Great Toys and a Great Holiday…Without Busting Your Budget

The Pawpalz Chattering Chico Monkey can be found at Toys R Us for $19.99!

By Christopher Byrne aka The Toy Guy®

Here come the holidays! And that means toys for kids. But if you’re like the vast majority of people we’ve spoken to over the past months, you’re probably concerned about your budget. The good news is that it’s still possible to manage your budget and have a great holiday. On the show on November 18, we’re talking about toys that are under $20—and you may be surprised at how much you can get for your money.

In fact, did you know that with more than 160,000 different toys on the market at any one time in the U.S., the average price of a toy is still about $10? Of course, you’re going to find some toys that are going to cost a lot more, but being on a budget doesn’t mean having no fun.

In addition to checking out the cool toys I shared on the show, here are some tips that can help you make the most of your holiday toy buying this year—and perhaps from now on.

Play value does not equal cost. We’ve all heard the story about the kid who plays with the box instead of the toy. Well, sometimes that’s because the box is more interesting, sorry to say. Or what about the people who say, “We had lots of fun playing with just a stick.” I know you can get a little tired hearing this stuff, but there is a point.  Play happens in the imagination, so toys that inspire imagination tend to keep kids engaged longer. Whether it’s a box of 64 Crayola Crayons ($4.99) or Bakugan sets ($4.99 and up), these are toys that are brought to life by kids’ imaginations. The play that tends to keep kids engaged the longest is active, creative play where they’re in the driver’s seat. Arts and crafts, construction toys, dolls and action figures all fit into this category. The way kids play with these are unique to each child, and you’re giving them the opportunity to express themselves through play. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to provide these experiences.

Go with what’s already in the toy box. If, for instance, your child is interested in LEGO sets or Hot Wheels or Polly Pocket, you can add to their collection with a new item. Virtually every toy brand has new add-on sets every year, and many of these are reasonably priced. Here’s the great thing about that: When you add a new toy to something your child is already playing with, all the other pieces come out again, and it’s like a whole new experience.

When you see something you want, buy it. I know it can be tempting to wait for sales, but think about the other costs of waiting for sales—gas to come back to the store, stress of not finding something you want, time lost searching at the last minute. Who needs that? (Plus, we don’t anticipate many deep discounts on the hot toys of the year, so you’re better off not waiting. And many stores have great policies where they’ll refund the difference on a purchase if the item goes on sale within some days of when you bought it. Check with each store for their policy.)

Share the cost. You may decide that you want to get one expensive toy for your child. Or a child in your life may have his or her heart set on one expensive item. This is a good time to team up with other family members to chip in to buy something together. We’ve consistently found that the value of making a wish come true is far greater than getting a lot of smaller things, which helps with something we passionately believe:

Avoid “present overload.” Sometimes kids get so many toys or gifts that they get overwhelmed. Really. It’s hard to appreciate the things you get when you’re getting tons of stuff. A few presents that are really appreciated will have a lot more meaning and won’t compete for a child’s attention. The value comes from giving kids things they’re really excited about, not the volume of presents they receive.

Manage expectations. We talk about this a lot, but it’s important. Every family is different, but when I was growing up as one of five children without a lot of money, my mother told us, “Santa has to bring toys for all the kids in the world, and even though his sleigh is magical, he can only bring so many toys to each child. Be sure you are careful about what you ask for.” It worked. My brothers and I were conditioned from an early age to know that we were going to get one “big” gift from Santa, and some things in our stockings. None of us ever remember being disappointed because we didn’t get more. You can set the tone for your family.

De-emphasize the gifts. Now, it may sound crazy for The Toy Guy® to say that, but it works. Gifts and toys should be only one part of the holiday—and maybe not even the most important. Time with family, friends, religious and school activities all make up the total “holiday package.” Oh, and don’t worry about me: I’ll be telling you about great things you can buy throughout the year!

Stick with your budget. Gosh, I know this can be tough at the holidays. Still, we’ve interviewed more than 100 parents over the past couple of months, and the one thing they tell us is that they don’t want to add up more credit card charges. We think that’s a good idea. Besides making your toys and gifts more expensive over time, adding to your credit card balance can be stressful and make the holidays harder to enjoy.

Have fun. That’s the most important thing of all. The holidays are supposed to be a joyous time—for everyone. We’ve never known anyone whose holiday was really “ruined” because a child didn’t a specific toy they wanted. It can only be ruined if you think it is. Toys and gifts are not measures of your value as a person: they’re an expression of the love you have. For me, the most fun of the holidays is thinking about the people I love, and coming up with something that’s perfect for them and expresses something about our relationship.

At the end of the day, it’s not about the packages under the tree, but the love in your heart and the time that you share with family and friends that will be remembered and treasured—and that will make the holiday.

We’d love to hear from you, and we’ll answer as many questions as we can throughout the season. And for more information about what’s hot in the world of toys and more—and a chance to win a hot toy every day—come see us at www.TimetoPlayMag.com

Comments

[gilbert h.]

On Friday's show (11-21-08), I'd like to know if you have the link, or are you going to set-up links about Fridays show.
THANK YOU
GILBERT

______________________________________________
Check out all the Holiday SoS information here:
http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/regisandkelly/special/holidaysos08/tech.html

[Norma B.]

Where can we find the toys shown on Nov. 18. Chico monkey and Regis?

[kari]

I was wondering where to get the monkeys that were on the show today? Please let me know!
Kari in Pennsylvania!

[Jeannae D.]

I just found both monkeys on ToysRUs web site.

[Jeannae D.]

I'm interested in both of the monkeys Regis showed on today's shows. I've searched several web sites and have been unable to locate them.

[sharon]

Hi, I am also looking for the Chattering Monkey shown on todays show...

[Sharyn]

Enjoyed your spot on Regis and Kelly, also have looked for the football kicker and the tallking monkey without sucess any help in were they can be purchased and the names would be appreciated.

Thanks
Sharyn

[sue and herb]

Looking for the chattery chico monkey

[Carey Sprigg]

You had shown two toys today on the show that I wanted to get some info. on. One was a golf set and the other was a football field goal toy. Where can I buy them and what are they called?
Thanks

[Sara]

Okay, how long have you been around?! I am just lovin' everything you have to say about toys this Holiday Season. Checked out your picks under 20.00 and most are on my children's list this year.

[Helen W.]

I would also like to know where to buy the Chattley Chico Monkey that was shown on the show today Nov. 18th.

Thankyou,
Helen

[Pam]

I would also like to know about the monkey's shown on Live. No one said much about them and they are jus the cutest things. Nothing mentioned on Lives website or the ToyGuy's either.

[Catherine]

Where can you get the Chattery Chico Monkey that Regis showed on Live?

Thanks!
Catherine

[Dina Thomas-Virrueta]

We would love the opportunity to have our product part of your Toy Guide. Our product "Build a Purse" is the perfect item for little girls ages 4-12 and is under $20.00. The gift of a "Build a Purse" kit allows little girls to design/build their very own little designer handbag. Each kit comes with an empowerment message inside, something for the girls to think about while they are designing/building their purse. Example the message might say...If you had an extra $100.00 what would you do with it to help a poor family.

Thank you for your consideration.
dekoposh, Inc. Team