I want to get my shopping done early this year. We're going to be extra tight come the end of the year so I want to do it now. We will have a 2.5 year old at Christmas time this year. I'm trying to think of something for her to open. I'll get her an outfit and probably a fun hat. What else could I consider for under the tree? I'd like to stay under $50. It can be multiple things, homemade things - well, to a point...., toys, games, etc.
Toss me your ideas. 
honeydew / 7622 posts
I love the saying "something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read." When our baby comes I expect to follow this gift giving mantra. It seems really practical.
pineapple / 12526 posts
We're getting C a set of Lincoln Logs! She'll be just over 2.5 at Christmas. They sell the Classic set for $40.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
This year, I have to be more organized because my son has also asked for a birthday party (he'll be 4).
As for gifts, I am thinking about magnatiles, a few board games, kinetic sand, new sheets for his bed, an easel (second hand)...
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
C got an easel last year. It's a chalk board on one side & a dry erase board on the other, with a clip to hold paper. She LOVES it and still plays with it daily.
Dress up clothes?
Does she have a play kitchen? New food or accessories for that?
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
LO will be a little over 2 this year. I think we will be doing little things: games, movies, possibly a tent from Santa, and then we will be enrolling her in gymnastics which she will love.
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
what about a big bin or basket of craft supplies? it'll seem like "more" to open, but you could come in pretty cheap!
I just printed the target coupon for $2 off $10 worth of crayola, and also had some manu coupons from the juicy juice package. I got $12 worth of stuff (markers, triangle crayons and a huge box of crayons) for around $6 - most of the crayola is BOGO 50% off right now at target. Plus with the back to school section/sales, you could really make out!
Markers, crayons, paper, glue sticks, stickers, etc.
pineapple / 12802 posts
There are some really awesome wooden toy sets on Amazon right now and a lot of them are under $50. I'm actually looking at some right now and they are SO CUTE.
We have already started xmas shopping. I try to start really early in the year because I don't like having a month of large spending. We have already bought a Dr. Seuss game, which is very interactive and fun. I don't know if a 2.5 year old would grasp the concept yet, but that's really dependant on the child.
squash / 13208 posts
Also if you want to get books - try used amazon books - you save money and the ones I have gotten look brand new~
pomegranate / 3779 posts
I am planning a dress up box for my goddaughter, who will be 2.5. I stalking goodwill stores for fun items like costume jewelry, cowboy hats, and aprons that I can get for cheap.
persimmon / 1343 posts
Zulily has been having christmas collections lately, and although I usually can find better prices elsewhere like Amazon or Target, it is good for ideas!
@mrs.shinerbock: Dress-up clothes/accessories was going to be my suggestion
@youboots: That's what I follow, too! I wanted to keep it simple because my mom goes nuts with buying gifts!
Does she have a doll or doll accessories? Maybe a tricycle?
cantaloupe / 6687 posts
You can get an inexpensive easel at Ikea that works great. We love ours and LO uses it all the time. And you can get her art supplies to open - brushes, paints, crayons, dry erase markers, chalk, etc
I also have to second the kinetic sand - my LO loves it! We just put it in a big dish for her to play with indoors and it's easy to clean up. It's awesome! I think they sell it at all craft stores now so you could wait to find a 40% off coupon at michaels and use it towards the sand
honeydew / 7622 posts
@dreamocracy awesome to hear it works in practice, not just theory 
it seems like a great way to stick to a budget.
grapefruit / 4649 posts
I have been super impressed with what I can find used. Especially if you want a large item under the tree you might be able to find something fun on a Facebook group, at a consignment sale or a yard sale.
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@sandy: @looch: kinetic sand is a good idea. She loves playing with things with her hands like in the sandbox, playdough, cloud dough, etc.
@Mrs. Bee: @Mamaof2: we got so lucky. This summer, we found a giant bucket of play-doh toys. We figure we can swap them out every few months or so and it will be like a new toy all over again!
@sandy: @sorrycharlie: @Mrs. Jump Rope: we have an easel which she likes to use chalk on the chalkboard side. We have so many craft supplies since I'm a scrapbooker. I just need to find a place for her to do crafts. I need a play table for my office for her. Maybe we need a trip to Ikea...
@dreamocracy: I think we may get her some accessories for her babies. She loves her babies and I would like to get her something that has a potty in the kit because we will probably be knee deep in potty training at that point! Any suggestions on good ones?
@Mrs. Jump Rope: @mrs.shinerbock: @dreamocracy: I need to find a way to display her dress-up clothes. We have (another yard sale fine) a tub of dresses and hats and shoes I'd like to give her at some point but don't know how to present it. Do they make mini clothes stands for kids?
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@Cole: I am all about a good deal on used stuff.
nectarine / 2180 posts
Last Christmas when DD was around 2.5, she got a Busytown board game that has been a big hit throughout the year. It's short and cooperative (everyone wins) so it's not torture to play with her
cantaloupe / 6131 posts
Can you get her an adjustable rolling garment rack and maybe spray paint it a fun color or get fun colored clothes hangers (which are all probably available now on sale for back to school for college students) and present all her play clothes in one place?
Or you can get one of these and paint a design or put a decal on it?
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70257959/#/60252434
apricot / 251 posts
In line with the dress up box ideas, we received a fort building kit one year, which was awesome. In retrospect, it was a bunch of sheets and binder clips, but it was the most fun toy for several years.
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