What is hot for teens this Christmas?

[Tistal]

When my sister and I were teens (we're both 20 somethings now), our parents spent half of their holiday budget on home things for us (i.e. crock pot, dishes, blankets, etc). That way when we were ready to leave the nest we weren't starting out empty handed and having to spend a lot all at once to get settled in.

 

[jrmasm]

Pandora Bracelets???? I looked on e-bay and there are beads and black rope bracelets are the real ones?

I only buy from my local jeweler. Mine is having an event in a free weeks where you get a free silver bracelet when you spend $150 on beads.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Since our kids were little it has always been about getting them what they want. Even when our kids were younger they understood what a "big" item was, and that they only would get one big item and a few smaller items.

Now that they are older we say, "We have x amount to spend. What do you want?" Often they would rather have money towards the exact item they want, versus a cheaper/smaller version that we could afford. Then they'll save their own money until they can buy what they really want.

So really there was never a need to shop ahead. Just about everything goes on sale somewhere right before Christmas, especially the electronic items.

 

[DisneyCrazy2]

My daughter is also a senior in high school and she has asked for (and will receive) stuff for her college dorm room next year. We plan to get her sheet sets, towels, an iron, lamp, dishes, etc.

 

[minniebeth]

DS15 wants a new electric guitar, acoustic guitar, PS3 games, a new cell phone (Droid of course), a Macbook and money to start saving for a car.

I told him to start making realistic list next. (Ok, some are realistic)

DD13 wants Pandora bracelet charms, Vera Bradley, new bedding and curtains for her room, and the new Ipod Touch. She told me if she gets the new Ipod Touch, she'd give her Nano to my DD8 who has been asking for one. How gracious of her!
Oh, and Squinkies too! Seems like that will be hot with the young tweens as well as younger kids.

Seems like the new Apple electonics are the hot ticket. Yes, they are cool but don't see why everytime a new gen. comes out, my kids have to have it. I tell them we'll split the cost...now they are thinking harder about it.

 

[westjones]

I will probably do what I did last year. My girls (twins who will be 17 this Christmas) really want money, but they also like presents. So I bought some inexpensive things and put them in boxes and put money in with them. They had about 5 presents each and money in each of them.

Then we do stockings as well. But that is what we did.

 

[TandLMommy28]

I'm hugely in favor of gifts that involve doing something rather than having something... my best Christmas gifts were always tickets to plays or concerts or sporting events or whatever. It's a lifelong memory, something that is exciting for longer than one day and it's a chance to create a memory with your child.

 

[WheelCEO]

$$ and ipad

 

[mrs.sammich]

I'm reading this thread out of curiosity. Now I know what's in store for me down the road I've made a few money trees for gifts. I like to fold the money back and forth, as if you were making a fan, pinch in the middle and use a thin string or curling ribbon to tie it to branches. It can be fanned out once attached to the branches. Northfolk Island pines are rather inexpensive and festive for this idea. Then Johnny or Sally can even have a easy to care for plant too.

 

[DisneyCP08]

Thanks for the suggestion. I think my DSD would actually get a kick out of the money tree idea, especially since we've spent the last umpteen years saying to them, "Are you crazy? You think money grows on trees???" (or words to that effect!)

That is the saying I use to get too Which made it even funnier

 

[disneychrista]

I'm trying to stay away from the "What's Hot" thing. Instead I'm focusing on getting things that would be used/ enjoyed.

Exactly. Forget what is hot and focus on what YOUR child needs/wants. We have cut down a lot of gift giving and focus more on being together.

 

[mkpoohgirl]

Love the ideas. I love Christmas shopping but only when I know what to buy.

 

[rsschneck]

I think DD will get a Nook this year since she is a BIG reader and we travel a lot this will make carrying multiple books much easier!

 

[shortbun]

Phones and IPods, clothes, shoes, money.

 

[torinsmom]

I did see that but I called Apple store yesterday and it is the old Itouch.

Get it and sell it on ebay!

 

[fabfive]

Exactly. Forget what is hot and focus on what YOUR child needs/wants. We have cut down a lot of gift giving and focus more on being together.

We are cutting back in our family as well. We use to swap names with the adults but we are now only buying for the kids.

I agree with the needs/wants. I guess I worded that poorly. I am just having a hard time finding items they like. I did just pick up some pjs for all of them, Dillards had a 40% off sale. I also got my niece some cute polka dot tumbler glasses, a ice cream cook book still need to purchase a Graeters gift certificate.

 

[dzorn]

DH and I watched the whole video last night of all the new Apple products. Amazing! All the new iPods look so awesome. I think the $49 shuffles are going to be a huge hit this Xmas season. We have the latest iPod touch so DH so graciously said I can have that so he can get the new one! Our kids are 12 and 7 and both have the Nanos. I am thinking my older one will get the new iPod touch and my DS will get the new Nano. I am just so excited for the all the cool new updates to the iPad! It is my favorite thing and was bought for my kids, but I took it over!

I am not thrilled with the new nano. I perfer a bigger screen that I can put a cover over for DD not a touch screen. Does it still have the video camera?

I was considering touch for me but I want an FM tuner for the gym so unless they have added it I'm out of luck.

For the above poster I would not get a touch for an 8 year old to easy to drop and break.

Denise in MI

 

[mitchwebb]

Love this thread. Kids back to school and I'm starting to think of Xmas.

DD17 will also be graduating this year. She will be getting a ticket to Hawaii for a graduation trip with friends. A friends parents has volunteered their timeshare and to chaperone. The ticket will be around $250 - $300. She will be getting a couple of very small items in her stocking.


DD12 will be getting a IPod thanks to this board. We were planning to get DD17 a computer for graduation and now have the free IPod for DD12.

DD9- will get a flip camera I got last year of $59.00 very old model but fine for her. She will also get her DD12 old nano. She is very use to handme downs and has not problems with them.

I picked up $20 Disney dollars per girl to put in their stockings. They do not know yet but I won four 2 day hoppers from a local radio station this summer and we will be driving to Anaheim for New Years. DH and I have decided not to do gift for each other and get two nights at nicer Hotel for the trip.

 

[MrsPete]

My 16-year old is getting her class ring for Christmas. It won't be a surprise, but that's okay. We're going to let her "have it" when it arrives, and on Christmas morning I have a travel jewelry box that she'll open . . . and it'll have the ring's receipt inside! I'm doing that because I don't want her to feel as if she received nothing -- nothing big -- on Christmas morning, and that'll be a reminder.

Next year I plan to get her a GPS (might be birthday, might be Christmas). No point in getting it for her now; she's only had her license a few months, and I don't want to encourage her to drive much farther than the city limits at the moment.

I LOVE my Kindle and had considered getting one for each of my daughters for Christmas. The price has come down significantly. I'll probably wait 'til next year because I didn't get an enthusiastic response from my "What'd ya think of this?" hinting. Which was a surprise because they can't keep their hands off MY Kindle.

I don't like to give cash or gift cards. They're quickly forgotten, whereas a well-chosen gift is appreciated for a long time. I can also find things on sale that LOOK like way more than their cash value.

I also wouldn't "upgrade" an ipod/phone as a Christmas present UNLESS the child's current ipod/phone really was approaching the end of its usefulness. I don't want to encourage them to feel that they should discard items that're still usable just because something newer has come out.

 

[WeLuvDiznee]

After reading all the replies,all I can say is wow! All your kids should be very thankful this year! I may have enough money to get my 2 DD's-13 & 11,3 gift's each this year.And it won't be a computer,an I-touch,I-pad,I-pod or anything electronic! It will most likely be clothing they need from Target,a place I can afford at the moment.But,at least we will be together,and to me that's more important than money I don't have right now.