On to one of the easiest class of people to keep Christmas under $5 – the ladies in your life. As I really got into researching this, I realized that I bit off way more than I could chew. Sisters and daughters is such a wide topic that can be broken down so many ways, so this is a very, very brief smattering of things you could get. That being said, here are 4 thoughts to keep in mind for spending money on girls for Christmas:

1.)   Whether they’re 8 months old or 80, they probably like shiny things. This includes junk jewelry, glitter, metallic things, seriously, part of our DNA is raccoon.

2.)   I think between birth and 20, a girl almost always wants to be older. So you can find some inexpensive item that is an everyday staple for anyone a few years older than your recipient and it will be a hit. From 21 on, a girl wants to be younger, so if you can find something inexpensive that connects with their childhood, you’re golden.

3.)   Pretty much every girl has a favorite candy, cookie, junk food guilty pleasure that can be found for a few dollars. Some girls are very specific about what it is. Others are considerably less so (personally, I never turn down Razzles, which probably also connects to point #2- is it a candy or a gum??!? I still don’t know).

4.)   We also respond well to sentiment at most ages. I remember the first Christmas gift my little brother ever picked out for me himself at the Christmas fair when he was in elementary school was a tiny porcelain ballerina. Despite the fact that I have never been a ballerina and, at that time, had never danced a day in my life, it was still the first thing for me he ever really picked out on his own. I still have it. It couldn’t have been more than $2 or $3, factoring in whatever the inflation rate since 1997 has been.

If you’re ready to get your DIY on, here are a few ideas for the little and big girls in your life:

1.) Pajama Eaters –The fiberfill, piece of white felt and the zipper will take you up to about $5 (and you’ll have to hunt a bit to keep the fiberfill in that realm). I’d also recommend repurposing the rest of the piece of white felt for the eyes instead of using sewable iron-on adhesives. If you are already a bit of a sewer or crafter and have some spare scraps lying around, you can keep this project under $5. However, these weird little creatures should make the kid and it’s mom pretty happy.

2.) Fairy Ring – for the littler ones, this cute fairy ring is a piece of cake to make and just takes some glue, a wooden ring and a few pieces of ribbon. Even people who struggle with DIY should be able to nail this one.

3.) Play Dough – If you ever buy those pre-sliced deli meats, you’re pretty set to make this project. I don’t know if I would bother with adding in the flavors of the dough – especially if your giving it to a young kid, probably don’t want to encourage them to actually eat it (although homemade play dough is safe to ingest). And depending on how much the mother of your recipient has angered you lately, I’d probably leave out the glitter as well. You can find 3 easy play dough recipes here (I actually remember my mom making these all the time when I was a kid!). Of you can go for something even easier that does include glitter and make this play dough kit instead.   

4.) Memory Game – for the younger crowd, you can make this memory matching game pretty easy with whatever paint you’ve got lying around, ModPodge and printed out pictures. You can cheat, spend a little more, and pick up prepackaged pieces of wood or you can swing by Home Depot and have them cut up a piece of wood for you much cheaper. http://www.allmylittlegems.com/2009/12/photo-matching-game-tutorial.html

5.) DIY Friendship Bracelet Kit – pick up some embroidery floss in fun colors (about $.50 a bundle), cut up some cardboard and add a few safety pins and you’ve got a friendship bracelet kit. You can make an envelope out of vellum like the author this blog post suggests or a decorated Altoid tin would do the trick too. Add some printables for different bracelet patterns and you’ve got a great DIY gift for an older girl.

6.) Pen Pal Kits – another easy gift to put together for an older girl is a Pen Pal kit. If you’re her older sister, cousin or aunt, you could also include a letter and an envelope with your address on it so she has someone to write to. If you’re really not into becoming a pen pal, look up pen pals online and see what you can find. As a kid, I remember writing away for a pen pal several times through ads on the back on my Disney and Nickelodeon magazines. Students of the World and The Teacher’s Corner are two trustworthy organizations to find a new pen pal.

7.) Jewelry Organizer – Just purchase a threaded rod (about $2) and some nuts and washers (about $1) and put your old soda bottles to work in this upcycled jewelry organizer.

8.) Trendy Tile Coasters – if you’re looking for a teenager, these tile coasters are very cute. You can pick up abut 6 tiles for around $2 at a home supply store and then find some cute craft papers and turn them into coasters. What does a teenager need with a coaster? Not much, but it goes back to that idea that owning a coaster is something that someone who has an apartment would do. Which, when you’re 15, is pretty cool. Of course, you could also make these for someone that does actually have an apartment.

9.) Button Jewelry – this chick has compiled quite a few different ways to turn some string and some buttons into very cool jewelry.

10.) Sugar Scrubs – cute sugar scrubs are easy to make and mostly made of items you already have at home. Check out this cute cherry sugar scrub – skip the aromatherapy oils and you’ll still come in under $5. If cherry is not your thing, you can find a list of alternative scrub recipes here.

If you’re not into the DIY thing, then give these $5 purchases a try.

1.) Little Mermaid Wallet – this Disney Fairytale Wallet is a steal from Amazon at $1.99. Perfect for the Disney Princess you know.

2.) Jacks – this traditional favorite is a great, simple gift for a little girl. For $5.00 you can pick up a dozen sets at Oriental Trading.

3.) Color Your Own Tea Set – a paper teapot and teacup set coloring kit. Complete with glitter for your little raccoon.

4.) A Cool Nightlight – nightlights like this Colorful Rabbit Light makes a unique gift for kids and teenagers.

5.) Card Games  – Pass the Ugly Sweater is a fun matching game for the whole family. Older girls might enjoy this Truth or Dare game.

6.) Magic 8 Ball – because the older you get the more valid problem solving technique this seems to be come.

7.) Nail Polish – you really can’t go wrong with nail polish for girls of pretty much any age. You can hit up the dollar store for a couple of bottles these inexpensive bottles in bright colors or splurge a little on a single bottle (seriously, there is a quality issue at work here too) of Hard Candy or Revlon. You can even cover the anti-holidays chick with this Bah Humbug bottle of nail polish. For littler girls, you can check out this scented set of nail polish.

8.) Polka Dot Shawl/Scarf – for the older girls, this Charming Warm Dot Scarf Shawl Wrap seems to be a trend that’s sticking. And if you’re going to follow a trend, $2.17 is the way to do it.

9.) $5 Gift Cards – $5 gift cards to stores like Claire’s or the Icing can let the girl pick out a piece of jewelry or make up on her own. If there’s a store like Dunkin Donuts, TCBY, Coldstone, Rita’s or even a 7-11 nearby that she likes walking to with her friends, a $5 gift certificate will pick up her next tab there.

10.) Glow in the Dark Items – you can pick up glow in the dark bracelets, necklaces, wands, etc. at the Dollar Tree and they make an awesome gift for girls of all ages (seriously, I’m 29 and I still love them – they’re great for birthday, holiday and bachelorette parties).

For older sisters and daughters, be sure to check out these posts of ideas for moms, wives and grandmas. If you’re still looking for more ways to save this holiday, enter my giveaway for a copy of Zero Budget Christmas by Jason Anderson and a bottle of ModPodge to get you started with these DIY projects. Contest ends November 30^th.

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Check out a new link party we’re linked up at over at Reasons to Skip the Housework (who wouldn’t want to check out a blog with a name like that?).

brokeGIRLrich readers, do you have a favorite present that stands out from your childhood? What other recommendations do you have (I really feel like it could be a nearly endless list)?