Affordable Holiday Gift Ideas for Pets, Tots, and the Young-at-Heart

Author:
Rachel Weingarten
Dec 9, 2013

There have been a lot of studies over the past few years suggesting that experiences rather than tangible items make the best gifts. For instance if you take your honey to a concert or on a vacation, you can both reminisce about the experience for years to come. Which is all well and good, but come the holidays, don’t you love unwrapping something as well? I know that I do. There are still a few more parts left to my gift guide, but for this section, I’d like to include a hybrid experience and tangible gift section. Today’s offerings include gift ideas for the wee ones on your list.

For the Pet Lover

People with pets can be pretty vocal about their four-legged (or multi-finned) friends. And celebrity pet lovers from Sandra Bullock to Leonardo DiCaprio and Kristen Bell are very vocal about treating our animals well. So for the pet lover on your list, consider the following:

There are so many cute pet sweaters out there. PetSmart has a collection of Martha Stewart sweaters for everything to satisfy chic or kitschy dog owners (about $20). Know someone with a jumpy pet? They also have Thundershirt shirts, which help calm dogs during inclement weather.
Puplights are strong flashlights attached to collars to illuminate your pet when out walking at night (about $20).
Lazybonezz has an incredible array of accessories for furry fashionistas, with my favorite being the Flower Collar made of animal-friendly faux leather—think Chanel for collies ($29.99).
For young pet lovers: The Poochie & Co. pocketbook was first spotted at the Academy Awards when 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis, star of Beasts of the Southern Wild, wore hers on the red carpet. New to the collection is Chloe the Cat (about $19.99).

Want to add more meaning to your gift?

Pair a dog collar with a certificate to walk the dog every Saturday morning for six months.
Tell your girlfriend that Fido can sleep on the bed—provided he stays on his Lazybonezz Luxury Throw in leopard ($99).

For the Tiny Tots

According to UrbanSitter.com, over 50 percent of parents spend over $100 per child on holiday gifts. And while Prince George of Cambridge might not be on your list this year, there’s still lots of amazing loot for the wee ones on your list.

Let’s face it, almost all baby clothes are adorable. The Disney Holiday Gifts collection Tigger Cuddly bodysuit (about $19) and Minnie Mouse Holiday Dress however (About $39.95) elevate adorable to new levels.
For the crafty kid on your list Kiwi Crates is a subscription service that starts at about $19.95 for a single gift, but you can order a year’s subscription here. Included in each kit are several DIY projects with easy to follow instructions and everything needed to create that month’s projects—from faux stained glass, to superheros and Polar bears.
Tired of sharing your iPad with junior? VTech’s InnoTab 3S is a tablet geared to kids and includes WiFi, a camera and about 20 pre-loaded apps. (About $70 on Amazon.com)
And the gift we all wish we’d received when we were kids—TeePee for Me requires no assembly and turns a bedroom into an adventure. (Over $300 on OpenSky.com). Come to think of it, I still want one.

Want to push the thoughtful up a notch? Offer to mind your BFF’s offspring so she can head to a holiday party. Not the type to change nappies? Add a $50 gift certificate for babysitting services from UrbanSitter.com.

For Kids of Every Age

Who hasn’t dreamt of being a rockstar? Playmobil Pop Stars Stage hooks up to your MP3 player and allows you to stream music through the teeny tiny speakers. Itty bitty performers on stage can rock out to your favorite tunes. (About $35). Fun for kids and their grown-ups.
If your guy still isn’t over his Star Wars fixation, consider buying him a Star Wars Chewbacca Robe. After all, in theory it really is practical and warm. In practice though, it’ll allow your Jedi to growl around the house in pursuit of his next midnight snack (about $80, ThinkGeek.com).
Charm bracelets are a classic holiday gift for grown-up girls and Chamilia launched their Minnie Mouse Toggle bracelet (about $100) just in time for the holidays. Made of Sterling Silver with a silver and red Swarovski crystal toggle closure, this bracelet is perfect for grown up princesses. Some of my favorite charms from the new collection include the Naughty & Nice heart ($45), the Hope Crystal Dove ($50) and the Swarovski Star of David ($45). Want to really feed her Minnie Mouse obsession? eKids MF-M18 Minnie Mouse Earbuds are rhinestone encrusted and have enhanced bass so you can indulge both her naughty and nice sides (about $55, amazon.com).
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