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Those looking to save can still provide kids full Christmas
  
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The stress of dwindling retirement funds, fewer available hours and continually lowering oil prices may not have trickled down to the wish lists and letters to Santa from area children.
by Kathleen Thurber
Midland Reporter-Telegram
The stress of dwindling retirement funds, fewer available hours and continually lowering oil prices may not have trickled down to the wish lists and letters to Santa from area children.
But, for those looking to save a few pennies while still providing a full Christmas for youngsters at home, the faltering national economy means there may be a few more budget-friendly options available than usual.
With less-than-eager shopping crowds hitting toy stores thus far, some retailers are discounting up to 50 percent more items Friday than they did in 2007. Others will continue sales through the holiday season and are talking up alternatives to popular toys that can often be found for less than half the price.
At Toys 'R' Us, staff expect Nintendo Wii and Playstation games and accessories to still sell quickly with many marked down to $9.99 Friday. Guitar Hero accessories will also be marked to $10. VTech Learning Laptops and MP3 players will also sell quickly, said manager Lori Munoz.
However, other items that may remind kids of what playtime was like before electronics can also be purchased for less than $10. Select Barbie and Bratz dolls and Hot Wheels sets are on sale for $5 at several area retailers and Play-Doh kits complete with a duffle bag to pack them in are just $6. Without the fancy packaging, single cans of Play-Doh and Silly Putty can be found for closer to $1.
Family games that are often more than $30 should be marked down to between $10 and $17 at Target and Wal-Mart Friday.
Halfpricebooks.com, Amazon and other Web sites often sell books for less than $5 and new games can also be found online. Most Web sites will post their biggest sales Monday for any not fatigued from shopping Friday.
Throughout the season, looking for items similar to popular toys, but much less expensive can help parents give without breaking the bank.
Live Elmo, which is touted as one of the year's hot sellers, will be marked at $59.99. But, store managers said, Elmo alternatives, like the pizza Elmo where both he and the food talk will be on sale Friday for $12.49.
Others suggest giving kids homemade tickets to area museums that have free or discounted admission days for children or typing out a gift card for a day of activities with mom or dad that can range from making breakfast together to seeing a movie to playing cards. Take the certificate and wrap it in an oversized box and it may generate just as much excitement as other packages.
This year also might be a good one to teach kids about creative giving. Hand-painting a T-shirt for siblings or grandparents, making frames for family photos or giving pieces of artwork to relatives can be a way for them to acknowledge the holiday without having to spend much out of parents wallets to do so.
Teens can give aunts, uncles and neighbors gift certificates for free nights of baby-sitting or parents and kids can make cookies and bookmarks for teachers.
While Hannah Montana and High School Musical gear will be on sale and in high demand in coming weeks, store managers say, creativity in finding off-brand and simple toys will also be key to this holiday season.
Kathleen Thurber can be reached at kthurber@mrt.com.
But, for those looking to save a few pennies while still providing a full Christmas for youngsters at home, the faltering national economy means there may be a few more budget-friendly options available than usual.
With less-than-eager shopping crowds hitting toy stores thus far, some retailers are discounting up to 50 percent more items Friday than they did in 2007. Others will continue sales through the holiday season and are talking up alternatives to popular toys that can often be found for less than half the price.
At Toys 'R' Us, staff expect Nintendo Wii and Playstation games and accessories to still sell quickly with many marked down to $9.99 Friday. Guitar Hero accessories will also be marked to $10. VTech Learning Laptops and MP3 players will also sell quickly, said manager Lori Munoz.
However, other items that may remind kids of what playtime was like before electronics can also be purchased for less than $10. Select Barbie and Bratz dolls and Hot Wheels sets are on sale for $5 at several area retailers and Play-Doh kits complete with a duffle bag to pack them in are just $6. Without the fancy packaging, single cans of Play-Doh and Silly Putty can be found for closer to $1.
Family games that are often more than $30 should be marked down to between $10 and $17 at Target and Wal-Mart Friday.
Halfpricebooks.com, Amazon and other Web sites often sell books for less than $5 and new games can also be found online. Most Web sites will post their biggest sales Monday for any not fatigued from shopping Friday.
Throughout the season, looking for items similar to popular toys, but much less expensive can help parents give without breaking the bank.
Live Elmo, which is touted as one of the year's hot sellers, will be marked at $59.99. But, store managers said, Elmo alternatives, like the pizza Elmo where both he and the food talk will be on sale Friday for $12.49.
Others suggest giving kids homemade tickets to area museums that have free or discounted admission days for children or typing out a gift card for a day of activities with mom or dad that can range from making breakfast together to seeing a movie to playing cards. Take the certificate and wrap it in an oversized box and it may generate just as much excitement as other packages.
This year also might be a good one to teach kids about creative giving. Hand-painting a T-shirt for siblings or grandparents, making frames for family photos or giving pieces of artwork to relatives can be a way for them to acknowledge the holiday without having to spend much out of parents wallets to do so.
Teens can give aunts, uncles and neighbors gift certificates for free nights of baby-sitting or parents and kids can make cookies and bookmarks for teachers.
While Hannah Montana and High School Musical gear will be on sale and in high demand in coming weeks, store managers say, creativity in finding off-brand and simple toys will also be key to this holiday season.
Kathleen Thurber can be reached at kthurber@mrt.com.
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