Bad gifts: we want to avoid them, but some of us are just prone to coming up with some of the worst gifts out there. Chances for gift utopia are even lower when you only have a few dollars to spend. But there are still several gift opportunities out there when you only have $10 to spend. When shopping for a teenage girl, remember that individuality and attention to detail are key. And when in doubt, remember that most teens appreciate several small gifts in similar themes, so a combination gift might be a better option over a single present. Don’t worry too much about how little you have to spend, just concentrate on spending that $10 in the best possible way.
1. Games – Though it is likely your teen has several varieties of video games handy, chances are they might not have board games, and usually around Christmas time, you can get a great board game or card game for under $10. Whether it’s Connect Four or Monopoly, board games can trigger nostalgia or provide a teen girl with a fun activity for sleepovers. A classic Rubik’s cube may seem retro, and a handheld Su Doku game too complex, but both puzzles represent classic gifts worth considering.
2. Bath Stuff – Some girls love to be pampered with their own special bath beads, bubblebath, lotion, and lip gloss. All of these items can be purchased at national dollar stores and retail chains, arranged in a pretty basket or gift bag, and provide your teen with a reasonable gift that they will definitely use. Wrap a filled basket with colorful tulle (Usually less than $1 a yard) and accent with curled ribbon for a pretty, feminine look beneath the tree. $10 can go quite a way if you shop for samples or trial sizes.
3. Craft Kits – From a Fimo starter kit, which retails around $8, so your teen can make her own beads to a plain T-shirt and several tubes of fabric paint, there are endless possibilities to trigger your teen’s creative side. Another option is purchasing pattern scissors and punches, both common scrapbook accessories. These aren’t your grandma’s pinking shears; these scissors can be in waves, uneven shag, and even cut off beat patterns. Teen girls will love using these for things like trimming the tops of stationary and personalizing school folders.
4. Stationary – And speaking of stationary, old school letter writing isn’t lost on e-mail as long as teenage girls are still passing notes in Math class. From delicate natural papers to funky themes, stationary comes in all shapes, sizes, patterns, and styles. Add a pretty address book and a set of pretty pens, and you have a great gift. For extra fun, add a package of cute stickers.
5. Real Crystals – One popular gift for teenage girls is a pendant made of a real crystal. These can be purchased on popular auction sites like eBay. If you dislike the shape of the crystal, consider a cabochon style pendant like one made of rainbow moonstone or a real semiprecious gemstone bead necklace. Remember, jewelry trends come and go, but crystals are pretty much eternal.
6. Glass Decorative – Snow globes are a popular gift for teenage girls because they are old enough to appreciate them and not break them. Choose a high-quality globe made ornately. After all, anyone can get a classic plastic one at the dollar store for a buck. With ten dollars, you can find really nice examples that will likely become heirlooms for your teen later in life. Another idea is blown glass or crystal glass decorative items like hummingbirds and angels. Shop around for these. Some places have them for fewer than ten dollars, but others may price them over twenty dollars.
7. Scrapbook Them – One really nice gift that takes a lot of time but little money is the classic scrapbook. Make copies of several photographs of your teen throughout the years (Snapfish is a great place to get prints made after you scan your photos) and fill a simple scrapbook. Leave plenty of space for the teen to personalize this collection, but be sure to write a few lines about each photo. To give the gift more meaning, ask family members to write a personal letter to the teen and include them with the scrapbook.
8. Journal and Disposable Camera – With this gift, be sure to include a message stating that they are to have a photograph taken of themselves on the first day of every month. The journal should be self explanatory as a place to put thoughts, but if your teen is known to write poetry, add that spin to the book, telling them to compose a poem daily.
9. Snacks – If your teen is not weight conscious, snacks and treats are a fun gift that just about everyone enjoys. Whether it’s through a passion of chocolate or your teen loves salty Chex mix and pretzels, ten dollars can really fill a basket if you know what you’re doing. For more fun, buy a medium sized basket, two mugs, a bag of miniature marshmallows, and a box of hot chocolate. Put one wrapped regular-sized candy cane in each mug for presentation, and wrap in white tulle.
10. Room Décor – A nice throw blanket, especially one in the new fleece style, can often be purchased for under eight dollars. Throw pillows are also well-regarded for a teen’s room. If you are crafty, you can save even more money by making the pillows using fleece fabric purchased at your local craft store. Fleece comes in virtually any color and pattern, including cartoon characters and even camouflage.
Teen girls are not impossible to buy for, but if you absolutely can’t decide on what to buy and you live in a state that gets cold, as a last resort, you can buy gloves, a scarf, and a hat to keep your teenager cozy in the winter. Of course, what you buy is up to you! So many people complain about shopping, but if you look at it optimistically, shopping can be one of the most enjoyable parts of the holiday.
