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Gift closets?

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Lotsacoups

I have ongoing problems with my PMS
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I hear Target is having a great toy clearance but my kids have been out of the toy stage for years so I didn't go. But I am reading that you should go to stock up your "toy closet" and that got me thinking. I feel in some respects that my girls got gyped for Christmas this year because although they kept getting bugged for a "list" the list was paid no mind and they got junk. I asked for a list and didn't deviate cuz this is what was "wanted." But how do you deal seekers do it. Do you buy random but good quality toys throughout the year and give these out for Christmas or do you give whaT IS SPECIFICALLY asked for. I'm talking about gifts for other kids. You're probably even saying "what's with the flippin LIST". And you're probably right about that. I need to stop being so picky for toys that will just get broken within minutes of opening.
 
I buy a huge amount of toys every year. I make sure to mostly get gifts appropriate for the age my son is currently at & above, since that is the age of the kids that invite him to parties. I try get a variety, for a variety of tastes. Whatever is left at the end of the year gets donated to Toys For Tots. I love filling the box :). I am able to donate $400 worth of toys for $100, so I love it! I also buy stuff for my son's birthday, and little things he can buy from me with his allowance. Keep your receipts too! Last year Hasbro had a rebate, where they sent you a free toy for every $20 you spent. I was able to score 5 free toys last year, from the stuff I had bought at 75 percent off! I also use my Target Visa too, to get 5 percent off, then go right to CS and pay it off.

ETA: I never answered your question properly... I ask the parents what they like, and try to stay within their genre of what they like. My son went to a party last week, and the girl loves Littlest Pet Shop, and I had lots of LPS. He is going to another party this week, and the mom said he likes Legos, so he is getting a Lego game I just bought at 70 percent off, + another little Lego set. If I know the kid well, I can just go on my own with what I think they will like. I don't give random crappy things.
 
I usually buy toys that I know are hits with the kids for my gift closet. Hot Wheels are just classics, as are Barbies. Art set stuff is always good. I have a boy so I know boy stuff better.... Transformers, Legos, etc... I almost always have something on "the list" for any Christmas or Birthday gift.

My only blunder so far was when my son decided in the summer that Thomas wasn't for him any more.... It had been THE only thing he ever wanted or cared about for 3yrs! I have a good supply of Thomas items still in the packages that I plan to sell.
 
I only have 1 kiddo, so far. But, I buy for nieces and nephews, too. I buy things like scrapbook kits for the older girls, puzzles, games, clothing, etc. Things I know most kids like. The scrapbook kits are fun.....girls love stickers and fun papers. The little girls love floor puzzles and games. Cute jammies are always fun at Christmas. Boys like Hotwheels, puzzles, games and Legos. My sister's kids are all homeschooled, so they aren't into the big ticket items. They don't even know about them. But, they love horses and crafts. So, they are easy! This year I'm trying to get more stuff than I usually do, because I ran short last time. Never underestimate the fun, little stuff! I do have a gift closet!!!!
 
When I used to stock up on toys, it was more for birthday parties than for people's specific gift lists. Now, with older kids, I understand the importance of sticking to the list. I do muy my nieces clearance stuff, but they are 3 & 1, so they really don't have specific "wants."
 
I get a variety as well...that way I can try to meet their needs...honestly though we ask my BILAW what my nephews' like, he never answers us despite multiple tries so we just guess...when he scowls at what the kids get we just smile and say "enjoy".
 
I buy for bday parties. In fact, I just ordered 4 of the same item from Target.com for the girl's parties we will be attending in the next few months. I'm not very original, but it saves me a ton of money.

Last year I bought a ton of stuff at Target's clearance for my own kid's bdays/xmas. Since my son was just 1, and my daughter just 3, I didn't have "request" lists to deal with. My daughter did put in some requests for xmas this year, but I was easily able to purchase those small things to go along with the clearance toys since the clearance toys were so darn cheap.

I couldn't get out yesterday to Target, so I am hoping htere is still some stuff there this morning!

Any toys that I don't plan on giving away, I donate. I gave some great stuff to a local group for xmas this year.
 
dragonfly said:
When I used to stock up on toys, it was more for birthday parties than for people's specific gift lists. Now, with older kids, I understand the importance of sticking to the list. I do muy my nieces clearance stuff, but they are 3 & 1, so they really don't have specific "wants."
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we do the same thing...we always have gifts on hand for those last minute birthday parties....i also buy small toys that my kids like and i use that for rewards like being honor role, being a good brother/sister, finishing a great book, etc...

i pride myself for being thrifty but kids toys r so expensive you just have to say goodbye to your hard earn $$ eventhough it puts a smile on their faces it still hurts my wallet....plus i once send my husband w/ the kids toy shopping for one of their new friend and he spent $50+ and that drew the line for me.....
 
Mom2Dee said:
My only blunder so far was when my son decided in the summer that Thomas wasn't for him any more.... It had been THE only thing he ever wanted or cared about for 3yrs! I have a good supply of Thomas items still in the packages that I plan to sell.
Click to expand...

That happened with me and the 2 older grandsons...When they were 5 their whole Christmas was Thomas...they gave me this look as if to say "Grandma, that's sooooooooooooo pre-school" That's when I stopped buying character stuff for them, unless requested...
 
I started a shelf right after Christmas. I always kept toys that were 'regiftable' especially duplicates. I am lucky enough that we have SO much with pass me down toys from cousins that my boys don't even realize yet. I moved a shelf up to the attic so the boys won't see the giftable toys and want to play with them.

I tend to buy family games or 'guys' (action figures) or animal toys...I also buy bubbles, jumpropes, silly straws, and sidewalk chalk whenever they're cheap to supplement gifts...and always books.

I went out to buy a toy for the girl across the street whos birthday is the 27th. I CANNOT believe the mark up since Christmas!!!!!!!! I bought something and HAD to return it...The price I paid was haunting me!

So I like the idea of having toys for gifts already for when we're invited somewhere.
 
I only buy toys for my niece when I see the great posts on here. I don't buy many things, but I usually buy her the Target brand "1st Generation" outfits (I think that's the name) for her American Girl dolls.

To answer your q, yes, I still ask for her "list" and get stuff on her list. This year the list included American Girl stuff... so my clearance purchase from July worked out great! I also went to the AG store and got her dolls a cute snow outfit... kind of nice for a winterish Christmas gift.
 
We just don't go to that many parties! I don't know what the deal is, but kids around here don't have them. First I thought it was that my kids weren't getting invited, but that's not the case. They just don't have them. Maybe they have big family parties. When they do have partieis, it's a big blowout like a movie and dinner at a restaurant for 15 1st graders or 25 kids at Monkey Joe's.

Anyway, it's not frequent enough to have a whole shelf or closet. I do have one Lego watch in my closet in case I need it, but that's it.
 
I read coupongoddess but I actually posted before I read her entry. I read about the Target sale on Hip2Save which I find more helpful to me than coupon goddess. She seems to blog more about other things like going to blog conferences and things given to her by companies for free which I can't relate to, than actual couponing. I just wish I could be more in a toy shopping mode to hit that Target sale, but I'm sure it's all gone now.
 
boyzrus said:
We just don't go to that many parties! I don't know what the deal is, but kids around here don't have them. First I thought it was that my kids weren't getting invited, but that's not the case. They just don't have them. Maybe they have big family parties. When they do have partieis, it's a big blowout like a movie and dinner at a restaurant for 15 1st graders or 25 kids at Monkey Joe's.

Anyway, it's not frequent enough to have a whole shelf or closet. I do have one Lego watch in my closet in case I need it, but that's it.
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Where do you live, so I can move there :giggles:? My son's been invited to 5 parties since the school year began, and that's just the beginning! Then there's my good friends' kids... whether they have a party or not, they get gifts from me.
 
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