What Grandparents Should Spend On Birthday Gifts

grandfather walking and holding hands with granddaughter

What grandparents should spend on birthday gifts? We love our grandparents. They introduce us to new ideas, offer perspectives that differ from our parents, and spoil us. And not just with unconditional love and letting us get away with things.

On average, grandparents spend between $50 and $100 on birthday presents for each grandchild. Depending, of course, on various factors like how old the child is, finances, and how many grandkids there are in the family. Grandchildren certainly don’t come cheap. But you can make your money go further by spending it wisely on gifts other than eventually neglected toys.

Finding The Right Birthday Gifts For Kids

Money Matters

Say you’re spending $100 on a grandchild’s birthday present. Let’s face it, most toys are prized for a moment and are then forgotten. How about putting that money to better use? Gift them something small and deposit the remainder at the bank by putting it into a savings account for them. Perhaps college savings? If you put $75 into a bank account twice a year, your grandchild will have close to $3000 by the time they’re 18. And if you put $25 into it once a month, that’s $5400 by the time they graduate high school. When they re-check student loans, having their first semester of college paid for (or almost paid for) will be more useful than video games and meaningless plastic they haven’t touched in a decade.

Terrific Toys

Of course, there’s no escaping them; toys, that is. But remember you don’t have to buy them every year. Try to find something fun but offers depth beyond sitting in front of a TV. Board games, books, sports equipment, and art supplies are great because they get kids thinking and moving. They invite the children to have fun but are more engaging than a stuffed animal.

Create Two Gifts

Creating something together is a great birthday treat. Whether you make something tangible like a vase or intangible like a memory, these sorts of things offer more than one expensive, ordinary gift. Go to the zoo, see their favorite story acted out at a theater, or spend a day doing puzzles; something, anything together. They’ll get two gifts: your time and something you’ve made together.

Kids won’t remember all the toys you’ve bought them. Sure they love presents (we all love gifts), but what your grandkids want most is for you to be around. They won’t be able to recall what they tore the wrapping paper off of two years ago but will remember you were there.

Still, wondering what grandparents should spend on birthday gifts? Whatever you think is best and want to pay. Grandparents only need to find something that reinforces their presence instead of the most expensive toy on the shelf.

 

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