When you think about pinching pennies for holiday shopping, try to think about the VALUE of a gift as well as it's monetary cost.
Our family tried something new last year.
Rather than give our grown kids and their families more STUFF, we chose to give them an experience that would last all year.
We gave them annual memberships to the local Children's Museum and they have enjoyed it all year long. The fun and memories they have experienced there have far outlasted whatever "hot" toy we could have given them instead.
The passes fit well within our Christmas gift budget when we pooled the amounts for each individual together to make the purchase.
It was such a hit that they have requested a membership to someplace new this year.
PinchingYourPennies.com forums are an excellent source for ideas and feedback about local places you and your gift recipients might enjoy.
Hope
this is what I have been asking for from the grandparents for YEARS!! The kids get WAY too many toys that go unplayed with as it is. but, I had my mom start years ago creating unique gifts that created memories for the kids—annual membership to the Ogden dinosaur park for the younger ones — stockings filled with gift certificates to local theaters and restaurants for the teens.
My parents live in Ohio, so this was the best option. But for grandparents who live close–please give the gift of your time! Take the grandkids to dinner, just you and them–no siblings, no parents. So many ways you can do things with them that will create lasting memories–make them up a coupon book that they can redeem to you for special time. I have 5 kids, even my youngest at 7 would rather have that one on one time with her grandparents than any gift they could find at the store.