OK so I need to start looking for used but good items now for xmas so since i need plenty of time to find awesome cheap things anyone have suggestions on what to look for?
For used items, definitely try craigslist and freecycle. I've seen people post things like Barbie houses, bikes, kids size arts/crafts tables, kids size kitchen, princess dresses, etc
For new things, Five Below has some really cute things... jewelry, room decor stuff, toys, nail polish, cute socks, etc.
If you are going to thrift stores, dress up clothes would be 1st on the list. Look for an old trunk or treasure chest and start picking up dressy scraves, boas, purses, fussy hats.
LIght Brite. They are $11 at Toys R Us. We have been giving them as birthday gifts and they seem to be well liked.
Couple years ago I made a homemade dress up box for my niece. I purchased a TON of great costumes, wands, tiaras after Halloween for her and a cheap plastic storage box that I decorated for her. I also hit a few resale shops and found some great formal dresses, purses for a few dollars a piece that I cleaned and put in her box. Hit the clearance sales at target, kmart, walmart after halloween you will be able to pick up GREAT items!! It was her favorite gift!
My daughter J. turned 5 so I have quite a few ideas.
Barbies
Disney Princess stuff
Disney Fairy stuff (Tinkerbell, etc.)
Dollhouse
Dress Up Clothes & Shoes (right after Halloween is a great time to buy)
Costume Jewelry
Coloring Books & Crayons
Sticker Books
Books (all kinds - chapter books to read to her - my DD loves the Clementine series, picture books, beginning reader books, etc.)
Puzzles
Games
My MIL got a TON of stuff marked down after Halloween last year and gave it to my DD for Christmas. It was great!
I've been hitting the clearance area in all stores to buy small gifts for my kids. I check Walmart, Kmart, Target, Walgreens, Marshalls, you name it. Drug stores are good for that. Even gas stations once in a while.
I've gotten Bakugan balls for cheap and Little Pet Shop pets for cheap as well.
** I wanted to add, if your daughter likes dress up clothes hit all the stores after Halloween and buy costumes for 50-75% off. I got all my kids neat costumes like Transformers, Spiderman, Batman, Iron Girl (Iron Man), princess dresses and a lot of tutus!
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
I got a really awesome singing Belle (Beauty & the Beast) doll from the Disney Store (online) it was $17.99. My son gave it to his friend for her 5th birthday and she loooves it. She sings when you hold her hand, and has long, beautiful hair, and a very pretty dress, and is about 18" tall.
Art supplies! You can make her a cool art kit with lots of different things.
A scooter
A neat science experiment kit
Strawberry Shortcake - Target has the DVDs for $5 - $20.
Games, puzzles, books (my girls LOVED Fancy Nancy at that age), make your own necklace kits (the kind where you J. string beads), nail polish, barrettes or fun head bands and hair things, and pop beads. If you don't know what they are, they sell them at Target, and they're the most amazing, time consuming gift for little girls!!
I agree with art supplies, you can get these pretty cheap a lot of places. I bought binders (the kind that zipper) for all of my nieces and nephews and filled them with all kinds of paper, markers, kid scissors, stickers, stamps, glitter glue, etc. and the ALL loved it and continue to use it.
