What is hot for teens this Christmas?

[westjones]

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.

And you know what....they will remember that time together more than any present. I am sure you will have a wonderful Christmas.

 

[timzagain]

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 thought of buying Kindles for DD18 and DSD, also 18 - gave up that idea when I realized that the Kindles weren't going to help me lower the cost of college textbooks! Bummer!

I agree with your stand on not upgrading of tech toys just because a new "must have" has hit the market. DH and I are probably going to argue quite a bit this year. Now that he's seen the new iPods, he's contemplating replacing DD12's perfectly working, one year old Nano with an iTouch. Not the kind of spending/ consumption habit I'd want to foster in my children!

 

[dzorn]

For all of you who were thinking about upgrading here is reviews on the new Ipod stuff.

http://gizmodo.com/5632577/five-tak...h-ipod-nano-and-ipod-shuffle?skyline=true&s=i



Denise in MI

 

[fabfive]

DS is now saying he wants a microphone. He and a few guys have been playing some music together. Now this is a whole different item, I know nothing about. HELP

 

[maggiew]

I thought of buying Kindles for DD18 and DSD, also 18 - gave up that idea when I realized that the Kindles weren't going to help me lower the cost of college textbooks! Bummer!

My DD started college this year. And when we were at the bookstore, there was a whole wall of "gift cards" of textbooks that could be purchased for the NOOK.

I talked to the textbook buyer at the bookstore about the eBooks. He said that if an eBook (NOOK) version of the book was available by the publisher, it was available to the students at his bookstore.

They weren't available on the Kindle, just the Nook. But I think our bookstore might be affiliated with Barnes and Noble???

He said the eBooks aren't really popular yet for the textbooks, but it was slowly becoming more popular.

Maggie

 

[MrsPete]

I thought of buying Kindles for DD18 and DSD, also 18 - gave up that idea when I realized that the Kindles weren't going to help me lower the cost of college textbooks! Bummer!

I'm holding out hope that this might be a possibility in the future. Even if the textbook COST didn't go down, I'd be willing to buy them in Kindle form just because it'd be so much easier to store/transport the books.

 

[PrincessParty]

One of my DD is a teenager (14). She is asking for Rayban sunglasses for Christmas. Matt Moore super exclusive design......

Love the ideas, thanks for all the suggestions as why does a 14 year old need Raybans!?!

It is a funny story and I can blame this on Disney as one of Disney's bands (All Star Weekend), the guitarist, Nathan had them and my DD fell in love.

 

[timzagain]

One of my DD is a teenager (14). She is asking for Rayban sunglasses for Christmas. Matt Moore super exclusive design......

Love the ideas, thanks for all the suggestions as why does a 14 year old need Raybans!?!

It is a funny story and I can blame this on Disney as one of Disney's bands (All Star Weekend), the guitarist, Nathan had them and my DD fell in love.

If my children (aged 12 to 18) were more careful, I'd buy them good sunglasses like Ray Ban. We live in a tropical climate - lots of time in the sun. I did the cheap sunglasses thing for years until I learned that my eyes have sustained damage from the sun. At the doctor's recommendation, I bought myself a good pair of sunglasses. Since I switched to "proper" sunglasses, I have also had fewer migraines.

Two Christmases ago, I bought DD, then 16, a pair of designer sunglasses. I managed to get them for about a third of the going rate, by taking advantage of a good sale and a friend's staff discount. DD still has them in good condition, largely because she's so afraid that of loss or theft, that she leaves them at home and uses the cheap pair instead! Go figure!

 

[pintamino]

I'm holding out hope that this might be a possibility in the future. Even if the textbook COST didn't go down, I'd be willing to buy them in Kindle form just because it'd be so much easier to store/transport the books.

Not to say the popular opinion might not change, but I couldn't imagine having my texts on my nook. If you decide to go that route, make sure your kids have an e-reader well before and are comfortable doing that. I absolutely adore my nook, but I bought one reference book on it (for French) and kick myself constantly -- it's much easier to highlight, annotate, and absorb from a physical text, IMO. I tear through pleasure books on my nook like nobody's business, I just can't see it working for class (or having to charge my textbooks... ugh!)

I got my nook for my birthday, right before they marked them down, and I feel it was worth every penny and is the only "reading" fun-book I brought to school this year For anybody looking at them, the wi-fi version is a steal and if you or your kids love to read you won't regret it!

 

[timzagain]

My DD started college this year. And when we were at the bookstore, there was a whole wall of "gift cards" of textbooks that could be purchased for the NOOK.

I talked to the textbook buyer at the bookstore about the eBooks. He said that if an eBook (NOOK) version of the book was available by the publisher, it was available to the students at his bookstore.

They weren't available on the Kindle, just the Nook. But I think our bookstore might be affiliated with Barnes and Noble???

He said the eBooks aren't really popular yet for the textbooks, but it was slowly becoming more popular.

Maggie

Thanks for the information about the Nook! I will check that out - I'm pretty sure that the Nook (or something similar) will more than pay for itself over the duration of the degree, with the money we'll save by not buying printed textbooks.

 

[dzorn]

Thanks for the information about the Nook! I will check that out - I'm pretty sure that the Nook (or something similar) will more than pay for itself over the duration of the degree, with the money we'll save by not buying printed textbooks.

I would reconsider it. I know I always highlighted important information and added notes. Can you do that with Nook or Kindle? When studying it having the highlights are priceless.

Densie in MI

 

[fabfive]

I don't know anything about the nook or the kindle. Not sure how this will work. I like the idea of it. I was thinking about a pawn shop for the microphone, any thoughts?

 

[timzagain]

I would reconsider it. I know I always highlighted important information and added notes. Can you do that with Nook or Kindle? When studying it having the highlights are priceless.

Densie in MI

Nook Update - DD18 was poking around on the Barnes & Noble site this morning. Instead of buying a Nook, you can download B & N's free e-reader software called Nookstudy. Then you can buy the e-books and store them on your computer so there's no need to buy yet another gadget! Apparently the software allows the user to highlight & make notes, just like a regular book.

Sounds great - but I'd be a little worried about losing access to texts for 5 courses if my computer isn't working!

 

[luvmy3]

I don't know anything about the nook or the kindle. Not sure how this will work. I like the idea of it. I was thinking about a pawn shop for the microphone, any thoughts?

Just go to a music store they will have a variety of microphones and some very helpful employees to tell you everything you need to know.

 

[Tistal]

I'm holding out hope that this might be a possibility in the future. Even if the textbook COST didn't go down, I'd be willing to buy them in Kindle form just because it'd be so much easier to store/transport the books.

Books are starting to come out for the Nook, Kindle, etc. I have a student this semester who has her textbook on one. I'll have to find out how much the text ended up costing her somehow.

 

[fabfive]

Books are starting to come out for the Nook, Kindle, etc. I have a student this semester who has her textbook on one. I'll have to find out how much the text ended up costing her somehow.

That would be great. I wonder if it is a big cost savings.

 

[timzagain]

That would be great. I wonder if it is a big cost savings.

We haven't done a price comparison on all DD's textbooks. We just checked the accounting book which costs $156 for the hardcover version, while the same book in the e-textbook form costs $95! Pretty significant savings to me, especially since the Barnes & Noble Nookstudy e-reader software for Mac or PC is free. If this could be done for the 30 courses she'd have to take to complete, that could translate into hundreds of dollars of savings.

We're seriously considering trying out at least one text in the e-book form.

A bit off topic - this was supposed to be about Christmas shopping!

 

[fabfive]

We haven't done a price comparison on all DD's textbooks. We just checked the accounting book which costs $156 for the hardcover version, while the same book in the e-textbook form costs $95! Pretty significant savings to me, especially since the Barnes & Noble Nookstudy e-reader software for Mac or PC is free. If this could be done for the 30 courses she'd have to take to complete, that could translate into hundreds of dollars of savings.

We're seriously considering trying out at least one text in the e-book form.

A bit off topic - this was supposed to be about Christmas shopping!

Yes, but maybe a nook is in our future for Christmas for the DS who will be going to college next year.

 

[bankr63]

We started buying ethical gifts for extended family a few years ago. Water pumps in Africa, herds of goats or chickens in Central America, etc. The kids (DD 14, DS 12) liked the idea and want them now too! (God I love my kids!) A handy tax deduction for the charitable donation helps me out too.

We also have to start shopping soon for our two foster girls in Tibet. Nothing big as the packages have to be small and can get raided - but we really feel good about helping out.

The kids' "big" gift this year will be their tickets for WDW and USF. I'm sure there will still be a couple of smaller pressies under the tree too, but lord knows they have everything, so I can't imagine what yet!

Christmas is a time for giving, we choose to give globally!

M Ross

 

[ceecee]

I would reconsider it. I know I always highlighted important information and added notes. Can you do that with Nook or Kindle? When studying it having the highlights are priceless.

Densie in MI

Same here, my notes all over the pages and highlighted areas was what I studied from.