i took two angels off the tree at work, thinking I would spend about $20 on each. The one is for a 14 yo and asked for a Wii game, Arent' those around $40??? The other child is younger but the only thing he asked for was a NERF Vortex Nitron, i just looked that up on the walmart website and it is $36. plus they asked for socks and undies and practical things that i would like to get them but not if i'm spending this much on a toy. I'm very sad about this. I was trying to do something nice and now i feel horrible because this isn't what i had budgeted. would you blow your budget, would you buy something else and hope they like it. This makes me never want to do this again. advice please.
Edited: Do you think there should be an age cut off on this?? At 14 it isn't like they belive in Santa, but yet I guess they are still a 'kid" and deserve something, but maybe something under $40 that doesn't require a $300 gaming system to play it.
oh and i forgot to say, this is not part of the Salvation Army, I have no idea how they do it. This is a local thing and I do think these children and their families created their wishlist.
They were sealed up so i couldn't check them out ahead of time. I' will do it ithis year, but never again. I actiaually questioning how many trees these kids have their names on all over our city. i would rather support somethign where people could come "shop" and pick out what they want for their family and wrap it and feel less like they are the object of charity, I think our police force does that i'll check it out for next year. I can't return the second wishlist, but i may ask someone to go in with me.
Do you have some neighbors that would like to go in with you? Maybe some girlfriends? Even just $10.. from a few would help..
We have done this in the past and many times, we end up with enough money to also send a gift card to Target!
Yes, I would blow my budget. That is wonderful that you are doing something nice but I feel you should figure out a way to make it happen. Please don't be discouraged, just plan better next year (choose one child, read the tags if possible and put more away during the year).
Being that my grandson received gifts through Angel Tree for his first Christmas (and still plays with his pal Scout) I would suggest returning one of them immediately so someone else can have the blessing of helping that child.
Thank you for your generosity and have a Merry Christmas!!
I think a sealed angel is a bad idea because then you can't check your budget against the wish list. I've never had a sealed wish list before. I said in the other one, there are many routes to charity. You said it was at work, so I'd contact the special events people or the organization in charge and tell them what a turn off that was, or you can simply find something else to donate to. There are many. Show up at a food bank with dry goods, for example. I would go for the practical things and not buy the toy. Maybe a gift card for part of it (like $10 instead).
There are Wii games out there for around $20 - they aren't the most current ones but my guess is this kiddo probably doesn't have a lot of games to begin with. The other option would be to give them a $20 gift card to Target or Walmart then they can go and pick out the game they want and you still stay in budget - i think that is fine for a 14 year old.
You can get a wide variety of the NERF guns at around $20 - especially if you shop Kohls and have a KOhls card - they are also doing deals and allow you to double up on coupons - they have one out now that ranges from 15% to 30% off - if you scratch in store you'll probably get 15% but I bet you can find something that will work.
Good for you for being generous - don't back out now at the last minute - these kids depend on you and this might be the only gift they get - keep that in mind.
If you can get a co-worker who has not yet picked from the tree, to go in with you for the toys wished for, that's great (maybe between the two or more of you, many things for the children can be realized).....If this is not possible, you get what you can truly afford. Don't blow your budget and DO NOT feel sad for being a loving, giving and decent person.
Blessings....
you should blow your budget this year. and next year only take 1 tag. we usually spend about $50 on those. get something practical and something fun. maybe you could ask around at work and see if anyone wants to go in on it with you. did you not read the tags before taking them? as to what the children wanted?
We just returned ours that my son picked, the little boy wanted a bike so we found one right around 50$ and we got a helmet. And the needs came to around 25$. More then we would have liked to spend but it's like we teach our son some kids dont get presents, and if we have to go without a gift or two we were goin to buy to help a child have a merry Christmas we will.
We did the Angel Tree.
I always, look at each one and choose the one's that fit my budget... and which I know, that we can get what is asked for.
I get one for each of my children. So that is 2 tags.
I spent about $40 for each one. Which is a lot for me, but my kids enjoy doing the Angel Tree each year. It is our tradition.
One was for a baby. The other was for an elderly man in his 80's. My children, choose for themselves, the child or adult that they want to gift.... and I discuss with them if the items on it, we can get or not.
I do get what the child or adult asks for.
I would, try to get them what they wish for.
But I know you like everyone, has a budget.
This is why I look at the angel tree gift requests first before I pick one to make sure it is not too expensive. You might be able to get a used Wii game at a Game Stop for half the price. Call a Game Stop near you to see what they say. I would put the other child's ornament back on the tree for someone else to pick.
The price of a Wii game really depends on which game it is. I actually bought one for my nephew that was under $10. I would probably go ahead and purchase what they asked for since it was so little and it is too close to Christmas to put it back for someone else to select. Lesson learned...take one and then if others are still there and it is within your budget, then take another.
Yes, I would get the child what they asked for. And I would also take a moment to remember WHY we celebrate this time of year. Whatever your belief system happens to be, try to remember that you don't know the whole story. Just assuming that that "these kids have their names all over the city" on angel trees, is a pretty judgemental thought. Yes, a Wii is an expensive gaming system, but do you know where the kid got the Wii? Maybe last year their family was sponsored for Christmas by an organization that bought them the system? Maybe it was purchased by a family member? Maybe he won it? Who knows??
When my kids get gifts off the Angel Tree the people have always spent a lot more than $20. I would see if some of your friends would go with you to get the items on the list. They are not getting these gifts if you don't come forth. We have never had a year they didn't each get a bike, helmets, at least one set of clothes each, and various other items on the list.
I am wondering if the Wii request is for the actual game console itself or just a new game that is played on the console. I think it might be for the console.
I understand about what happened though. I know that you have a good heart. I would just do the best I could and perhaps call the Salvation Army or whom ever is doing the tree and tell them what happened if you can't find some friends to go in with you.
Next time you might want to google the items on the list while you are looking at them and see how much the items are. They are usually big gifts like this since their families have no way of ever getting them any other way.
Good luck finding some others to go in with you!
I know they asked for specific items, but if you can get something in the ballpark, it will still be appreciated. Look for a store like Big Lots, a dollar store, or anywhere that does toy closeouts. You will be pleasantly surprised to find last year's Nerf and sometimes overstock or closeout electronic games at stores like these. I'd also check amazon and ebay and look at used but mint condition copies of the Wii game. You may find since it's so late you can't find anything anymore. There is nothing wrong with knock off versions of these toys either. They all work the same, they just don't have the name brand. You will save money and be able to still get close to what they want and need, which in the end is the most important part here.
Lastly, I found out last year that my parish's Angel tree kids aren't real people. They are merely general age and toy suggestions that are later handed out by volunteers who try to match those gifts with families when it comes to delivery time. I was pretty surprised because I always thought these requests were actually coming from a real kid. You might want to find out if this is the case with your program. If so, then the pressure is off to get exactly what's listed on the angel, and you can guilt free purchase something in your price range but close to the request.
I didn't do the tree this year because Walmart didn't sponsor it and JC Penney has it online.
When I would pick the kids off the tree I checked to see what was requested and if I could afford them. A budget was set aside and I would pick two or three kids. Sometimes I could get what was needed and it be in the range or a bit over but with discounts from one of my local stores I could get them at the budgeted amount. My kids are grown now and that is why I spend a bit more on the kids. There was a time when I used to make the clothes but I don't have the time any more.
Do what you can in the future. Just make sure you go over the requests before you pick them. I usually don't get the way out requests because that is over what I would spend.
This year I did a kid at work (university) and spent a bit more but since the child is actually at a children's home I figured he could use new items since he may not get them very often.
Have a good holiday season.
The other S.
I would blow my budget. I get three angels one for each of my kids but I spend a little time looking at the angel to make sure it's something I can afford. If you absolutely can't afford it, get some socks and underwear and a gift card or ask some girlfriends to chip in.
Most places do have an age cut off of like 13. Honestly though having years of experience with this, 20 bucks doesn't go far these days. Toys are expensive, and the practical things like socks and coats and boots are ALWAYS on the list. Unless you find a great deal, you can't even buy a winter coat and pair of boots for 20$ at walmart.
As for the video game the older boy wanted. Yes game systems are expensive, but everybody has one, or at least very few people don't have them simply because they can't afford them. They buy them with tax returns, or maybe dad just got laid off this year and the system is old. It doesn't make them greedy to ask for a game.
