To segway off the 1st BD thread, what creative budget gift for 1st BD?

[IvyandLace]

I am looking for some creative budget-friendly meaningful gift ideas as to what to give as my beautiful niece turns 1 in February! I live several states away so cannot make use of any type of coupon book for special times with Auntie. I know all of you out there in budget board land can come up with some really special and unique gift ideas that won't break the budget!! Please help!

Thanks in advance...IVY

 

[lougoofy]

I am looking for some creative budget-friendly meaningful gift ideas as to what to give as my beautiful niece turns 1 in February! I live several states away so cannot make use of any type of coupon book for special times with Auntie. I know all of you out there in budget board land can come up with some really special and unique gift ideas that won't break the budget!! Please help!

Thanks in advance...IVY

My niece turns 1 in early March so i"ll keep an eye out here.

 

[Nicsmom]

I have a very close friend that started a small figurine collection called Growing Up Birthday girls for my DD. Every year she gives her a new one. The collection starts with a baby and ends with a 16 year old. They're numbered 1-16. I think they cost between 15-20. They come in blond or brunette. My DD is turning 16 next month and the collection is very special to her. She gets them at Hallmark stores.

 

[2Blue1Pink]

Does her mom scrapbook? Even if she doesn't, a nice idea is a birthday scrapbook. Make 2 pages for her first birthday for her mom to add photos to and then each birthday, give her another two page spread to add to it.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Maybe a special story book that she can grow with? A pretty child size piece of jewery?

If you decide to go fun...that is a great age for a first ride on (feet pushed) toy, some blocks, 1st art supplies.

 

[Hannathy]

My Aunt gave my DD a Gund stuffed Dog on her first Birthday one of the nice soft huggable ones and she has slept with that dog since. That dog has traveled the world and the states and will be the first thing packed for college this summer.

My DD just turned 18. So the most memorable,loved, or meaning the most gift doesn't have to cost a lot.

 

[StefnMike]

A jewelry box. That way you can add one piece of jewelry every year and she will have quite a collection when she is 18.

Classic books - one every year

Savings bonds - she has no need for the money now and by the time she is old enough to use them, they will mature.

Are you going to see her? Take pictures and create a framed collage.

Ask your sister/SIL for monthly pictures of her from birth to age 1. Create a scrapbook of her changes.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

My DD is turning 1 Jan 30th. I'm getting her a bracelet for the start of a charm bracelet. It can get expensive if you buy solid 14k charms, but you can also get gold plated charms reasonably.

 

[Bethmsu]

How about a photo album, find a nice sturdy one and fill it with pictures that may be meaningful to the child. Add in those random pics of the dog or cat, some from the zoo, disney, even post cards. Decorate with a few stickers here and there and its done! I work with young children and this is something we do all the time, from a very young age they love looking a the pictures, letters, family or whatever is in their special book.

I also heard of someone putting the money they would spend on every gift for every ocassion into a savings account. The children never mind because birthdays and holidays are often saturated with special gifts. When the child turns 18, you use the money to take them on a trip of their chosing!

 

[prncess674]

Savings bonds! True they aren't huge money makers in the short term, but they are the best way to gift small amounts of cash that will eventually grow. I was THRILLED when my parents gave me all my bonds at high school graduation. They put up the rest of the money but I put the bonds towards my way cool car that I drove all thru college and many years afterwards!

Before I cashed them all in I looked thru them all and Mom told me stories of each of the people who bought them for me over the years. This was the best gift verses a cheesy stuffed animal or ceramic figurine that will eventually find its way to a garage sale.

My college car! (Realize it was 1992!) The car is long gone, but I couldn't have ever had this car without the savings bond collected over the years. I still love that car.

 

[Justsyd2]

How about a recordable storybook?

 

[QVCshopper]

For 1st b-days, I always do a cross stitch with the baby's name and b-day, along with a small picture of something cute and related to the baby/family. Then I usually buy a discounted frame. Usually costs $5 tops, plus the time it takes me to make it. But, it's something I enjoy doing, and everyone seems to appreciate them. Have also made 1st b-day ornaments for the XMas tree.

 

[dapookie09]

One of my "nieces" (a good friend's little girl) is turning two in March. I'm making her birthday party outfit. I'm making a Tutu (google no sew tutu for tutorials) and appliquing a top, and pairing it with pink leggings and ballerina shoes I bought.

If the crafty factor is not your thing, lots of places have the tutus and bday shirts ready to go (Old Navy and Carters are budget, Gymboree has them but not so much budget)