Granddaughters Birthday Gifts

The best gifts don't cost money. Spend a special afternoon with just the birthday child at a park, wildlife refuge, making cookies, doing a craft activity. The kids will cherish these special times far longer than they will remember a toy anyway.

Spend the gift of *time* with your grandchildren. When you are gone, they might not remember every toy, but they will have wonderful memories of you, if you build those memories now.

After high school or college graduation is pretty typical.
However if you can't afford it, then you can't get gifts for anyone at any age.
That being said, there are gifts you can make that won't cost much.
I have a rag doll my Nana made for me from old left over fabric, yarn for hair, embroidered face and stuffed with dryer lint.
It didn't cost her a thing to make it and it was made with love.

I don't think there is a specific age to stop gifts (at least not in our family), however, where you said you couldn't buy yourself groceries - I would think a card is fine.

I myself think it's important to be consistent. So I would acknowledge all of them, every year. Doesn't have to be fancy, but I wouldn't send a card/gift to one and not another.

Time or a note are lovely gifts.

My grandmother was on a limited income too. She made 3 felt Christmas ornaments for us every year. They would probably cost about $3, the same price as a fancy card. She made her own patterns too.

We were only semi-thrilled, but as we grew older, we appreciated them more and more. All of us lovingly hang them on our tree each year. I have some that are 48 years old that are starting to show wear.

These gifts have been cherished long after any toys or clothing have been discarded.

Please don't spend a penny more than you can afford.

Based on your last question, if you are giving up groceries to send gifts, stop now.

I wouldn't treat them differently, despite what Gamma said below - her circumstances are very different from those of most people.

I think a nice card and a note are fine. You can't buy children's love - so don't view gifts as required.

If you don't get a thank you note from any child old enough to write, I would stop sending immediately. Otherwise, I would send something VERY small if possible, but otherwise I'd switch to notes. I honestly don't think their ages have anything to do with it.

Well, sometimes you're closer to one than another and you'll want to continue with that one. I'm closer to my youngest grandsons rather than my older ones. My ex raised them and I raised the younger two. They're all with their mom now so I don't get any of them gifts anymore but when the younger ones are with me I often give them little things they want.

Like today, my two youngest were with me and I bought them both Fidget Spinners. One is ADHD and has SPD and the other one is on the spectrum somewhere but he hasn't been diagnosed yet.

It wasn't much of a gift but it was something they'd been wanting.

The older boy is moving out on his own and I'm sure there will be things he'll want. The next older boy is about to start driving and I imagine I can send him a gift card every now and then for a few dollars of gasoline.

SO I don't go out and spend a bunch of money on Christmas but I do little things for them when I have a chance to see them and do something special for them.