month. If you don't have the money right now, you could also just print out vouchers and when you plan to redeem them.

I am able to buy movie certificates during a local fundraiser for $6. That's why I said $5ish. Both of my older kids work and can buy their own popcorn LOL This is also a gift over and above what we would normally give only feasible because of swag bucks so I definitely want to keep to that dollar range.

Something to consider--we had a Starbucks $10 gift card kicking around--I think someone gave it to me, but I don't drink coffee. DD21 ended up using it to take her sister (age 13) for hot cocoa and sister bonding time. It was a nice, shared experience. My point is, for some of the months, it might be nice to have 1 gift card for them to share, with the understanding that they go together. It doesn't have to be food, it could be a movie night or bowling or whatever. You might not see it now, but in a few short years, your oldest will be away a lot (college, then career). I feel like DD21 is a mythical creature sometimes! But, my younger kids adore her, and really appreciate special time with her.

Thank you for this idea. The older two fight like cats and dogs right now so that would be a perfect idea to make them get a long a little.

 

[scrapquitler]

I am planning to give my kids a calendar with a small gift card ($5 ish) for each month for Chirstmas. I have lots of food ideas, but was hoping to do more than just food. Does anyone have some creative ideas? So far I have movies, gamestop and hot topic. My kids are DS10, DS14, and DD16.

Claires, Walmart, CVS, ITunes, Dollar Tree

 

[SMD]

They are your kids, but I personally find it rude to get people gifts that they have to do work to receive. Since you can't buy a ticket to the movies with a $5 gift card, I now have to budget my money to redeem the $5. I think a ticket voucher instead of a $5 gift card would work better.

I like PPs idea of getting them experiences for each month or every other month. If you don't have the money right now, you could also just print out vouchers and when you plan to redeem them.

Or just give them an IOU or invitation. Good for 1 round of bowling on 12/11. Good for 1 ticket to see Rogue One on 12/17.

 

[cel_disney]

They are your kids, but I personally find it rude to get people gifts that they have to do work to receive. Since you can't buy a ticket to the movies with a $5 gift card, I now have to budget my money to redeem the $5. I think a ticket voucher instead of a $5 gift card would work better.

I like PPs idea of getting them experiences for each month or every other month. If you don't have the money right now, you could also just print out vouchers and when you plan to redeem them.

While I don't completely disagree with you here - I still think this is a matter of context. If you know someone who goes to the movies all the time - a 5$ gift card is still a nice gift - as you know you are still saving them $$ vs costing then to do more than usual.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Another thought--is there a local sports team that they might like? My DH is a huge baseball fan, but major league tickets are out of the question. But there is a local summer college league, where the tickets are less than $5. It's a very casual atmosphere, they give out prizes and have music, a snack bar, fireworks, and so forth. Back at our last home, the field was a mile from our house--I would drop off Dh and whatever kids wanted to go, and then they would walk home afterwards. My kids would run into friends at the games, and generally have a good time. Something like this might be fun for relatively low cost.

As an aside, our local baseball team gave out some wacky prizes. Our family's all-time favorite was winning the "couch potato family". They got to sit on a couch behind the catcher, and were brought all the hotdogs, popcorn, and soda they could consume for the entire game. I think they also got their name on the fancy scoreboard. Occasionally, players would come over and sit down for a minute or two. And you know, for the team, this wasn't really an expensive prize to award, but it made my kids fans for life.

 

[cel_disney]

Another thought--is there a local sports team that they might like? My DH is a huge baseball fan, but major league tickets are out of the question. But there is a local summer college league, where the tickets are less than $5. It's a very casual atmosphere, they give out prizes and have music, a snack bar, fireworks, and so forth. Back at our last home, the field was a mile from our house--I would drop off Dh and whatever kids wanted to go, and then they would walk home afterwards. My kids would run into friends at the games, and generally have a good time. Something like this might be fun for relatively low cost.

As an aside, our local baseball team gave out some wacky prizes. Our family's all-time favorite was winning the "couch potato family". They got to sit on a couch behind the catcher, and were brought all the hotdogs, popcorn, and soda they could consume for the entire game. I think they also got their name on the fancy scoreboard. Occasionally, players would come over and sit down for a minute or two. And you know, for the team, this wasn't really an expensive prize to award, but it made my kids fans for life.

We have a minor league team near us and it is soo much fun! Last year our gift to the kids was tickets for 4 of us to go to 8 games with themes/giveaways they liked. It was so much fun for everyone! Of course - the food, drinks and treats at the game cost way more than the tickets but we opted for convenience instead of budget and didn't eat before hand!