K.A.
Last year my MIL was on a tight budget. My kids were 9 and 5 and really into playing teacher. She went to the dollar store and bought them all kinds of things to set up their rooms like a classroom. Markers, crayons, coloring books, ruler, alphabet, bulletin board stuff.....THEY LOVED IT. They had a lot to open and she said it was the most inexpensive Christmas ever. Plus being with her is always a plus. The kids were happy, we were happy and it was a great holiday. You don't have to be cheap to buy less expensive things that people will like. The bargains are out there, you just need to search.