Saving Money on Toys

Kids need toys to play with for both entertainment and development. There is no end to the stream of new, innovative and expensive toys available on the market. This is a guide about saving money on toys.

Solutions: Saving Money on Toys

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My Frugal Life: Toys from Trash

"Tolan, how cool is that?" queried Papa who had just put together a wagon with his three year old grandson. And posing with his newly created robot, twelve year old Cole said, "I think I'll be able to use this for school too."

Both boys had just completed projects using the age appropriate kits that I gave them. These reusable systems encourage youngsters to stretch their creative abilities. Tolan and Cole found used items from around the house (like empty boxes, egg cartons, paper cups, bottle tops, and coat hangers) and they combined these items into something else (a wagon, a robot, a car, a space ship, an animal.)

"Just add a box and some imagination" say the creators of RoloBox, Tolan's kit. It contains four brightly colored plastic wheels and brackets, eight wing nuts, eight bolts, and one pulling handle. Tolan, with the help of his grandfather, enjoyed twisting and turning the screws and later pulling his stuffed animals and mommy's keys around the house.

Cole's kit, on the other hand, called MakeDo, is actually for young people over five (although some adults have been known to use it in their offices as well.) MakeDo comes with an inspiration poster and 165 reusable parts: two plastic safe saws, 17 lock-hinges, 73 connecters, and 73 releasers. In addition, its website provides video tutorials and a gallery where "kids" can upload their creative images, some of which will end up on the next poster. "We love making . . . not just making but making do, using stuff we have to make something new" is the motto of the makers of Cole's kit. He spent several hours building his robot, and his older sister Tayler contributed a handmade bird. Both said they were surprised at how quickly time flew and at how much fun they were having.

RoloBox and MakeDo are great gifts for special occasions and nice to have around the house for “rainy days.” (Of course, if one has a well-stocked workshop at home, he or she can put together something similar without having to purchase the kits as I did.) These gifts have benefitted my own grandchildren by encouraging creative activity; by helping them see value in everyday objects—even waste; and by providing a new way to look at and care for the earth.

By Viaux from Miami, Florida

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Save Packaging For Frugal Play Food

Plastic shopping cart holding food boxes repurposed as child's play food

I have many times bought the kids those play food kits, and I always found they tired of the stuff quickly. Now I save empty boxes of food and keep switching the stuff around so they always have different play food. Best of all, it's free.

By Coville123 from Brockville, Ontario

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Saving Money on Toys

Tips for saving money on toys as suggested by the ThriftyFun community.

Leave The Kids At Home

The best money saving tip I have is - don't bring your kids to the toy store with you.

By Samantha

Buy Used Toys

I find some GREAT toys at flea markets and yard sales. Some need washing or sterilizing to be safe. But they make handy gifts as well. I've never bought a toy for more than $3

By FFL

Craigslist and Other Tips

I agree about keeping kids out of toy sections. Our 2-year old son is a calm and quiet old soul, but put him near the toy section in Target and he goes ballistic! I love to see him so excited and exploring, but every time it's a task to pull him away from the "cars"!

Try http://www.craigslist.com for your neighborhood classifieds. There is also nothing wrong with finding some great, clean and barely-used toys at yard sales. My mother buys my son cars at yard sales, and they're fine. She disinfects them before letting him have them. You can find some very nice items that others are selling, and save tons of cash.

By Lisa B

Toy Lending Groups

The local library here in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada has a toy lending group. I know lots of moms who have used the program. Check with your local library, to see if they have a program like that in your area. It is a wonderful way for the kids to play with a variety of toys, educational, durable and they learn to respect the toys because they are borrowed. They learn to share, because the toys have to go back after a week or two for another child to borrow.

You can borrow the same toy back again later, which is nice too. Moms volunteer their time to come in to wash toys and keep the center open certain times of the week. A great way of not having to spend the money on toys, yet be able to provide their kids with quality educational toys and games.

By Valleyrimgirl

Thrift Stores

I go to our local thrift store for toys for my daughter. I've gotten a Little Tikes table and chair set for $3, a Disney princess ride-on toy for $1, a baby doll high chair and walker for just $1, and a Little Tikes wheelbarrow for $2. All they need is a little cleaning and they're good as new. So what if they're a little used, it beats spending so much for them at Wal-Mart or Toys R' Us!

By BrookesMommy

Watch For Vintage Toys at Garage Sales

Garage sales are great places for toys. You can even find some of the vintage stuff. Please be aware though that some toys (modern) that were made in China have been put on recall list for lead. Do your homework before giving toys to children. Thrift stores are another wonderful treasure trove for the bargain hunter.

By DEBRADJ.

Buy Quality

This may be sort of a backhanded way to save money on toys but I find that a lot of the cheaper toys out there are not worth the money. There are some standouts, like Playmobile (which is also not manufactured in China). I try to shop at my local toy store rather than a big box store or Toys R Us. Although the toys might cost a little bit more, they are also more particular about what they carry. I also try to minimize the amount of toys that I buy and pack up old toys before holidays so we can cycle through them after they are tired with their old stuff.

Thrift stores and garage sales can be a good place to get bargains and missing pieces of sets but there is something special about that brand new toy. I really try to get games and collections because I feel like they have more longevity for the kids.

By Jess

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Sand Toys For Kids From Recycled Items

If you have young children, this tip is for you. Recycle common household plastic containers and turn them into sand toys! Good examples for great sand toys are applesauce cups, laundry detergent scoops, powdered formula scoops, empty play dough containers, and of course the containers from margarine, sour cream, cream cheese, etc. My son always has plenty of containers to share at the park!

By Vickie

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Make Your Own Toy Food

I see toy food for sale all the time and think that not only is it a waste of money. It may not even be safe with all the recent recalls. Save pint-sized milk cartons, empty pizza boxes, empty mac n'cheese boxes, any food container; wash them out and tape the boxes shut and give them to your toddler. You can even cut out the pictures of food from the boxes. They love to pretend to cook and eat and this will give them something to do while you cook!

By Eugenia from Phoenix, AZ

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Buy Seasonal Toys on Clearance

Don't you hate paying the crazy prices they charge for kids toys - and doesn't it seem like the only ones that go on sale are the ones that are really expensive to begin with?

I noticed though that a lot of seasonal toys get put on clearance - and was able to stock up on some fun bathtub toys for my son by purchasing summer "gardening" and "sandbox" toys at incredibly low prices.

For 25 cents, I got a small plastic watering can which works great for rinsing shampoo out of his hair, and then is fun for him to fill and pour. (one store wanted $9 for a hair rinsing cup!) Sand sifters are fun for scooping bubbles or "sifting" water, and buckets, sand molds, and even shovels are easy to use, easy to clean, and can even double as snow toys when the season changes.

By Regina from Rochester, NY

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Don't Pay Too Much for Hot Toys

Avoid the temptation to go online and spend a lot of money on the toys your kids are clamoring for. All these toys will be available in January for their retail price.

If your kids want something big like a PlayStation 2, get on the waiting list at a local store and give them a rain check at Christmas.

Fletcher

Editor's Note: This is a great word of caution. Don't break the bank to buy the hot toys before Christmas. One thing you can do if you wanted to buy something that is no longer available is give an I.O.U. in a card.

Additionally, if you are buying presents online, make sure that the items are actually in stock. There has been some controversy about online stores selling items that they won't have in stock any time soon.

By Fletcher

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