If you’re anything like me, the holidays inspire both excitement and fear. I love the traditions of Hanukkah; lighting the menorah, making latkes (although cleaning the kitchen afterward is one tradition I could give up!) and just the general festive feel around the house.
But…then there’s the fear I mentioned earlier. It’s not the kind of “oh no something terrible happened fear, but the what should I get him/her, is it the right kind of gift, how much should I spend fear! And, regardless of religion, purchasing holiday gifts can be incredibly stressful. So, let me offer you 8 economical gift ideas that maybe you haven’t considered. And while you may not take this list as the “be all to end all” perhaps it will inspire you with some new, and not too expensive, ideas.
One way to approach the 8 days of Hanukkah is to have the cost of the gift correspond to the day of the holiday. On the first day you spend $1, the second $2, etc., etc. This sounds a little challenging but it’s really not and your kids will appreciate your creativity. Please note: this list was designed with younger (7-11) year olds in mind although it can certainly be adapted for an older crowd, although it might cost you more!
Day 1 ($1) - a favorite candy bar, Hanukkah gelt, giant cookie or other sweet treat that you might not buy on a regular basis.
Day 2 ($2) - bubble gum, something most kids can never get enough of! Don’t want to give food again? How about stickers? Silly putty? Coloring or activity book?
Day 3 ($3) – funky pens or pencils – in wild colors, with sparkles or even holiday themed
Day 4 ($4) – socks, love them! Warm fuzzy ones or colorful athletic ones – present them the right way and they will be received with cheers.
Day 5 ($5) – gift card to a local coffee shop, ice cream store, or sub shop. Nothing says “I am so very grown up” as having your own gift card to spend on what you want.
Day 6 ($6) – yoyos are one of the greatest toys ever! Boys, girls, young, old, everyone has the best time playing with them! And there are several different types to choose from; I know because I just bought two of them.
Day 7 ($7) – boxers or cute underwear. No longer a lame gift from your grandmother; there are so many styles to choose from that this may take you more time to decide on than you think.
Day 8 ($8) – cold, hard cash! Eight crisp one dollar bills are a real bonus for younger kids who don’t always have that much money of their own.
Other ideas to consider…instead of giving a gift one night, decide as a family on an organization that’s important or meaningful to you and make a donation to it. Or, make one night of Hanukkah a special family activity night and go bowling, to the movies or out to dinner. The most important thing to remember is most of us is not millionaires and can’t buy tons of lavish gifts. If you want to buy one large gift for everyone, do it! If you want to give small presents every night, do it! It’s your attitude and creativity that will make this a fun and successful holiday. Happy Hanukkah!
