Holidays

Store Bought Halloween Snacks That Aren’t Candy

September 22, 2018 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

31 store bought Halloween snacks that aren’t candy to send with your kids to school.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

The one thing about Halloween that I didn’t fully grasp before becoming a mom was all the sugar surrounding the holiday. Of course I knew a big orange Jack O Lantern bucket would come home filled with candy on Halloween night after a long evening of Trick or Treating.

What I didn’t realize was that there would be school parties and fall festivals and hay rides and trunk or treats that seem to take up the entire month of October. All of these activities seem to center around candy and treat bags and cupcakes.

I don’t mind my kids having treats but 31 days in a row seems a little excessive so I created a list of store bought Halloween snacks that aren’t candy.

Some on this list are healthier than others. I think it is important to remember that these are still treats so it isn’t going to be like giving out carrot sticks but they are an improvement from just pure sugar candies. (And your kids will still like you, not sure about that if you start handing out carrots!)

Check out these 9 Healthy options for your Halloween Candy Bowls.

Store Bought Halloween Snacks That Aren’t Candy

When you need something to take to a school class party, there is not always time to whip up some crafty Pinterest masterpiece.

This list of store bought Halloween snacks that aren’t candy provides at least a slightly healthier option for your kiddos and their friends.

Also, since candy has gotten so expensive, some of these make economical treats to hand out on Halloween night to your Trick or Treating crowd. All of these items are individually packaged if you want to pass out on Halloween or if your school requires the treat to be packaged by the manufacturer.

Savory Treats

Pirates Booty Trick ARR Treat Bags

Ghosts & Bats Veggie Chips

Snyder’s Halloween Pretzels

Halloween Boom Chicka Pop

Halloween Goldfish

Utz Halloween Cheese Balls

Halloween Pringles

Halloween Cheez Its

Frito-Lay Halloween Variety Pack

Pretzel Crisp Minis

Popcorn Balls

Skinny Pop Halloween

Sweet Treats

Sour Raisins – these are so good & my kids think they are fruit snacks

Quaker Chewy Halloween Mini Granola Bars

Welch’s Halloween Fruit Snacks

Sunmaid Halloween Vanilla Yogurt Raisins

Annie’s Halloween Bunny Grahams

Halloween GoGo Squeez Applesauce

Halloween Flipz Pretzels

Stauffers Animal Crackers

Halloween Fruit Roll Up Minis

Little Debbie Brownie Pumpkins

Halloween Chex Mix Muddy Buddy (Peanut Butter)

Orange Water Flavor & Halloween Straw – Tie together with a piece of ribbon for a cute beverage treat

Orange Jello Cup – Draw a Jack O Lantern face on with a sharpie if you want to make it extra Halloweenie

Vanilla Pudding Cup – Draw a Ghost face on with a sharpie

Glow in the Dark Plastic Halloween cup & Milk Magic Straw

Rice Krispies Halloween Mini Squares

Spookylicious Pop Tart – You can probably buy two boxes and give each kid in the class a 2 pack. Now they have a treat for breakfast! (leave it up to their mom to add some fruit, not your problem!) They are also making these Halloween Pop Tart minis this year which I like also.

Chocolate Twinkies with S’cream Filling

Halloween Hostess Glo Balls

Blue Bird Halloween Cakes

Nabisco Halloween Snack Cookies Variety Pack

The kids will still love these choices and you will feel good about adding some variety to the class goody bag, Halloween Party, or the Trick Or Treat bag.

If you enjoyed this list of 31 store bought Halloween snacks that aren’t candy, you might also like these No Bake Ghost Snack Cakes or these No Bake Pumpkin Cupcakes. And if you prefer a non-food Halloween option, check out these 16 Halloween Favors that Won’t Get Trashed.

And after you take care of all the kid stuff, have some “me” time by reading these 45 awesome pumpkin spice products that you can find on Amazon. I know you are in the pumpkin spirit by now!

Non-Food Favor Option

These are a bit more expensive to make so they might not be an option for Trick or Treat handouts if you get a lot of visitors. But they are so super cute for favors, Halloween parties, school parties or to “Boo” your neighbors with kids!

Make these Paint A Pumpkin Kits!

They are super easy, come with a free printable and cost just a couple of dollars per kit to make. Click here for the instructions and printable!

30 Christmas Gift Ideas for Women in Their 30s

November 21, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

These 30 Christmas gift ideas for women in their 30s are at the top of their list this holiday season. And now you know what to get them (or what to put on your own list)!

I don’t know about you but this time of year I am always struggling what to buy others and even what to put on my own Christmas list.

My sister is a 30 something year old as am I. So as I was trying to come up with gift ideas for her and things to put on my own list, I thought I would share some of my favorite things this year with you.

These presents range from about 5-$10 to total splurges (and everything in between)! There is surely something in your budget that will be well received and loved this Christmas season.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Check out this easy face care routine that I use for women in their 30’s.

30 Christmas Gift Ideas for Women in Their 30s

The year of 2020. Ah, what a year. Where else better to start in the list of 30 Christmas gift ideas for women in their 30s than the pajama aisle!

1. Women’s Perfectly Cozy Pajama Set

Target. Target. Target. Oh how I love thee. These pajamas are amazing! so soft, comfortable and reasonably priced! I’ve literally worn these every single night since I got them.

My husband grabbed them the other morning & was like can I please wash these. Haha – only if you can get them dried by 9 pm.

Fit: the fit is generous. I wouldn’t say big but definitely a comfy/pj style fit. I’m a medium & 5’4. They are a bit long on me which doesn’t really matter to me because they are pj’s but these would be great for taller women that don’t want their ankles hanging out.

They also have flannel and nightgown options in this same “Perfectly Cozy” line. I asked my husband for the leopard print PJs for Christmas.

2. Hanacure All In One Facial Set

When women hit their 30s and especially mid 30s into the 40s, tiny fine lines start popping up that you are not used to. Skip the Botox and try this home facial kit.

Admittedly it is is a little strange but better than a bunch of needles to the face! You simply paint the product onto your face using an included brush. Then I hop in the tub with a good podcast.

Here is the weird part, as the product starts to dry it pulls your skin and feels tight. You are supposed to keep your facial muscles still – no talking, smiling etc.

I don’t think it hurts at all. Just feels tight. I do it at night because my face is typically a little red immediately after doing a mask.

When I wake up the next morning I can tell such a difference. My mom is in her early 60’s and she uses it and always gets compliments about how she looks much younger than her actual age.

This is definitely a worthy splurge and one kit will be 4 applications. I space mine out to around 1 a month so that would last me for four months! Pretty economical when you look at it like that.

3. Apple AirPods Pro

When you are in your 30s, sometimes you buy a little splurge for yourself! Sometime during the COVID lockdown, these ear pods made their way into my cart. Great for women that love listening to music or those true crime podcasts!

I use them on my walks, at my desk and even in the bath tub! Don’t skimp on these and get the lower cost model. The AirPods Pro have the cushioned ear piece and that comfort is worth the extra money!

4. C.C. Ponytail/Messy Bun Caps

Love these messy bun/pony tail caps. They are great for early morning at the ball field or Saturday morning errands.

Being able to pull her ponytail through the top is so much more comfortable & just makes it look cuter! Don’t love the leopard? They have tons of different colors and prints.

5. Boxycharm Subscription Box

Boxycharm is one that I have subscribed to before but there are tons of options out there. In the monthly Boxycharm box, she will receive 5 full size makeup or skincare products.

I love getting to try new products and the fun of the surprise every month is exciting. Several items that I received over the months became favorites and I wouldn’t have known about them without this subscription service.

6. Brumate Slim Can Coozie

If she loves the Truly or White Claw spiked seltzers, she will love this can coozie! The stainless steel design keeps your drink cold and the slim design fits the cans perfectly.

7. Bissell Crosswave

I know, I know. It is a big joke to give a woman a vacuum cleaner. But this is one of my top picks because it is so amazing. You can read the complete review of this product from my perspective here.

It is a time saver and cleans so much better than my steam mop does.

8. Bamboo Charcuterie Board

Women of this age grew up eating Lunchables at school every day. And now they love the grown up appetizer version of their old lunch staple.

This charcuterie board has a hidden utensil drawer that holds the spreaders and cutlery. Here are some ideas for things to put on a charcuterie platter.

9. Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask

This product is so moisturizing and easy to use. It is great especially in the winter months when your skin faces all the harsh elements of winter.

The little bottle goes a long way too & will last much longer than you might expect.

10. Sweet Water Candles

A nice burning candle and a bubble bath is one of my very favorite ways to relax. These candles are hand poured in Pennsylvania & I always like supporting American made.

11. Belif Eye Bomb

I received this product in an Influenster Vox Box and it is amazing. After a particularly stressful week, I noticed the skin around my eyes was looking tired & the fine lines seemed a little more bold then normal.

After just a couple of applications, I could see a difference in the appearance of my face. It also has a nice and light scent without being overpowering.

The product is very moisturizing and a good consistency without being greasy.

12. Love Beauty and Planet Hand Cream

The size and price of this hand cream makes it a great stocking stuffer. It is a clean product that is Vegan, Dye-free and paraben free. I love it because it has a light scent that smells nice but doesn’t overwhelm.

It is a good consistency without being greasy or watery. My skin is looking much better being hydrated!

13. Dry Bar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush

Love the idea of a blow out but no time to do it or hate spending the money on it? This Dry Bar blow out brush combines a blow dryer and a round brush in one.

It works great to add volume and make my daughter’s very thin hair look fuller and healthier. I found it to be a bit more of a learning curve for my thick and wavy hair. But once you get it down, it offers a sleek look.

14. Aerogarden Havest Elite 360 Herb Garden

This one is on my list for this year! It is a counter top unit with a sleek design that grows herbs using an LED light. Which makes it perfect for growing in apartments or condos with low natural light!

They have larger units if you have a bit more space and want to grow up to 24 different pods. The idea of having fresh herbs at my fingertips without the worry of killing them sounds lovely. The units even have a vacation mode!

15. Ello Stemless Wine Glasses

When we were on vacation a couple of years ago, the condo that we stayed in had these wine glasses. I used them once and was hooked.

You get a wine glass made of glass that is wrapped up in a silicone cover to protect it. Making it great for outdoor use by the pool or even just indoors without a coaster.

The cute colors don’t hurt either! Not a wine drinker? They have glass tumblers with the same silicone cover, great for water or sweet tea.

16. Tile Pro Pack

Always losing keys, purse or iPad? I know I do and these tile locators allow you to track any of your lost items with the app.

Such a a great tool to help on those busy mornings when you don’t have time to look for those lost keys.

17. Modern Monet – Adult Paint By Number

A few years ago, the adult coloring books were all the rage. This year the stakes have been raised with this Modern Monet kit. Everything that you need to create your masterpiece is included.

18. Weighted Blanket

This one from West Elm is definitely a splurge but I love that it is so beautiful in addition to being functional. If the splurge isn’t in your budget, you can still have a more moderately priced weighted blanket this year for less.

19. Ugg Slippers

If she loves her boots, these house slippers will amaze her on the weekends. They have tons of styles and colors from the traditional brown Ugg color with cream fur to more fun and wild options like leopard or multi colored sequins.

20. Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker

I have been really wanting to break away from the coffee maker that I use. This Ninja looks amazing and delivers coffee house style mugs of deliciousness to you at home. The fact that it does iced & hot coffee is enough to make me want it – not to mention all the other benefits like no pods.

21. Pomchies Face Masks

Ok, I don’t know if this is actually going to be on her Christmas list but I have to mention it. These are absolutely, hands down the best facial covering out there. My step daughter came home from college with some and I immediately ordered a cart full for me and another daughter.

The masks are made of a swim wear material. The most comfortable & breathable mask you will ever wear and they dry super quick when you need to wash them with no shrinkage.

Throw a 2 pack in her stocking. It is 2020 after all – kinda like underwear, you just gotta have it.

22. A Mother’s Necklace

I was looking through a group that I’m in on Facebook and people were stating their Christmas wishes. Tons of mamas wanted a necklace with their children’s names on it.

I have a piece from Lisa Leonard that represents my kids and love it. My favorites are the bar necklaces personalized with names or the necklace with just the children’s birthstone for a little more subtle look.

23. Wine

She needs something to go in those cute wine glasses you got from #15 in the list! A nice red or white from Wine.com is a great place to start looking for the perfect bottle.

24. Le Creuset Dutch Oven

She can make soup or even sourdough bread in this versatile piece of cookware. There is no seasoning of the pan like you have to do for cast iron – making it easier to care for.

And there is a lifetime (yes lifetime) warranty on the product. Doesn’t get much better! Oh and the colors! I smile every time my red pot hits the stove.

25. Diamond Stud Earrings

Everyday earrings that look classy and nice and that can be worn all the time are a stable for a 30 something year old.

I like these mostly because they are reasonably priced. You can spend thousands of dollars on diamond studs but for me, I like something small and affordable (but still with some glitz).

I’m just always scared I will lose earrings and if I lost one that was crazy expensive I would be devastated.

26. Datebox Club

This is something I have wanted to try for a while. Now more than ever since date nights out are a little harder to do these days.

This subscription service sends you a monthly box filled with ideas and supplies for a date night at home with your significant other. I would love to receive this as a romantic gesture – how fun and sweet to have date nights planned.

27. Echelon Stationary Bike

An interactive smart bike is definitely an investment but I absolutely love it. You can read all about why I chose and Echelon over a Peloton here.

28. Bartesian

If she likes cocktails at home (and don’t we all – hello 2020 where no bars/restaurants are allowed), she will love this innovative gadget.

It makes cocktails and margaritas with the push of a button. Pretty much a Keurig meets happy hour.

29. Marley Spoon Subscription

Your 30s usually come with lots of responsibility. Maybe a busy job, a family and a mortgage. The stress of getting it all done can be overwhelming and Marley Spoon makes it easier.

I’ve personally used Marley Spoon. It is a food/meal service company where you go online, select a few recipes that look good & then Marley Spoon sends you a box with the recipe and all the ingredients.

No grocery shopping. No buying a lifetime supply of some weird ingredient that you may never use again. Just exactly what you need to try new recipes and have a mindless dinner each night.

30. A Me Time Experience

I wrote a post about what moms really want on mother’s day and I feel like it holds pretty true for any gift giving season. You can read that whole post here for more ideas on what moms really want.

Wrap up a hotel reservation print out, a bottle of wine and some cozy slippers or a gift certificate to the spa. She will love it.

24 Days of Christmas Books Tradition – A Unique Advent Calendar Countdown

October 23, 2018 by Stacy Craft 6 Comments

Traditions have come to be one of my favorite aspects of a holiday. The familiarity and anticipation of making a special dish or doing a family activity year after year is so special.

Our newest holiday activity is our 24 days of Christmas books tradition – a simple and educational twist on an advent calendar.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Last year I started this new countdown to Christmas for our family. I wrapped 24 Christmas books and put them under the tree. Every night before bed, the kids got to choose a package to unwrap and we read it together.

Sometimes a cup of hot cocoa or a warm chocolate chip cookie was included as a treat to go along with our book. It’s so fun!

I have tried other advent calendars in the past but it seemed like I was just spending $20 on junk that was not getting played with or used. With the books, I felt good about buying something that we would definitely use and is educational for the kids.

24 Days of Christmas Books Tradition

The best thing about this tradition is that it doesn’t have to cost a lot. My plan to obtain the books for this DIY Advent Calendar is simple and easy.

1. Use What You Have. Find Christmas books that you already have at your home. I was shocked to find we already had 19! We love books, what can I say?

2. Shop for Cheap Books. Go to Thrift stores or use Facebook/Online Garage sales to find seasonal books. I can often find these for just a dollar or two which makes it an inexpensive option.

3. Buy a Few New. I am using Amazon for this because I find their prices on books to be pretty good and they are delivered right to my door. If I am going to buy something new for my kiddos, books are always something that I don’t feel too guilty about and there are many on Amazon for $3-4 dollars.

4. Library You could even use the library to expand your Christmas book selection for free! Just make sure you use care not to get tape on the books (so that you don’t damage the cover). And be sure to keep up with the return due date so that you don’t get charged any late fees.

Creating the Christmas Advent Book Calendar

My daughter absolutely loved this activity last year. She spent tons of time picking out the package that she wanted to open.

It is like 24 days of Christmas blind bags (are your kids obsessed like mine?) with an educational twist. And instead of some dinky toy, we get to read a book together as a family.

First, find 24 Christmas books.

Next, wrap each book individually.

Each night leading up to Christmas, your child selects one book to unwrap and then you read it together.

It is so much fun! And while it may seem like a lot of work to wrap 24 books, it goes really quick and adds so much excitement to the evenings leading up to Christmas.

New Books for Christmas 2019 (2020 Update Below)

Since my oldest will be 6 this year, I am updating and adding a few new books this year. We will still reuse quite a few of the books listed below but will add a couple of new ones to keep things fresh and age appropriate.

Here are the books on my list:

Katie the Candy Cane Fairy

The Mouse in the Hammock, a Christmas Tale

Bear Stays Up for Christmas

Poke A Dot – The Night Before Christmas – This one looks like something my 2 year old will adore.

2020 Update

Here are the updates that I made this year to our library.

Splat the Cat Christmas Countdown

Cocoa’s Cranky Christmas

A Very Fiona Christmas

One Baby Jesus

What If I Don’t Want to Do 24 Days of Books?

Don’t! You can totally customize this to whatever time period that seems reasonable for you. I think 12 days would be a nice intro into this DIY Christmas Advent Calendar.

Original Books for Christmas Advent Calendar

Here are ideas for books that we are reading this holiday season or that we may purchase. After shopping our house for Christmas books, I will search some thrift stores and Amazon for a few fresh books to put into the mix. I hope you try this 24 days of Christmas books tradition!

Look & Find Christmas Bible Stories – We have the Rudolph version but I love this biblical version to remind us of the reason for the season.

Touch & Feel Christmas – I got this for my daughter a few years ago and now it is perfect for our newest little one. And my older one still loves to touch and feel the book! So it entertains us all.

Frosty The Snowman Board Book – No list is complete without the classic Frosty the Snowman. I like this one because it plays music and my kids just love to push a button!

Frozen Olaf’s Night Before Christmas – A friend gave us this book last year and it is a favorite. If you have a Frozen obsessed little one, I think they will love this book/cd combo.

My Snowman Book – Not really Christmas but I usually include it since it goes with the winter theme. It is a cute little book with vibrant pictures. I bought this a few years ago for my oldest that will now be passed down to the baby.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas – A couple of years ago, my daughter discovered the Grinch movie at Christmas time. In June, we were still watching Grinch at least a couple of times a week. Despite that extreme we didn’t ruin a good thing. We still love this book!

Llama Llama Jingle Bells – The entire Llama Llama series is so good. Those silly llamas always have us giggling.

The Berenstain Bears & the Joy of Giving – The message in the Berenstain series is a good one that I like sharing with my kids.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – You will be reminded of your childhood while reading to your kids with this book. It is a great price too!

Elmo’s Countdown to Christmas – Lift the flap books are great to keep the attention of younger kids. This will be a new one for us but it gets great reviews.

The Sweet Smell of Chrismas – Eeek! It is a scratch and sniff Christmas book! Did you have this as a kid? Scents of hot chocolate, Christmas trees, apple pie & more.

Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas – Since the Fancy Nancy show debuted on Disney Jr. my daughter has been obsessed. The Halloween book was a winner, so this one is going on my list. There is also a Disney Jr. Fancy Nancy Ice Skating book if you don’t mind a winter theme.

Happy Holidays, Bubble Guppies – A lift flap book! We have a non-holiday Bubble Guppies lift flap book and it is always fun to read.

Weird but True Christmas: 300 Festive Facts – This National Geographic kids book would be fun for the Elementary school child. I may add this to our list in the next year or two.

The Begginer’s Bible, The Very First Christmas – A great way to teach younger kids why we celebrate Christmas. This book is such a great price!

A Charlie Brown Christmas – I love bringing some of my childhood memories into my kid’s childhood.

Pete the Cat’s 12 Days of Groovy Christmas – We have other Pete books and they are so funny. We may try this one for our preschooler this year.

Merry Christmas, Mouse – The mouse series is so much fun. I love how they do one for most holidays.

Paw Patrol Holiday Helpers – Paw Patrol is one of those cartoons that actually doesn’t get on my nerves! Here is a cute little holiday book with your kid’s favorite pups.

Just A Snowman – The Little Critter books are a cute series and always so affordable.

The Night Before The Night Before Christmas – The story of one family that is having trouble getting their act together. The author possibly modeled this after my family?! It feels like that sometime. We enjoy this funny take on a classic.

River Rose and the Magical Christmas – The Today show featured this book written by Kelly Clarkson. It also comes with a link to listen to a song recorded by Kelly.

The 12 Engines of Christmas – This Thomas the Train book will entertain both my kids which is always a win.

Christmas Cookie Day – Like many, making Christmas cookies is one of our most anticipated traditions.

This twist on a traditional advent calendar was a complete success at my house last year. Will you try this 24 days of Christmas books tradition this year? Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

If you love to give books as gifts, check out this unique baby shower gift idea.

Merry Money – A Lesson in Earning and Giving

November 1, 2019 by Stacy Craft 6 Comments

Merry Money bucks allow kids to earn “money” by working hard and then giving generously by redeeming their Merry Money for gifts for others.

Christmas is such a magical time of year when you have young kids. The lights, shiny new toys and Santa bring tons of fun to the season.

But as we move through the calendar towards Christmas, I want my kids to remember the true reason for the season.

We talk about and celebrate the birth of Jesus but I also want to encourage them to begin to understand the joy of giving. That may be a little over my 2 year old’s head but I want to start early.

And since my daughter will be 6 this year, I wanted to start to teach her not only about giving but also earning (which is a lesson that is good all year round). Learning that a piece of what you earn should be used to give to others. That there is joy in seeing happiness on the face of others. That it is better to give than to receive.

So that is where the Merry Money concept was born. A fun and easy way to teach kids about earning money through hard work and then giving to others.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Merry Money – A Lesson in Earning and Giving

As a kid, my mom always let us pick a sibling gift for each other at Christmas.

We would each get to shop and choose a gift that would be fun for the other. An arts an crafts kit or a small toy was typically what we chose. We still do it to this day as 30 something’s, our gifts just look a little different nowadays.

I wanted to continue this tradition with my children but decided to take one more step this year! I’m introducing the Merry Money earning system to our kids this year.

What is Merry Money?

Merry money is a Christmas currency for kids that can be earned by doing chores or other tasks.

It is then used to buy gifts for others.

It could be for children’s siblings or they could even use their Merry Money to buy gifts for Mom and Dad or as a donation to kids in need.

The only restriction for Merry Money is that it must be used to purchase things for other people. Merry Money can’t be used on yourself.

You can print this free currency here.

Earning Merry Money

So how do kids earn with this system?

As the parent, you can set up your rules/reward system to work best for your family. Here are some ideas on ways that my kids will be able to earn Merry Money this holiday season.

Ideas For Kids To Earn Merry Money

Toddlers/Preschool

Help Tidy Toys
Help Dust Furniture (this is never done great but for some reason it is one of my kids favorite chores)
Put socks away in drawers
Wipe up Spills
Help remove laundry from dryer

Elementary Kids

Play nicely with sibling (while you get Christmas wrapping or other chores done)
Clean Room
Put clothes away
Wipe Down Counter tops
Put Dishes away
Help Make A Meal for the Family

Pretty much any age appropriate chore can earn some holiday cash.

How Much Is Merry Money Worth

Again, you decide.

I plan to have each printable Merry Buck to be worth $1. This will give my kids a few weeks to earn several sets of Merry Money.

Our sibling gifts are usually somewhere between $10-20 each. So if you start in mid-November, the kids will be able to do a few things a week and hit that 10 or 20 dollar mark.

If you are short on time, you could have the bucks be worth 2 to 5 dollars. Your choice.

Using the Christmas Bucks

Once you are happy with the amount of Merry Money that your kids have earned, they can cash it in for a gift for their family member.

You can do this 2 ways, at a retail store or online.

Online Shopping

Since online shopping is my jam, I will just have the kids count the number of Merry Money bucks that they have.

So ten Merry Money bucks will equal $10 in our house.

Then we will spend time searching online together for something perfect that falls into the price range of the amount that they have earned. I will collect the Merry Money from each child and then just pay using my debit card.

Retail Shopping

Since Target will not honor a Christmas currency at their cash register, you will need to make a modification.

I would still have the kids count their Merry bucks and then you can convert that to actual cash.

Go to the store, select a gift and they can pay using real US dollars.

Lessons Learned Using Holiday Cash

The kids will learn several valuable lessons with this Christmas activity.

Hard Work

They will work hard doing chores and other tasks in order to earn their Merry Money.

Kids will learn that hard work does not always result in instant gratification.

Saving

Kids will work on saving up for a “big” item vs. blowing their money as soon as they earn it.

Giving Is Better Than Receiving

They will also partake in the art of giving.

Yes, they will receive a gift on Christmas from their sibling too, so technically they will be equally reciprocated (or could be if their sibiling did equal chores and earned the same money).

But at the time of purchase they won’t receive anything and that is definitely a lesson for a young kiddo. Spending your hard earned “money” on someone else is something I want my kids to learn to find joy in.

You could take this even a step further and have your kids buy an item to donate to your favorite Christmas charity with their Merry Money.

More Fun Christmas Activities

Christmas time brings lots of fun treats, gifts and activities. Here are some of our favorites!

24 Day Christmas Book Advent Calendar

Elf on the Shelf Gifts Under $5

UPS-Fedex Delivery Driver Gift

Stocking Stuffers for A 1 Year Old

No Junk Stocking Stuffers Under $5 for 3-5 Yr Old Girls

Elf on the Shelf Gifts Under $5

December 7, 2018 by Stacy Craft 6 Comments

Our elf has been hanging around our house for the last 3 Christmas seasons. Lots of days she just moves to a new location and does not do much else. But on a few special days, she brings a little treat or gift to the kids.

Here are several elf on the shelf gifts under $5 that our littlest member of the family has brought to our home in the past.

Also remember, the elf is fun just to find. My daughter (just turned 5) gets the biggest kick out of searching for her every morning. So don’t get tied up in thinking that the elf needs to bring a treat every day.

Ours usually brings a small treat a few times a season.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Elf on the Shelf Gifts Under $5

When thinking about elf gifts, there are lots of options. I like small gifts because well the elf is small.

Also, since it is so close to Christmas, we don’t want to overdo it. But a fun little surprise from the elf is a great way to increase the anticipation and magic of the upcoming holiday.

Here are some of my favorite small elf on the shelf gifts under $5 for your elf to bring.

Breakfast with the Elf

The elf moves at night. So breakfast is one of my favorite elf on the shelf gifts under $5 to bring. I mean, your kids have to eat breakfast so a fun Christmas inspired breakfast delivered by their elf is oh so special.

Your kids will think your elf is the coolest for bringing these special breakfast treats! Throw in a banana or something to add a little nutrition! Of course this is just a treat – I don’t want the organic breakfast police on me!

Christmas Crunch Cereal – This is the breakfast treat that our elf brought this year.

Gingerbread Spice Oatmeal – I am not sure if my kids would eat this but it sounds good to me!

Hot Cocoa & Marshmallow Mini Donuts – I found mine at the grocery store. And can I just tell you, I broke my diet for one of these. And then I noticed the serving size was 4, so I went ahead and had a serving. I got these for the kids and the combo did not even sound that good to me but they are really yummy!

Sugar Cookie Poptarts – We had these at Halloween and they are so fun.

Clif Bar Peppermint Bark – What a fun flavor for a holiday granola bar.

Books from the Elf

The Littlest Elf – What is cuter than the elf bringing an elf book? We read this during our 24 Book Christmas Advent Countdown! It is a cute book about a tiny elf looking for his purpose.

Stained Glass Christmas Coloring Book – This is a small book with 8 pages that you color and then hang in a window for a stained glass effect. Cool concept and great price (especially if you need to get a couple to prevent fights).

A Christmas Celebration Sticker & Activ ity Book – This is by The Beginner’s bible which we own and love. We don’t have this activity book but it gets good reviews and looks like a fun way to remind kids of the reason for the season!

Disney Princess Christmas Eve Coloring Book – With 40 pages, this is a big coloring book of Princesses in Christmas settings. If your little one is Frozen obsessed or princess obsessed like mine, this might be a good choice.

Check out this cool 24 Days of Christmas books Advent Calendar for Kids.

Candy from the Elf

Candy Canes – We did a candy cane hunt this year during our A to Z Christmas countdown. My 4 year old searched around for candy canes hidden in our living room and had a blast. Your elf could hide the candy canes!

LOL Surprise Finders Keepers Eggs – My daughter would probably eat broccoli if it had an LOL Surprise doll on it. I made a huge list of LOL gifts because she loves it so much. The toy in these is very small but it is still a fun little treat and the chocolate egg gets eaten quickly!

Magic Seed & Candy Cane filled Candy – Our crazy little elf did this the other day. She brought two magic seeds (you could use M&M’s, cheerios, dried beans, raisins, tic tacs) and a bowl of powdered sugar. The note instructed that we plant the seeds and wait to see if they would grow. When we got home from school, the seeds had grown into two candy canes filled with candy! So fun and easy.

Hot Cocoa & Snowflake Shaped Marshmallows – We like to do hot cocoa and a Christmas movie a few times during the month of December. I would usually buy this anyway but it is a little more magical coming from the elf.

Other Cute Elf on the Shelf Gifts Under $5

Good to Grow Character Top Juices – My kids go bananas for these.

Frozen $1 Bill – Fill a 4 oz Glad container with water. Put a $1 bill in a snack size ziplock bag and seal it. Roll up the bag/dollar combo and stuff it in your water filled container. The elf will deliver a frozen $1 bill in the morning for the kid’s piggy bank. The elf should sit with an Elsa doll if you have one!

Christmas Grinch Bandaids – Kids love bandaids. Your elf could get into this box of cute bandaids & put a couple on herself. She leaves the rest for the kids. My kids always get bandaids in their stocking too and they are thrilled.

Rudolph PJ Pants – You can find cute pajama pants for $5 at Target. Our elf has even brought Elf on the Shelf pjs for our kids before (but those fall out of the $5 range).

Holiday Goldfish – The elf goes fishing and leaves some special goldfish for snack! Use a toothpick, lollipop stick or even a skewer for the “fishing pole.”

Hopefully this list of elf on the shelf gifts under $5 gives you some new ideas to make the magic of the elf come alive on the cheap!

18 Dollar Tree Gifts from Elf On the Shelf

Check out my other gift guides while you are here to make your Christmas shopping even easier!

We have LOL Surprise dolls and Frozen II gift guides. Stuff your stockings for under $5 for your 1 year old and your 3-5 year old.